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