Contact: master@covyouths.co.uk         Contact: secretary@covyouths.co.uk

New Rules as adopted 11^th February 2006.

1.       The Society:

1.1              This society shall be called the Coventry Youths Society of Ringers and is referred to in these Rules as “the Society”.

1.2              Jonathan P. Hughes RIP shall be the Patron of the Society.

1.3        The objectives of the Society shall be:

1.4              The Society shall consist of an unlimited number of members who shall elect annually from their number a Master, Secretary, Treasurer, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, and Central Council Representatives (when appropriate). These officers are referred to in these Rules as "the Officers".

1.5              The Society shall meet at places of ringing from time to time to practice change ringing.

1.6              The Society shall meet for the transaction of business once a year and at such other times as may be decided by the Officers.  The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the nearest convenient Saturday to February 11^th.

1.7              The Society shall keep a Name Book in which the names of all members elected shall be entered.

1.8              The Society shall hold ‘The Jonathan Hughes Anniversary Dinner’ each year on the nearest convenient Saturday to February 11^th.

1.9              The Society shall be affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bellringers (when appropriate) and shall elect full members as its representatives in accordance with the rules of that Council.

1.10           In these Rules the masculine shall include the feminine.

2.           Membership:

2.1              A candidate for membership of the Society must have rung a tower bell in at least a quarter peal in some recognised method or methods and in the opinion of members be a suitable person for membership who will uphold the traditions and standards of the Society.

2.2              A candidate shall be proposed by a member and seconded by one of the Officers at a business meeting.  The candidate and his proposer and seconder shall, if possible, be present at the business meeting at which his election is to be considered.  Between such meetings the Officers shall be empowered to grant temporary membership to ringers who are deemed eligible, subject to ratification at the next Business Meeting.

2.3              Candidates shall uphold the standards of the Society and shall be elected by simple majority at an Annual General Meeting by those members present at the meeting.

2.4              Members shall have primary allegiance to the Society and are obliged to make every reasonable effort to attend service-ringing, practices and other functions when called upon by the Officers.

2.5              The membership fee shall be set at the Annual General Meeting and shall be life membership.  A member on election shall pay the membership fee.  All members meeting the Society at a ringing practice or other event may be requested to pay steepleage on occasions.

2.6              Any member whose conduct seriously or persistently damages the Society or brings it into disrepute shall be liable to expulsion, suspension from membership for a period not exceeding 12 months, exclusion from specified Society events, or a lesser penalty. Such action shall require the passing of a Motion at a Meeting of the Officers. At least four weeks’ Notice of Motion shall be given to the member concerned setting out the grounds. The Member concerned shall be given a reasonable opportunity to respond in person or in writing.

3.          Election of Officers, Representatives and Other Officials:

3.1              The Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

3.2              Two members shall be elected annually as Independent Examiners.  Officers are not eligible for election as Independent Examiners, nor may any of them nominate, propose or second a member to stand as an Independent Examiner.

3.3              All Officers, Representatives and Other Officials are eligible for re-election.

3.4              New candidates for any of the Officer elections shall be nominated in writing to the Secretary on or before 1^st January preceding the Annual General Meeting.

3.5              Election shall be by show of hands unless the meeting decides it shall be by secret ballot.

3.6              Should a casual vacancy arise, this may be filled by the officers co-opting a member to that position.

4.       Duties of Officers, Representatives and Other Officials:

4.1              Master.  The Master shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event where he/she shall be responsible for organising & running the ringing, ensuring ringing is both suitable & of an acceptable standard and conducting the business of the Society.

4.2              Secretary. The Secretary shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event and shall record all the business transacted and conduct the correspondence of the Society.  The Secretary shall be responsible for calling the Annual General Meeting of the Society.  In calling a General Meeting, the Secretary shall give not less than three weeks’ written notice in the Ringing Chamber of The Bell Tower, Binley Woods.  He/she shall also maintain the Name Book.

4.3              Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event.  He/she shall be responsible for the safe keeping and recording of the Society's funds. He/she shall make payments from these funds as authorised by the Society. He/she shall make a statement of accounts and present a balance sheet as at December 31^st each year.

4.4              Senior Steward.  The Senior Steward shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event where he/she shall assist the Master and assume the Masters duties in his/her absence.

4.5              Junior Steward.  The Junior Steward shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event where he/she shall assist the Master.

4.6              Independent Examiners. The Independent Examiners shall examine all books and accounts of the Society before the annual presentation of accounts, and shall report to the business meeting at which the accounts are presented. They shall check the Society's property annually against the inventory and report to a business meeting.

4.7              Central Council Representatives.  The Central Council Representatives shall attend, if possible, every ringing practice and Society event and shall represent the Society's interests as they individually consider necessary.

5.          Administration and Meetings:

5.1              In the absence of the Master or Secretary from any meeting of the Society the members present shall elect substitutes for that meeting.

5.2              Non-members of the Society may attend a meeting of the Society having been introduced by a member to the Master and subject to the consent of the meeting. This consent may be withdrawn at any time.

5.3              Five members including at least two Officers shall form a quorum.

5.4              A General Meeting to discuss a specific matter may be requested, in writing to the Secretary, by not less than five of the membership stating the business to be discussed.  Such a meeting shall be held not more than eight weeks from the date of the request being received by the Secretary.

5.5              Not less than four weeks notice must be given before a meeting of the Society of any matter or proposition which would in the opinion of the Master and members substantially affect the Society's interests.

5.6              Not less than four weeks notice must be given before a meeting of the Society of any proposed alteration or addition to these rules. Following such notice, rule changes shall be proposed by a member and seconded by an officer who both will be present at the meeting and be voted on by a show of hands at the same meeting unless a majority of members voting agrees that the voting shall be by another process.

5.7              The Society shall hold and maintain its own funds.  A Bank or Building Society account may be opening in the name of the Coventry Youths Society of Ringers to the benefit of the Society.  Withdrawals from any accounts shall be authorised by any two of the officers.

5.8              Temporary committees may be set up at any time by the Officers to assist with achieving the objectives of the Society or to facilitate its administration.

6.          Property:

6.1              The Society's property and books shall be kept in such places as shall be decided from time to time by the members.

6.2              Items of property and books may be borrowed by members for use in a proper manner and for an agreed period. Permission for such borrowing must be given by an Officer of the Society. The borrower shall be responsible for the return of the property and books within the agreed period.

6.3              Any member borrowing any items of property or books within the terms of these rules shall be financially liable for any loss of or damage to such property or books.

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