This year, the Council Executive set up a small task group to look at the Councils membership categories. They have now submitted a report to the Executive, and will be bringing forward proposals in a motion to the Annual Council Meeting in September at Sheffield.

Before the deadline for submission of motions on 26th July, we will be holding two open meetings to discuss these proposals.  These meetings are open to all, not just Council members.

The meetings are on Monday 14th July and Thursday 17th July, both at 8pm, and are by Zoom.

Please register for one of the meetings using the links below:

Meeting 1 – Monday 14th July at 8.00pm (UK). Click on this link to register.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y5oT9CmFR6eAwQuJj_4MyQ

Meeting 2 – Thursday 17th July at 8.00pm (UK). Click on this link to register.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/JZyJFzveTMuCALekwO2ArA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Below is a summary of the proposals regarding the changes proposed:

Membership Review Workgroup

Following feedback received at the last Central Council AGM where it was proposed to increase Affiliation fees the Membership Review Workgroup decided to go for an evolutionary approach that built on the existing Rules and Standing Orders, but sought to make the Council more welcoming and inclusive of all groups of ringers, of all sizes, however organised.

Accordingly the Workgroup has proposed the following modifications to those Rules and Standing orders relating to Membership of the Council:

• Creation of a new Associate category to manage Council membership for those groups of ringers who do not collect an annual membership fee, such as University and “themed” Societies such as Doctors, Firemen, Bankers, etc.
  Membership fees will be negotiable, based on a “declared” membership, and each Associate Society will be able to send one voting member to Council Meetings.
  Societies wishing to transfer to the Associated category of membership will have to apply to the Secretary and negotiate their fees at intervals.
• No changes to the Affiliated Society category, with the exception of the lower membership limit being fixed at 50, removing the lower limit of 25 for overseas societies.  This removes a conflict with Small Societies membership thresholds.
• Only change to Small Societies is to send one voting member to Council meetings.
• Societies wishing to apply for membership of the Council in any of the three categories of membership will have to satisfy the Council on the criteria set out in Standing Order S2.
  Small Societies already have to satisfy the Council on application as will Associated Societies; it is recommended that current Affiliated Societies review how they would meet these requirements.
• Removal of Rules requiring an annual or triennial election of Council representatives by Societies.  This is properly for the Societies to decide, and is unenforceable.

Annual Subscriptions (Standing Order F1) will be £1 per Affiliated Member, £0.40 per declared Associate member (negotiable); and £10 for a Small Society.    Minimum Subscription for an Associated Society shall be £30 – minimum membership of 75 @ 40p each.