U3A Sunbury Committee Members and Key Volunteers – Overview of Roles

Note: The roles below are not a listing of Committee positions. Rather, it outlines basic roles needed by Sunbury U3A. Some Committee members may hold more than one role. Not all persons handling these various roles need to be on the Committee of Management, they could be a Key Volunteer, or a member of a sub-committee. Key Volunteer positions are appointed by the Committee.

The only Committee positions required to be filled under our Rules of Incorporation are the four Committee Office Bearers (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer). Office Bearer positions can only be held for a maximum of three years. 

President (Office Bearer):

  • Seek continuous improvement and actively work towards achieving clear goals in areas including funding, accommodation, volunteers, members, courses, events, technology and publicity.
  • Actively promote and establish links with other community, government, business and U3A groups.
  • Provide direction, motivation and support to all committee and Sunbury U3A members.
  • Chair all committee meetings, including the Annual General Meeting.
  • Present progress reports at each committee meeting and AGM.

Vice-President (Office Bearer):  (this role is generally performed in conjunction with another role)

  • Seek continuous improvement and actively work towards achieving goals in areas including funding, accommodation, volunteers, members, courses, events, technology and publicity.
  • Provide an additional source of leadership and support to the committee and Sunbury U3A membership.
  • Assist the President as required.

Treasurer (Office Bearer):

  • Maintain records of income and expenses for Sunbury U3A, including tracking grant income and expenditure.
  • Ensure that fiduciary standards are maintained and ensure all expenditure has committee approval.
  • Act as contact with Sunbury U3A’s bank and grant bodies.
  • Submit Sunbury U3A data to Consumer Affairs each year.
  • Maintain, update and pay insurance policies on behalf of Sunbury U3A.
  • Collect fees and maintain list of paid Memberships to verify with Membership Secretary.
  • Present financial statements at each committee meeting and AGM
  • Prepare and present an annual statement and future budget for approval by the Committee.
  • Assist with applications for funding and grants.

Secretary (Office Bearer):

  • Ensure the Constitution and Rules and By-Laws of Incorporations under which Sunbury U3A operates as an Incorporated Body are followed.
  • Act as contact person with the U3A Network, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Hume City Council and other bodies providing services to Sunbury U3A.
  • Maintain official records of important correspondence, meetings and policy documentation.
  • Ensure membership records are securely maintained.
  • Submit Sunbury U3A membership data to U3A Network Victoria each year.
  • Assist with applications for funding and grants.
  • Prepare and distribute the agenda for committee meetings and AGM.
  • Take notes and record decisions made at committee meetings and AGM, and produce minutes which, once approved at the subsequent meeting, become a final record.
  • Generate and respond to official correspondence as required.

Membership Secretary:

  • Manage members details in Sunbury U3A Members Administration System (UMAS) with UMAS coordinator.
  • Collect and process membership fees and follow up any outstanding fees.
  • Produce and distribute membership name tags.
  • Act as the point of contact and send out welcoming information to new and potential members.
  • Present list of new memberships to each committee meeting.
  • Act as almoner for Sunbury U3A.

UMAS Coordinator

  • Oversee and maintain all aspects of the Sunbury U3A Members Administration System (UMAS).
  • Provide UMAS assistance, instructions and training for administrators, coordinators, group leaders and members.
  • Perform system upgrades and rollover procedures as required.

Courses Coordinator:

  • Actively work towards achieving an interesting and entertaining range of courses.
  • Prepare and publish updated course information and timetable through UMAS and website each term.
  • Liaise with Webmaster to ensure all courses information on the website is current and accurate.
  • Meet with new leaders and introduce them to the spaces where they will be hosting their courses.
  • Liaise with, encourage, and support potential and current group leaders on an ongoing basis.
  • Liaise with venue owners regarding bookings and access for rooms and facilities for courses.
  • Assist Committee to arrange new venues as required.
  • Conduct meetings with group leaders at the end of each term.
  • Prepare brief progress reports for committee meetings.
  • Assist UMAS Coordinator with end of year Rollover procedures.

Courses Group:

  • Assist the Courses Coordinator as required.
  • Assistance may include:
  • Supporting new and existing group leaders as required.
  • Arranging venue bookings or equipment for courses.
  • Inputting course details into UMAS.
  • Liaising with Webmaster to add course details to website.
  • Managing attendance records and monitoring UMAS wait lists to fill any vacancies.

Events Coordinator:

  • Actively work towards achieving an interesting and entertaining range of speakers, outings and events.
  • Arrange bookings for speakers, outings and events.
  • Negotiate with speakers on any fees and expenses within the terms set by the committee.
  • Prepare speakers, outings and events information and promotional articles for the website.
  • Act as host to guest speakers and ensure facilities and audio/visual equipment are set up as required.

Events Group:

  • Assist the Events Coordinator as required.
  • Assistance may include:
  • Arranging venue bookings or equipment for outings or events.
  • Managing attendance records and monitoring UMAS wait lists to fill any vacancies.

Webmaster:

  • To be the primary contact for all members and committee regarding all things related to the website design, performance and content.
  • To advise the committee on how best the website may be used, and on future developments, updates, and enhancements.
  • To report to committee at the appropriate forums on the status of the website.
  • To ensure the website is maintained at a standard acceptable to committee and members.
  • To develop pages and posts as requested in the appropriate layout and design.
  • To ensure the requested pages deliver what is required and meet member’s needs.
  • To ensure that the website always has the latest updates for members on urgent matters such as Covid notices, re-enrollment, etc.

Webmaster Support:

  • To act as a backup to the Webmaster when needed. i.e. In the event of vacations, illness etc.
  • To ensure that the ‘backend’ of the website contains the appropriate tools for the Webmaster to carry out their responsibilities.
  • To ensure that the website is monitored for changes so that problems or mistakes can be remedied quickly and efficiently
  • To ensure that the websites statistic package provides usage data to the Webmaster and committee.
  • To advise the Webmaster on actions required to clean up the website, manage change over at year’s end, and ensure it manages its memory and speed.

Policy and Procedure Officer:

Develop, review, distribute, revise/update the policies, procedures and associated documentation.

Adhere to U3A Sunbury’s Constitutional standards and requirements.

Ensure the policy and procedure creation process is followed and content is properly reviewed by the committee of management prior to submission for publication.

Maintain and distribute policies, procedures, guidelines and forms via email for review by the committee of management.

Ensure all policies, procedures, guides and forms are registered once final approval by the committee of management and prior to publishing on the website.

Assist in training other members to take on the role where required.

Equipment and Property Manager:

  • Arrange repairs to property as required through property owners.
  • Maintain and update records of lease agreements as required.
  • Liaise with Treasurer to ensure venue rental is paid as required.
  • Maintain the assets and key register for Sunbury U3A.
  • Ensure equipment is in working order and stored correctly.
  • Arrange inspections and safety checks of facilities and equipment as required.
  • Arrange appropriate disposal of obsolete/damaged items.
  • Train group leaders in equipment use as required.
  • Obtain required supplies and equipment approved by Treasurer for group leaders and committee members.

Delegate Network Representative: (this role is generally performed in conjunction with another role)

  • Regularly attend and participate in U3A Network meetings as the Sunbury U3A representative.
  • Present reports of Network meetings to each committee meeting.