The 2025 Guild Handbook is now being distributed via Branch Secretaries and Towers. If you haven’t already seen a copy it should be arriving in your tower soon.
An increasing number of people have requested a digital version of the Handbook and this year we are going to circulate a digital version to members via email.
We have considered putting it on the website but the handbook contains phone numbers and addresses of many tower correspondents and so it was felt that, for privacy reasons, it was best to circulate it by email thus limiting distribution. It can only be sent to people who have opted in to receive emails on the membership system so as to comply with the Guild’s Privacy Policy.
For a number of years there have been observations that seeing piles of unread Handbooks in towers is wasteful and insensitive to environmental concerns. Additionally, many of us would prefer a digital version; far more convenient as we can effectively carry it around on our phone and call it up on any screen.
Of course, many people prefer a printed copy and the Guild wishes to continue producing a printed version both for a permanent Record of the year’s activities and for members’ convenience.
There are definitely no plans to stop printing the Handbook but the Executive continue to explore how we can limit the print run to provide Handbooks for those members who actually want one in order to reduce wastage. Any suggestions on how we can achieve this will be grateful received and should be directed to the Executive via your Branch Representative.
Andy Waring
Communications Officer
