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ISLAND COMMITTEE

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President - Janet Bureau
Executive Committee
Chairman

Dorothy Hulley

 26 653929 email

Paphos
Vice Chairman Brian Ray 26 652890 email Paphos
Hon Secretary

Valerie Ionides

 25 581034 email

Limassol
Hon Treasurer

Iris England

 26 621594 email

Paphos
Committee Member Pat Ramsay 25 633448 email Limassol
Ex officio

David Brown

 26 939041
email

Chairman, Paphos
Ex officio

Chris Curson

 25 933810 email

Chairman, Limassol
Ex officio

Beryl Townley

 24 811214
email

Chairman, Larnaca
Webmaster Geoff Paris 24 423086 email Larnaca
Please note that all email addresses are images to prevent spammers and they will have to be retyped for contact

ROLE OF THE CYPRUS U3A EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The U3A Executive Committee is the representative body for the U3A districts in Cyprus. It underpins the work of local U3A districts by providing support to their management committees and to individual members and assists in the development of new U3A districts across Cyprus. The Cyprus U3A is funded entirely by annual subscriptions paid by U3A districts on a per capita basis.

The districts are independently managed with their own constitutions. Membership of the U3A Association is a requirement in order to use the U3A name, but, providing the aims and guiding principles of the organisation are adhered to, local U3A districts are self governing.

U3A districts are self-help, self managed lifelong learning co-operative for people no longer in full time work, providing opportunity for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.

The Executive Committee acts as a central registry for the U3A districts and individuals seeking information about the nearest U3A district etc. It fosters the development of the U3A as a whole mostly by assisting new U3A districts to set themselves up. It can act as the main body through which the U3A can be represented to other organisations in this country and abroad. It promotes and increases awareness of the U3A movement throughout Cyprus.

It has given grants to the districts towards purchase of equipment. It funds the web site and the spotlight news letter and provides cohesion to the U3A movement.

 

PROGRESS REPORT - REGISTRATION AND CONSTITUTION

Dear Members,

I am pleased to be able to bring to you a progress report on the Registration and Constitution issued. Many, but not all of you, will know of the difficulties we encountered in trying to register the Cyprus U3A in this country. We have to be registered to be legal. The stumbling block was the name, the word "University". Having pursued all avenues without success, it was decided last November to start afresh with new legal advice.

As a consequence, we were advised to register as an Association rather than a Charity or a Trust, both of which are more difficult to administer and take years longer to be adopted here in Cyprus. It was proposed that we should seek to register a NEW ASSOCATION using the name "Cyprus Third Age" (C3A), with a new constitution which is appropriate and reflects the changing structure of the U3A. Our present constitution, (Clause 15i) states that it (the constitution) cannot be altered without calling a General Meeting and (Clause 15ii) states that no amendment may be made to Clause 1 (The name of the Charity). The use of the name Cyprus Third Age (C3A) was one suggested by the UK National Secretary, Lin Jonas and the proposed change in name does not affect our affiliation to the Third Age Trust (the UK U3A). We also felt that it was a very small change and very suitable for the Association.

We spent much time, researching constitutions, taking into consideration a report drawn up by two of our members and our legal advice, and finally arrived as a DRAFT constitution which meets the legal requirements necessary to register an Association with the Ministry of the Interior. It is comparable to the tried and tested format used by the legal profession. This will be posted on our Web site, and mailed to non internet members. The necessary paperwork is now complete and about to be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior. Please be aware that the Minister has the last say and is at liberty to change any part of the constitution. This is why the constitution remains a DRAFT until registered.

Meanwhile the U3A will continue to function, as it has for the last three years, under the existing constitution.

At the Cyprus AGM on 15 November 2007 we shall put forward a motion to dissolve the University of the Third Age (U3A) and transfer all members, funds and assets to the new association, Cyprus Third Age (C3A), as allowed by Clause 16 of our current constitution.

If at this date the registration has not come through, we will ask the meeting to grant the Executive Committee powers to dissolve the Cyprus U3A and hand over all matters to the new association as and when it has been legally registered. Should this approval not be forthcoming, it will be necessary to call an Extraordinary General Meeting once the registration is received.

The C3A will then function, as has the U3A, without any interruption. Please be aware that the object of this whole exercise is to protect the University of the Third Age's principles, aims and objectives (see your member folder) which is what the organisation is all about.

We have also been discussing our affiliation to the UK U3A. Attached to this letter is a questionnaire. Your help in answering this questionnaire is the start of the consultation process about our way forward in the future.

The subscription structure has also been under scrutiny. Your Chairman will be announcing our findings at your AGM's.

My best regards,

Dorothy Hulley

Chairman Cyprus U3A