Kent Network Agreement  

Area and Membership

The Kent Network of the University of the Third Age (U3A) covers the county of Kent. All the local U3As are free to join the Kent Network and attend meetings.

Aims

• To endorse the Objects and Principles of the U3A, as set out by Peter Laslett.
• To support the national organisation and the work of the Third Age Trust
• To exchange information and expertise between local U3As.
• To assist with the formation and support of new U3As in Kent.
• To initiate and support shared activities.

Objectives

• To represent the views of the Kent Network at any meetings of the South-East Region.
• To forge and expand links with any other educational and Third Age organisations to ensure representation of U3A principles.
• To act as a point of contact for new or potential U3As within Kent.
• To encourage or instigate shared Study Days and other events.
• To report regularly to and consult with U3As in Kent.
• To provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and identify good practice within member U3As

Structure

A  Committee

The Kent Network is run by a Committee consisting of the Officers and other Kent members:

• Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
• Other officers may be co-opted as agreed by the Kent Network members
• The South-East Region Representative, who is the Trustee on the National Executive Committee of the Third Age Trust, may be invited to attend meetings and report to Kent U3As on current National matters, and seek any issues which need to be taken back to the NEC.

B  Election of Officers

1. The Officers are elected annually in July at a Kent Network Meeting, which is designated as the AGM,   with each U3A having one voting representative.
2. If a vacancy occurs, the Committee may co-opt a member to the Committee.
3. Any Kent U3A may nominate a Committee member/ officer but the seconder should be from another U3A.
4. Officers should be from different U3As. Officers may serve continuously for a maximum of three years. They should then stand down but may be nominated for election again after a period of one year.
5. Officers may be past as well as present Chairs, or others with appropriate experience in their home U3A.

C  Finances

1.  A bank account will operate in the name of the U3A Kent Network.  There should be four authorised signatories (Chair Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary) with two signatures required on cheques.  The treasurer will be authorised to operate internet banking on the account.

2.  The costs of each Kent Network meeting will be met from the Kent Network bank account.

The costs of each member attending a Kent Network meeting should be met by the home U3A.

• Any other activities organised by the Committee should either be self-financing or met from outside sources.

4.  In the event that the U3A Kent Network ceases to operate, any residual funds will be equally divided between constituent member U3As.

D  Kent Network Meetings

1. Kent Network Meetings will be held three times a year in March, July and November - on a rotating venue basis if necessary.
2. All member U3As are entitled to send one voting representative, preferably the Chair.
3. The Agenda for the Meeting is set by the Committee but should include a section on points raised in advance by participating U3As, as far as possible.  
4. The Kent Network Committee may decide that a topic is of sufficient interest to warrant a lengthy open discussion.
5. There will be break-out discussions at two of the meetings and the third meeting will take the form of a development day on a topic of major importance to every U3A.  Other members of Kent U3A committees will be invited to join the chairmen in attending the development days.
6. The Regional Volunteers, as ex-officio members, may attend meetings to give a report on activities as required.  They will not have voting rights. Other members of the national U3A organisation, representatives of other Networks, or other U3A members with relevant knowledge or experience, may be invited by the Committee on an ad hoc basis.

E   Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings and Rules of Election

1. The Kent Network Meeting in July shall be designated as the Annual General Meeting with the Officers reporting to the member U3As on the last calendar year's activities.
2. An election shall be held for new members of the Committee. In the event of a contest, there will be a ballot for a simple majority.
3. Any member U3A may request an Extraordinary General Meeting, with at least 21 days notice, to propose any resolution of major significance. Such a resolution must be seconded by another U3A.
4. Each U3A may send one representative, preferably the Chair, who will have one vote.
5. A quorum of members is 50% of the current member U3As. Ex-officio members do not have voting rights.

• Changes to this Agreement require a two-thirds majority of voting representatives present.

Code of practice for the regulation of meetings:

Functions of the Network

The Committee will arrange the following activities, as required:

• Kent Network Meetings
• Any other events, which further the Aims and Objectives of the Kent Network.
• The Committee can delegate and/ or co-opt other individuals or a member U3A to organise such events.
• The Committee can set up any sub-committees or working groups it thinks appropriate.

Role of the Chair

• To chair meetings of the Committee and the Kent Network Meetings.
• To act as spokesman and contact for information at regional and national U3A activities.
• To provide co-operation between member U3As.

Role of the Vice Chair

• To provide back up and support for the Chair
• To co-ordinate meetings and development days for the benefit of all committee members of constituent U3As

Role of the Secretary

• To take the Minutes of the Committee and Kent Network meetings, and circulate to all member U3As. To maintain an archive of Minutes.
• To maintain and circulate records of the Chairs of all member U3As.
• To circulate details of other events organised by the South East Forum, as required.

Role of the Treasurer

• To keep financial records
• To handle payments for Kent Network meetings, and other Kent events as required.

Role of the  Regional Volunteer(s)

• To promote the ethos of U3A at all levels with particular reference to new U3As
• To act as liaison between the Kent Network and National Office regarding potential new U3As, and to assist existing U3As which seek to develop or expand.
• To assist in the setting up of new U3As or advise on this process.
• To ensure that grant funds to new U3As are used efficiently.