Fellows Election

Prior to a Fellows Meeting

1. A standard notice should be placed annually in the spring edition of the newsletter offering all AFGEs the opportunity to keep Fellows up to date with their recent work by means of submitting photos or images on CD (or by email) in time for the Fellows meeting. (This would avoid any accusations of favouritism as it would be an all inclusive invitation.)
2. The Secretary of the Fellows should ask the Guild Administrator for a complete and up to date alphabetical list of current AFGEs.
3. Any Fellow who is unable to attend the annual meeting should notify the Fellows Secretary 2 weeks prior to the meeting. The Secretary will then send a complete list of AFGEs so that the absent Fellow may participate in the meeting by sending any comments (positive or negative) he/she may have regarding individual potential Fellows.

At the Fellows Meeting

1. The name of each AFGE should be read from the list in alphabetical order. Opportunity should be taken by any Fellow present to speak for or against each name.
2. In the event that there is a proposer and a seconder for the AFGE then his or her name should be put forward to the short list for voting later in the meeting. The names of the proposer and seconder should be noted alongside that of the potential candidate.
3. Once all the names on the list have been read out and an initial short list has been arrived at, the Fellows present should re-read the short list in alphabetical order giving the proposer and seconder an opportunity to speak on behalf of each candidate. There should be a chance for a full and frank discussion in an entirely confidential meeting.
4. An anonymous vote should be taken from the Fellows present at the meeting. Any candidate gaining a majority of yes votes will then be placed on the list for the postal ballot.

After the Fellows Meeting

1. A copy of the short list for the postal ballot should be sent to every Fellow of the Guild. This list should include, the names of the proposer and seconder alongside each candidate. This will give any Fellow not present at the meeting an opportunity to seek out information concerning the candidate. The onus should be on the Fellow who was not present to ask for information. There should be no unsolicited canvassing, or pressure brought to bear on behalf of any individual candidate.
2. There should be a box alongside each candidate’s name where votes must be registered. A tick signifying a vote in favour. A cross or a blank box signifying a vote against. (It is the responsibility of all Fellows to participate in the annual election.)
3. The voting papers must be returned to the Secretary of the Fellows by the date specified.
4. Once all the votes are in, the Secretary should count them and record them all on a form. A copy of this form should be sent out to all Fellows. Any candidate who receives at least 75% of the vote will be put forward to the Council for election to the Fellows. The Secretary will include the date of the next Guild Council Meeting so that existing Fellows will know when they might congratulate successful candidates. (There should be sufficient time left between the Fellows receiving the information concerning the result and the next Council meeting for any discrepancies to be resolved.)
5. The Secretary of the Fellows should write to the Guild Council on behalf of the Fellows recommending the successful candidate(s).
6. The Council will be asked to ratify the recommendation of the Fellows. In the event that this motion is passed the Chairman of the Guild will write to inform and congratulate the successful new Fellow(s).

PLEASE REMEMBER: the result is entirely confidential until it has been officially ratified by the Guild Council.

(Guild Procedures Dec 2008 Updated for the new website April 2026)