Rules and Policies

Rules of the Ladies' Guild

REVISED, CLARIFIED & RATIFIED BY THE AGM 14TH JUNE 2014. AGM Host Districts (Rule 6) amended according to the 2019 Annual Report after cancellation of 2020 AGM. Rule 8 updated as approved by the AGM 25th June 2022.

Updated as approved at the AGM 17th June 2023 (changes to rules 3, 4, 7, 11 and 12; note that Rule 7 was removed at this AGM but the subsequent rules have not been renumbered). Rules to be read in conjunction with the Policies of the Ladies' Guild.

Updated as approved at the AGM 15th June 2024. Rule 3c was removed, and rules 3d - 3g renumbered as 3c - 3f. The list of annual subscriptions in the Policies was also updated.

1) The title of the Guild shall be THE LADIES’ GUILD OF CHANGE RINGERS.

2) The object of the Guild is to bring together ringers, both internationally and within local districts and to improve the standard of ringing amongst women and girls. 

3) Membership of the Guild is open to women and girls in one of the following categories:

a). Adult ringing member: to pay an annual subscription at a rate to be decided by the National Committee and approved by vote at the AGM.

b). Junior ringing member  (under 18 years or in full time education): Subscription 50% of full membership.

c). Automatic Life member:  Attained by those who reach the age of 60 years AND have paid 30 years subscriptions.

d). Honorary Life member:  Awarded by the Guild to members who have shown outstanding service.

e). Overseas members*  Subscription equal to one years ringing subscription. Overseas members who come to reside in the UK lose the right to hold overseas membership.

f). Associate member* For women and girls who are not ringers but wish to be associated with the Guild. Subscription equal to one years ringing subscription.

* Overseas members and Associate members have no voting rights and may not hold office.

4) The Guild shall be governed by a committee consisting of the following members, four of whom shall form a quorum:

a)  The President

b)  The National Secretary

c)  The National Treasurer

d)  The Central Council Representatives, one of whom may be the President if she wishes

e)  The Guild Archivist

f)  The Webmaster

g) when applicable, the President Elect.

Districts not represented by the Archivist, Webmaster or Central Council Representatives (excluding the President), shall be entitled to elect a representative to this committee

5) Election of officers:

a). Nominations for any of the above posts should be sent to the National Secretary in writing before the AGM.  If sent by email a hard copy should be retained by the sender and the National Secretary.  Nominations will be possible from the floor as well as by prior notice.

b). A nomination or election for a President Elect will be held at the AGM in the second year of the President’s tenure.

c). The President and the Central Council Representatives shall be elected for a three year term. The National Secretary, National Treasurer, Archivist and Webmaster shall each retire annually and be eligible for re-election. 

6) The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the Saturday nearest to the third Saturday in June that is convenient to the host district. The date and place of the next meeting shall be fixed at each A.G.M. Hosting the Annual General Meeting usually circulates the districts in the following order:

NORTH WEST DISTRICT 2022

SOUTH MIDLANDS DISTRICT 2023

EASTERN DISTRICT 2024

CENTRAL DISTRICT 2025

THE MARCHES 2026

WESTERN DISTRICT 2027

SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT 2028

SOUTHERN DISTRICT 2029

EAST MIDLANDS DISTRICT 2030

7)This rule removed, June 2023.

8) The Accounts and a Report of the Guild activities shall be published annually, the Accounts to be approved  by the Executive Committee prior to publication. Copies of the Report and Accounts to be placed in the Guild Archive and the Central Council  Library. A Report Co-ordinator to be appointed annually..

9) The Guild shall be affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and loyally abide by the rules and decisions thereof.

10) The President-elect may claim the attendance expenses for the AGM during which she takes office as President.

11) The President, Secretary and Treasurer may claim up to 60% of their expenses (not exceeding the amount agreed in the expenses policy) to attend the Annual General Meeting.  Central Council representatives may claim up to 60% of their expenses (not exceeding the amount agreed in the expenses policy) to attend the Central Council Meeting.  The expenses policy to be reviewed annually at the AGM.

12) Proposed intention to alter these rules, stating suggested new wording, shall be notified, in writing*, to the National Secretary at least six months before the Annual General Meeting.  Exact wording of rule changes to be notified, in writing*, to the National Secretary  at least six weeks before the Annual General Meeting. The proposal must be supported by a nominator and seconder.  *This includes e-mails.

13) Peals:

a) All peals rung for the Guild shall conform in all respects to the Rules & decisions of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.

b) All ringers taking part in such peals shall be fully paid-up members of the Guild.

c) The peal fee shall be 10% of the annual membership fee (see Guild Rule 3a) per ringer.

d) The conductor shall be responsible for the truth of the composition the performance and sending the appropriate peal fee to the District Secretary/Treasurer, to be passed to the Hon. Treasurer for recording in the Guild records, within one month of the performance.

DISTRICT RULES

1. Each District shall be at liberty to elect a District (Vice) President and a Secretary / Treasurer and shall be governed by a committee consisting of the Officers and four members, three to form a quorum. The Officers to retire annually and be eligible for re-election.

2. The Secretary/Treasurer of each district shall collect the subscriptions of  members of the District, issue receipts and forward a statement of accounts and the balance in hand to the  Honorary National  Treasurer of the Guild at the end of each financial year, i.e. December 31st. The District Secretary, however, may retain a reasonable sum, not exceeding £150.

3. Each District shall be at liberty to arrange its own meetings. At a meeting not later than March 31st, the officers shall be elected for the ensuing year.

4. The District Secretary / Treasurer shall be empowered to pay for:

a)  Reasonable minor running expenses.

b) Any exceptional expenses to be referred to the General Committee.

Policies of the Ladies' Guild

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of the Guild.

Introduced and approved at the AGM 17th June 2023.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS 

• Adult ringing member: subscription £7 annually.

• Junior ringing member: subscription £3.50 annually.

EXPENSES

Expenses may be claimed as follows:

• Those officers specified in the Guild Rules may claim 60% of their expenses for attendance at the Guild AGM at the approved rates.

• Central Council representatives may claim 60% of their expenses for attending the CC AGM at the approved rates.

Approved rates for expenses claims are:

1. Mileage can be claimed at the rate recommended by HMRC.

2. Standard rate rail or coach fares may be claimed.

3. Accommodation for up to two nights, at a reasonable rate, may be claimed (rates to be based on Travelodge, Premier Inn and similar hotels).

4. No claim may exceed a total of £200.

The Expenses policy to be reviewed annually at the Annual General Meeting.