BEVERLEY AND DISTRICT RINGING SOCIETY CONSTITUTION
This version reflects the changes made at the AGM on 11th March 2023
1. NAME AND OBJECT
The Society shall be called "The Beverley and District Ringing Society" and shall have as its object, the advancement of and instruction in, the art of Change Ringing, both in its scientific aspect and as a branch of Church work.
2. MEMBERSHIP
1. Active Members
Any ringer residing in the Society's district may be elected an Active Member upon an annual payment of not less than the current Active Membership subscription. Active Members may vote at elections and be voted into office. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is not paid for the previous year. A lapsed member loses all membership rights but may reinstate their membership immediately upon payment of all outstanding subscriptions. A member whose active membership has lapsed for two consecutive years may be elected as a returning member.
2. Non-Resident Members
Non-Resident Life Members are non-resident ringers or ringers temporarily residing in the Society's district. Non-Resident Life Members shall not be eligible to vote at the election of officers or to hold any official position. Non-Resident Life Membership is available in the following circumstances:
i) An active member who moves away from the area may apply for Non-Resident Life Membership, without further payment, providing they have had at least 3 years Active Membership
ii) Any ringer from outside of the area may apply for Non-Resident Life Membership, upon payment of the current Active Membership subscription
3. Affiliated Members
Any non-ringing person interested in the success of the Society may be elected as an Affiliated Member upon payment of not less than 50% of the current active member subscription. Affiliated Members shall not be eligible to hold office or vote at the election of officers.
4. Honorary Life Members
The Society may when it is deemed appropriate bestow honorary life membership upon any individual for services rendered. Honorary Life Members shall be considered as Active Members, but will not be required to pay any subscription fees and shall be allowed to hold office and vote at the election of officers.
5. New Members
New and returning members shall only be proposed and seconded by Active or Honorary Life Members and shall be elected by a majority of those present at the monthly meeting.
3. GOVERNMENT
The management of the Society shall be vested in a General Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Ringing Master, Assistant Ringing Master, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and up to four other Active Members. The General Committee shall be elected annually at the Society's Annual General Meeting. Five Committee members shall form a quorum. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to three additional members if necessary. All officers and Committee members shall serve no more than five consecutive years in any one office, shall have full control over the general funds of the Society, power to expel any member for misconduct and in the case of a vacancy occurring in their body, the power to appoint any eligible person to office.
• The Committee shall appoint one of their number Chairman of the Bell Repair Fund and at least three Active Members of the Society who, together with the Chairman, shall form a Sub-Committee to conduct the business of the Bell Repair Fund.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a Management Sub-Committee who shall look after and run the Mini Ring.
• A member of the Committee shall be designated the Membership Secretary.
• A member of the Committee shall be designated the Public Relations Officer.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Librarian.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Report Editor.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Web Master and a member of the Society as Website Managing Editor. The Web Master and Managing Editor shall appoint up to 3 members to form a Sub-Committee, to ensure the Society's presence in regular social media / online platforms.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Records Secretary.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Education Officer.
• The Committee shall annually appoint a member of the Society as Safeguarding Officer, responsible for advising the Society in its duty of care towards young people and vulnerable adults. If the appointed officer is not an elected member of the Committee, the Committee shall co-opt the Safeguarding Officer as an additional member.
• The Committee shall be responsible for producing an Annual Report and Accounts. These Accounts shall be examined by two Examiners elected by the members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting.
4. CENTRAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATION
The Society is affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and is allocated a number of representative places on the CCCBR, as dictated by the CCCBR. Up to the allocated number of representatives shall be elected from members of the Society, to represent the Society for a three-year period. This election will take place at the relevant Annual General Meeting, by the members of the Society. If, within this three-year period, the elected member or members are unable or unwilling to continue in this role, the Committee reserves the right to appoint a temporary replacement representative. This appointment would remain until the earliest opportunity (Business Meeting) for subsequent election of a permanent CCCBR representative by the members of the Society.
The annual CCCBR meeting may be conducted via an online platform or a face-to-face event. The Society representatives are required to attend and should this entail travelling expenses, the Society will reimburse travel and subsistence up to an amount that has been pre-approved by the Committee.
The above expenses will be reimbursed following submission of official receipts by the claimant.
