Greg-

Washington Ringers-

        Since Ed has declined to try and explain this, here is an attempt.

        Note that there are disputed histories, this merely  provides one historian's view.

        People may remember many years ago that a group of Philadelphia ringers rang a quarter peal on a group of rocks in a park.  These rocks had a certain resonance lending themselves to ringing.  According to the Clapper, the quarter was a success aside from the fact that the rocks started crumbling and they had to put up with comments of passers-by about being a "rock band".

        In a similar vein, one member of the group pictured discovered that certain plastic frogs available at a local supermarket were also available in different tones.  Although there are no impartial witnesses to this, the frog-catcher selected the frogs to be able to create a mini-ring.  (There is still debate about what the proper terminology is for a "ring of frogs".  I assume it should be something like a "pond of frogs" along the lines of "gaggle of geese."  A mini-ring of frogs should technically be of tadpoles, but I digress.)

        Exact name for the society has not been formally decided, personal preference is for something along the lines of "Ancient and Royal Society of Friends of St. Kermit." So a certain unnamed, but mostly pictured, group of people has been working on working on properly ringing methods on these  frogs.  This has not been without certain difficulties, over-ribbetting has caused damage to at least one frog,  necessitating the "pond-keeper", aka "frog-surgeon", making repairs.

        There have also been allegations of specisism, in contrast to the life of St. Kermit (as in Kermit Amphibean Minor) who was an inclusive member of society with friends across animal  kingdom.  The "pond" was then opened up to others, and a pig was therefore viewed as the "most fitting" given St. Kermit's  personal life.

        Given that frogs live surrounded by green, it was decided that  an outdoor practice should be held.  Further, this outdoor  practice should be held announcing what was being rung.  As a result, Bastow seemed like the obvious choice to reduce the necessity of making a sign.

                                       Greg

[Who really should be writing one of several proposals right now, but is discovering that this message is based more in fact than some of the text he is writing for work.]