1.         NAME

The name of the organisation is CUPAR U3A hereafter referred to as the “U3A”

2.         ADMINISTRATION

Subject to the matters set out below the U3A and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee constituted by clause 6. of this constitution.

3.         OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the U3A are:

i           to advance the education of the public, and in particular the education of older people no longer in full time gainful employment in Cupar and its surrounding locality

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 interests of their social welfare.      

4.         POWERS

In furtherance of the Objects but not otherwise, the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

i           power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any requirements of the law.

ii           power to receive donations, endowments, sponsorship, grants, legacies and subscriptions from persons desiring to promote all or any of the Objects of the U3A and to hold funds in trust for the same.

iii          power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the Objects and to maintain and equip it for use.

iv          power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the U3A.

v          power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the Objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them.

vi          power to support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the Objects.

vii         power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive Committee may think fit.

viii       power to organise and run conferences, lectures, seminars and courses.

ix          power to publish books, pamphlets, reports, leaflets, journal and instructional matter and to produce films and videos.

x          power to participate in and assist in the development of area and regional groupings of U3As.

xi         power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the Objects.

5.         MEMBERSHIP

i           Membership of the U3A shall be open to individuals who are interested in     furthering the work of “The U3A” and who have paid the annual subscription as determined by the Executive Committee and confirmed by the membership at any Annual General Meeting, and any corporate body or unincorporated association which is interested in furthering the work of  “The U3A” and has paid any annual subscription, provided that they agree to abide by this constitution and any conditions properly imposed by the Executive Committee.  

ii          Every individual shall have one vote.

iii         Each member organisation shall be entitled to receive notice and attend General meetings of the U3A having appointed an individual to represent it and informed the secretary of the details but shall have no voting rights.

iv         the Executive Committee may and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual or member organisation if annual membership or other fees are unpaid 3 months after the due date or if the member acts in a way which is prejudicial to the U3A or to the running of the U3A or brings it into disrepute provided that the individual concerned or the appointed representative of the member organisation concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee accompanied by a friend who may also speak, or make written representation before a final decision is made.

6.         EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Management of the U3A shall be vested in an Executive 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           Honorary Officers

            At the Annual General Meeting of the U3A the members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman, a vice-chairman or vice-chairmen, a secretary and a treasurer who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting and a President if the creation of such a post has been agreed at a General Meeting.

            The honorary officers (chairman, vice-chairman/men, secretary, treasurer) will be appointed by the elected committee at their first meeting.

ii          Executive Committee

            The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than 5 and not more than 12 members being:

                        a. the honorary officers specified in the preceding sub-clause

            b. not less than 1 and not more than 8 members elected at the Annual General Meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.

iii         The Executive Committee may in addition appoint not more than 2 co-opted

members who shall have full voting rights and have tenure until the next Annual

General Meeting.

iv         Persons who need not be members may be invited by the Executive Committee to         

            serve because of their special expertise. They shall have no voting rights and their term of service shall expire at the next Annual General Meeting.

v          Vacancies on the Executive Committee which arise through resignation or termination during the year can be filled from the membership and such an appointee shall complete the term of service of the member he or she is replacing and shall be eligible for re-election in the prescribed manner at the next Annual General meeting.            

vi         The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment, election or co-option of a member.

vii       A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

            a. is disqualified from acting as a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision).

            b. becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs.

            c. is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from three consecutive meetings and the Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated.

            d. is subject to a vote of no confidence from the Executive Committee as a result of actions which bring the U3A into disrepute or conduct prejudicial to the U3A or failure to abide by the terms of this constitution or decisions of the Executive Committee.

            e. notifies in writing to the Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at least four members of the Executive Committee will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect which shall be at least 21 days from the receipt of the notification).  

7.         ELECTION OF OFFICERS

i           the election of members of the Executive Committee shall be held at the Annual

            General Meeting of the U3A

ii          The newly elected Executive Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the                         Annual General Meeting

iii         Officers shall serve for a period of 3 years and Committee     

            members for a period of 5 years. Retiring officers stand for re-election      

            provided that no one may hold the office of Chairman or Vice Chairman for more

            than 3 consecutive years without an intervening period of at least one year

            except that a retiring vice chairman may stand immediately for the post of

            Chairman.

iv         if insufficient nominations are received to fill the vacancies for Officers and/or

            Committee members, the Executive Committee may as a last resort, appeal to the

            Assembled members at the Annual General Meeting for permission to ask

            whether anyone present was willing to reconsider and put themselves forward as

            a candidate for one of the vacancies. A vote must be taken on this motion and

            must be carried by not less than two thirds of the members present for the request

            to be made.

v          in the event of no nominations being received for one or more of the Honorary

            posts or no member of the newly elected committee being willing to take on one

            or more of the officers positions a majority decision can by taken the Executive

            Committee to ask the retiring officer to stay until the next AGM

8.         MEETINGS & PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

i           The Executive Committee shall hold at least 4 ordinary meetings each year.

