The Master David Strong, supported by the Honorary General Secretary Pam Thompson, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, opened the meeting with a prayer at 10.18 a.m.
He welcomed everybody, especially Pam Thompson (newly appointed General Secretary) and John Palk (observer) attending for the first time.
Michael Bubb welcomed David Strong who was chairing his first Executive meeting as Guild Master.
The others attending were:
Anne Bailey, Andrew Banks, Andrew Case, Michael Church, Val Cleaver, Andrew Craddock, Sue Craddock, John Davey, Keith Gillings, Maureen Kelly, June Mitchell, Rosemary Oakeshott (for Communications Committee Convenor), Sue Park, Tony Smith, Mary Tester, Barbara Townsend, Jack Walters, Mike Winterbourne.
Roger Barber, David Forder, Gill Gardener, Adam Greenley, Jon Hetherington, Andy Ingram, Theo Johnson, Margaret Patterson, Bruce Purvis,
The meeting stood to remember Armine Wodehouse of Goodworth Clatford, Keith Walpole of St Michael Basingstoke (District Ringing Master), Val Welch of Ryde.
Minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2007 had been distributed with the agenda for this meeting. A tidier version with no substantive changes was accepted by the meeting and signed by the Master as a true record.
Tony Smith questioned the authority of the Executive Committee to approve a donation towards the restoration of William Rayner’s tomb. The money has not yet been paid and the proposal will be put to the 2008 AGM.
Following the Executive Committee’s wish to continue to meet in St Barnabas Church Hall, and to pay for its use, a hire charge of £50 had been agreed for this meeting and the hall booked at the same rate for the two meetings in 2008. Approval of these arrangements was proposed by Mike Bubb, seconded by Tony Smith and agreed with no votes against.
Barbara Townsend distributed copies of a revised draft incorporating all comments received so far, though more were available from Andrew Craddock. After considering printing costs and the likely number of copies required, it was decided to make the leaflet available on the Guild website for printing locally as required with no central stock of printed copies.
It was proposed by Tony Smith and seconded by Barbara Townsend that the draft be updated by Barbara Townsend then handed over to the Communication Committee for placing on the Guild website and maintaining it. This proposal was agreed by the meeting with no votes against.
The master thanked Barbara Townsend and Wendy Ling for their work on this task.
Rosemary Oakshot proposed John Palk to fill the vacancy of Report Editor until the next AGM when the election would have to be confirmed under rule 5. This was seconded by Andrew Craddock and as there were no other candidates this proposal was approved by the meeting with no votes against.
Michael Bubb took the chair for this item. John Davey proposed David Strong to fill the vacancy of Central Council Representative until the next AGM when the election would have to be confirmed under rule 5. This was seconded by Sue Park. There were no other candidates and this proposal was approved by the meeting unopposed.
It was confirmed that John Rolfe of Wickham and Anne Biddlecombe of Alton St Laurence will achieve 50 years membership in 2008.
| i. | Librarian & Archivist | £100 | Proposed by Jack Walters, seconded by Tony Smith | |||
| ii. | Guild Report Editor | £50 | Proposed by John Palk, seconded by John Davey | |||
| iii. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | £100 | Proposed by Andy Banks, seconded by John Davey | |||
| iv. | Education Committee | Nil | ||||
| v. | Communications Committee | £450 | Proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Keith Gillings | |||
| (Domain Name Renewals £20, Web Hosting £50, Newsletter Printing £320, Post & Packing £60) | ||||||
| vi. | Social Committee | Nil | ||||
| vii. | Striking Competition Committee | £50 | Proposed by John Davey, seconded by Mike Winterbourne | |||
| viii. | Public Relations Officer | £100 | Proposed by Andrew Craddock, seconded by Andy Banks | |||
| (For a promotional film on DVD) | ||||||
All these bids were individually approved by the meeting with no votes against.
Jack Walters reported on grants already made: Major work at Romsey is virtually complete; The smaller project at Abbots Ann is in progress.
A grant request from Whitwell Isle of Wight has been deferred pending clarification and granting a faculty.
An appeal from St John’s Jersey against the AGM decision to decline a grant, has been answered with a request for more information to support a possible new grant request to be placed before the 2008 AGM.
Michael Bubb reported progress in the search for a Public Liability policy to include maintenance work in towers. The E.I.O. could provide straightforward Public Liability cover for Guild members at a premium of £450; AXA could provide members with Public Liability cover including bell maintenance for £1000. Cover for bell restoration work would then have to be added on a project by project basis.
Members are advised to check their Church insurance policy to see if maintenance by members of the band is covered, the PCC may have to take a vote on it.
It was proposed by Barbara Townsend, seconded by Andy Banks and agreed by the meeting that the AXA policy with bell maintenance be accepted subject to further investigation by the Guild Officers.
| 1 March, 19 April | - Training days | |
| 18 or 19 March, | - An Evening in Holy Week | |
| 11 October, | ||
| 22 November. |
Mike Winterbourne requested Districts to try and avoid these dates when arranging District events.
Sue Craddock gave details of a provisional booking at Alton House Hotel on 17 May 2008. The change of date is due to Hampshire 2008 school holidays not including Easter. The dinner will cost £25, with rooms available at a concessionary rate. It is hoped to arrange afternoon activities as proved successful in 2007.
| 17 May | - 6 and 8 bell competitions. The venue is to be checked to see if this is compatible with the Dinner on the same day. |
| 5 July | - Inter-District 8 bell. (AGM day) |
| 6 Sept | - Inter-District 10 bell Tony Smith’s proposal that this date should be changed away from the Ringing Roadshow was seconded by Barbara Townsend and approved unopposed. |