UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE TOWNSVILLE INCORPORATED BY-LAWS
(amended on 23rd June 2022)
Preliminary Definition
The “Association” means The University of the Third Age Townsville
Incorporated.
The “Rules” means the Constitution.
By-laws of the Association
These By-Laws are to be read in conjunction with the Rules of the U3A Townsville
Association. The Management Committee may from time to time make, amend or repeal
By-Laws, not inconsistent with these Rules, for the internal management of the Association
and any By-Law may be set aside by a general meeting of members.
- Membership types
1.1 Part 4.4 of the Rules defines classes of members into ordinary members and
honorary members
1.1.1 Ordinary members are those who pay the annual subscription set by the
Committee to join, or re-enrol in, the Association.
1.1.2 Honorary membership may be awarded by the Committee to persons who
are deemed to have provided special services to the Association. This
decision is subject to review on an annual basis at the time of membership
renewal on or before 1 January of each year. - Access to Classes
Members are entitled to attend any of the classes provided by the Association during
their membership, subject to vacancies being available. Access is subject to the Tutor’s
consent.
Any person who attends more than one session at the same class, and who is not a
financial member, will not be covered by the Public Liability Insurance provided by the
Association. - Membership subscriptions
2.1 In accordance with Part 4.3 of the Rules, the annual subscription shall be an
amount that is fixed by the Committee each year.
2.1.1 The annual subscription is due on January 1 each year and must be paid no
later than the Annual General Meeting of the Association.
2.2.1 New members may enrol at any time. However, a reduced membership
subscription shall apply to new members who join the Association
between 1 July and 31October each year. The amount of this reduced
subscription shall be fixed each year by the Committee and endorsed by
members at the following Annual General Meeting.
2.3.1 New members joining on or after 1 November will be enrolled for the
following year. Notwithstanding, they can attend any classes during the
remainder of the year, until their membership becomes effective on 1
January.
2.4.1 Members will be issued with a receipt which must be shown to a Tutor as
proof of current membership. - Class fees
4.1 There may be a nominal class fee for attendance at any class provided by the
Association.
4.1.1 Any nominal class fee collected is for the conduct of the class business and a
levy paid to the Association to support the overall growth and development
of U3A in Townsville and the local region.
4.2 Any expense of the group must be shared and met by the attendees.
4.2.1 Each class/group can collect money to be used as petty cash for Day to Day
running expenses of the class/group such as room hire, purchase, or rental
of teaching, extra materials, or for social occasions, catering etc.
4.2.2 This money to be capped at $100 (Petty Cash). Records of the money
collected must be kept by the Tutor, or a person or persons delegated by the
Tutor, and show the name of the donor, and the reason/s for the collection.
4.2.3 The records subject to section 4.2.2 must be made available on a regular
basis to the Association.
4.2.4 Such records (ref 4.2.2) should also be made immediately available to either
the U3A Townsville Treasurer and/or the auditor upon request in writing.
4.2.5 Any money collected above the limit of $100 (Petty Cash) must be
transferred promptly to the Association’s bank account.
4.2.6 Any class/group may collect money from the members for the purchase of
large items to improve the class for the benefit of the members. Any money
collected for this purpose, if more than $100 must be transferred promptly
to the Association’s bank account.
4.3 Any money transferred to the Association as in Section 4.2.6, will be recorded
by the Treasurer in a special account for that class/group in the U3A Finance
database, and details provided to the class/group on a regular basis.
4.3.1 When the class/group decides that sufficient funds have been collected for
the purpose, the Treasurer will liaise with the class/group and arrange for
the purchase of the item/s.
4.4 Classes/Groups can make donations to the Association which will be at the
discretion of the class/group. - Protection of Class/Groups funds
5.1 The money collected under section 5, which is considered to be a particular
class/group’s funds, shall be respected by the Committee as that class/group’s
money.
5.1.1 The funds so collected shall be identified by the Treasurer as an aggregate
amount when drawing up the budget and cannot be used for general
purposes without express agreement of the class/group.
5.1.2 All money spent on a class/group shall be for the benefit of the entire
class/group and will be subject to 7.3.1 of the Rules which reads:
No portion of the Association’s funds shall be paid or distributed directly
or indirectly to the members, except as reimbursement for expenses
incurred.
5.1.3 Changes to the By-Laws related to section 4 and 5 shall require the
Committee to give eight (8) weeks’ notice to the class/group in writing.
Note; The purpose of subsection 5.1.3 is to ‘future proof’ each group
class/group’s funds and allow the class’s/group’s time to use the funds
for the benefit of its members. - Winding up of groups/classes
6.1 From time to time class’s/group’s will cease to exist due to lack of interest in
the subject or for other mutually agreed reasons.
6.1.1 All class’s/group’s shall notify the Committee of their intent to dissolve the
class/group.
6.1.2 Should a class/group choose to dissolve, then monies held by the
Association on behalf of that class/group can be spent on a closing down
event, provided the amount involved passes the test of reasonableness.
6.1.3 Once the date for the dissolving of the class/group has passed the property
of the class/group is to be handed over to the Association and placed on the
register as property or in the case of cash then the cash is absorbed by the
Association.
6.1.4 No class/group can incur a debt on behalf of the Association or leave U3A
financially worse off.
End of by laws as at 5 November 2021