ii          A special meeting my be called at any time by the Chairman or by any two

            members of the Executive Committee upon not less than seven days’ notice

            being given to other members of the Executive Committee of the matters to be

            discussed unless it concerns the appointment of a co-opted member in which case

            not less than twenty one days’ notice must be given.

iii          The Chairman shall chair the meetings and in his or her absence the vice

            chairman shall take over or if he or she is also absent the Executive Committee

            shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any

            business is transacted.

iv          A President elected by the U3A shall not be a member of the Executive

            Committee and shall not have voting rights.

v          There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members

            of the Executive Committee for the time being or three members of the

            Executive Committee whichever is the greater, are present at the meeting

vi          Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the

            Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of

            Equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting  

            vote.

vii         The Executive committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings

            of the Executive Committee and any sub-committees and these minutes

            shall be available for inspection should a member request it.

viii        The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the

            conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and

            custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this

            Constitution.

ix          The Executive Committee may appoint sub-committees consisting of at least

            one member of the Executive Committee for the purpose of performing any

            function or duty which in the opinion of the Executive Committee would be

            more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee, provided

            that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committees shall be fully and

            promptly reported to the Executive Committee. 

x          No Executive Committee member shall be chargeable or responsible for loss

            caused by any act done or omitted to be done by him/her or by any other

            Executive Committee member or by reason of any mistake or omission made in

            good faith by any Executive Committee member or by reason of any other matter

            other than wilful and individual fraud or wrongdoing or actions knowingly

            beyond the scope of a specific authority or limit thereon on the part of the

            Executive Committee member in question.

9.         FINANCE

i           The funds of the U3A, including all donations, contributions and bequests, shall

            be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee in the name of the

            U3A at such bank as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. All

            Cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least 2 Executive Committee

            Members.

ii           The Funds belonging to the U3A shall be applied only in furthering the objects.             

iii          No funds shall be transferred in any way to Committee members, provided that

            nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper

            out of pocket expenses incurred in the course of U3A work.

iv          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

10.       PROPERTY

i           All property of the U3A shall be applied solely towards the objects of the U3A.              

            Ownership of property is vested in the U3A and items may with the agreement of

            the committee be transferred on a temporary basis to a nominated member’s home

            in pursuance of the his/her designated role until such time as the member’s tenure

            of office ceases or the Executive Committee request its return

11.       ACCOUNTS

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations with regard to:

i           the keeping of accounting records for the U3A;

ii          the preparation of annual statements of account of the U3A

iii         the independent examination of the statements of account of the U3A

12.       ANNUAL REPORT

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (or any statutory re-enactment of modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual return.

13.       ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

i           There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the U3A which shall be held in the

            month of March in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter but

            not later than 15 months after the preceding Annual General Meeting.

ii           Every Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee. The

            secretary shall give at least 21 days’ notice of the Annual General Meeting to all

            the members of The U3A. All the members of the U3A shall be entitled to

            attend and vote at the meeting.

iii          Accidental omission to give notice to any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of any General Meeting.

iv          The Executive Committee shall present to each Annual General Meeting the report and accounts of the U3A for the preceding year for approval.

v          The Executive Committee shall seek approval for the appointment of the examiner for the accounts.

vi          Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members

            in writing and must be in the hands of the Secretary  of the Executive Committee at least 14 days before the AGM. Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot.

           Any proposals to amend the constitution subject to clause 16 shall be considered at the AGM and any other business published in the agenda

14.       SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The Executive Committee may call a Special General Meeting of the U3A at any time and if at least one third of the members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered.  The Secretary shall call such a meeting and at least 21 days notice shall be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed. There shall be a quorum when 20% of the members are present.

15.       PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS

i           The secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every General Meeting of the U3A.

ii          There shall be a quorum when at least 20% of the number of members of the U3A are present at any General Meeting

iii          If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting if convened at the request of the members shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall be adjourned to a suitable day and time as the Executive Committee may direct provided 21 day’s is given to all members. If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting, the members present shall be a quorum.

iv          The Chairman of the U3A shall be the Chairman of the General Meeting at which he/she is present unless the Executive Committee makes the decision to ask the President to preside.

v          If there is a tied vote the Chairman or President should have a single casting vote.

16.       ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

i           subject to the following provisions of this clause, the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting. The notice of the General Meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

17.       DISSOLUTION

If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the U3A it shall call a meeting of all members of the U3A, of which not less than 21 days’ notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two thirds majority of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the U3A. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to other such local institution or institutions having objects similar to the Objects of the U3A as the members of the U3A may determine.    

18.       ARRANGEMENTS UNTIL FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Until the first AGM takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.          

This constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.

Signed:

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