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E-Bulletin : January 2019
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FROM THE EDITOR:
Welcome to a new year - I hope 2019 will be another exciting and fulfilling year for everyone - we appreciate your ongoing contribution to building U3A into the vibrant movement that it is today.
Our 2019 Conference is shaping up to be one of the best yet - not only in the content of the actual Conference but also in the activities which will surround it. For details and updates go to our dedicated Conference website - and don't forget the "Earlybird" conference rate only lasts until 8th February, so save money by registering now.
2019 will be a big year for your Network as we realise some of the opportunities created by having a uniform identity through proper registration of our Trade Mark - these range from greater access to the resources of the UK Third Age Trust through to commissioning U3A-branded stationery available for order by our member U3As, and much in between. Look out for our exciting initiatives as the year progresses.
Please feel free to share this E-Bulletin with other members of your Committee. We also invite them to subscribe here so they can receive our communications directly themselves. As always, we welcome feedback and submissions for distribution to member U3As - you can contact us by clicking here. If you are no longer interested in receiving E-Bulletins, you can unsubscribe here.
And again, welcome to 2019!
Ian Robertson
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CONFERENCE 2019
Registrations are now open
Make the most of our Early Bird Special price of $95 (normally $110)
available only until 8th February 2019
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!!
Click here to see the Program (subject to change)
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Network Volunteer Recruitment
As the Network expands its activities for the benefit of members while trying to keep membership fees to a minimum, we are looking for volunteers in a number of areas. These currently include:
- Committee: While all positions are elected at the AGM in April, we know that some current Committee members will not be re-nominating. These include the Secretary and Regional Reps for the Far North Coast and Murray/Murrumbidgee regions. If you are interested in standing for these or any other Committee positions, please contact the President, Ian Robertson, at president@nsw.u3anet.org.au to discuss.
- Network Subject Advisers: The Network is in the preliminary stages of investigating the introduction of volunteer Subject Advisers - people with a passion and in-depth knowledge of specific subject areas (no matter how esoteric) who would support and mentor others across the U3A network teaching the same subject. The delivery model will be similar to that used in the UK, where Subject Advisers primarily use internet resources to communicate with others, produce occasional online newsletters and may create course templates. If you are interested in helping establish this service, or would like more information, please email a brief outline of your background and interest area(s) to president@nsw.u3anet.org.au
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Questions we get asked
At the Network we get lots of questions from those volunteers who are involved in running their local U3A. We'd like to share some of these, and the answers we provide, with you.
Question: Do we need to have keep a "roll" (attendance record) for every class or activity, for example for insurance purposes?
Answer: We passed this question on to our insurer, Aon, who provides Public Liability Insurance to many of our members through the Network's group insurance scheme. If your U3A is not part of our scheme then you should check with your insurer.
Aon's response was: "Your insurance is not conditional upon attendance records being kept. However, attendance records are recommended as good risk management so you know who is where and doing what. Should a claim arise and you have proof that the person was there it will make investigating the claim easier."
Our Governance Officer, Carmen Champion, adds: "Under the NSW Associations Incorporation Act it is compulsory that a members register be kept providing the details specified in the Act, including the date when the person became a member and when he/she ceases being a member. If that requirement is strictly adhered to there is less need to keep records of who attends what courses and when. However, accurate attendance records are still advisable as back up because barristers are paid to find loopholes when a claim arises, especially a major one, so much better to play it safe! "
Should your U3A decide to keep Attendance Records, then you will also need to decide the best possible way of ensuring that they are an accurate record. They will also need to be stored somewhere accessible for an appropriate period (which should be at least 5 years). Some may use a paper-based approach, and others may do it online using their own software or programs such as MyU3A. If you would like some guidance with this, please contact Carmen (see below).
If you have a governance question, you can contact our Governance Officer, Carmen Champion by email at carmenchampion18@gmail.com
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Learning to be Retired
Two U3A members in the UK, Carol Ellis (Bromley U3A) and Julia South (Sheffield U3A), have developed a five week short-course (two hours per week) called Learning to be Retired, which they are happy to share with U3As in Australia.
The course is aimed at U3A members who are experiencing some challenges with adjusting to life as retirees. The course has great potential to attract not only existing members, but also newly-retired people who may become life-long converts (and contributors) to your U3A.
Although some content is UK-specific, most is relevant no matter where you live. Carol explains "It covers a range of topics including exploring our values; considering any limiting beliefs we may hold; looking at skills we have that we may wish to continue using; how we manage our time in retirement and the various opportunities open to us. It does not cover financial matters. But, the really important thing about the course is that it doesn’t try to ‘tell’ people how they should manage retirement but supports them in finding their own way forward."
"There is an overall plan and script for each week of the course, plus handouts for each session. Just a few of the handouts will need to be updated to include local information. It is up to individual course leaders how much they decide to deviate from the script but each session is carefully balanced to ensure that course participants are actively involved and that no session turns into a lecture."
