1) Title

The Association shall be called ‘THE SHROPSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BELLRINGERS FOR THE ARCHDEACONRY OF SALOP’, hereinafter called the Association.

2) Affiliation

The Association shall be affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and shall abide by all decisions of that body.

3) Objectives

a) To ensure that Church bells are rung for Divine Service and to ensure the recognition of ringers as Church workers

b) To promote the art of ringing and bring ringers into a closer relationship with each other

c) To ensure the maintenance of bells and belfries in a proper condition

d) To extend the appreciation of ringing among the general public

4) Membership

a) There shall be:

(i) Full members who may be elected at any business meeting or prior to a peal attempt. In the latter case, the election must be ratified at the next business meeting.

(ii) Formerly resident life members who shall live outside the archdeaconry and not be members of a band at an archdeaconry tower. Any resident of the archdeaconry or member of a band at an archdeaconry tower who pays subscriptions for three years as a full member before moving out of the area automatically becomes a formerly resident life member without further payment.

(iii) Non-resident life members who shall live outside the archdeaconry and not be members of a band at an archdeaconry tower. They may be elected at any business meeting or prior to a peal attempt on payment of a single full subscription. Elections prior to a peal must be ratified at the next business meeting.

(iv) Honorary life members. The committee may propose for election at an AGM as honorary life members anyone who has rendered exceptional service to the Association. Notice of such a proposition must be given at the October business meeting.

b) Only honorary life members and full members who are resident in the archdeaconry or members of a band at an archdeaconry tower may hold office or vote at Association meetings.

c) The rate of annual subscription, the reduced rate for those under eighteen and receiving full-time education, and the part of the subscription to go towards the Bell Restoration Fund shall be decided at the AGM.

d) Subscriptions shall run from January 1st to December 31st. Subscriptions for new members are due on election. Anyone elected after June 30th shall pay half of the appropriate rate for their first year only.

e) Anyone whose subscription is not current is not entitled to any of the benefits of membership.

f) Lapsed members may rejoin without re-election on payment of the appropriate current full annual subscription.

5) Management

a) President The Bishop Suffragan of Shrewsbury shall be invited to be President of the Association.

b) Vice-President The Archdeacon of Salop shall be invited to be Vice-President of the Association.

c) Officers

The following officers shall be elected at the Association AGM:

(i) Ringing Master Shall be in charge of ringing at meetings. In the absence of the President and Vice-President shall preside over business meetings and sign the minutes on behalf of the President.

(ii) Deputy Ringing Master Shall deputise for the Ringing Master in the absence of the Ringing Master.

(iii) Treasurer Shall receive subscriptions and other monies, pay bills, issue receipts, maintain the list of members and verify peals as per rule, bringing to the notice of members at the next business meeting those peals which do not comply. Shall prepare accounts of the Association and of the Bell Restoration Fund for examination by the trustees prior to the AGM.

(iv) Secretary Shall record and circulate the minutes of business and committee meetings, make arrangements for, and publicise, meetings, deal with correspondence as directed by the business or committee meetings and prepare the meeting agenda.

(v) Trustees There shall be two trustees who shall carry out an annual independent examination of the accounts of the Association and of the Bell Restoration Fund and ensure that they comply with the Association rules and current legislation. If they approve them, they shall normally propose the accounts for adoption at the AGM. In the event of the Association ceasing to exist they shall be responsible for the winding-up of the Association’s affairs and ensuring the dispersal of the Association’s assets to appropriate charitable causes.

(vi) Librarian Shall maintain the Association library and other Association assets.

(vii) Bell Adviser Shall advise towers on matters of bell restoration and maintenance, and keep the committee informed of such projects. Shall inspect work that has been allocated funds from the BRF prior to payment of the grant.

(ix) Training Officer Shall be responsible for the co-ordination and organisation of training in accordance with the wishes of the committee and members

(x) Annual Report Editor Shall compile and present a published annual report of the Association in accordance with the wishes of the committee. Shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act.

(xi) Committee member Shall have no specific duties.

The following officer(s) shall be elected triennially but may be replaced at any AGM following retirement or dismissal:

(xiii) Central Council Representative(s) Shall represent the Association at meetings of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.

6) Meetings

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall normally be held on the second Saturday in January. Quarterly business meetings shall normally be held on the second Saturday of January, April, July and October. Practice meetings shall normally be held on the second Saturday of the remaining months.

7) Peals

a) Every ringer in peals rung for the Association shall be a member of the Association, with at least half being honorary life members; full members who are resident in the archdeaconry or members of a band at a tower in the archdeaconry; or formerly resident life members.

b) A booking fee, to be decided annually at the AGM, shall be charged for peals. The conductor of the peal shall give the required fee to the Treasurer together with the peal details.

c) All peals rung for the Association shall be entered in the Association peal records. The peal records shall be maintained by the Librarian.

8) Expulsion

A two thirds majority of the members present at a business meeting may exclude a member if, after calling on the said member for an explanation, they consider the member’s conduct to be contrary to the interests of the Association. The said member shall be given fourteen days’ notice to appear, otherwise the matter shall be decided in the said member’s absence. Excluded members shall forfeit all previous payments to the Association.

9) General

a) Rules may only be altered at an AGM. Any new rule, or amendment to the existing rules will, unless otherwise stated, have effect from the end of the meeting.

b) Written notice of any proposed alteration to the rules must be given to the Secretary prior to the October business meeting at which any such proposal shall be read out.

c) The committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting if some business arises which, in its opinion, ought to be presented to members before the next AGM. Any business normally transacted at an AGM may take place at an EGM, but notice of motions must be given at the time the meeting is called, and must be sent by recorded delivery to the Tower Correspondent of all towers where there are members at least 14 (fourteen) days prior to the meeting.

d) Membership of the Association means observance of these rules and any future amendments to them.