U LOOK, U LISTEN, U LEARN Registration No. 9029/444/18/0
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE GEORGE/WILDERNESS
1. NAME.
The name of this organisation shall be The University of the Third Age – George/Wilderness, hereinafter referred to
as "U3A-George/Wilderness".
2. OBJECTS.
The objects of U3A-George/Wilderness are:
2.1 to provide intellectually stimulating programmes of learning and the social contacts arising therefrom for mature
people, mainly but not exclusively in partial or complete retirement;
2.2 to deliver these programmes to its members through mutual assistance and voluntary co-operation and in which all
members enjoy equal status;
2.3 to promote improvement in the quality of life of members;
2.4 to demonstrate that intellectual capacity can be maintained well into the third age.
2.5 conduct its activities as a non-profit organisation
2(bis). STATUS.
2(bis).1 U3A-George/Wilderness is an organisation having a legal personality, capable of suing and being sued in its
own name.
2(bis).2 U3A-George/Wilderness is an organisation not for profit, but for the benefit of its members and as such
excludes the carrying on by it of trading or other profit-making activities, or the participation by it in
any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or the provision to them of
financial assistance or of any premises or continuous services, or facilities required by them for the
purpose of any business, profession or occupation.
2(bis).3 None of its members in their personal capacities shall have any right to or interest in the funds,
property or assets of U3A-George/Wilderness
3. POWERS.
In furtherance of the above U3A-George/Wilderness may:
3.1 purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire and otherwise acquire and sell or dispose of movable and immovable
property, subject to such consents as may be required by law;
3.2 publish books, pamphlets, reports, leaflets, journals, films, videos and instructional matter;
3.3 establish training courses, and run lectures, seminars, conferences and courses;
3.4 encourage and assist in the formation and operation of other U3As;
3.5 receive donations, endowments, sponsorship fees, subscriptions and legacies from persons desiring to promote any of
the objects of U3A-George/Wilderness and to hold funds in trust for same;
3.6 do all such other lawful things as may be necessary for the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
3.7 make donations to approved public benefit organisations or any institution, board or body which is exempt from tax in
terms of Section 10(1)(Ca)(I) of the Income Tax Act No. 58/1962 as amended.
4. MEMBERSHIP.
4.1 All persons, regardless of academic qualifications, interested in supporting the objects of U3A-George/Wilderness
shall be admitted to membership upon payment of the annual subscription, (as determined by the Committee or the AGM),
provided that they agree to abide by this Constitution and any conditions properly imposed by the Committee.
4.2 The Committee may terminate membership of any member if:
4.2.1 there is any money owed to U3A-George/Wilderness in respect of membership or other fees after a period of
three months from the due date as prescribed by the Committee;
4.2.2 that member acts in a way which is prejudicial to U3A-George/Wilderness 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;
4.3 The Committee may award honorary membership to those individuals it considers fit and for such periods as it deems
appropriate.
5. ADMINISTRATION.
5.1 The administration of U3A-George/Wilderness shall be vested in a Committee consisting of members whose duty it shall
be to carry out its general policy, and to provide for the management and control of the affairs and property of
U3A-George/Wilderness, and to exercise the powers set out in Clause 3 above.
5.2 The Committee shall consist of at least five and not more than ten members, excluding not more than two further
members who may be co-opted for a specific purpose/s and for such period/s as determined by the Committee. Such co-opted members shall have full voting rights only in respect of the issue/s for which he/she was co-opted and their term of office shall expire at the following Annual General Meeting.
5.3 Committee members shall serve for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-election.
5.4 The election of the Committee shall be held at the Annual General Meeting of the U3A. –George/Wilderness. All members
standing for election to the Committee shall be duly nominated and seconded by two members in good standing, such
nomination to be made in writing prior to the Annual General Meeting or, with the Chairperson’s permission, at the
Annual General Meeting.
5.5 The office bearers consisting of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Membership Secretary, Committee Secretary and
Treasurer, as well as the portfolio holders, shall be appointed by the Committee at its first meeting following the
Annual General Meeting.
5.6 Persons, who need not be members, may be invited by the Committee to serve because of their special expertise. They
shall not have voting rights and their terms of service shall expire at the following Annual General Meeting.
5.7 The newly elected Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.
5.8 There shall be no less than four (4) Committee meetings per year, at which the quorum shall be half plus one of the
members.
5.9 Committee members may resign from office by giving not less than twenty-one days’ notice in writing to the Secretary.
In the event of any vacancy on the Committee, it shall have the power to co-opt an additional member or members to
fill such vacancy from the membership. Such appointees shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting, when they
shall be eligible for election to the Committee.
5.10 At Committee meetings, matters shall be decided by a simple majority of votes of Committee members present. In the
case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
5.11.1 Special Committee meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson, or by any two members of the
Committee upon seven (7) clear days’ notice to all Committee members of all the matters to be discussed.
5.11.2 At any such Special Committee meeting the business shall be confined to those items of which notice has been
given as aforesaid, unless the Chairperson otherwise allows.
5.12 The Committee may appoint subcommittees to which it may, for such time as it determines, delegate the transaction of
such matters and the performance of such acts it thinks fit. The Committee shall exercise supervision over the
proceedings and acts of such sub¬committees. Subcommittees shall report to the Committee as soon as possible on
action taken under such delegated powers.
