Click here to download the Association's prescribed Membership Application form. The form is an Adobe PDF file which may take a little time to download, depending upon the speed of your internet connection. You can then print it (A4 size) before submission.
Annual subscriptions are due on 1st January.
The current rate for Ringing Members is £8; for Friends and Junior members (aged less than 18 years on 1st January), £4.
A proposal that the Association adopt a Membership Information form to obtain basic information about its current membership was agreed at the October 2011 Management Committee meeting. The form is especially aimed at those members elected prior to the introduction of compulsory completion of a membership form in 2012.
The membership of the Association is currently around 1,220. Of the current membership over 54% were elected prior to 2003, the year when voluntary completion of a membership form came into being. At best the forms use was patchy in the early years but gradually completion of the membership form has become more commonplace and as a result of the recent rule change is now mandatory.
The Charity Commission's best practice and model constitution for charitable associations states that: "The trustees must keep a register of names and addresses of the members which must be made available to any member upon request." This is underpinned by the statement that "It is very important for the good administration of the charity to keep the register of members up to date: failure to do so can result in a number of problems, including serious difficulties in calling annual or extraordinary meetings."
While we are able to communicate with our members via email groups, District tower correspondent groups and the website, the Association now needs to address the fundamental issue which is a lack of knowledge of its actual membership.
The Membership Information form will obtain the same information that is requested on the current Membership form while additionally requesting the age profile of individual members. Completion of the form will be voluntary but the Management Committee hopes that as many members as possible will complete and return their forms.
The form is here
Full details of how the Association can treat your donations as Gift Aid can be found here.
The Association currently pays premiums on two insurance policies for its members. The two policies are Public Liability and Personal Accident and the basic details are as follows:
Public Liability: This policy covers minor works only. No definition of “minor works” is available but it would cover routine maintenance and similar activities, the use of halls for meetings and some fundraising activities. It would not cover a major bell restoration project, which must have its own insurance cover in place. There will clearly be some grey areas, for example, it is not clear whether the removal of a bell from a tower for repairs would be classified as “minor”. The indemnity is £2,000,000 for every claim with an excess of £100 and the policy includes Member to Member liability.
If there are any doubts as to the extent of the cover or exclusions please discuss this with the Hon Treasurer as soon as possible so that the position may be clarified with the insurers.
Personal Accident: Members (but not non-resident members) are covered whilst:
(Cover should be arranged separately where it is needed in connection with major bell restoration projects).
Insurance is extended to include members teaching bell ringing and persons under instruction by an Association member at a church or bell tower within the Essex Association.
Benefits payable in the event of a claim
| Age Range (years) | Temporary Total Disablement | Permanent Disablement or Permanent Partial Disablement | Death |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-70 | £300 per week for up to 104 weeks | £30,000 | £30,000 |
| Under 16 | Nil | £2,500 | £2,500 |
| 71-75 | Nil | £2,500 | £2,500 |
| Over 75 | Nil | Nil | £2,500 |
The maximum Sum insured for any one occurrence is £1,000,000. Medical expenses (20% of the Sum insured up to a maximum of £10,000) are payable for those aged 16 – 70 years.
The above is a summary of the policies held and in any conflict with this summary and the actual policies, the policies will take precedence.
Any member whose subscription is in arrears and who has not paid those arrears by the 30th April the following year, will not have their insurance cover renewed. It is therefore even more important that you do not let your membership lapse. In the event of a claim the Association Officers will decide whether or not you are a valid member based on membership lists which the Association are required to maintain (Rule 11.3).
Claims and queries concerning the operation of the insurance should be directed in the first instance to Andrew Brewster, Hon Treasurer.