"Group numbers should be limited to between 6 and 12. This ensures that the group is small enough to bond and for each participant to contribute to discussions, but large enough to ensure that the discussion takes off and participants are able to hear about other's experiences. Most importantly, people will be discussing their life experiences, concerns, hopes and aspirations so it is imperative that rules of confidentiality and respect for others are adhered to by participants and course leaders"
"I normally speak to all potential course leaders in the UK to ensure they have understood the rather different nature of this course and that they are comfortable with leading such a group. Obviously, this would not be possible for me to do with potential course leaders in Australia but I would like to be able to at least have an email conversation with them (maybe even a Skype conversation if necessary)."
If you are interested in finding out more about the course, or in introducing it to your U3A, contact Carol at ltbrU3A@outlook.com
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Update your Network Membership NOW!
Every organisational member of the U3A Network NSW needs to update their member numbers and indicate requirements for Network services (Insurance, Copyright licences etc.) before the Network can issue annual membership invoices.
This process also provides an opportunity for you to keep the Network informed of any changes to your Committee that may have taken place in the previous year. Your annual return is due by 31st January 2019.
Currently our online database is out of action awaiting an upgrade, so an information update form has been emailed to the current email address we have for your Treasurer. If this was not received, or you are requesting new membership, then you can download the form as a Word document here, or a PDF version here.
All completed forms can be either emailed to treasurer@nsw.u3anet.org.au or posted to "U3A Network NSW Treasurer, PO Box 860, Toronto, NSW, 2283". If your AGM has not yet been held we request that you still return the form by 31st January with details of your current executive, then send another form after your AGM, with just the updated contact details completed.
An invoice for your membership, licencing and insurance requirements will be emailed to your Treasurer in February 2019. The invoice will include method of payment details.
For any further information, please contact info@nsw.u3anet.org.au
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What Copyright Licences do you need?
An explanation of Copyright requirements would take up many pages, so the following is only a very basic overview.
U3As are NOT automatically considered to be Educational Institutions for the purposes of the Copyright Act. However, the U3A Network NSW has gone through the registration process with the relevant organisations and is listed as an Educational Institution. This registration extends to our member U3As provided that annual licence fees are paid through us.
If your U3A does not obtain its licences through the Network then you need to make your own arrangements with the various copyright collection agencies or risk being in breach of Copyright law.
The Network has negotiated the lowest possible licence fees with each Copyright collection agency. We recommend that all members take out licences through us with both the Copyright Agency and Screenrights as only then will your U3A be fully covered by the special Statutory Licence for Educational Institutions under the Copyright Act.
The Statutory Licence
Copying and communicating text, images and notated music:
The statutory licence allows educational institutions covered by a licence with Copyright Agency to copy and communicate text, images and notated music for educational purpose up to certain limits. Not only can educational institutions make hard copies of material for their students, they can also upload the material to a secured shared drive or learning management system or email the material to students directly. In most cases, the amount that can be copied and communicated is limited to a “reasonable portion” (eg., 10% or 1 chapter) if the work is available for purchase. A specific notice must be included with digital copies and communications. Copies cannot be sold or used for a purpose other than education.
Copying and communicating material from TV and radio:
The statutory licence allows educational institutions covered by a licence with Screenrights to record from radio and TV for educational purposes, and to copy and communicate those recordings. It allows for an entire program to be recorded and copied, even if you can buy that program (on DVD, for example). The statutory licence only applies to audiovisual material sourced from a broadcast. It does not apply to purchased, rented or borrowed DVDs or videos, nor does it apply to streaming platforms, a digital download or podcast, unless it is a program that has been shown as a free-to-air broadcast and has been made available online by the official broadcaster (eg., on the ABC website). Copies cannot be sold or used for a purpose other than education.
Additional Licences
Apart from the Statutory Licence, the Network holds a Community Band,Choir and Performance Group licence with AMRA/AMCOS. If you take out this licence through the Network this allows your U3A to use copyrighted music in association with free public events and performances, and also to use music as part of a class or rehearsal, for example with an exercise group, a choir, during yoga sessions, for musical appreciation groups etc.
AMRA/AMCOS will be shortly joining forces with another agency, PCCA, to offer "One Music", a combined licence which will cover most uses of copyrighted music in public spaces. The Network is involved in consultations to ensure that the best deal for this licence is available to our members.
What About Films, DVDs and Videos?
You do not generally need permission to screen a film, DVD or video in class for non-profit educational instruction. However, you need to be very careful that there are no members of the public present (i.e. only current paid-up members of your U3A are watching) and that there is an educational component to the session (i.e. it is not just for pleasure). For more information click here and then download the PDF file - and a warning: you may want to get a cup of tea and your thinking hat on before you settle down to read the attached information sheet!
If your U3A is offering any activities that you think may not be covered by one of our existing licences, please contact your Regional Representative or email treasurer@nsw.u3anet.org.au
Note that all the above is general advice only - you should make your own enquiries before undertaking any activities that may require copyright compliance. |
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