Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers

News

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NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATION

Rules Revision proposed at AGM

   At its Annual General Meeting held in Great Yarmouth on the 1st May, the Association received a report on proposals for a revision of the entire Rules in order to maintain compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission in the administration and management of the Association and its charities.

   Under current Rule 7, a whole year of debate will now take place at Branch level and by the Standing Committee and the Trustees, before formal consideration of the proposed new Rules at the Annual General Meeting in 2011.

   Copies of the proposed Rules, and an accompanying explanatory note are available for download using the following links:

   Association members are welcome to submit comments or observations on the proposals.   Please contact the General Secretary (details below).  All responses will be reported to the Standing Committee and the Trustees for consideration.

David R. McLean, General Secretary,
Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers
33, Milton Road East, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 1NU
E-mail:  secretary @ norwich diocese ringers.org.uk

NEWS ALERTS TO ALL MEMBERS

Annual General Meeting 2010 - Read about important business at this year's AGM

Trustees - Could you do the job?

Changing the Rules - What is being done and why

Annual General Meeting 2010

   Looking ahead, it will soon be time for members to think about attending the Association’s Annual General Meeting.
   This year’s AGM, hosted by the Eastern Branch, will be held in Great Yarmouth, at St. Nicholas’ Church, on Saturday, 1st May.   As well as the opportunity to ring on the twelve, there will be the additional attraction of ploughman’s lunches (on sale in aid of the Bell Restoration Fund) at the first tower, Blofield, to set you up for the afternoon ringing at South Walsham and Acle, en route to Great Yarmouth.

The Rules of the Association

   This year’s AGM will start the process to revise the Rules of the Association (see news item "Changing the Rules").   The AGM will be invited to receive a proposal for a complete revision of the Rules which, having been proposed, will stand referred to the following year’s AGM (in accordance with Rule 7), to enable the matter to be given the fullest possible consideration at Branch Meetings throughout the Association during the coming year.

Annual Elections

   Another important part of the AGM will be the elections.   Remember it is you, the members, acting through the meeting, who decide who you want to act for you and to represent you for the next year.  Nominations are needed and, duly signed by candidate, proposer and seconder, must be received by the General Secretary before the meeting.
   This year, the normal annual elections of all the officers will be supplemented by the election of a number of Trustees, and also the Association’s representatives on the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.
   Nomination forms are obtainable from the General Secretary.

Trustees

   The role of Trustee is assuming increasing importance (see news item "Trustees") and this year the Association will be looking for no less than eleven members to become Trustees.
   This is partly because the Standing Committee has acted under Rule 16(c) to anticipate the proposed changes in the Association Rules which will increase the number of Trustees of the Association itself.   Instead of filling the two vacancies that arise this year, the Annual General Meeting will be asked to elect eight Trustees to create a body that is better able to carry out the governance which the Charity Commission’s regulation requires.
   The election of the two Trustees of the Nolan Golden Education Fund is also due this year and, because of the sad loss of Paul Cattermole, there is also a vacancy for the position of Trustee of the Bell Restoration Fund.
   In addition to the elected Trustees, the annually elected President, General Secretary and Treasurer are Trustees of all three charities, ex officio.

Central Council Representatives

   Election as a representative on the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers at the 2010 AGM will make you a member for the triennium commencing in May 2011.   The Council holds its annual meetings on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday.   The meetings in 2011, 2012 and 2013 will be hosted by the Hereford, Chester and Guildford Diocesan Guilds respectively.   The size of the Association’s membership entitles it to four representatives on the Central Council.   From the current representation only Peter Adcock intends to seek re-election and so, again, the search is on for members to take on this responsibility.
   As well as membership of the Central Council, representatives also become members of The Ringing World Ltd and of the The Ringing Foundation Ltd.   The main requirement is to attend a day of annual meetings for these bodies and report back at Branch level on matters of importance.   There is also a social side, with the host association providing a weekend of entertainment, with plenty of opportunities for ringing.   Members of the Council are also encouraged to join its various Committees to assist with the detailed work of the Council during the year.
   For those interested, full details of the Central Council and its activities can be found at:

http://www.cccbr.org.uk

   Finally, for anyone contemplating Central Council membership, the Association’s Rule changes include a revision of the expenses for attendance.    It is proposed that representatives may claim for up to a maximum of two nights’ accommodation and for mileage for travelling to the meeting venue, at rates to be determined from time to time.

