Highlights from the General Committee Meeting

Highlights from the General Committee meeting held on 24th February are as follows:

• The Association Training Officer stood down ahead of the meeting, hence we are actively seeking someone to fill this role in April.
• The accounts are ready for the AGM in April.  Expenses are increasing, so with healthy BRF and Training funds it is likely a recommendation of 100{639658ef89bdc5de27b5eb53e049096238667aa7b20a9fe16a207da8f55b25c6} of subs to go into the General Fund will be presented to the AGM.
• The handbook is almost ready for final production, with an approximate order of 400 printed copies being required instead of 2,000.
• Storage facilities for the Bell Restoration trailer is still being sought, making progress on the mobile ring impossible at present.
• The Youth Competition has taken off and as such David Cawley agreed to pay for a trophy – the General Secretary will arrange for something suitable.
• A Grant Application had been received from Stockbury with regards to help for work on the tower there.  £2,000 was awarded.
• The census in November 2017 went well and analysis is almost complete.  We had a response rate of 65{639658ef89bdc5de27b5eb53e049096238667aa7b20a9fe16a207da8f55b25c6}.  Almost ¼ of Sundays at the towers that responded during November were silent (no ringing at all).  Further details will be published soon.
• Catherine Lewis has agreed to lead the Management Committee for the mobile ring to move the project forward.
• Plans for the AGM are in place, details on the website.  We are seeking a Training Officer, a Handbook Editor, a Chairman and a replacement Central Council Rep.  We may also need a General Secretary, and the Treasurer is only looking to do 1 more year.
• The County 8-bell Striking Competition 2018 will be held on Saturday 30^th June 9.45am draw at Aylesford and the method will be Erin Triples.
• The County 6-bell Striking Competition 2018 will be held on 22^nd September 9.45am draw at Upchurch.
• The Youth Competition will be held on 3^rd November in the Ashford District, venue TBC.
• The General Committee will meet in 2018 on 28^th April, 28^th July and 24^th November

Doug Davis
Hon. General Secretary