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Constitution:
CONSTITUTION
OF THE WEST WILTS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (U3A), A
MEMBER OF THE THIRD AGE TRUST AS AN UNINCORPORATED
ASSOCIATION
1
NAME
The name shall be The West Wilts U3A. (In this Constitution called “The
U3A”)
2
OBJECTS AND POWERS
2.1 OBJECTS
The Objects of the U3A are:
(i) to advance the education of the public in West Wilts and its
surrounding locality and in particular the education of
middle aged and older people who are not in full time
gainful employment;
(ii) the provision of facilities for leisure time and recreational
activities with the object of improving the conditions of
life for the above persons in the interest of their social
welfare.
2.2
POWERS
(i) In furtherance of the above, the U3A may purchase, take on lease or
in exchange, hire and otherwise acquire and sell or dispose
of real or personal property and any rights and privileges
which the U3A may think necessary for the promotion of the
objects, subject to such consents as may be required by law.
(ii) Publish books, pamphlets, reports, leaflets, journals, films,
videos and instructional matter.
(iii) Found and carry on schools and training courses and run
lectures, seminars, conferences and courses.
(iv) Encourage and assist in the formation and operation of
area and regional groupings of other U3As.
(v) Receive donations, endowments, sponsorship fees, subscriptions and
legacies from persons desiring to promote the objects of the
U3A or any of them to hold funds in trust for same.
(vi) Do all such other lawful things as may be necessary for
the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
3
MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Retired or
semi-retired persons interested in supporting the objects of
The Third Age Trust shall be admitted to membership at the
approval of the Committee and upon payment of the annual
subscription as determined by the membership at the Annual
General Meeting, providing that they agree to abide by this
Constitution and any conditions properly imposed by the
Committee.
3.2 The
Committee may terminate membership of any member if:
(i) there is any money owed to the U3A in respect of membership or
other fees after the time lapse of two months from the date
of the Annual General Meeting; or
(ii) that the member acts in a way which is prejudicial to the U3A or
brings it into disrepute, provided that the individual
concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee
before a final decision is made.
MANAGEMENT
4.1 The
management of the U3A shall be vested in a Committee
consisting of the members whose duty it shall be to carry
out its general policy and to provide for the
administration, management and control of the affairs and
property of the U3A.
(i) The Committee shall consist of at least five and not more than ten
members (excluding those who are co-opted) including the
principal officers (Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer)
(ii) Not more than two (2) ordinary members may be co-opted to the
Committee: they shall have full voting rights and their term
of office shall expire at the next following Annual General
Meeting;
(iii) Persons who need not be members may be invited by the
Committee to serve because of special expertise; they shall
not have voting rights and their term of office shall expire
at the next following Annual General Meeting.
4.2 The
election of members of the Committee shall be held at the
Annual General Meeting of the U3A.
(i) Nominations to the Committee duly agreed by the nominee shall be
proposed and seconded and delivered in writing to the
Secretary at a date specified by the Committee.
(ii) The newly elected Committee shall take office at the conclusion of
the Annual General Meeting.
(iii) There shall be no less than four (4) Committee meetings
a year.
(iv) Officers shall serve for a period of two (2) years and
the Committee members for a period of two (2) years.
Retiring officers may stand for re-election, providing that
no-one may hold the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman
for more than four (4) consecutive years without an
intervening period of at least one year, except a retiring
Deputy Chairman may stand immediately for the post of
Chairman.
(v) Committee members may resign office by giving not less than twenty
one (21) days in writing to the Secretary or the Chairman.
The Committee has the power to fill casual vacancies from
the membership. Such an appointee shall complete the term
of service of the member he or she is replacing and shall be
eligible for re-election.
(vi) The quorum for any Committee meeting shall be three (3)
or one third of the Committee, whichever is the greater.
4.3 Special
Committee meetings may be called at any time by the Chairman
or by any two members of the Committee upon seven (7) clear
days notice being given to all the Committee members of all
the matters to be discussed.
4.4 The
Committee may appoint sub-committees to which, from time to
time, and for such time as it determines, delegate the
transaction of such matters and the performance of such acts
as it thinks fit and the Committee shall exercise
supervision over the proceedings and acts of such
sub-committees. Sub-committees shall report back to the
Committee as soon as possible on actions taken under
delegated powers.
4.5 The
proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by any
defect in the appointment, election or co-option of any
member of any committee or sub-committee.
4.6 The
Secretary shall ensure that the minutes are kept of all
sub-committees, Committee and General meetings.
