Adopted 28 October 1995
(Amended 26th April 1998, 24th April and 23rd
October 1999)
1 GENERAL
1.1 Title
1.1.1 The Association shall be called
"The Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild
of Church Bell Ringers".
1.2 Aims
1.2.1 The aims of the Association shall be
to:
- support and encourage bell ringing as
a Church activity
- foster the art of change ringing
- increase the number of active bell
ringers and bands
- assist with the maintenance,
installation, repair and restoration of bells and
belfries in and around the county of Middlesex and the
Diocese of London.
1.3 Patron
1.3.1 The Lord Bishop of the Diocese shall
be invited to be Patron.
1.4 Districts
1.4.1 The Association may be divided into
Districts, as determined from time to time by general meetings of
the Association.
1.5 Central Council of Church Bell
Ringers
1.5.1 The Association shall be affiliated
to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and shall abide by
its rules and decisions. Representatives shall be elected to the
Council in accordance with the Council's Rules.
2 CONSTITUTION
2.1.1 The following Officers shall be
elected annually:
- President - for a maximum period of 3
consecutive years.
- Master - for a maximum period of 3
consecutive years.
- General Secretary
- Assistant Secretary
- General Treasurer
- Bell Restoration Fund Treasurer
- Librarian
- Report Editor
- Peal Recorder
- Membership Secretary
- Training Officer
- Three Trustees
2.1.2 Vice-Presidents. Members of the
Association who have performed meritorious service may be elected
Vice-Presidents for life, by a two-thirds majority of voting
members at a General Meeting of the Association.
2.1.3 There shall
also be elected annually three members of the Bell Restoration
Committee, and an Independent Examiner or honorary auditor.
2.1.4 Representatives to the Central
Council shall be elected in accordance with rules of the Central
Council of Church Bell Ringers.
2.2 Types of Members
2.2.1 Ordinary members shall be elected at
any minuted District meeting, or provisionally (proposed and
seconded) at other Association or District event or prior to a
peal, to be confirmed at the next minuted District meeting.
Ordinary members shall pay a joining fee on election or
provisional election, annual subscriptions thereafter and be
entitled to vote. They shall receive the Annual Report and such
benefits as the Association shall decide from time to time.
Ordinary membership shall be valid for each year in which a
joining fee or annual subscription has been paid (see rule 2.3.2).
2.2.2 Associate members shall be former
Ordinary members who wish to retain an affiliation with the
Association. Associate members shall not be required to pay
annual subscriptions. They shall not be allowed to vote nor
propose nor second new members. They shall not receive the
Annual Report nor other benefits of Ordinary membership but shall
be entitled to ring in peals credited to the Association.
2.2.3 Ordinary Life members shall be
Ordinary members who qualify under Rule 2.3.5 to pay no
(further) subscriptions. They shall retain all the rights and
benefits of Ordinary members.
2.2.4 Honorary Life members shall be
elected at any minuted Association meeting in recognition of
their contribution to the Association; they shall not pay a
joining fee nor annual subscriptions. Honorary Life members shall
receive the same rights and benefits as Ordinary members.
2.2.5 Each member
shall be attached to one District for administrative purposes.
All members except Associate members shall be listed in the
Annual Report.
Note: The existing Life Member at 23rd
October 1999 shall be titled Honorary Life member; the existing
Honorary Members (elected under previous rules) shall remain as
such; the existing Non-resident Members shall be titled Associate
Members; the existing "Ordinary members of more than 40
years annual subscriptions" shall be titled Ordinary Life
Members.
2.3 Subscriptions
2.3.1 The collection of joining fees and
subscriptions shall be the responsibility of the District
Secretaries.
2.3.2 Annual
subscriptions shall be due on 1 January of each year of
membership, and should be paid no later than 1st March. Joining
fees shall be due on election. Annual subscriptions may be paid
in advance at the current rate.
2.3.3 The Association may amend the fees
and subscriptions at a General Meeting, such amendments requiring
the support of the majority of those voting on the proposal.
Notice of any amendment must be received by the General Secretary
at least 21 days before the meeting at which it is to be
considered.
2.3.4 The Association
may fix a reduced joining fee and annual subscription for those
ordinary members who are aged less than 19 years.
2.3.5 Ordinary
members who have paid 40 years' annual subscriptions may choose
to become Ordinary Life members and shall no longer be required
to pay further subscriptions and shall retain voting rights.
Subscriptions may be paid in advance at the current rate.
