CONSTITUTION OF HAYWARDS HEATH & DISTRICT UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (U3A)

 1. NAME

The name of the Association shall be "The Haywards Heath and District University of the Third Age" (hereinafter referred to as "the U3A").

 

2. OBJECTS

The Object of the U3A is:

(i) The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full-time work by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development

 

2.2 POWERS

In furtherance of the above the U3A may:

i) 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;

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 liaison with institutions of further and higher education;

 v) encourage and assist in the formation and operation of area and regional groupings of other  U3As;

vi) receive donations, endowments, sponsorship fees, subscriptions and legacies from persons  desiring to promote the Objects of the U3A or any of them and to hold funds in trust for the same;

(vii) do all such other lawful things as may be necessary for the attainment of the above objects or any of them and, so long as the U3A shall remain a registered Charity, adhere to the regulations and requirements of the Charity Commissioners.

 

3.   MEMBERSHIP

3.1  All middle-aged and older persons not in full-time gainful employment who support the Objects of the U3A shall be admitted to membership with the approval of the Committee and upon payment of the annual subscription provided that they agree to abide by this Constitution and any conditions properly imposed by the Committee.

3.2  The Committee may terminate the membership of:

(i) anyone whose subscription and/or other fees due to the U3A remain unpaid after six (6) weeks from the commencement of the subscription year

(ii) a member who acts in a way which is prejudicial to the U3A or brings it into disrepute.

 

4. MANAGEMENT

4.1 The Management of the U3A shall be vested in a Committee which shall consist of:

(i) at least five (5) and not more than twelve (12) elected members, including the Officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer);.

(ii) not more than two (2) ordinary members co-opted to the Committee who shall not have full voting rights and whose term of service shall expire at the next following Annual General Meeting;

(iii) additionally, persons with special expertise, who need not be members, may be invited by the Committee to offer their services for such period as it may deem appropriate; they shall not have voting rights.

4.2  Elections shall take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM.)

(i) Nominations to the Committee including the Officers, duly agreed by the nominee, shall be proposed and seconded and delivered in writing to the Secretary at least two weeks before the date of the AGM.

(ii) the newly elected Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the AGM;

(iii) the Officers shall be elected to serve for a period of not more than three (3) years but may stand for immediate re-election provided that they do not serve for a period of more than six (6) consecutive years. Any former Officers may thereafter stand for re-election to the Committee in any capacity after an intervening period of one (1) year;

(iv) other Committee members shall be elected for one (1) year but may stand for re-­election provided they do not serve for more than a period of five (5) consecutive years. Thereafter they may stand for immediate election as an Officer but cannot stand for re-election as a Committee member until after an intervening period of one (1) year

(v) Officers and Committee members may resign office by giving not less than twenty-one (21) days notice in writing to the Secretary or the Chairman. The Committee is empowered to fill any vacancy for an Officer by appointment from the membership. Any vacancy for a Committee member other than an officer shall be filled by the non-­elected nominee who received the most votes at the last AGM. If there are no such nominees the Committee has the power to fill such vacancies from the membership. If anyone appointed under this clause wishes to continue on the Committee, he or she must stand for re-election at the next AGM.

4.3 There shall be no fewer than four (4) Committee meetings a year.

4.4 The quorum for any Committee meeting shall be three (3) or one-third of the Committee members having voting rights, whichever is the greater.

4.5 At Committee meetings matters shall be decided by a simple majority of votes of Committee  members present. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

4.6 Special Committee meetings may be called at any time by the Chairman or by any two members of the Committee upon seven (7) days' notice being given to all the Committee members of all the matters to be discussed

4.7 The Committee may appoint sub-committees to which it may from time to time, and for such time as it determines, delegate such of its powers and functions as it thinks fit. ­Sub-committees shall report back to the Committee as soon as it is practicable on actions taken under delegated powers.

4.8 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.

4.9 The Secretary shall ensure that Minutes are kept of all committee, sub-committee and general meetings.

 

5. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1  The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in each calendar year and not later than the 30th April and not more than fifteen (15) months after the preceding Annual General Meeting. At least twenty-one (21) days' notice shall be given in writing to all members. A quorum shall be when ten percent (10%) of the membership is present. The business of the AGM shall include:

(i) receiving and approving the Chairman's Report

(ii) receiving and approving the Treasurer's Report and Audited Accounts;

(iii) electing members of the Committee and, where appropriate, the officers in accordance with Clause 4.2(iii);

(iv) appointing an Auditor for the Accounts;

(v) considering alterations to the Constitution subject to the requirements of Clause 9;

(vi) considering any other Agenda items.

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 twenty percent (20%) or more of the membership stating the object of the meeting. A meeting held on such a Resolution of Requisition shall be called by the Secretary giving other members fourteen (14) days' notice. A quorum shall be when twenty percent (20%) of the membership is present.

5.2  The Chairman shall preside over any General or Special Meeting at which he or she is present. In his or her absence the members shall elect a Chairman for each meeting.

5.4  Matters shall be decided by a simple majority of votes of members present. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

5.5  Accidental omission to give notice to any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of any General or Special 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 provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee, agent or servant of the said U3A (other than a Committee member) and repayment of out-of-pocket expenses to members or Committee members incurred in the course of the work of the U3A

6.2 The U3A shall have 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 used at the discretion of the Committee. No form of permanent trading shall be undertaken in raising of funds.

6.3 The financial year of the U3A shall end on the 31st July each year.

6.4 The subscription year shall commence on 1st  August.

6.5 The annual membership subscription shall be recommended by the Committee and approved by the AGM.

6.6 As may from time to time be necessary for carrying out the work of the U3A the Committee may engage, either permanently or on a fixed term contract, employees who are not members of the Committee and may fix their terms and conditions of employment. For purposes of employment law the Committee shall be the employer.

6.7 All proper costs, charges and expenses incidental to the management of the U3A may be defrayed from U3A funds.

6.8 The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all the moneys received and expended on behalf of the U3A and shall prepare and publish at the AGM such accounts, duly audited. All monetary transactions shall be made through properly authorised accounts in accordance with the directives of the Committee.

6.9 No Committee members shall be chargeable or responsible for loss caused by any thing or act done or omitted to be done by him or her or any agent employed by him or her or by any other Committee member although the employment of such agent was strictly not necessary or expedient 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 wrongdoing 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 determined by the Committee to be inappropriate, shall be deemed to be held jointly by all members of the Committee.

 

8. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE

All matters not provided for in the Constitution relating to the U3A and not involving an amendment to this Constitution shall be dealt with by the Committee.

 

9. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The provisions of this Constitution other than clauses 2, 10 and this one may be amended with the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members of the U3A present and voting at a General Meeting. Twenty-one (21) clear days' notice shall be given to the members stating the intention to put forward such a resolution. No amendment shall be made which would cause the U3A to cease to be a charity.

 

10. DISSOLUTION

The U3A may at any time be dissolved by a Resolution passed by seventy-five per cent (75%) 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 U3 A shall be transferred to such charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to the U3A as the U3A shall decide.