The Stonemasons’ Guild of St. Stephen and St. George

​

Guild Affiliations Policy

 

 

Introduction 

 

The Stonemasons’ Guild of St. Stephen and St. George is an unincorporated association which was raised from the roots of historic guilds in Norwich with the aim of re-introducing quality craft training to young people in Norwich, an area of the country with rich architectural history but a dearth of skilled local craftspeople to maintain it.

 

The Guild now has a fully operational main craft Lodge in the historic centre of Norwich.  The current Guild membership is comprised of, amongst others: a Guild Master, 8 Master Masons, 3 master masons, 12 masons and 12 Apprentices.  The combined experience of the Board of Masters exceeds 290 years and the Guild Master’s lineage of named craft Masters can be traced back to 1086. As The Guild grows in membership, strength and influence, plans are also underway to found several additional Lodges in The Cotswolds, Germany and France.

 

Alongside its local training objectives, The Guild continues to work more broadly to preserve the community and culture of stonemasonry - described and defined by UNESCO as the ‘intangible heritage’ of the craft.  In order to achieve its tripartite (craft, collegiate and frith) objectives, The Guild will seek to establish and nurture mutually beneficial connections and working partnerships (known hereafter in this document as affiliations) with a range of craft, education, charitable and business organisations in The UK, Europe and globally.  

 

 

 

This policy outlines The Guild’s definition of best practice regarding the establishment and continuance of such affiliations and should be duly read, understood and adhered to, as far as is reasonably practicable, by all Guild members acting on behalf of The Guild in such matters.  Any representatives or proxies of organisations with which the Guild enters into an affiliation should be made aware of the existence of this policy and this document should be made available to them for their information prior to the agreement of both parties of affiliation.

 

1. The Guild (or one or more of its members) should undertake research into the purpose, history, conduct and guiding ethical principles of any organisation with whom it is considering affiliation.  The Guild must be satisfied that the ethos and conduct of the organisation in question is not at odds with The Manifesto of The Guild before a new affiliation can be considered.

2. A named Guild member will be responsible for regularly reviewing the news and events of each mutually agreed affiliate for the life of the affiliation and reporting any notable developments to The Guild at quarterly Common Hall meetings.  This regular review will serve the purposes of ensuring continued appropriateness of affiliation with the organisation and alerting The Guild to opportunities as they arise for mutually beneficial work with them.

3. Any prospective affiliate or representatives thereof should be directed to this policy, the Guild website (www.guildsg.org as at 05/09/18) and The Guild Manifesto where further information is required to decide on the appropriateness of an affiliation with The Guild.

4. As an affiliate of The Guild, an organisation implicitly agrees to the inclusion of its name or logo in any Guild literature or web content - some or all of which may be made available to the public.

5. As an affiliate of The Guild, an organisation implicitly agrees to Guild members or Guild photographers taking photographs or audio-visual recordings when visiting its premises and the use and publication of any such photographs or audio-visual recordings in Guild literature or web content.

6. Guild photographers or Guild members taking photographs or audio-visual recordings on the premises of any affiliate organisations must always adhere to the stated policy of that organisation on photography/flash photography/ audio-visual recording and information governance.

7. Guild photographers or Guild members taking photographs or audio-visual  recordings of any members or employees of affiliate organisations during visits to their premises or visits from them to our premises will, as far as reasonably practicable, seek the prior permission of such persons and their express permission if such photographs or audio-visual recordings are intended for use or publication in any Guild literature or web content.

8. Certain members of affiliate organisations will be afforded privileged access to certain Guild events, Lodges and other premises by special invitation.

9. By prior, mutual agreement, The Guild may undertake freelance, paid work projects for an affiliate for an agreed period and for fair remuneration.  The Guild will seek only a reduced or discounted rate for any such work it undertakes for its affiliates but will always expect fair remuneration for travel and expenses incurred in the course of the work as a minimum.  This work may be in the form of talks, craft demonstrations, performance of Guild ceremonial events (processions, mystery plays), teaching sessions/workshops but is not limited to these activities.

10. By agreement of affiliation with an organisation, The Guild does not commit itself to any work or appearances at said organisation and a specific contract/written agreement governing any such work/appearance must be arranged and agreed separately by both parties.

11. The Guild may use web links or references to their affiliates or the publications/news/web content/products thereof on their websites or in email correspondence to its members, friends or visitors.  This will usually be in connection with any work/events The Guild or its members have had involvement with or have launched in partnership with the affiliate organisation but may be for the sole purpose of promoting the affiliate and their work.

12. The Guild forbids any individual or organisation who is not a mutually agreed affiliate from using (sharing online, publishing, broadcasting or otherwise re-using in another digital, print or live format) any of its written, digital, audio-visual or photographic content without express prior written permission.

13. The Guild forbids any individual or organisation who is not a mutually agreed affiliate from taking photographs or audio-visual recordings of Guild members, Guild premises or the work of Guild craftspeople without the express prior permission of every individual concerned or, in the case of Guild premises, express prior written permission from a member of The Executive Craft Committee of The Guild.

14. The Guild forbids any individual who is not a mutually agreed affiliate (or a full Guild member) with express prior written permission from making a public presentation, speech or address (either paid or unpaid) on behalf of The Guild or purporting to express the opinions, culture, principles, history or values of The Guild.

15. It is the responsibility of Guild affiliates to inform The Guild of any relevant legal or contractual obligations they must fulfil in the course of their dealings with the affiliate (e.g. pertaining to working in a specific location or with a particular client group) and to update The Guild in a timely fashion on any changes or additions thereto.

16. The Guild will endeavour to inform mutually agreed affiliates of any relevant legal or contractual obligations they must fulfil in order to collaborate with us on our public events or in the course of collaborative work with our members and/or at any Guild premises.  The Guild will endeavour to update the affiliate of any changes or additions to these legal or contractual obligations in a timely fashion.

17. It is the responsibility of Guild affiliates to inform any Guild members visiting their premises or using their equipment for work or any other purposes, of any relevant health and safety requirements, policies or notices.

18. It is the responsibility of The Guild to inform any affiliate organisations or representatives thereof visiting Guild premises or using Guild equipment for work or any other purposes, of any relevant health and safety requirements, policies or notices.