Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers

Rutland Branch

2012

Notice of the Branch Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 14 January 2012 at Brooke and Braunston. Those who ring at Brooke and Braunston will know that the teams there have already planned the tea! Their hospitality is well known, and the afternoon promises to be a very happy one. It is a chance to share ideas with members from all over the branch, and meet some for whom it will be their first AGM. The Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games make 2012 a very special year, so there will be plenty to discuss. If you have any issues you would like to raise at the meeting, please inform me in advance so that they can be included on the agenda.

Please start giving some thought to proposing new members and members of the committee. The present members all stand down, but can be elected again. However, neither Janice Atkinson nor Paul Philips wish to stand again, and John Webster does not wish to stand as Steward again, although he is willing to be proposed for a different position. It helps the smooth running of the meeting if proposals are made in writing. A blank proposal form for committee members is printed at the end of the newsletter.

The programme is:

3.00-3.45pm General ringing at Brooke

3.45-4.30pm General ringing at Braunston

4.30pm Service at Braunston

5.00pm Tea in Braunston Village Hall

6.00ish Annual General Meeting in Braunston Village Hall

We have decided against general ringing after the meeting, as so few people wanted to stay last year.

The minutes of last year’s AGM are printed at the end of this newsletter, and I would appreciate it if all readers who intend coming to the meeting would print off their own copy of the minutes to save paper.

Please also let Cath McKelvey know if you plan to come to the tea, so that she knows how many to cater for. ( Contact Cath on 01572 722612 or churchfarmcottage@lineone.net)

Good wishes for the New Year

Monica (01572 820199 or monica.spence@virgin.net)

A REMINDER FROM THE TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY-

Subscriptions will be due at the AGM on Saturday January 14th at Braunston.

After much debate and discussion at Guild level (with Rutland leading the way!) from January 2012 the rate of subscriptions has been raised to £6 per year for Full Members and £3 per year for Junior/Student Members.

Please read Alan's article regarding Rutland's initiative on extra voluntary contributions which we are also anticipating putting into place at this year's AGM.

Could any Tower Captains, with potential New Members, who are thinking about proposing them at the meeting, let me know so that I can prepare some New Members Packs for them?

Thank you very much, in anticipation,

Janice Atkinson

(Treasurer/Membership Secretary)

A message from our Ringing Master

Dear Fellow Member of the Rutland Branch of the Peterborough Diocese Guild of Change Ringers

I am sending this newsletter by way of the Newsletter Editor, David Couldwell, so that you are all informed of current thinking in regard to the funding from Rutland Branch of the Guild Bell Fund.

Before covering this, I would like to congratulate all those ringers who have advanced their skill set over the last 12 months, whether it be learning to handle a bell and ring rounds, master plain hunt and bob doubles, or “nailing” a Surprise method. May I also thank all those volunteers and Tower Captains who have encouraged ringers during 2011. The Branch is in good heart, and this Christmas most of the parishes that have bells have enjoyed hearing their bells at all the key services. Well done to everyone. I believe the mark of our success is when good clean rounds and call changes are rung at services involving all Branch ringers. This is the case in Rutland.

There are a few quater peals arranged to be rung on 1 January to welcome in 2012. If there are any ringers keen to ring a quater peal, please let me know. If you can ring a method (or treble to it) for 45 minutes then it is a good way to realise you have found rope sight and can “follow the blue line”. It is the great break through. I remember my first quater peal, which was promptly followed by a peal, such was the drive of my University Ringing master!

And so the Bell Fund matter which we will cover at the AGM on 14 January at Braunston, to which all 100 plus members are invited:

Rutland Branch and the Peterborough Guild Bell Fund

At the AGM in January 2012 there is to be a proposal put to members of Rutland Branch, who will be invited to make a voluntary contribution to the Guild Bell Fund when paying the annual Branch/Guild membership fee. Whilst the membership fee is due on 1 January 2012 for the forthcoming year, and the AGM is on 15 January, if the proposal is accepted then members may decide to commence voluntary donations in 2012 rather than waiting to 2013. However, there will be time at the AGM to discuss all this!!! Set out below is the background to, and explanation behind the proposal.

