Five new Committee of Management Members were elected at our 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on the morning of 16 August at the Nunawading Community Hub. Approximately 90 members and invited guests attended the meeting. See the photo gallery from the event
President Gary Walker opened the meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country before welcoming City of Whitehorse Deputy Mayor Cr Pru Cutts, our Ward Councillor Denise Massoud, Council Officer and Hub Supervisor Alex Brunetti, U3A Network Victoria President Annie Grigg, President U3A Manningham David McNamara, Vice President U3A Ringwood Alastair McCracken, EACH Youth and Family Counselling Team representative Warren Turner, Life Members and Members.
Minutes of the previous year’s AGM were accepted before the President delivered his 2022 – 2023 Report on behalf of the Committee of Management. Highlights included:
- 2468 Members including Class Leaders
- 479 New members this year. Our U3A was closed to new members from 1 March – 23 June this year to manage the record-breaking number of new members and waitlists.
- 325 Classes excluding Summer School
- 200 Class Leaders, Co-Leaders and assistants
- 80 Reception Desk Volunteers
Treasurer Pauline Wang then presented the 2022 -2023 Audited Financial Statements and announced that the 2024 Membership Fee for current and new members will be $55.00.
Full details are available in our 2022 – 2023 Annual Report
Election of Committee of Management
The Election of Office Bearers and Committee Members for the coming year was then conducted. As the number of nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies the following members were elected unopposed for the next 12 months:
President: Gary Walker
Vice Presidents: Athalie Edis and Ken Briscoe
Secretary: Sue Ebert
Treasurer: Colin Carter
Committee Members: Paulina Chong, Marlene Fernandes, Lorraine Fowles, Sue Fraser, Terry Hart, Bronwyn Hughes, Carola Lehmer, Andrew Lockwood, Elsie Mutton and Helen Smith.
Retiring Committee Members
Former Vice President Valerie Donlon and Treasurer Pauline Wang had both served their maximum term of four years in their respective roles and did not renominate. Committee Members Lindsay Glen, Frank Baseden and Mary Fox also did not renominate and incoming President Gary Walker paid tribute to their individual contributions to our U3A.
Retiring members were presented with gifts of appreciation on behalf of the Committee and membership.
Life Membership
Gary then presented Pauline Wang and Colin Carter with Life Membership in recognition of their service as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
Special General Meeting
The AGM was preceded by a Special General Meeting where members were asked to vote on three changes to our Constitution that reflect the size of our U3A and the use of our Member Administration System (UMAS). The following three changes were passed unanimously:
- Pre-printed ballot papers will now be used for elections of Office Bearers and Committee Members at Annual General Meetings.
- As applications for membership are not reviewed by the Committee but are completed once a member pays their membership fee, the word “apply” be removed.
- The number of members required to form a quorum at a general meeting to conduct any business is now 5% or 50.
50 years of U3A
Following the AGM, U3A Network Victoria President Annie Grigg presented highlights of the U3A Conference held in Queensland, celebrating 50 years of U3A. Her presentation is available here.
At the conclusion of the meetings, members and guests were invited to adjourn to the next room for a light lunch.