I have seen messages on the internet from people asking for help with bell related problems. These people were told to join the Agehr. Why? I have known of the Agehr for many years but have never been a member myself. What does the Agehr do for me? I scoured the Agehr home page and found some very useful information on *how* to join, but no answer to my question on why should I join. I sent an e-mail to the Agehr asking three questions and these are their answers.
The AGEHR is an organization dedicated to providing events, journals, resources and other tools to handbell directors/ringers. We have approx 9500 members. Those are primarily directors or organizations so the actually number of ringers is much higher than that.
Second is probably the chance to meet, exchange ideas with, recieve the affirmation of, etc. your peers. The opportunity to network with fellow bell directors is high on everyone's list.
Third is the chance for your ringers to grow, learn and become even more excited about ringing. I'm not aware of any choirs that having attended a festival did not go home on a "high".
There are many peripheral benefits such as the Endowment Fund, Sponsored events, mailings from publishers, the chance to "give back" to the world of bells through volunteerism, etc.
As a ringer the two biggies are my director is becoming better, therefore we are playing better. Second the events are a real plus for those groups that participate.
All ringers in a member's choir are automatically members of AGEHR. They have all the benefits of membership except the right to vote in elections and recieiving mailings. If a ringer wants to get the journals, etc. they may take out a Ringer Membership for less than $19 a year. (as long as they remain a participant in a Regular Member's Choir)
That's it. If you have your own questions, you can contact the author, Vic Kostenko, at TheAGEHR@aol.com