The Master Andrew Craddock, supported by the Honorary General Secretary Steve Castle, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, opened the meeting at 10.15 a.m. by asking Canon Barry Fry to say a prayer. He welcomed everybody, especially those attending for the first time.
The others attending were:
Andrew Banks, Andrew Byford, Michael Church, Val Cleaver, Colin Cook, Sue Craddock, John Davey, Barry Fry, Keith Gillings, Theo Johnson, Maureen Kelly, Wendy Ling, Brian Oakes, Sue Park, Margaret Paterson, Hugh Routh, Tony Smith, David Strong, Mary Tester, Barbara Townsend, Jack Walters, Phil Watts.
Marie Boniface, Mark Esbester, David Forder, Jonathan Hetherington, Val Williams.
The meeting stood to remember Steve McKenna of Purbrook, Gladys Matcham (LM) of Eling, Hazel Jonson of Froxfield, Monica Mason of Lymington, Mandy Treneer-Michell of Thruxton, Richard Green (LM) of Swanmore.
Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2005 were accepted by the meeting and signed by the Master as a true record.
There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.
Keith Sansom and David Forder will achieve 50 years membership in 2006.
The Guild Master proposed from the chair the election of Sue Craddock, Mo Routh and Tessa Smith to the currently vacant Social Committee. This was approved by the meeting with no votes against.
Sue Craddock then outlined a proposal to hold the Guild Dinner on Saturday 29 April 2006 at the Corus Hotel, formerly Potters Heron, Ampfield. The acceptance of these arrangements was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Theo Johnson and carried with no votes against. District officers were requested to encourage a good attendance with the approximately 80 tickets being allocated on a “First come first served“ basis.
| i. | Librarian & Archivist | £150 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ii. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | £75 | ||
| iii. | Education Committee | No bid required | ||
| iv. | Public Relations Committee | £430, including £250 extra for some colour in the Guild Newsletter. | ||
| Colin Cook also proposed the acquisition of a portable screen as a background for PR photos at a cost of £250 - £300. He was advised to investigate the possibility of using the Guild’s existing display stand for this purpose and to prepare a paper for the March Executive meeting. Acceptance of the original bid of £430 was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Colin Cook and carried unopposed. | ||||
| v. | Social Committee | No bid received | ||
| vi. | Striking Competition | No bid received | ||
| vii. | Guild Report Editor | £70 for postage from Channel islands | ||
Approval of bids i, ii and vii was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Maureen Kelly and carried unopposed.
Michael Bubb complimented the Belfry Stewardship Committee on the useful information gathered by the bell stock survey, which will assist the BRF Trustees in assessing the possible scope of future requests for grants. He requested a meeting between the BRF Trustees and the BSC Committee. This was agreed by Phil Watts, convenor of the BSC and will be held before the next Executive meeting.
No urgent requests for grants had been received which need consideration by this meeting.
Andrew Craddock reminded members of the need for candidates for the post of Vice-Master to be elected at the AGM in July 2006, who would be eligible to stand for election as Master in 2007. He invited nominations from the Districts.
The Basingstoke District had sought information regarding the publication of members’ name and address details under the current Data Protection Act. They were advised of the Guild’s minuted policy to ensure observance of the Act, implemented in March 2000. This means that permission must be given before contact details can be published on the Guild’s website, (Guild and District Officers and Tower Secretaries). Permission is not needed to publish such addresses plus names of all members in the Guild Report.
Steve Castle, as Honorary General Secretary, was requested to instigate a review of the permission forms and their usage regarding the Guild website. Phil Watts also requested the Honorary General Secretary to consider ways of making Guild policy and job guidance available to new Guild officers.
The Basingstoke District had requested guidance on the coverage of the Guild insurance policy (which is Public Liability only). And particularly how to handle requests for written declaration of insurance indemnity from towers being visited during a ringers outing. Michael Bubb has contacted the Guild’s insurance brokers for clarification and will publish guidance on the Guild website when it is finalised. It was confirmed that Tower bands ringing at other churches are covered by their church’s EIG insurance.
The Central Council is preparing to include Insurance advice in the Tower Management Handbook. More guidance may be available from Andrew Wilby, convenor of the Central Council’s new Tower Stewardship committee who is already in touch with EIG.
The Basingstoke District had prepared a proposal that Probationary Members should be given Guild reports, which would encourage them to visit other towers and make them more aware of the Guild.
Barry Fry restated the purpose of Probationary membership as providing immediate Guild third party insurance cover to new recruits at a cheap rate of subscription without waiting for a District meeting. The cheap rate was only possible because they did not get a Guild report. It was expected that by the time they were proficient enough ringers to be visiting other towers they would have been elected to full membership and therefore entitled to receive a Guild report.
