2024-07-20 Notes

Notes on the  meeting of the General Committee on 20 July 2024, originally posted to Facebook by Bob Cox:

My Personal View of the EDA General Committee meeting, of Saturday 20th July 2024 (This is not an official announcement of the EDA – Just my own take!) If EDA members have any questions, please take them up with your district secretary.

• There was a suggestion that ringers might like to consider donating their wedding fees to the STEP fundraiser.

• It was confirmed that any member that had resigned their EDA membership (for whatever reason) and wants to rejoin, uses the current membership application process with that new application date as the joining year, if successful.

• A reminder was made that nominations for CCCBR trustees must be made by 27th July.

• Notification was made that the CCCBR are proposing a ‘fee elevator’ strategy to increase individual membership fee from 30p in 2024, so that by 2030 it will be £1.00 member.  This is paid by the EDA on behalf of its members.

• Notification that the appointment of the new Bishop of Ely has not been made.   The Bishop of Ely has historically been the EDA patron.  An approach will be made to those currently covering the role.

•  “What does the EDA do for members?”.  Is something often asked.  It was asked again at the AGM.  To progress this, the action was taken that….  “Each subcommittee creates a ‘top 3’ items that they see as fulfilling their role, and district committees come up with a ‘top 3’ things that members can do for the EDA”.

• The Church Conservation Trust has issued a document concerning their tower management.  It reads as onerous.  It is expected to alter in the coming versions.

• The EDA had participated in the Ridgman trophy which took place at Biggleswade on Saturday 8th June and, perhaps due to lack of practice together, came last.

• Ringing World National Youth Contest:  The EDA Bengal Tigers came 3rd in their section and the Sherin tigers came 8th in their section.

• Quarter peal challenge for 2024 is going well, and generating more interest as more challenging quarters are rung.

• The EDA on-line shop arrangements have come to an end.  It was hardly used.  It will not be renewed.  Artwork will be made available on the webpage for personal purchases.

• A report back from the temporary communications subcommittee was made.  Most actions were completed.  Webpages and the Facebook page now work as intended.  Further related advisory communications documents will be available on the EDA webpage shortly.

• There was a proposal carried to change regulation 3, to make provision for reserved business to withhold names and other personal information, should the need arise.

• EDA role descriptions & succession planning:  We need to produce sufficient information to make it possible for someone to take on a job, potentially at little or no notice, should the need arise. Current role holders are:

  • Chairman (Bob Cox 2022)

  • General Secretary (Ann Seaman 2021)

  • Treasurer (Shirley Warbrick 2023)

  • Ringing Master (Alban Forster 2018)

  • Recruitment and Training Officer (Dee Smith 2019)

  • Bell Adviser (Geoff Burn 2022)

  • Public Relations Officer (JoAnne Rutter 2021)

  • Safeguarding Officer (Shirley Warbrick TBC) 

From this, replacements for Ringing Master and Recruitment and Training Officer are needed for 2025. 

• We have a volunteer report editor for 2025.

• Concerning Peal Fees:  A vote to accept the regulations wording change, ratified at the AGM, was carried.

• The timeline for the introduction of the EDA membership software was made.

• Promotion of awareness of EDA member ringing events:  Consideration to be given as to advertising events. e.g. the Ridgman Trophy & young ringers.   It was agreed that the person making the arrangements for any event is responsible for advertising.

Bob Cox
EDA Chair