Important Membership News
The annual audit of accounts in April has always been made unnecessarily difficult due to renewal fees being received throughout the month, spanning both the end of the current financial year and the beginning of the new one. Following discussions with other U3A Groups and after taking professional advice the Committee have agreed to give the membership of Taunton U3A an extra 3 months on their membership year, 2025-26 at no extra cost.
The next time that you will be asked to pay your subscription will be on 1st July 2026 and the next membership year will run from July 1st 2026 until June 30th, 2027.
The amount of the annual subscription will be confirmed at the time of the AGM in June.
Having discussed how other U3As handle membership cards, it has also been decided that physical membership cards will not be issued this year. Members will receive an email with confirmation that their records have been updated which will also have a copy of a card attached. Those few members without email will receive a letter. Cards do not need to be produced to convenors since they have the records of those who have renewed their membership on the Beacon system.
The amount of time that members will be granted to renew their membership will be 2 months (i.e. until 1st September 2026). Thereafter, they will be treated as having lapsed and will have to apply as new members and pay the rate which is applicable on that date. Members who are going to be away for some time will have to decide whether to arrange to pay the renewal fee by internet banking, or leave a cheque with the membership secretary, or enrol again on their return at the rate due on that date.
Jonathan Kilby (membership secretary) and Trish Kenward (Treasurer)