Rules

Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers Constitution of the Rules. (Ordinances) Amended Sept 2024

1. The name of the Guild shall be The Craft Guild of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers; hereinafter conveniently called the Craft Guild.
2. The purposes of the Craft Guild shall be:
   • One: To provide a forum for the fraternal association of British craftsmen and women concerned with the manufacture of quality traditional archery equipment.
   • Two: To encourage, maintain and improve the standard of bow and arrow making and other associated activity by British craftspersons.
   • Three: To establish and maintain fraternal links with craftspersons overseas concerned with the making of traditional archery equipment.
   • Four: To maintain links with those London Livery Companies historically superintending the crafts overseen by the Craft Guild.
3. Membership is open to all who satisfy the Craft Guild's criteria as defined below and as interpreted by the Officers and Court of the Craft Guild.
4. The Craft Guild shall be administered by the following:
   1. The Warden: (Chairman) Elected annually by Court members from amongst their number and ratified by members at a Guildmote. When another Warden is elected may remain on the court or return to the ordinary membership. Has full voting rights and a casting vote. ^{[Agreed at 2023 Guildmote]}
   2. The Under Warden: (Vice Chairman) Similarly elected annually by the Court. and agreed by the membership at a Guildmote. Fulfils the duties of the Warden in his unavoidable absence. Is not obliged to become Warden but may do so if the Court so wish and he agrees. May remain in post until a replacement is voted for when he may remain on the Court or leave. Has full voting rights. ^{[Agreed at 2023 Guildmote]}
   3. The Treasurer: Responsible for all matters pertaining to the finances of the Craft Guild, elected by the Masters. Remains in post (maximum 14years) until he/she expresses a desire to step down or leave the Court. Has full voting rights.
   4. Liaison Officer: Overseas all matters concerned with Applicants and Apprentices. Supports and advises those presenting their Masterpiece. Elected by the Court. Remains in post (Maximum 14years) until he/she expresses a desire to step down or leave the Court. May be elected Warden or under Warden but not while in post. Has full voting rights.
   5. Court Assistants: Minimum 5 including Treasurer and Liaison Officer. May be invited or may volunteer. All have voting rights. ^{[Agreed at 2023 Guildmote]}
   6. The Clerk: Deals with correspondence and attends to the day-to-day affairs of the Craft Guild. Recommended by the Court and appointed by the Masters. Directly responsible to the Court through the Warden. May advise. No voting rights.

Ex-oficio members – for specific purposes as the Court shall see fit. Have no voting rights except as delegated by the Court.

5. Categories of membership shall be as follows
   1. Master: A full member, manufacturing traditional archery equipment of consistently satisfactory standard, for sale or reward, on a full or part time basis, and providing a service which meets the criteria of the Craft Guild. Accepted upon satisfactory presentation of the required Masterpiece. Has full voting rights.
      (Note: Certificates of Membership will be presented after one year as a Journeyman)
   2. Direct applicant: A Craftsman or woman already working and not being a present Member, who wishes to become a Master without the necessity of full apprenticeship.
      May be accepted for presentation of a Masterpiece, with the agreement of the Court, upon the recommendation of a Guild Master.
      An initial evaluation of their general standards and quality of workmanship will be made by the visiting Master, who will provide advice, based upon their assessment, of the next steps towards application.
      When the applicant’s quality of work, their workshop and safety practises, and their customer service have been successfully determined, an invitation to present their Masterpiece at the next Guildmote, will follow.
      The application should also be supported by acceptable proof of commendation from satisfied customers.
      Note: Certificates of Membership will be presented after a 12 months period as a Journeyman.
   3. Associate: A maker of traditional bows and or arrows etc. using natural materials, being resident outside the United Kingdom and wishing fraternal association with the Craft Guild. May attend Guildmotes upon request. Has no voting rights. Fee as decided by the Court.
   4. Apprentice: A novice wishing to become skilled in the art of traditional bow, arrow, string or arrowhead making, and working to the instructions of a Master. May attend Guildmotes and offer opinion if sought. Has no voting rights.
   5. Improver: One who has made a substantial start in bow/arrow/string/arrowhead making. If their work is judged of sufficient standard the applicant may apply to a Master with a request for mentoring, after which there must be the presentation of a Masterpiece in the usual manner for assessment. May attend Guildmotes. No voting rights. ^{[Agreed by Court 2010 Ratified at Guildmote. 2010]}
   6. Friend: A person sympathetic to the aims of the Craft Guild and wishing to give their support. Accepted at the discretion of the Court. Fee as decided by the Court. Has no voting rights. ^{[Hugh introduced this - never actually voted on but agreed by default]}
   7. Master Emeritus: A distinction awarded by the Craft Guild to a Master of long standing who, for adequate reason, has occasion to cease the manufacture of archery equipment. May attend Guildmotes and advise. Has no vote.
6. Applications for acceptance as an Apprentice or a prospective Master should be made in writing via the Clerk, using the appropriate form, accompanied by the registration fee as set down from time to time by the Court.
7. Unless otherwise decided by the Court, Apprenticeship shall be three years for bowyers or fletchers, two years for stringers and three years for arrow-smiths, under the tutelage of a Master. The maximum time before presentation of a Masterpiece shall be seven years; although in exceptional circumstances this may be extended at the discretion of the Court.
   The above criteria also apply to lmprovers. ^{[Agreed by Court 2010 Ratified at Guildmote 2010]}
   (NOTE: Two syllabuses are available for the guidance of Masters in the matter of the instruction of apprentices: one for bowyery and one for fletching)
8. Fees shall be as recommended by the Court, subject to their acceptance by the full Guildmote. They shall become due annually on the feast of St Michael (Michaelmas) being 29"‘ September, and shall be paid to the treasurer on or about the said date. If any person be in default then such default shall be amended and corrected without delay. Late fees requiring a reminder will attract a £1 surcharge. Should the fee remain unpaid after three reminders from the Treasurer, then that member will be deemed to have resigned from the Craft Guild. ^{[Agreed by the Court May 2004]}
9. It is expected that each Master shall have a suitable lnsurance Policy covering Third Party Public Liability. It is desirable, although not required, that this should extend to Product Liability.
10. It is expected and required that each Master shall offer a form of guarantee when selling their work and that this shall be fair to both parties.
11. The Craft Guild Corporate explicitly disassociates itself from any and all litigation arising from the activities of its members, whether professional or otherwise.
12. Promotion and advertising of the Craft Guild shall be on a continuous basis, using such means as deemed appropriate by the Court and arranged by the Master appointed by them.
13. The Craft Guild’s logo (badge) shall be made available for use by Masters on their business correspondence and all archery articles made by them; but it must be made clear to Associates that they may not use the Guild name or logo to promote their business or for any other purpose. ^{[Agreed by the Court. May 2006]}
14. Court Meetings shall be held as directed by the Warden, at a suitable venue arranged by the Clerk. Guildmotes shall be held annually, conveniently at a date closest to Michaelmas (29"‘ September) in accordance with ancient custom.
15. The Craft Guild shall maintain and develop respectful and fraternal links with those historic London Livery Companies hitherto responsible for the oversight of the crafts of bowyery, fletching, string making and arrow-smithing — namely: The Worshipful Company of Bowyers: The Worshipful Company of Fletchers ^{(incorporating the Longbowstring makers no longer active)} and The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
16. Amendments to these Rules may be proposed by the Court or by any individual full member with a seconder, and must be ratified at a full meeting of not less than one third of the membership. Notice of proposed amendments must be circulated to all full members not less than 21 days before the aforementioned meeting.

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