Welcome

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Welcome

The Miami Guild of Change Ringers welcomes this opportunity to give you a preview of the agenda for the 2008 AGM (October 3-5) and ringing course (October 1-3) to take place at Trinity Cathedral ( www.trinitymiami.org ) in Miami, Florida. We look forward to seeing as many of you in South Florida as possible!

Full Media Coverage of the event:

CBS 4 - Friday Night
The second report in the video for their "City by City" segment
http://cbs4.com/video/?id=63384@wfor.dayport.com

Miami Herald
See story "Bell ringers convene in Miami to study ancient art"
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/711479.html

Also see related content:
Video: http://www.miamiherald.com/video/index.html?media_id=2244432

Hear the bells (information session): http://www.miamiherald.com/news/more-info/story/711482.html

WLRN Radio - NPR (Miami Herald News)
See story "Bell ringers convene in Miami to study ancient art"
http://www.miamiherald.com/943/

"Bells will be ringing in Miami this weekend as dozens come to learn the centuries-old tradition used to mark church services, weddings ..." Hannah Sampson, Miami Herald: article, video

Recent News: All reservation requests for discounted rooms at the Doubletree that were received by September 3 have been confirmed by the Doubletree. The hotel has advised that they still have a few more rooms available for the dates of the ringing course and AGM weekend. Please contact the hotel directly or e-mail us at agm2008@bellsouth.net to attempt a reservation. No guarantees!

Alan Hughes of Whitechapel Bell Foundry (and designer of Miami's ring of 8) personally inspected the bells on August 1. He was quite pleased with the condition of the bells and assured us that all was in great shape for the AGM. Many thanks to Alan (and his wife!) for traveling to Miami from England and enduring the heat of the belfry for the inspection.

Ringing Course: Many thanks to the 100+ respondents to the ringing course survey. Based on the responses, the course will offer two levels: (1) Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob Doubles, and Plain Bob Minor and (2) Stedman Triples and the “easy” surprise major ( Cambridge, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire). Each level will be limited to 12 participants. Should there be sufficient interest, there will also be seminars and workshops related to tower maintenance, listening and simulators during the course of the weekend. Handbell participation will be on an ad hoc basis. We hope the many ringers who indicated an interest in participating as helpers will be able to do so. Remember, the helpers may be ringing or standing behind one of the course participants and should be “expert” in the methods. There will be special ringing opportunities during the course days for the helpers. While Miami has just one tower, there will be plenty of ringing time.

Course Registration: There is no course registration deadline as the course will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. As we cannot compare ourselves to the ringing courses in the UK where there are many towers within a small radius, we must limit the number of course registrants this year so as to maximize the benefit to them. Space is still available.

AGM Schedule: See the calendar: (download here)

AGM Registration form: Register for AGM 2008: (download here)