5. FINANCE
The financial year shall be from January 1st to December 31st inclusive. All subscriptions and the Peal Fee shall be set at the December General Meeting to take effect the following year.
6. MEETINGS
General Meetings shall be held on the second Saturday of each month and those in March, June, September and December shall include a full business meeting, all those in the remaining months shall include a short business meeting, unless an alteration to this procedure is agreed by a majority of members present at one of the Society's business meetings. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in March. In the event of a tower not being available for a meeting on a selected date, the Secretary shall have the power to make an alternative arrangement.
7. BELL REPAIR FUND
The Society's Bell Repair Fund shall be administered in accordance with its Constitution, a copy of which may be obtained from the Secretary.
8. STRIKING COMPETITION
When a Striking Competition is held, the following rules shall apply:
1. The teams entering must be fully representative of the tower. However, if a Member regularly supports another tower for practices or Sunday Service ringing, then they may ring in that tower's team.
2. All persons ringing must be fully paid up Active or Honorary Life Members of the Society.
3. Each band should ring 240 of true Minor or 2 x 120 of Doubles with a cover or a minimum of eight minutes Call Changes with at least 12 different rows - repeated changes are allowed. The Rounds preceding the test piece and the Rounds following the test piece shall not be marked. In the case of Call Changes, the final Rounds must not be called before the expiration of eight minutes.
4. If possible, there should be an out of area judge.
5. Should the competition be held where there is a resident band entering, it may be necessary to penalise the band at the discretion of the Judge. The Ringing Master should advise on local conditions.
6. Before commencing ringing, each ringer (from Treble to Tenor, in that order) is allowed to check their rope length. The whole of the checking is to take no more than five minutes.
7. Practice shall be up to three minutes and stand.
8. Up to one minute of rounds may be rung before going into the test piece.
9. Scratch teams may be entered on the day. These would be judged and marked, but not included in the final competition results or be eligible for the award of a cup or trophy.
10. A breach of these rules will result in disqualification.
9. ALBERT SELLERS MEMORIAL CUP
The Albert Sellers Memorial Cup shall be awarded to the winners of the Striking Competition when a competition is held.
10. DEREK WATSON MEMORIAL TROPHY
To encourage the participation of less experienced ringers in the Striking Competition, the Derek Watson Memorial Trophy shall be awarded to the highest placed Novice Band that competes in the Striking Competition, when a competition is held.
A Novice Band will usually include more than one ringer who is not yet competent beyond Call Changes for competition ringing. The Ringing Master or Striking Competition organiser will assess the eligibility of bands to compete as Novice Bands and publish the list of eligible bands prior to the commencement of the competition.
11. PEALS
Peals shall be recorded providing that all those taking part are members of the Society. The Society shall only recognise in its records Peals of Minimus, Doubles, Minor, Major, Royal and Maximus etc., rung without a cover bell and Doubles, Triples, Caters, Cinques etc., rung with the Tenor bell covering.
The details of all peals rung for the Society shall be notified to the Records Secretary. The Compositions used for all Peals rung for the Society shall be notified to the Records Secretary and a permanent record of these compositions shall be maintained.
The Society shall levy a Peal Fee to be paid into the General Fund.
12. SOCIAL EVENTS
The Society shall be responsible for the organisation of social events and the Committee may appoint an Event Steward accordingly. The Steward shall be any member or officer of the Society.
13. JOAN CASTLE MEMORIAL TROPHY
The Joan Castle Memorial Trophy shall be awarded annually to the tower in which the most Quarter Peals are rung by ringers substantially representative of the local band. To qualify, the bands should consist of fully paid up members of the Society and more than half of the band should be regular ringers at that Church. i.e. at least 4 out of 6, 5 out of 8, 6 out of 10 and 7 out of 12. The Committee shall adjudicate on the award of the Trophy.
14. ALTERATION TO THESE RULES
No alteration, addition to or deletion from these rules shall be made so as to cause the Bell Repair Fund at any time to cease to be a Charity in law.
No alteration, addition to or deletion from these rules shall be made except at an Annual General Meeting of the Society or at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose. Notice of any proposed alteration, addition to or deletion from these rules shall be given to the Secretary of the Society at least three calendar months prior to the Annual General Meeting or the Extraordinary General Meeting.