University of the Third Age in Scotland. Rannoch Road, Perth

Transcription

1 Unconfirmed Minutes of AGM held 2:15pm on 7 th June 2017 Letham St. Mark s, Present: Rannoch Road, Perth Representatives from the following U3As: Aberdeen, Bearsden & Milngavie, Callander & West Perthshire, East Berwickshire, East Lothian, Elgin and District, Forth Valley, Four Border Abbeys, Inverness & Black Isle, Oban, Perth, Tweeddale, West Lothian, Wester Ross. Plus U3A Scotland Officers; Pat Garland (Chair), Kath Payne (Vice-Chair), Mike Still (Treasurer) and Committee member Susan Tester (Minutes). Two representatives from Paisley (newly launched U3A). In attendance Ed Link (Third Age Trustee for Scotland) Sam Mauger (CEO of Third Age Trust) 1. Welcome: Pat Garland, Chair, U3A in Scotland, welcomed all to the meeting 2. Apologies: Dumfries, Falkirk & District, Edinburgh, Joyce Kennedy (Secretary) 3. Minutes of the 2016 AGM The Minutes were Agreed as an acceptable record of the meeting, proposed by Kath Payne, seconded by Graham Clark. 4. Matters Arising from the Minutes The Chair explained that although capitation fees of 15p per person had been agreed, the letter requesting fees had asked in error for 12p. For subsequent years the fee of 15p per person will be requested. In reply to a question it was confirmed that the new Constitution is available on the U3A in Scotland website. 5. Reports 5.1 Chair The Chair, Pat Garland, reported on her first year in this role. She reported that at the 2016 AGM in Stirling five Committee members were elected but due to circumstances beyond our control during the first half of the year we lost three members, including the Secretary and Treasurer. However we co-opted three willing members and are now back to five committee members but still need a sixth. The Chair reported that in August Graham Clark retired as Third Age Trustee and Ed Link was appointed. He is not a member of the Scottish Committee but has followed in Graham s footsteps in providing advice and support to the committee. 1

2 In August 2016 U3A Scotland ran a very successful Summer School in Dundee with 58 members attending from all over the country including some from south of the border. The Committee agreed to try moving our two All Scotland Assemblies out of the central belt to enable others to attend. The first was held in Aberdeen where we ran two workshops for committee members and Derek Molloy chair of Aberdeen U3A gave a very informative talk on his visit to the National Conference and AGM in Nottingham. We intended to run the same workshops in Dumfries in February. This did not take place due to difficulties with the venue and because we had to organise, at short notice, a Third Age Trust Consultation meeting. This was held in Stirling and was well attended. In February the Chair was invited to speak at Dumfries AGM and was also able to meet members from other Border U3As. She enjoyed meeting other U3As and hopes that she may be able to visit other U3As. Sam Mauger, CEO of the Third Age Trust, held a training session in Edinburgh which some of the committee attended along with one or two others, in order to assist the Trustee in setting up new U3As. This has been very successful as we now have a U3A in Glasgow West End, still at the temporary membership stage but moving fast to full membership, and another in Paisley following on close behind. There has also been a launch meeting in Brechin. The Chair reported that time has also been spent researching various topics suggested for the next Summer School in August We are also considering a different format for at least one of our assemblies with perhaps a speaker in the morning and some form of workshop in the afternoon. The second assembly could be a study day perhaps comprising a training on the use of MOOCS or the use of the U3A Sites website. The Chair reminded members that, in order to provide what they want, they have to let the Committee know. The Committee will be very happy to consider members suggestions. Pat Garland observed that her first year as Chair of U3A Scotland had been a wide learning curve but she had enjoyed it and looks forward to the future. The Chair s report was noted. 5.2 Third Age Trust Trustee for Scotland Ed Link, Trustee for Scotland, spoke to his recent Report, circulated in May Since his appointment in August 2016 he had been learning the role of Trustee. This involved working with other Trustees on the National Executive Council to ensure that the Trust acts in the interests of all its members and the U3A movement works within the law. The Trustee role has both a UK wide dimension and a role particular to Scotland. The Trustee reported on the Third Age Trust Structural Consultation exercise, which included the consultation meeting held in Stirling in February The recommendations from the consultation involve some minor changes to the way the Trust is managed but no substantive structural changes are proposed. The consultation process was however justified in its value as an exercise in communication and engagement. 2