The Report Editor David Strong advised District Secretaries to contact him if they needed more than the usual allocation of spare copies to give to new members.
Michael Church proposed that all towers with members be given one spare copy of the Guild Report, in addition to the 10 spares already given to District Secretaries. This was seconded by Val Cleaver. After David Strong had estimated the cost at approximately £100, the proposal was carried by a large majority.
The Honorary General Secretary agreed to ensure that the new member welcome packs (cards) were revised prior to a full implementation.
The original proposal that probationary members should be given Guild Reports was proposed by Keith Gillings, seconded by Margaret Paterson and defeated by a large majority.
Keith Gillings presented a proposal that the Guild should create a Repository for funds held by Towers that no longer had bands, for future use by a new band at that tower. It was pointed out that Tower funds for maintenance of the bell installation and ropes, ultimately came under the control of the Parochial Church Council if the band ceased to function.
Attention was drawn to a new Charities Act which was being prepared and would affect Bell Restoration Funds.
Phil Watts offered to supply Keith Gillings with the address of a relevant website. The meeting agreed that the Guild would not set up a Repository for Tower Funds of folding bands.
The Guild Master proposed a move to an alphabetical rota for Districts to host the Guild AGM instead of the order in Guild Rule 5 which had been generally observed up to now. This would start with the Alton & Petersfield who had hosted the 2004 AGM and the Channel Islands District who did it in 2005 and take account of Christchurch & Southampton District holding the AGM in 2006 instead of Andover District which under the rule 5 order would have been first in the new round. The remaining Districts would follow on alphabetically with a fully alphabetic order being established from 2012.
There was some discussion of the possible need for flexibility; whether the more geographically varied order in rule 5 was a definite rota or not; the need for a Rule Change if a different or more flexible order were to be adopted. Tony Smith proposed an amendment to the list circulated with the Agenda to show the order as in rule 5 with a straight swap between Andover and Christchurch & Southampton in the round of meetings starting in 2006. This would give AGM’s in the following Districts:
2006 - Christchurch & Southampton; 2007 - Portsmouth; 2008 - Winchester; 2009 - Andover; 2010 - Basingstoke; 2011 - Isle of Wight; 2012 - Alton & Petersfield; 2013 - Channel Islands.
The rule 5 order would then continue from 2014. This was carried by a large majority. Proposed dates for Executive Meetings and AGMs for the next 8 years had been distributed with the Agenda showing Executive meetings on the first Saturday in March and the third Saturday in November, with AGMs always on the usual date of first Saturday in July. Adoption of these dates was proposed by Steve Castle, seconded by John Davey and carried with no votes against.
Colin Cook reported on the progress of the working group investigating the possible acquisition of a portable mini-ring by the Guild. He proposed sending a questionnaire to all members to assess the likely use of and requirements for a mini-ring. This was seconded by Keith Gillings and carried unopposed.
20 May 2006 - 6 & 8 bell Tower Competitions;
1 July 2006 - 8 bell Inter-District Competition before the AGM;
2 September 2006 - 10 bell Inter-District Competition;
Tom Hinks of Romsey has been co-opted on to the Striking Competition Committee to assist with PR and communications. The advance publication of these dates was welcomed by the meeting, with the wish for this to continue in future.
11 March, 1 April, 31 October, 18 November. The meeting hoped that the clash with Executive Committee meetings could be avoided in future.
This was confirmed as Saturday 11 March 2006 at St Barnabas Church Hall, at 10.15 a.m.
The AGM will be on Sat 1 July in Christchurch Priory
The November 2006 Executive meeting was set for 18 November 2006.
Tony Smith had progressed this work to its current almost complete state. He asked Jack Walters to take it over and see it through to publication. The author, Rev David Crawley had agreed some enhancements and further progress was expected soon.
Thanks were expressed to David Strong and his organising team for this great event. He requested guidance for any similar event in the future on the advisability of holding ringing tours at the same time as Guild Striking Competition and AGM. Given the presence of non-members as well as Guild members, this was felt to be unavoidable in the time available.
David Strong raised a query on the Guild’s entry in the 2006 Diary, which was later found not to be a problem.
The Guild’s good wishes were expressed to George Evenden and Kevin Mintram, both seriously ill.
Michael Church paid tribute to Richard Green (Life Member), a previous Guild Honorary General Secretary and Peal Recorder who died on 6 November. Richard had earned respect for the way he had handled a progressive illness and had made a great contribution to the Guild and ringing in general.
The Master closed the meeting with The Grace at 12.25 p.m.