Alternatively, Ordinary members may become Ordinary Life members
on payment of a fee which shall be decided from time to time by
the Association.
2.3.6 A schedule of fees and subscriptions,
including rates in accordance with paragraphs 2.3.4 and 2.3.5, together with benefits of membership shall be
published in the Annual Report.
3 GENERAL
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Officers' Duties
3.1.1 The President shall be the active
Chairman of the Association
3.1.2 The Vice-Presidents may act as
deputies for the President
3.1.3 The Master shall arrange all ringing
at general level and coordinate other ringing with District
Ringing Masters.
3.1.4 The General Secretary shall
administer the Association's general activities, assisted by the
Assistant Secretary, and shall convene the Central Committee.
3.1.5 The President, Master and General
Secretary shall be ex-officio members of all Association
Committees.
3.1.6 The General Treasurer shall be
responsible for the general funds and shall pay out of the
appropriate fund the normal running expenses of the Association
and any other payments which have been agreed by General Meetings
of the Association or by the Central Committee.
3.1.7 The Bell Restoration Fund Treasurer
shall be responsible for all monies received for the Fund and for
payment from the Fund of authorised grants or loans, and shall
convene the Bell Restoration Committee.
3.1.8 The Librarian shall be responsible
for the safe keeping of the Association's books, ringing papers,
records and archives, and access thereto.
3.1.9 The Report Editor shall produce an
Annual Report to include audited accounts as directed by the
Central Committee.
3.1.10 The Peal Recorder shall maintain a
record of all peals rung for the Association and their
compositions where appropriate.
3.1.11 The Membership Secretary shall keep
written records of all members of the Association.
3.1.12 The Training
Officer shall convene the Training Committee and coordinate the
Association's training activities and shall be responsible to the
General Treasurer for the management of the Training Fund.
3.1.13 The three Trustees shall oversee the
Association property and funds, their whereabouts and
signatories, and deal with any unforeseen contingency, and if
necessary call an immediate meeting of the Central Committee or
of the Association.
3.1.14 The Central Council Representatives
shall represent the Association's interests and give an account
of matters of interest at Central Committee meetings and General
meetings.
3.2 Central Committee
3.2.1 The government of the Association
shall be invested in a Central Committee consisting of the
President, Vice-Presidents, Master, General Secretary, Assistant
Secretary, General Treasurer, Bell Restoration Fund Treasurer,
Librarian, Report Editor, Peal Recorder, Membership Secretary,
Training Officer, Trustees, one representative of the Bell
Restoration Committee, the Central Council Representatives, and
two District Officers from each District.
3.2.2 The Central Committee shall meet at
least once a year, and the quorum shall be ten.
3.3 Association Funds
3.3.1 There shall be a Central Fund for the
administration of the Association, a Bell Restoration Fund, a
Training Fund and any other such fund as may be determined by
General Meetings of the Association
3.3.2 Transfer may be made from the Central
Fund to the Bell Restoration Fund each year, the amount being
determined by the Central Committee.
3.4 General Meetings
3.4.1 The Annual General Meeting of the
Association shall normally be held on the fourth Saturday in
April for the purpose of receiving the audited accounts for each
fund and the reports of Officers and Committees; for the election
of Officers, and for any other business.
3.4.2 The Association shall hold an Autumn
General Meeting normally on the fourth Saturday in October to
conduct such business as may be appropriate.
3.4.3 Notice of these meetings shall be
given through the "Ringing World".
3.4.4 Special General Meetings may be
called at any time by the Central Committee, or by the General
Secretary at the written request of not fewer than twenty
members.
3.4.5 The quorum for General Meetings shall
be thirty voting members.
4 DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Function
4.1.1 To implement the aims of the
Association at a local level and to hold Business Meetings.
4.1.2 Those eligible to vote at District
Business Meetings are the voting members attached to that
District (see paragraph 2.2.5).
4.1.3 The quorum at District Business
Meetings shall be ten, including at least two District Officers.
4.2 Officers
4.2.1
Each District shall elect annually a Ringing Master and Secretary
and any such other Officers as are considered necessary. It shall
also elect two representatives to the Bell Restoration Committee
and two representatives to the Training Committee. It shall send
two Officers to the Central Committee. Each District shall also
appoint an Independent Examiner or honorary auditor.
4.2.2 District Secretaries
shall be responsible for collecting joining fees and annual
subscriptions for the Ordinary members attached to their
District. District Secretaries shall be responsible for
distributing Annual Reports to members of the Association.
