1. NAME

The name shall be The University of the Third Age - Knysna, referred to in this document as U3A.

2. OBJECTS

The objects of U3A are:

2.1 to provide intellectually stimulating programmes of learning and the social contacts arising therefrom for mature age people in partial or complete retirement;

2.2 to deliver these programmes through a voluntary, self-help community 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.

3. POWERS

In furtherance of the above the U3A 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 the U3A and to hold funds in trust for the same;

3.6 do all such other lawful things as may be necessary for the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1 All persons interested in supporting the objects of the U3A 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 the U3A in respect of membership or other fees after a period of three months from the due date;

4.2.2 that 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.

4.3 The Committee may award honorary membership to those individuals it thinks fit and for such periods as it thinks appropriate.

5. ADMINISTRATION

5.1 The administration of the U3A 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 administration, management and control of the affairs and property of the U3A.

5.2 The Committee shall consist of at least five and not more than eight members, excluding those who are co-opted. If possible, the Committee shall include at least one member each from Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay.

5.3 The election of the committee shall be held at the annual general meeting of the U3A. All members standing for election to the Committee shall be duly nominated and seconded by two members in good standing such nomination being made prior to the Annual General Meeting or, with the Chairman's permission, at the Annual general Meeting.

5.4 Committee members shall serve for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-election. After a period of three successive years on the Committee, a waiting period of one year shall apply before a member again becomes eligible for election to the Committee.

5.5 The office holders, consisting of a Chairman, Vice-chairman, 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 Not more than four (4) ordinary members may be co-opted to the Committee. They shall have full voting rights and their term of office shall expire at the following annual general meeting.

5.7 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.

5.8 The newly-elected Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the annual general meeting.

5.9 There shall be no less than four (4)Committee meetings per year.

5.10 Committee members may resign from office by giving not less than twenty-one days' notice in writing to the secretary. The Committee has powers to co-opt additional members to fill vacancies from the membership. Such appointees shall serve until the next annual general meeting when they shall be eligible for election to the Committee.

5.11 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 Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

5.12 The quorum for any Committee meeting shall be four (4) members.

5.13 Special Committee meetings may be called at any time by the Chairman or by any two members of the Committee upon seven clear days' notice given to all Committee members of all the matters to be discussed.

5.14 The Committee may appoint sub-committees to which it may 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 to the Committee as soon as possible on actions taken under delegated powers.

5.15 The Committee Secretary shall ensure that minutes are kept of all sub-committee, 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 days' notice shall be given in writing to all members.

6.2 A quorum shall be 15% of the paid-up members.

6.3 The business of the annual general meeting shall include:-

6.3.1 Receiving and approving the annual report;

6.3.2 Receiving and approving examined accounts;

6.3.3 Electing the members of the Committee;

6.3.4 Appointing an examiner of the accounts;

6.3.5 Considering proposals to alter the constitution;

6.3.6 Considering any other business which has been published in the agenda.

6.4 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-tenth or more of the members stating the object of the meeting. A meeting held on such a requisition shall be called by the secretary, giving members fourteen days' notice of such a meeting. There shall be a quorum when fifteen percent of members are present.

6.5 The chairman of the U3A shall be the chairman of any Committee or appointed sub-committee or general meeting at which he/she is present. In his/her absence the members shall elect a chairman for the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

7. FINANCE

7.1 All the income and property of the U3A shall be applied solely towards the objects of the 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 officer of the U3A. In addition, repayment of reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses to members or Committee members incurred in the work of the U3A may be made.

7.2 A bank or building society account shall be opened in the name of the U3A, and withdrawals and/or payments shall be made on the signature of two Committee members, one of whom is an office holder.

7.3 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 U3A 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 the U3A shall end on the last day of December each year, and the annual general meeting shall be convened not more than twelve weeks later for the purpose of receiving the annual report and examined accounts.

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

7.6 The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all 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.

7.7 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 that reasonable supervision be 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

Any property of the U3A - Knysna 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.

9. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE

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

10. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

The provisions of this constitution other than clauses 2 and 11 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 of the U3A after twenty-one clear days' notice has been given to members stating the intention to put forward such a resolution.

11. DISSOLUTION

U3A - Knysna 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 the U3A of which at least twenty-one 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 liabilities, such assets held by or in the name of the U3A shall be transferred to an organisation with similar aims and objects.