MINUTES OF THE 33RD MANAGEMENT MEETING HELD BY ZOOM SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2025
Present: Glen Fiddy (President) (GF). Rev Clive thrower (CT). Chris Idle (CI), Steve Harpham (SH), Elizabeth Heaton (EPH), Andrew Hall (AEH), Richard Taylor (RT), John Thorpe (JT), Mike Lawton (ML) and Jane Boden (JEB).
Also present for item 2 was Sue Silcocks (SS), Annual Report Secretary.
2. Annual Report SS was invited as Annual Report Secretary.
There were queries on the spellings of a few members’ names.
It was decided that the addresses for the General Secretary, Treasurer, Bell Repair Fund Secretary and treasurer and Safeguarding Officer should be retained but all other addresses be removed
SS was proposing to keep the District Reports together at the beginning rather than in front of the District Members’ names. This was accepted. It was agreed that the map of the Association with the towers should be the centre pages.
Quotes for the Report from 2 printers in Chesterfield. Firstly 80 pages £1,525 or 76 pages £1,115 and secondly a quote for 80 pages at £1,480. Both were for 850 copies. The 2023 report had cost £1,564.
It was proposed and seconded to accept the quote for 76 pages at £1,115 this was carried. It was agreed that the report needed to be delivered by 26 March 2025 with 12 March 2025 being the cut-off date.
Proof reading would be done by the Management Group and Sue Hall with District Reps at least reading their own reports.
SS was thanked for her contribution.
1. Apologies for absence – There were none.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2024 These had been previously circulated were taken as read.
Email policy – It had been decided to use the Association’s email system for communications. A previous document (“cascade”) had been suggested but this had never been fully implemented. It was agreed to raise at the next meeting.
Subscriptions – It was reported that as at 10-02-2025 only about 150 were outstanding with a couple of towers where no one had paid. GF would email the towers- subs due 1st January with payment by 1st March when a reminder would be issued and if no payment after 2 months they would be deleted from the membership base.
The 6 bell rules need to be put on the website,
4 6 Bell striking contest – rules following ADMs
Various comments had been received but generally hold both competitions on the same day. Not a good idea to hold the Arthur Ashby Final on the AGM day and members did not like the idea of only one team per District qualifying. The aim will be that Horsley will be contacted to try and fit the date a year in advance preferably on the same Saturday to avoid the National 12 bell contest. If a lot of teams qualify, we may have to use 2 towers as previously done, but it was felt that it is a good idea for less experienced ringers to hear good method ringing. Generally, not in favour of a pre-draw but accepted weddings etc at home towers needed to be accommodated.
The bonus was discussed whether to use a % or a fixed number – it was shown that it made little difference.
Arthur Ashby Cup’s retirement – A replacement cup has been sourced sourced for less than the previously agreed budget but needed to source a wooden box for the cup.
5. Association Handbell insurance – A quote has been received to replace the ring in a case for £7,500. They are insured for £8,000.
6. Main Insurance – The insurance had been paid and worked out at about £1.24 per member. The treasurer had checked with Unity Association – their cover was increasing from £10,000 maximum to £20,000 but only for 16–65-year-olds. Currently it is any age up to 80.
The website would be updated.
7. Safeguarding – how to apply diocesan policy at private rings.
The meeting with the Diocese has had to be rearranged.
8. Association website and emails – It was suggested that the system should be “opt-out” rather than “opt-in”. There are some instances where Tower Correspondent did not circulate to all their members. It was thought that there were only about 45 members
without email addresses. It stated that GDP allowed opt out but must have equal option to do either.
This will be raised at the AGM and discussed further at the next meeting.
9. ART Award – Following Sue Hall winning an award she had received a monetary amount to spend. She proposed to purchase a
couple of banners for publicity and some business cards to hand out to members of the public for information about ringing. It was agreed that the Association would pay the additional cost and cost for the website.
10. BRF – There was a discussion about the distribution of reports to PCCs in view of the additional postage costs. It has been proposed that envelopes with letters to PCCs be prepared in advance of the AGM and the distribution of Reports; the PCCs copy could be given to tower members to pass on to their PCC Secretary, but only at towers with members, this would be at no cost to the Association. It was agreed to trial this for this year.
Enhancement Fund – currently had sufficient funds as no large grants requested. It was agreed that grants over £1,000 would need Management Group approval but this could/would be by email. It was also agreed to review the amount from the general fund to the BRF and Enhancement Fund.
11. Scouting – bellringing as an activity – The Education Committee and Carole Hallam had forwarded a proposal for a scouting badge to be used by Derbyshire Scouts. Concern was raised that the input with training would take a lot of time and the Scout could stop ringing after 6/9 months. It was suggested that the badge include some bell maintenance. Generally, favourably received and agreed that they may
stop and re-start later on and it educates the public as to what we do.
12. AOB a. GF reminded the meeting that 2026 would be the Association’s 80th anniversary and 2026/27 the 100th anniversary of the Diocese. He suggested finding a way to have all ringable towers with 5 or more bells open.
b. The permanent storage of the Wombel was discussed.
c. Bell Consultants’ tower reports would be updated on the Website.
13. Date of next meeting Suggested a zoom meeting in advance of the AGM.