4.3 District Committee
4.3.1 In each District there shall be a
Committee consisting of the District Officers, the District
representatives to the Bell Restoration Committee and to the
Training Committee, and a representative of each active band in
the District.
4.3.2 The quorum at meetings shall be seven
and shall include at least two District Officers.
4.3.3 Meetings of the District Committee
shall be held at least annually and minuted.
4.4 District Funds
4.4.1 Each year before 21 December, each
District Secretary shall remit to the General Treasurer the
balance of all monies received after payment of the normal
running expenses of the District. They shall also submit audited
accounts of the District to the General Treasurer by the end of
February of the following year.
4.5 Annual Meeting
4.5.1 Each District shall hold an annual
meeting not later than the last Saturday in February for the
election of Officers, to receive an audited statement of District
accounts for the previous year, and for the transaction of any
other business.
5 BELL RESTORATION
COMMITTEE
5.1 There shall be a Bell Restoration
Committee for the purpose of:
- Provision of help and advice on the
planning and execution of maintenance, repairs,
installations and restorations in bell towers
- To maintain and enhance the Bell
Restoration Fund
5.2 The Bell Restoration Fund shall be
registered as a charity in law, and shall be administered as
required by the separate rules of the fund.
5.3 Members of the Bell Restoration
Committee shall be as set out in rules 2.1.1, 2.1.3 and 4.2.1. Other persons may be co-opted to assist with the
Committee's work.
5.4 Applications for grants and loans shall
be made in writing to the General Secretary giving details of
approved work to be carried out and estimates of the costs
involved. Such applications shall be considered by the Bell
Restoration Committee who shall make a recommendation to a
General Meeting of the Association. Applications for a grant or
loan shall be considered by a General Meeting, normally with a
recommendation from the Bell Restoration Committee.
5.5 The Bell Restoration Committee may,
without making a recommendation to a General Meeting of the
Association, exceptionally make loans to a value of not more than
£500 each, with a total outstanding at any one time of no more
than £1,000 to help support emergency repairs at an active tower
in the Association. The Bell Restoration Committee shall advise
the Central Committee and the next General Meeting of such loans,
which may at that time be converted to grants.
5.6 The Bell Restoration Committee shall
report to each Central Committee and Association General Meeting.
5.7 The quorum for meetings of the
Committee considering grants or loans shall be five.
6 TRAINING COMMITTEE
6.1 There shall be a Training Committee for
promoting the training of ringers throughout the Association.
6.2 Members of the Training Committee shall
be as set out in Rules 3.1.12 and 4.2.1. Other persons may be co-opted to assist with the
Committee's work.
6.3 The Training Committee shall report to
each Central Committee and Association General Meeting.
7 PEALS
7.1 A true peal may be credited to the
Association provided that all the members of the band are members
of the Association under the provisions of rule 2.2
et seq.
7.2 The conductor of any peal rung for the
Association shall forward the composition to the Peal Recorder if
requested.
8 AMENDMENT OF RULES
8.1 Amendment to these rules shall only be
made at a General Meeting or a Special General Meeting of the
Association.
8.2 Notice of any amendment must be
received by the General Secretary at least 28 days before the
meeting so that notice may be given to members 14 days before the
meeting.
8.3 Amendments to the rules shall require
the support of two-thirds of all those voting at the meeting.
SCHEDULE OF SUBSCRIPTION FEES
AND BENEFITS
| Membership |
Joining Fee |
Annual
Subscription |
Can
vote? |
Can ring peals? |
Receive benefits?
(Annual report, Mddx. Bell News, Insurance) |
| Ordinary (adult) |
Adult fee |
Adult fee |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ordinary (juniors
aged less than 19 years) |
½ Adult fee |
½ Adult fee |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ordinary Life |
40 x Adult fee
(cumulative)
or
20 x Adult fee(one-off) |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Associate |
None (see rule 2.2.2) |
None |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Honorary Life |
None |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Honorary
(elected under
previous rules) |
None |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Fees as at 1 January 2005: |
|
|
| |
Adult Fee: |
£8 |
RULES FOR THE
INTER-DISTRICT STRIKING COMPETITION
"THE AUDREY TAYLOR CUP"
1. This competition will be held on the same day as the Annual General Meeting, with timing to be agreed by the Master and District Ringing Masters.
2. One team from each District will take part.
3. The composition of each team will be decided by the respective District Ringing Master. Each member of
the team should ring regularly within that District and be a member of the Association. No ringer may ring for more than one
team.