5.13 The Committee Secretary shall ensure that minutes are kept of all subcommittee, Committee and General Meetings.
6. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
6.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in each year and, not later than fifteen months after the preceding
Annual General Meeting. At least twenty-one day’s notice of such meeting shall be given in writing to all members.
6.2 A quorum shall be 20% of the paid-up members. If, at the time that the meeting is due to commence no quorum is
present, the meeting shall stand adjourned for one week at the same time and place, at which time the members present
shall constitute a quorum.
6.3 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:-
6.3.1 Adoption of the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
6.3.2 Receiving the Annual Report of the Chairman;
6.3.3 Adoption of the Financial Statements for the preceding year;
6.3.4 Election of Committee members for the forthcoming year;
6.3.5 Appointment of Examiner of Accounts, or Honorary Auditor;
6.3.6 Considering any proposals to amend the Constitution;
6.3.7 Considering any other business as published in the Agenda;
6.3.8 Considering any other matters raised by Members at the Meeting.
6.4 A Special General Meeting of the U3A-George/Wilderness may be convened at any time by a resolution of the Committee,
or upon a requisition signed by 10% of the members stating the object of the meeting.
6.4.1 A meeting held on such resolution or requisition shall be called by the Secretary, on fourteen (14) days’
notice.
6.4.2 There shall be a quorum when 15% of members are present.
6.4.3 If at the time the meeting is due to commence, no quorum is present, the meeting shall stand adjourned for
one week, at the same time and place, when the members present shall constitute a quorum.
6.4.4 At any such special meeting, the business shall be confined to the items specified in the relevant notice.
6.5 The Chairperson of the U3A-George/Wilderness shall be the Chairperson of any Committee or appointed subcommittee or
general meeting. In his/her absence the Deputy Chairperson shall preside, and failing such person, the meeting shall
elect a Chairperson who shall preside for that specific meeting. In the event of an equality of votes, the
Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
7. FINANCE.
7.1 All the income and property of U3A-George/Wilderness shall be applied solely towards the objects of U3A-George/
Wilderness and none of it shall be paid or transferred in any way to its Committee or members, provided that nothing
herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration to any employee of U3A-George/Wilderness.
In addition, repayment of reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses to members or Committee members incurred in
the work of the U3A–George/Wilderness may be made.
7.2 A bank account shall be opened in the name of U3A-George/Wilderness, and withdrawals shall be made on the signature
of two Committee members, one of whom, in addition to the Treasurer, is an office bearer. Similarly investments may
be made provided that the funds available for such investments be placed with registered financial institutions as
defined in Section 1 of the Financial Services Board Act 1990.
7.3 U3A-George/Wilderness shall have power to collect and accept donations, and to raise money by bequest or otherwise.
Any money raised and received may be retained by U3A-George/Wilderness and be used at the discretion of the Committee.
No form of permanent trading shall be undertaken in the raising of funds.
7.4 The financial year of U3A-George/Wilderness shall end on the last day of December each year, and the Annual General
Meeting shall be convened not more than 3 months later for the purpose, inter alia, of receiving the annual report
and examined accounts.
7.5 All proper costs, charges and expenses incidental to the management of U3A-George/Wilderness shall be defrayed from
its funds.
7.6 The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received and expended on behalf of U3A-George/Wilderness and shall
prepare and publish such accounts duly examined for approval at the Annual General Meeting. All monetary transactions
shall be made by the Treasurer through properly authorised accounts in accordance with the directives of the Committee.
7.7 No Committee member shall be liable or responsible for loss caused by any thing or act done or omitted to be done by
him/her, or by any agent employed by him/her, or by any other Committee member, provided that reasonable supervision
is exercised over any 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 wrongdoing or wrongful omission
on the part of the Committee member who is sought to be made liable.
8. PROPERTY.
8.1 Any property of U3A-George/Wilderness shall be vested in Trustees appointed for this purpose or, where the
appointment of Trustees is inappropriate, shall be deemed to be held jointly by all members of the Committee, in
their capacity as representatives of the entire membership.
8.2 The Committee shall compile and maintain an Assets Register which shall reflect the nature of the asset, its value
and location.
9. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
All matters not provided for in this Constitution and not involving an amendment thereto, shall be dealt with by the
Committee, save that no act carried out by the Committee shall be in conflict with the spirit and provisions of this
Constitution.
10. AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
10.1 The provisions of this Constitution other than clauses 2 and 11 may be amended on the passing of a resolution by a
two-thirds majority of members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for
that purpose, after twenty-one (21) clear days notice has been given, stating the intention to propose such a
resolution.
10.2 Any amendment to this Constitution must be submitted to the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service.
11. DISSOLUTION.
11.1 U3A-George/Wilderness may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by a three-quarters majority of members
present and voting at any General Meeting of members of which at least twenty-one (21) days’ notice has been given,
stating the intention to put forward such a resolution.
11.2 On the dissolution of U3A-George/Wilderness, and after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, the remaining
assets must be distributed to a similar approved public benefit organisation or any institution, board or body which
is exempt from tax in terms of Section 10(1)(Ca)(I) of the Income Tax Act No. 58 0f 1962, as amended, with preference
being given to any other University of the Third Age in South Africa.