BSAC election 2020

[F.P.]

Humm,

Had a look and the candidates are interesting to say the least...

The changes proposed for the 'Articles of Association' I have to vote against, whilst some of the proposals are OK others I do not believe will help the future of the club.

My thoughts are that a physical (paper) magazine is essential - electronic documentation (books, articles, mags) just do not get read to the same degree as physical one (worked in an industry that went 'electronic' early on, seen as a cost saving measure and quick to get changes out, failed miserably).
Do think the 'White' Diving manual needs updating and reprinting - the present range of manuals is just becoming 'bitty' & unwieldy; in many cases just appear to be one persons words and thoughts.

[Spindrift]

The changes proposed for the 'Articles of Association' I have to vote against, whilst some of the proposals are OK others I do not believe will help the future of the club.

I thought the same - most the changes I could agree to, but the removal of the magazine, despite reassurances they have no intention of stopping it, means I can't support the proposal. This does show a fair lack of engagement from the BSAC Council though, you would have thought if they are planning these changes, they would spend some time engaging with the membership, highlighting what they are proposing, getting feedback etc and then when it comes to the AGM the votes are hardly a surprise. This just seems a bolt from the blue.

[Divemouse]

How come I can just vote for vice chair and council members by accessing the page, but to vote on the rest of it I need a membership number and to trust the chair with a proxy vote?

[Woz]

How come I can just vote for vice chair and council members by accessing the page, but to vote on the rest of it I need a membership number and to trust the chair with a proxy vote?

Oooooo I'm a muggle now

Cos one bit is an election for people to Council, the other bit is a vote on a Resolution to be presented at the AGM. You can go there and vote in person and will be given a voting slip against your membership number when you arrive by the tellers, or appoint a proxy (it doesn't have to be the Chair but can be anyone attending- doesn't even have to be a member) who will vote For or Against as per your instructions, or you can do as "as they see fit" vote. If you appoint a proxy, they have to turn up to the meeting to present your vote.

Sadly despite being named several times on the Proxy forms, Mickey Mouse has failed to attend a single AGM to present their proxy votes. Disappointing.

[bottle maker]

Oooooo I'm a muggle now

Cos one bit is an election for people to Council, the other bit is a vote on a Resolution to be presented at the AGM. You can go there and vote in person and will be given a voting slip against your membership number when you arrive by the tellers, or appoint a proxy (it doesn't have to be the Chair but can be anyone attending- doesn't even have to be a member) who will vote For or Against as per your instructions, or you can do as "as they see fit" vote. If you appoint a proxy, they have to turn up to the meeting to present your vote.

Sadly despite being named several times on the Proxy forms, Mickey Mouse has failed to attend a single AGM to present their proxy votes. Disappointing.

Good to see your alive and I hope well Woz. Am I correct in thinking that the AGM this year will be a virtual meeting open to all members? If yes will attendees be able to vote on the motions on the day?

Graham

[Woz]

Good to see your alive and I hope well Woz. Am I correct in thinking that the AGM this year will be a virtual meeting open to all members? If yes will attendees be able to vote on the motions on the day?

Graham

I believe so. Just the same as if you travel to Ellesmere Port (which I know you do and thanks for coming to mine) but with all the joys of a Zoom meeting instead. From the CES voting page:

Due to the on-going situation in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic, members are prevented from attending the meeting in person and are encouraged to vote by proxy prior to the meeting by 10:00 on 23rd July 2020 or to vote as an online participant at the meeting.

[Edward3c]

...

[Edward3c]

You’re a professional auditor, who’s trying to get voted into council.
Surely you can audit the changes and detail them here in support of your case/abilities ��☺♀️

B

Here’s my analysis, overall I would suggest members instruct the Chair of the Meeting to 'vote against' the special resolution

Changes to the Articles to have a proper procedure when a member has been accused of some action that could result in their membership being revoked brings BSAC into line with common practise. On it's own I would support the change.

Removing the requirement for at least 5 ordinary Council members to be present at Council meetings would allow the 5 Officers to control Council. This is partly what allowed the 1998/99 financial crises to happen. I'm dead set against this being changed. Additionally, if individuals are on Council they need to show commitment and attend Board meetings - when I was last on Council dates were decided nearly 2 years in advance.

I mentioned earlier that I believe the magazine is an essential communication and recruiting tool and should be retained. Yes, the current Council might not plan to do away with it, but a future Council could.

REF:	Observation	Comment	Vote
Global	Change to capitalism of Articles	A change in style.	For.
Global	Change of Chairman to Chair	A change in style.	For.
Global	Changes to none numbered text.	Has no effect on the Articles as titles are advisory i.e. signposts.	For.
4.(2)	Individuals will need to trawl through the Companies Act 2006 to find the reference.	Not supported, as we should make things easy for members not hide them away.	Vote against.
7.(A).(8)	Suspend or terminate a member during investigation.	This brings BSAC in line with other organisations, linked to Articles 41 and 44.	For.
9.(1).(E)	This amendment enables an individual or a committee to circumnavigate the Articles is Council so decide. Additionally, a Board sub-committee can be created without a Council member being on it.	No individual or Committee should be able to bypass Council.	Vote against.
9.(4)	New sub-article to ensure annual reappointment of committees.	Glad this wasn’t lost when Article 10 was deleted.	For.
15.(2)	The requirement for at least five non-Officers being required for a quorum was to stop the Officers from controlling Board meetings.	The Officers meet monthly and could make decisions and push them through without the scrutany from the rest of Council.	Vote against.
34	Inclusion of BSAC Direct	Good idea.	For.
41.(C),(D) and (E)	Suspension of a member.	Linked to Articles 7.(A), (8) and 44.	For.
44	Inclusion of suspension of a member.	Linked to Articles 7.(A), (8) and 41.	For.
60.(D)	Removal of spurious word.	Makes sense.	For.
64.(1).(A)	Makes finding the member easier on the membership database.	Reasonable.	For.
84	Removal of requirement to publish a magazine or Diving Manuals.	I firmly believe the hardcopy magazine is an essential communication and recruitment tool.	Vote against.
87	An attempt at future proofing in case of title changes.	No real change.	Vote against.
92	UK Sport no longer list BSAC as the UK Governing Body.	Why change it.	Vote against.

[Spindrift]

I just wondered why in Article 87, they deleted the term "Expedition Leader" given in paragraph B, only to then use it in paragraph C?

(B) Activities of BSAC or of Branches shall be undertaken only with the authority of Council or of a Branch committee as appropriate. Activities involving diving shall require the appointment by Council or Branch committee, as appropriate, of a person to control and supervise that activity who shall be called the Expedition Leader. (words in red deleted)
(C) To secure safety and discipline on diving expeditions the Expedition Leader may suspend for the duration of the expedition any member who fails to obey orders given by such leader for the said purpose. All such suspensions shall be promptly reported to the Branch Committee.

(my highlight in bold)

[Energy58]

I just wondered why in Article 87, they deleted the term "Expedition Leader" given in paragraph B, only to then use it in paragraph C?

(my highlight in bold)

I think "B" is meant to cover all diving activities while "C" is meant to be specific to expeditions.

However when I was DO this was all the DO's responsibility or his designate - now its the whole committee's responsibility which to my mind simply messes us the whole chain of command thing: "OK we are going to dive at the quarry on Saturday so now we need a Committee meeting to appoint someone to control and supervise it" - "Sorry under the constitution you need to give two weeks notice of a committee meeting". Also there is no definition of the "Expedition Leader" in the changed version. Looks like a typical cock-up carefully designed to stop diving actually happening while making sure no one is ever responsible for anything