4. A draw will be made immediately prior to the start of the competition and the teams will ring in the order
resulting from that draw, with no subsequent alterations in this order allowed.
5. Two minutes' practice is permitted prior to the test piece, with a steward to time this practice.
6. One bell will be struck for two whole pulls to alert the adjudicator(s) that the test piece is about to
be rung.
7. The test piece each year will be decided upon by the Association Master, after consultation with the
District Ringing Masters.
8. These rules may only be amended at an Association General Meeting.
RULES FOR THE RHODESIA PLATE AND ASSOCIATION PLATE
1. These competitions will take place prior to the Autumn General Meeting, held on the fourth Saturday of
October each year.
2. Bands taking part are the first two in each District competition, plus the current holders of the plates.
3. If either of the first two teams are unable to participate, then their place will be taken by the team coming third.
4. The test piece will be two 120s of Doubles or Minor, with five or six whole pulls of rounds in between.
5. Two minutes' practice will be allowed with a steward in the tower.
6. Each team will signify their readiness to ring by two whole pulls on a single bell.
7. The Rhodesia Plate will be awarded to the band with the best individual 120 and the Association Plate to the band with the best combined score.
8. The Rhodesia Plate is a challenge trophy and the winners may be challenged at any time.
9. No ringer may ring for more than one team.
10. A team which "fires out" will not be permitted to ring again.
11. The decision of the judge(s) is final.
RULES FOR THE HANDBELL CHANGE RINGING COMPETITION "THE GOODFELLOW CUP"
1. The competition shall be known as "The Goodfellow Cup" in memory of Frederick W Goodfellow (1905-1990).
2. The object of the competition is to encourage the art of change ringing on handbells by members of the Association.
3. The competition shall be held annually.
4. The winning band shall be awarded the cup donated to the Association by F W Goodfellow, and known as "The Goodfellow Cup".
5. Each band shall consist of four Ordinary or Associate members of the Association.
6. The majority of the members of each band shall ring together regularly on tower bells or handbells.
7. The composition of each band shall differ from every other band in the majority of its members.
8. The conduct of the competition shall be under the direction of the Association Master or their appointed deputy, whose interpretation of these rules shall be final.
9. The competition shall be judged by one or more competent handbell ringers.
10. Ringing shall take place on the set of eight handbells bequeathed to the Association by F W Goodfellow.
11. The order in which the bands ring shall be determined by drawing lots.
12. The judge or judges shall be positioned so that they cannot see the band which is ringing, and shall not know the order in which the bands ring.
13. Ringing shall otherwise take place in full view of non-participants.
14. The test piece shall consist of at least 200 changes of Triples or Major rung double-handed with the bells retained in hand throughout.
15. Each band must submit details of its test piece to the judge or judges before ringing.
16. A band which breaks down shall be allowed one further attempt to ring the test piece without penalty.
17. The decision of the judge or judges shall be final.
RULES FOR THE SIX BELL HANDBELL CHANGE RINGING COMPETITION "THE PHIL CUCKSON CHALLENGE SHIELD"
1. The competition shall be known as "The Phil Cuckson Challenge Shield" after Phil Cuckson and his friends who inspired the notion of a six bell competition.
2. The competition aims to encourage handbell ringing by members of the Association, particularly those who ring on six bells.
3. The competition shall be held annually.
4. The winning band shall be awarded the shield donated to the Association by Phil Cuckson and his friends and known as the "Phil Cuckson Challenge Shield".
5. Each band shall consist of three ringers of whom at least two should be current members of the Middlesex Association.
6. The majority of the members of each band shall ring together regularly on tower bells or handbells in the Middlesex area.
7. The composition of each band shall differ from every other band in the majority of its members.
8. The conduct of the competition shall be under the direction of the Association Master or their appointed deputy, whose interpretation of these rules shall be final.
9. The competition shall be judged by one or more competent handbell ringers.
10. Each band shall ring on the same set of six handbells which will be provided.
11. The order in which the bands ring shall be determined by drawing lots.
12. The judge or judges shall be positioned so that they cannot see the band which is ringing, and shall not know the order in which the bands ring.
13. Ringing shall otherwise take place in full view of non-participants.
14. The test piece shall consist of at least 120 changes of Doubles or Minor rung double-handed with the bells retained in hand throughout. This does not exclude Plain Hunt
15. Each band must submit details of its test piece to the judge or judges before ringing.
16. If the ringing should break down, the band shall be allowed two further attempts to ring the test piece without penalty.
17. The decision of the judge or judges shall be final.
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