3 The Trustee emphasised his role in trying to grow the U3A in Scotland. There are currently about one million people aged 65 or over in Scotland, but only 1% are U3A members. One way to increase participation is to start new U3As. The Trustee reported that a new U3A had been started in Glasgow West End in April and now had a steering committee. In May, a new U3A had been started in Paisley with support from the University of the West of Scotland; and a launch meeting for a new U3A had taken place in Brechin. Ayr U3A now has full membership as the 47 th U3A in Scotland. The Trustee spoke of the role of Volunteers, people trained in various aspects of establishing and running U3As. Seven volunteers are being trained to assist the Trustee in starting and supporting new U3As. Another role concerns Research Ambassadors to support research undertaken by the U3A. The U3A has a network of Research Ambassadors but there are none yet in Scotland. The Trustee asked for people interested in this role to contact him. Volunteers are also sought to be trained as Digital Champions and to join a Working Party to look at ways in which the U3A movement in Scotland can make better use of digital technology. A discussion followed on digital technology, security issues and barriers to going online. The Chair thanked the Trustee for his report Treasurer Mike Still reported that he took over as co-opted Treasurer part way through the financial year. He presented the Receipts and Payments balance sheet for the year ending 31 March The Treasurer commented that we appear to have made a small profit but once we strip out the 2017/18 items, Affiliation Fees and the Philosophy Study Day, that profit turns into a small loss. This is largely explained by the reduction in the grant from Third Age Trust. The treasurer reported that both the number of U3As and the individual memberships are steadily increasing which brings a consequential increase in the Affiliation Fees gathered. Other than fully implementing the fees increase from the 2016 AGM he saw no reason to change the current system. The Treasurer placed on record his thanks to Alasdair Cameron, the Independent Examiner of the accounts, for his help and guidance in preparing the balance sheet. A member raised the question why the Third Age Trust grant was lower this year. The treasurer was not able to provide an explanation. It was agreed that the expenditure of the TAT grant would be clearly itemised for the coming year. [It was subsequently confirmed that the 4801 figure for the Third Age Trust grant was actually for 2014 plus 2015 having been claimed late and therefore in the 2015 accounts]. The report and accompanying accounts were Approved by the meeting. The Treasurer s recommendation to implement the increase in the affiliation fee to 15p per head, agreed at the 2016 AGM, was Agreed by the meeting. 3

4 The Chair thanked Mike Still for his report and expressed her gratitude to him for stepping in as treasurer during the year. 6. Motions for consideration The Chair of Moray Coast U3A had contacted the Committee to raise concerns about bank branch closures and asked for national guidance to be issued to U3A treasurers. Mike Still reported that he had contacted Richard Baker of Age Scotland with a view to taking a joint approach. Mike Still had read the House of Commons Briefing Paper 385 of 15th December 2016 on Bank Closures. Richard Baker had ed a link to a document produced by Age UK which MS had still to digest. Mike Still identified two questions: how organisations like U3As cope; and how our members cope with this situation. At the treasurer level, they should be actively encouraging members to pay electronically but that is not a complete answer because not all members are willing to use, or even trust, the internet; and treasurers and membership secretaries often use the renewal slips to confirm membership details. He commented that the Commons report does not try to offer a single solution although the implication is that better use of Post Office facilities would help in many areas. The Age UK paper takes a slightly different tack, concentrating on inter-bank cooperation and designing systems to help elderly or infirm customers along with greater use of mobile banking systems. A member from Oban U3A commented that they were not happy using the BACS system because only one person can do internet banking. Sam Mauger said that some banks offer the opportunity to have two people to authorise payments. She asked members to find out which banks and to let the Third Age Trust know. Graham Clark said that Bank of Scotland allow the treasurer to set up a payment and a second person to log in to authorise it. The Chair commented that this was an important issue and perhaps a topic for a future workshop. 7. Appointment of Officers and Committee members Ed Link chaired the meeting for the appointment of Chair which was then filled unopposed. Chair: Pat Garland (Dundee U3A) proposed by Dundee U3A, seconded by Cupar U3A. The new chair then took over chairing the remainder of the meeting and continued with the other roles, which were filled unopposed. Vice Chair: Kath Payne (East Berwickshire U3A), proposed by East Berwickshire U3A, seconded by Dundee U3A). Treasurer: Mike Still (Four Border Abbeys U3A), proposed by Four Border Abbeys U3A, seconded by Dundee U3A. Secretary Joyce Kennedy (Dundee U3A), proposed by Dundee U3A, seconded by East Berwickshire U3A. Committee member Susan Tester (Forth Valley U3A) proposed by Forth Valley U3A, seconded by Dundee U3A. There were no nominations for the vacant position of committee member. 4

5 8. Any other relevant business 8.1 The Chair proposed that Alasdair Cameron be reappointed as Examiner of Accounts. This was Agreed. 8.2 Graham Clark asked whether the costs of the Stirling consultation meeting had been paid by the Third Age Trust. It was confirmed that the costs had been claimed. 8.3 The Chair announced that the next All Scotland Assembly would be at Lanark on 16 November 2017 and the next Summer School on August 2018 in Dundee. There being no other relevant business the Chair thanked the Perth U3A Committee for the work they had done in helping to set up the event and closed the meeting at 3:06 pm. Signed: Date: Pat Garland, Chair, U3A in Scotland 5