Issue date: 20/02/2023
These rules have been agreed by the members of the Derby City Centre Ringers, and are used to govern our activities.
These rules are available as a booklet in the tower, and can be downloaded as an A5 PDF file.
1a) The purpose of the Derby City Centre Ringers (DCCR) is to ensure that the bells at St Peter's Church, Derby, are rung for services, to mark significant events and for enjoyment; and to promote the art of change ringing.
2a) The DCCR will have the following officers:
Tower captain. Responsibilities: Running DCCR ringing events. Coordinating the organisation of DCCR events. Maintenance of the ringing room & bells. Overseeing DCCR policies and procedures in conjunction with the church authorities.
Secretary. Responsibilities: Arranging general meetings. Acting as a point of contact for other ringers, organisations, and the general public.
Treasurer. Responsibilities: Managing the DCCR Fund.
2b) Officers may appoint other members to act as their assistants.
2c) No member may hold more than two offices at the same time, unless there fewer than five members (excluding probationary members). No member may hold the offices of treasurer and second account holder at the same time.
2d) In the event of an officer ceasing to be a member or resigning their office, then the remaining officers shall appoint a temporary replacement until a replacement can be elected. In the event of an officer having their membership suspended, then the remaining officers shall appoint a temporary replacement until the suspension is lifted.
3a) The DCCR Fund will be used to maintain and improve the ringing facilities at St Peter's and to finance DCCR ringing events.
3b) The officers may have the cost of reasonable purchases made in accordance with their responsibilities reimbursed from the fund without further approval, up to an annual limit set at the AGM. Purchases outside of that limit may be made subject to all members being advised, and fewer than 50% of the members objecting within one week of being notified.
3c) In the event of the DCCR ceasing to function, then the members shall arrange for suitable people to act as guardians of the DCCR fund and any other DCCR assets until such time as ringing at St Peter's is restarted, when they shall be passed to the group in control of the ringing at that time.
3d) In the event of ringing at St Peter's permanently ceasing (e.g. due to the removal of the bells) then the members shall arrange for the DCCR fund and any other DCCR assets to be transferred to another organisation dedicated to the promotion of the art of change ringing.
4a) To apply for membership a ringer must:
Make a commitment to attend at least 50% of the normal Sunday service ringing at St Peter's. For full-time students, the attendance requirement will only apply to the time that they are resident in Derby.
Make a commitment to abide by the DCCR rules, policies and procedures.
4b) Once satisfied that the applicant has met their commitments for eight consecutive weeks (which can include time prior to the application), the secretary will notify all existing members. The applicant will become a member unless more than 50% of the members advise the secretary that they object to the application within two weeks of this notification.
4c) Membership will terminate if the member resigns, or has not met their Sunday service ringing commitment for the previous three months (excluding periods of maternity leave). The tower captain can make an exception for ringers not meeting their Sunday service ringing commitment where the ringer has been unable to attend due to long-term illness, work commitments, or makes a significant contribution to the DCCR in other ways.
4d) Membership will be suspended for a period of up to three months if, in the opinion of the tower captain, the member is in breach of the DCCR rules, policies and procedures. The tower captain shall advise all members, including probationary members and the suspended member, of the duration and reason for the suspension. If a member is suspended twice within a one year period, then the tower captain may propose that the membership be terminated. All members, including probationary members and the suspended member, are to be advised of the reason for the proposal. The suspended member will then have a period of one week to submit a statement appealing against the termination, which shall be circulated to all members on receipt. The Tower Captain shall arrange for an independent person to conduct a secret ballot of all members after the period of one week has expired. The membership shall be terminated if more than 80% of all members are in favour, otherwise the suspension shall be immediately lifted.
5a) During DCCR events, members shall behave with respect for all others present at the event, and for the location in which the event is being held.
6a) Members are to be notified of general meetings at least three weeks in advance.
6b) Proposals for elections and motions proposed are to be advised to the secretary at least two weeks in advance and details circulated to members.
6c) Amendments are to be advised to the secretary at least one week in advance and details circulated with the final agenda at least two days in advance.
6d) The secretary will circulate minutes within four weeks of the meeting. The minutes will be accepted unless more than 50% of the existing members object within one week of the minutes being circulated. If the minutes are not accepted then they will be voted on at the next general meeting.
7a) The Secretary will arrange an AGM between 1st January and 31st March. The meeting will be chaired by the Tower Captain, or by a member appointed by the Tower Captain.
7b) The following business will be conducted at an AGM:
The tower captain will report on the DCCR activities over the past year, and plans for the next year.
The treasurer will present the DCCR fund accounts for the previous year.
Setting expenditure limits for officers.
Agreeing a donation to St Peter's Church, to contribute to heating, lighting and maintenance costs.
Election of officers.
Votes on motions and amendments proposed by members, including rule changes.
8a) An EGM will be held when an AGM is not planned in the next two months and:
An officer resigns from their role or ceases to be a member.
or
Requests are submitted to the secretary by more than 50% of the members (excluding probationary members) and an AGM/EGM has not been held in the previous two months.
8b) The Secretary will arrange the EGM within two months of the process being triggered. The meeting will be chaired by the Tower Captain, or by a member appointed by the Tower Captain.
8c) The following business can be conducted at an EGM:
Election of officers.
Motions and amendments proposed by members, including rule changes.
9a) Candidates may propose themselves for office. Proposals, motions and amendments do not need to be seconded.
9b) Probationary members may not vote or stand for office.
9c) At an EGM, existing office holders will be returned by default if unchallenged.
9d) Arrangements are to be made to allow any member unable to attend in person to submit their votes ahead of the meeting, either in writing, by email, or via an online voting form.
9e) If there are more than two candidates for a position, the election will be based on a single transferable vote. Other votes will be on a ‘one member one vote’ basis.
9f) If there is a tie for the role of Tower Captain then the existing holder will continue in office on a temporary basis, and the Secretary will ask the Vicar and Churchwardens to decide between the two candidates. If there is a tie in any other vote, then the chair will have a casting vote.
9g) If the elected Tower captain is under the age of 18 or is not in possession of a suitable DBS check then they will take the role of Ringing Master and appoint a suitable person to be Acting Tower Captain. The Acting Tower Captain will take on the tower captain’s responsibilities for the purposes of the safeguarding procedures. The ringing master will take the role of Tower Captain once they have reached the age of 18 and the Parish Safeguarding Link confirms that the required DBS checks have been completed.
10a) Where these rules require notification of an event or request, then this must be done in writing or by email.