Ringing Forums

Ah, but where is the joy in it all ?

I read it through in the menu's order, and here are some thoughts:

• It emphasises, and has many words, on the administrative and controlling elements of the task.
  
• An aspiring volunteer as the next Tower Captain, would be more daunted at the end than at the beginning. Is that the intention of the document ?
  
• Towards the end, the item "Building a Team" looked as if it might be offering some important advice ... disappointingly it begins with organising an Annual Meeting _sigh_
  
• "Ringers Know Their Place" is a ringer's duty in the middle of a method: it is also more generally true of the ringer's contribution to the team. In a tower band which meets regularly, we all know which of our colleagues aspire to achieve what, and where we should catch hold, or not catch hold, to best achieve that aim. The Tower Captain as team leader needs the skills and knowledge of their team to make this all work smoothly: a good team will hear what is to be rung, and the right ringers will ring the right bells as the team leader genially looks on ...
  
• ...while the document tells us 'Example announcement of next piece of ringing: “Rounds and Call changes next. “Target ringer A” please ring the 3rd and “Target ringer B” please ring the 5th. Fred, please call from the 4th. Ann ring the tenor, Bill the treble and Cath the 2nd please. After this we will ring Plain Bob Doubles for “Target ringer C” and I will call it.”' Oh dear. ...
  
• ... just by way of example, poor old Fred might well have had a whole week of rehearsing his callchanges from the 3rd. There are as many styles of Tower Captaincy as there are tower captains, and this document supports a very controlling style, which is not only hard work but misses ...
  
• ... the social element of a ringing band and their practices. The document tells us "In many groups of ringers there is a social side to the ringing" and then limits itself to social interaction outside the practice. It misses the point. Ringers attend the next practice because they enjoyed being at the last one, and enjoyed being with their fellow ringers.
  
• I see nothing about feedback - finding out how the band felt about the pactice and whether they enjoyed it - and whether they will return for more net week
  
• The document would be much improved with a softer style: useful resources for ringing first and foremost, with less prominence on control, on administration on outside liaison, and on the exceptional, which might be useful background to know but might also never occur in a five-year term as team leader.
  

poor old Fred might well have had a whole week of rehearsing his callchanges from the 3rd. — PeterScott

How on earth can he do that? Is he planning to call them?

I think Peter has provided very valid feedback here. The document does a job to enable safe running of a tower but the leadership, human interaction and social side are missing in the style of the document. Unfortunately this means that people most likely to need it, because they’ve not been part of a well led band where they have learnt the skills to run the tower over time, get a rather daunting and formal impression of what is needed. In many cases the soft skills are harder to teach but they are invaluable to good leadership which builds a strong and happy band who enjoy their ringing practice.

From the CCCBR point-of-view, we have the earlier advice in The Tower Handbook which is comprehensive, readable and brilliant.

Safeguarding and other significant developments since Handbook's first publication in 1997 can be usefully referenced: howerver, I see no reason why we (we the Council) had any need of reinventing this particular wheel.

By way of example of a considered, balanced, softer view of one of the many elements in running a successful practice:

Should I place the band?
Some people get very heated about this. They resent not being free to choose which bell they will ring (or whether they will ring). The pros and cons are:

Pro
- Ringing master can ensure optimum support for learners.
- Ringing master can balance risk in terms of who rings.
- Ringing master can moderate enthusiasm that exceeds competence.
- Shy types get a fair share of the ringing.
- It is often quicker than waiting for volunteers.
Con
- It is more work.
- Ringing master has more responsibility (The ringing master is responsible for the overall conduct of the practice anyway, and cannot shed this responsibility by allowing a free-for-all. If an unsuitable band fires out a touch, he or she is still responsible.)
- Ringing master must know the ability of all ringers.
- Ringing master may make arbitrary allocations when personal preference could just as well have been served.

In most cases where training is the main theme of a practice, it is better to place the band. You do not have to place every rope individually. You could place some and then ask three people to fill in the remainder, leaving them to choose which they want. As a precaution, ask your ringers to let you know (quietly) during a practice if they feel they are getting left out, so you can do something about it before the end of the practice.

The case for placing the band is least in more advanced practices or where people are of similar ability.

If bands have not been traditionally placed in your tower, consider whether it would enable you to make better use of the time you spend practising. If not then don't worry. If it would, then consider introducing it, after explaining your reasons and seeking the support of the rest of the band.

And don't forget the minders. Placing the right person to stand behind someone in a touch could be as critical to its success as placing the ringers. — The Tower Handbook section 9.3 f:

I found it too intense and put it on the back burner!