2024 has started very well for U3A Benalla. Early this week, our excellent Membership Secretary, Len Jeffers told me that we have 385 members. Quite remarkable. Last year we welcomed 100 new members who joined U3A Benalla for the first time, and this year so far, we have had another 58 members who are new to U3A Benalla.
There are wonderful numbers for some groups. Gwen Turner has 88 enrolled for Garden Appreciation, with 56 coming to their meeting in February. Likewise, Helen Jeffree has 85 enrolled for Exercises for Fun, and had over 50 members for a couple of her first sessions.
There are 41 members enrolled for Music Appreciation, 39 for Patchwork and Craft, 60 for Wine Appreciation and Lifeball has 25 members enrolled which is about double the number they had last year.
Due to increased numbers Tech Talks has been moved from Room 2 to Room 1, whilst I have arranged with Val Burke, President of the Senior Citizens, for some of the Chess players to use the table outside the kitchen if there are too many for Room 2.
The Committee would like to thank all Convenors for the time and effort they put into running each of our 46 courses. Also thank you to Dorothy Webber, Convenor of Patchwork and Craft for making the aprons for the new Cooking Solo group.
In December 2023 the Committee received notification that there were new regulations governing Incorporated Associations in Victoria which took effect on 18 November 2023, covering model rules, fees, penalties, and financial reporting tier thresholds.
U3A Benalla Inc. is an Incorporated Association which has been run according to our Constitution which was passed in March 2011.
However, when we examined the Constitution, we found that there were a number of areas which have changed since 2011. We looked at Amending parts of the Constitution, but following advice, found it easier to change to the Model Rules, which are available on the Consumer Affairs Website.
On Monday 26 February 2024 at a Special Committee meeting of U3A Benalla Inc. the Committee passed the following Special Resolution:
“That U3A Benalla Inc. adopt the Model Rules of Incorporated Associations as from 20 March 2024.“
The Annual General Meeting of U3A Benalla Inc. will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2024 in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre at 10am. At that meeting we will ask the members to ratify the Special Resolution regarding changing to use the Model Rules of Incorporated Associations.
Also, at our AGM we will have an election of Office Bearers, which we have asked Val Burke to conduct. According to our 2011 Constitution, office bearers of U3A Benalla Inc can only hold office for four years. Therefore, the position of Secretary and Treasurer will be vacant. From within the current Committee, we have a nomination for both these positions. However, anyone from the general membership is also able to nominate for the position of Secretary or Treasurer. There are also four Committee positions to be filled. A link to the nomination form is included here.
Any member of U3A Benalla may be nominated by two other members of our organisation for either the Secretary, Treasurer or Committee position. If there are more than four nominations for Committee, an election will be held.
Guest speaker at the AGM is Lou Sigmund who will talk about Chooks.
We have been asked by Natalie Phillips of Benalla Rural City Council to publicise the need for volunteer instructors for the Benalla L to P program. There will be training in mid-April for volunteers. Anyone interested should contact Natalie.
Margaret Jenkins
There are wonderful numbers for some groups. Gwen Turner has 88 enrolled for Garden Appreciation, with 56 coming to their meeting in February. Likewise, Helen Jeffree has 85 enrolled for Exercises for Fun, and had over 50 members for a couple of her first sessions.
There are 41 members enrolled for Music Appreciation, 39 for Patchwork and Craft, 60 for Wine Appreciation and Lifeball has 25 members enrolled which is about double the number they had last year.
Due to increased numbers Tech Talks has been moved from Room 2 to Room 1, whilst I have arranged with Val Burke, President of the Senior Citizens, for some of the Chess players to use the table outside the kitchen if there are too many for Room 2.
The Committee would like to thank all Convenors for the time and effort they put into running each of our 46 courses. Also thank you to Dorothy Webber, Convenor of Patchwork and Craft for making the aprons for the new Cooking Solo group.
In December 2023 the Committee received notification that there were new regulations governing Incorporated Associations in Victoria which took effect on 18 November 2023, covering model rules, fees, penalties, and financial reporting tier thresholds.
U3A Benalla Inc. is an Incorporated Association which has been run according to our Constitution which was passed in March 2011.
However, when we examined the Constitution, we found that there were a number of areas which have changed since 2011. We looked at Amending parts of the Constitution, but following advice, found it easier to change to the Model Rules, which are available on the Consumer Affairs Website.
On Monday 26 February 2024 at a Special Committee meeting of U3A Benalla Inc. the Committee passed the following Special Resolution:
“That U3A Benalla Inc. adopt the Model Rules of Incorporated Associations as from 20 March 2024.“
The Annual General Meeting of U3A Benalla Inc. will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2024 in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre at 10am. At that meeting we will ask the members to ratify the Special Resolution regarding changing to use the Model Rules of Incorporated Associations.
Also, at our AGM we will have an election of Office Bearers, which we have asked Val Burke to conduct. According to our 2011 Constitution, office bearers of U3A Benalla Inc can only hold office for four years. Therefore, the position of Secretary and Treasurer will be vacant. From within the current Committee, we have a nomination for both these positions. However, anyone from the general membership is also able to nominate for the position of Secretary or Treasurer. There are also four Committee positions to be filled. A link to the nomination form is included here.
Any member of U3A Benalla may be nominated by two other members of our organisation for either the Secretary, Treasurer or Committee position. If there are more than four nominations for Committee, an election will be held.
Guest speaker at the AGM is Lou Sigmund who will talk about Chooks.
We have been asked by Natalie Phillips of Benalla Rural City Council to publicise the need for volunteer instructors for the Benalla L to P program. There will be training in mid-April for volunteers. Anyone interested should contact Natalie.
Margaret Jenkins