Your Support

   The President, the Association Officers and the Standing Committee hope that, as members, you will give your full support to the important business to be considered at this year’s Annual General Meeting.

Trustees

   The Association’s proposals for rule changes (see news item "Changing the Rules") explain the increasing emphasis on the position of Trustees.   There is also a news report about the number of Trustees to be elected at the next Association AGM (see news item "Annual General Meeting 2010").
   We are looking for volunteers and, to help you make a decision, a lot of helpful information about trusteeship can be found on the Charity Commission’s web site:

http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk

   For prospective trustees there is a particularly useful link direct to “The Essential Trustee”:

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc3.asp

   This contains full details about the role and responsibilities of today’s trustees.   The office is no longer just an honorary position.   The publication’s foreword points out that “The trustees have the ultimate responsibility for running a charity”, and its contents will be helpful to all those considering nomination as an Association Trustee.

The Association’s Trustees

   This year the Association will be electing:

  • Eight Trustees of the Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers Charity
  • Two Trustees of the Nolan Golden Education Fund
  • One Trustee of the Bell Restoration Fund
   In addition to the elected Trustees, the annually elected President, General Secretary and Treasurer are Trustees of all three charities, ex officio.

The Work of the Trustees

   In practical terms, Trustees will become members of the Standing Committee, which has regular meetings twice a year, normally on the first Saturdays in February and October.    Other meetings of Trustees are likely to be held in conjunction with those dates, or at other times, as required.
   Trustees of the Bell Restoration Fund are also members of the Belfry Advisory Committee which meets twice a year, in advance of the Standing Committee meetings, to review bell restoration and maintenance in the Diocese and to give preliminary technical consideration to any applications for grants from the Fund.   These applications are ultimately decided by the Bell Restoration Fund Trustees, following recommendations by the Standing Committee.
   The Trustees of the Nolan Golden Education Fund are responsible for the assets of the Fund and, in conjunction with the Standing Committee, would consider any major decisions relating to its use.

Changing the Rules

   Members will be aware that, for some time, the Standing Committee has been wrestling with major changes to the Association Rules.   This began with a review of the Association’s role in bell restoration which has now been considered, at length, by both the Belfry Advisory Committee and the Standing Committee, and from which, happily, a solution has now emerged.

Belfry Advisory Committee

   The Association now has a reinvigorated Belfry Advisory Committee.   It is presided over from the elected office of Chairman of the Belfry Advisory Committee, supported by Branch Technical Advisers elected by each Branch, assisted by the participation of members who have accumulated a wealth of practical experience in bell maintenance and restoration, and backed up by the presence of the elected Trustees of the Bell Restoration Fund.

Charity Obligations

   Meanwhile, nationally, charities are facing increasing obligations through the regulation of their activities by the Charity Commission.   The Association has charitable status (and actually operates more than one charity), from which it derives important financial benefits, notably relating to tax and gift aid.   In turn, it must formally recognise the increased role and responsibilities of those members who serve as Trustees and this has significantly affected the revision of the Rules.

The Rule Changes

   Up to now, the Association’s Rules have provided a structure through which, subject to the overall authority of its General Meetings, the Association has been governed by the Standing Committee, with support from the specialist work of the Belfry Advisory Committee.   This has to change to reflect the responsibility for the Association as a charity, which is placed on the Trustees.
   Because it was not considered realistic or practical for the entire membership of the Standing Committee to become Trustees, the Standing Committee has settled on the alternative of increasing the number of elected Association Trustees from two to eight.   At the same time, the revision of the Rules aims to keep a balance between the Trustees and the Standing Committee, so that it can continue to act as the essential link with the membership at large.

Association Charities

   The Association is responsible for the following charities:

   The Northrepps Bell Maintenance Fund functions through a Deed of Gift which makes it subject to the Rules of the Bell Restoration Fund and to regulation by that Fund’s Trustees.
   The Nolan Golden Education Fund was set up by the Charity Commission as a subsidiary of the main Association Charity and, while it has its own Trustees, does not require separate regulation.
   The Association’s responsibilities are therefore concentrated on the two main charities, the Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers Charity and the Bell Restoration Fund.