5
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
5.1 The Annual
General Meeting shall be held once in each year and not
later that 15 months after the preceding Annual General
Meeting. At least 21 days notice shall be given in writing
to all members. A quorum shall be 20% of the paid-up
members or seventy (70) whichever is the lesser. The
business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:
(i) receiving and approving the Annual Report:
(ii) receiving and approving the examined accounts;
(iii) electing a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer and the members of the Committee when these posts
become vacant;
(iv) appointing an Examiner for the accounts;
(v) considering proposals to alter the Constitution subject to the
requirements of Clause 9; and
(vi) considering any other business which has been published
in the Agenda.
5.2 A special
General Meeting of the U3A may be convened at any time by a
resolution of the Committee or upon a requisition signed by
one-fifth or more of the members, stating the object of the
meeting. A meeting held on such a requisition shall be
called by the Secretary of the U3A giving the other members
14 days notice of such a meeting. There shall be a quorum
when 20% of the paid-up members, or 70, whichever is the
lesser are present.
5.3 The
Chairman of the U3A shall be the Chairman of any committee
or general meeting at which he/she is present. In his/her
absence the members shall elect a chairman of the meeting.
The chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
5.4 Accidental
omission to give notice to any member shall not invalidate
the proceedings of any General Meeting.
6
FINANCE
6.1 All the
income and property of the U3A shall be applied solely
towards the Objects of the said U3A and none of it shall be
paid or transferred in any way to its Committee members
providing that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in
good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any
officer or servant of the said U3A (other than a Committee
member) and repayment to reasonable and out-of-pocket
expenses to any members, incurred in the course of the work
of the U3A, with the agreement of the Committee. A bank or
building society account shall be opened in the name of the
U3A and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of two
Committee members, one of whom is a principal officer.
6.2 The U3A
shall have the power to collect and accept donations and to
issue appeals for donations and to raise money by bequest
and otherwise. Any money raised and received may be
retained by the U3A and be used at the discretion of the
Committee. No form of permanent trading shall be undertaken
in the raising of funds.
6.3 The
financial year of the U3A shall end on 31st
December in each year and not more than three months later
the Annual General Meeting shall be convened for the purpose
of receiving the Annual Report and examined accounts.
6.4 The Groups
and Committee may contact people to carry out activities
such as tutoring, as may from time to time be necessary for
carrying out the activities of the U3A and may fix their
terms and conditions of contract.
6.5 Newly
formed groups may be provided with a small amount of funding
as start-up assistance, after this, groups must be self
financing, including the cost of tutors, hall hire etc.
6.6 All proper
costs, charges and expenses incidental to the management of
the U3A and membership of the Third Age Trust may be
defrayed from the funds of the U3A.
6.7 The
Treasurer shall keep accounts of all the monies received and
expended on behalf of the U3A and shall prepare and publish
such accounts duly examined at the Annual General Meeting.
All monetary transactions shall be made through properly
authorised accounts in accordance with the directives of the
Committee.
6.8 No
Committee member shall be chargeable or responsible for loss
caused by any thing or act done or omitted to be done by
him/her or any agent employed by him/her or by any other
Committee member, provided reasonable supervision be
exercised over such agent, or by reason of any mistake or
omission made in good faith by any Committee member or by
reason of any other matter or thing other than wilful and
individual fraud or wrong-doing or wrongful omission on the
part of the Committee member who is sought to be made
liable.
7
PROPERTY
Any property of the U3A shall be vested in Trustees appointed for this
purpose or, where the appointment of trustees is not
appropriate shall be deemed to be held jointly by all
members of the Committee.
8
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
All matters not provided for in this Constitution relating to the U3A
and not involving an amendment to this Constitution be dealt
with by the Committee.
9
ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The provisions of this Constitution other than Clauses 2 and 10 and this
clause may be amended with the assent of not less than
two-thirds of the U3A present and voting at a General
Meeting of the U3A. 21 clear days notice shall be given to
the members stating the intention to put forward such a
resolution.
10
DISSOLUTION
The U3A may be at any time dissolved by a resolution passed by a
three-quarters majority of those present and voting at any
meeting of the said U3A of which at least twenty-one (21)
clear days notice stating the intention to put forward such
a resolution shall have been sent to all members of the
U3A. If any assets remain after the satisfaction of all
debts and other liabilities, such assets held by or in the
name of the U3A shall be transferred to the Third Age Trust
Charity No 288007
Amended Constitution
January 2010
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