Background

Over the last few years Rutland Branch has raised concern with Guild, regarding the difficult and ad hoc way funds have been raised for the Guild Bell Fund, since 2000. Interestingly, prior to 2000 Rutland Branch made annual donations of around £250 – 300.

Since 2000 fund raising for the bell fund has been by holding raffles, quizzes, sponsored walks/rides and contributions (treasurer’s bucket!!) raised at AGM and meetings. In Rutland we raise around £150 - 200 per annum in this way. 2 towers make a contribution from wedding fees, there are ad hoc sales of raffle tickets (in at least one case the Tower Captain writes a cheque to cover the tower’s raffle ticket allocation), the AGM collection plus proceeds from the Rutland Water sponsorships and sale of quiz sheets make up this amount.

The Guild Bell Fund is incredibly important and ensures bells are serviceable throughout all Branches in the Diocese. When large sums of money are required to repair or maintain bells, a tower (by formal request made through the Branch) can call upon the Guild to assist with funding. Often repairs can be expensive so the fund is important for all tower and branch ringers.

Over the last 10 years Rutland towers have benefitted from the Guild Bell Fund:

1. 2005 Exton £500

2. 2006 Oakham £400

3. 2006 Ashwell (PDG made an offer which was declined)

4. 2007 Wing £500

5. 2009 Empingham £400

6. 2009 Preston £200

It is important the fund is available when required and as a Branch we continue to help maintain it. The problem is the current fund raising produces only a small annual contribution from the Branch with much administration. It is felt by a number of Rutland members a more sustainable contribution could be made in a fair and voluntary way, which would result in a decrease in administration and benefit from Gift Aid. Options have been discussed in detail by the Rutland Branch Committee and the preferred option is set out below.

The Committee recognises the non ringing and sponsored events provide a social purpose as well as contributing to funds. These would remain and will be encouraged at Guild or Branch level, for these purposes.

Preferred Option

1. After due consideration by the Branch Committee the following proposal is tabled: “members be invited to make a voluntary contribution to the Guild Bell Fund at the time of making the annual payment for membership of PDG/ Branch”.

2. With just over 100 members, if all made a voluntary contribution and with some contributions qualifying for Gift Aid we anticipate Rutland Branch could make a sustainable annual contribution to the Bell Fund similar to the donations made before 2000.

3. The Branch Treasurer would provide a simple document for completion at the time of membership renewal, (or members joining the Guild) setting out the membership fee and inviting a voluntary contribution to the Guild Bell Fund. Those who Gift Aid their donations will have signed a Gift Aid form so Gift Aid can be claimed on all donations through the Guild (as is the case now).

4. This option will simplify the collection and accounting of donations to the Bell Fund, reducing demands on Tower Captains’ and the Branch Treasurer’s time.

5. Those towers or individuals wishing to give to the Bell Fund in addition to an annual voluntary donation are still free to do so.

6. Social functions to raise funds can still be arranged.

7. There will be no Bell Fund Buckets at Branch meetings or at the AGM.

Next Step

At the AGM in January this proposal, endorsed by the Branch Committee will be put formally to the meeting. Meanwhile any questions or concerns arising from towers or individuals regarding this matter, should in the first instance be directed to Alan Wordie, Branch Ringing Master who represents the committee on this matter.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a very prosperous New Year, and hope you will ring at least once during the next 10 days.

With best wishes to the magnificent Rutland Branch of Bell Ringers.

Alan Wordie

Ringing Master

PETERBOROUGH DIOCESAN GUILD OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

Rutland Branch Programme 2011-2012

Jan 2012

3-9ish

Branch AGM

Braunston, Brooke

Feb

5-7pm