The President’s Sub-Committee

   Because of the elaborate structure of the Association’s charities, the Standing Committee decided to refer consideration of the rule changes to a sub-committee to be convened by the President.   The Sub-Committee met in December, 2009 and its deliberations were reported in full to the Standing Committee in January 2010 (copies of the minutes in electronic format are obtainable from the General Secretary or the Branch Secretaries).
   At the January meeting, the Standing Committee approved the Sub-Committee’s recommendation that there was no need to amalgamate the existing charities.   There were no high risks in managing separate funds and, as they had clearly defined separate objectives, it was concluded that the continuation of separate charities, with separate trustees, would enable the Association to draw on a wider range of appropriate expertise.

The Rule Changes – Summary

   Keeping the charities separate has meant that two sets of rules are required, for the Association Charity and for the Bell Restoration Fund.   Draft proposals first reported to the Standing Committee in 2009 have been used, with adjustments to create the two separate sets of rules.
   The Charity Commission model constitution has been used to regulate the conduct of the Trustees, with more detail in the case of the Bell Restoration Fund Trustees because of their financial responsibilities.   The Rules have also been re-ordered and the only significant new proposals are the modernisation of the expenses provisions for Central Council representatives and a simplification of the rules relating to the termination of membership.
   In summary, the majority of the functions of the Association will continue to be covered by its Rules, while the Bell Restoration Fund Rules will regulate the specific responsibilities of the BRF Trustees in the financial management of the Fund.

Taking the Changes Forward

   At the January meeting, the Standing Committee approved the work of the President’s Sub-committee and agreed that it should meet again to consider the completed draft rules, with a view to presenting the proposals to the AGM in May.   This will enable a whole year of debate to take place at Branch level and by the Standing Committee and the Trustees, before formal consideration at the Annual General Meeting in May 2011.
   As part of the debate of Branch level, the General Secretary is willing to attend Branch meetings during the year, to assist the discussions and obtain feedback on the proposals.

Annual General Meeting 2010 - Important business to conduct

Trustees - Is this a job for you?

Changing the Rules - The reasons why

ASSOCIATION TRAINING DAY - 2010

Thanks to all who supported this year's event.

Training Day will be back next year, on the 5th March 2011.

Book the date now!

 
QUARTER PEAL WEEK

Easter, 2010
 

The annual Association Quarter Peal Week occupied its usual place in the calendar,
from Easter Day to Low Sunday.

Details were published in The Ringing World, issue No. 5170, on Friday, 28th May, 2010,
on page 555.

The results of Quarter Peal Week will also be included in the Association's Annual Report for 2010.

ANNUAL REPORT - 2009

Now Available

The Association's Annual Report for 2009 is now available:   Price £5, from the General Secretary.

This site is under continuing development to add more details and information.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the content, please respond by e-mail to

secretary @ norwich-diocese-ringers.org.uk

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Date:  14th June, 2010

NEWS ARCHIVE

Archived News Items

Hethersett, St. Remigius

Re-dedication

Following restoration work, the bells of St. Remigius’ Church, Hethersett were re-dedicated by the Bishop of Thetford on Saturday, 22nd May 2010.

Paul Cattermole

The Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers is saddened to report that Paul Cattermole passed away on the 31st July 2009.   This is a great loss for us all and the Association’s deepest condolences are extended to his family.

The funeral was held at St. Martin's Church, New Buckenham on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009, followed by a private family interment.   Donations in memory of Paul may be made to Macmillan Nurses or St. Martin's Church, New Buckenham.   Please make cheques payable to:  Long Stratton and District Funeral Service, Flint House, Ipswich Road, Long Stratton, Norwich, NR15 2TA

Jocelyn B. Gardiner, of Catfield

The Association is sorry to announce the sad news that Jocelyn Gardiner, of Catfield, died on the 21st July 2008, whilst in hospital.   Jocelyn was a Vice-President of the Association and had formerly served as our President, for 13 years, from 1982 to 1995.   He was a stalwart supporter of the Association and will be greatly missed.

Details of the funeral arrangements have been announced.   There will be a private cremation service.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Jocelyn Bradbury Gardiner, to which all are welcome, will take place at All Saints' Church, Catfield, on Thursday, August 7th at 3.00 p.m.

Family flowers only please, but donations, if desired, may be made to Catfield War Memorial or Catfield Church Bell Fund.   Please make all cheques payable to Murrell Cork Donations Account amd send them to Murrell Cork Funeral Directors, Mundesley Road, North Walsham, NR28 0DB.

Gressenhall, The Assumption

Augmentation to Ten Bells

The augmentation of the bells of Gressenhall to ten has been completed and the dedication of the new trebles took place on Sunday, 30th March, 2008.

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