BSAC 18 - Huddersfield Sub Aqua Club

10th November 2003, 9:15pm Huddersfield Sports Centre

Minutes from Meeting

1.

Apologies

Andy Briggs, Dave Colley, Sarah Churchman, Chris Hall, Lee Copley

All other committee members present

Also present, Sarah Flanagan (Operations Manager, Kirklees Active Leisure), Richard Manning, Ian Betts

2.

Urgent Emergency Matter

Sarah Flanagen explained that she has concerns about the location of the compressor and the access given to the club. The environment is considered a high risk environment by the Sports Centre. The Sports Centre requires a full risk assessment on the equipment, the people and the training provided by the Sports Centre and requires all BSAC 18 compressor trained people to be fully trained in the aspect of the risk environment.

SF also mentioned that the Sports Centre is planning to conduct a complete shut down near to the Xmas period for a two week period and they will possible require us to remove the compressor for this period. It was agreed that the ‘old kit room’ could be an acceptable location for this duration.

SF brought up the problem that the existing kit area was also an ‘out of bounds’ area for the public and that this area needs risk assessing in terms of trainees and instructors in terms of escape in the event of a building evacuation.

The Sports Centre will forward the existing risk assessment for these areas to SCL when they have been updated (next two weeks)

SUMMARY – The Sports Centre require BSAC18 to prepare a comprehensive risk assessment for the use of the Sports Centre ‘restricted areas’ including the kit area and the compressor location.

Matters Arising

Further to the comments made above – it was agreed that we would wait for the Sports Centre to provide us their risk assessment before we started looking at conducting ours.

Train the trainer training (D Colley) – to carry over

Compressor Training (Andy Briggs) – to carry over

Dive Marshalling update – to carry over

Apparently Lee Copley owns the spurious equipment in the Garage – SCL will contact to arrange removal at the request of the Committee

Garage – Cheque received from Syd for 50% of garage and has been promised from other renter…also, new, signed rental agreements received and documented

Life guard cover – Lee Copley to stress the importance of lifeguard duty and the responsibility of absence cover being sort – point to carry over.

Richard Robinson raised a question of his being ‘targeted’ through the last minutes while under pressure from a health concern. It was stressed to Richard that the comments raised where made in our concern rather than as an attack.

3.

Membership Secretary

No new members

Currently 18 members are overdue – all will be attempted contact

Richard Robinson raised the issue of his membership to the club which has lapsed (due to health concerns) and Pete will speak to Martin regarding the situation with the principle that we do not wish to loose Richards valuable services to the club while in a state of ‘health-limbo’. Richard was asked to continue to continue for the time being.

4.

Diving Officer's Report

Two thoughts for this month. One stems from my recent trip to the Red Sea. Carole and Martin Charlesworth and myself went on a Regal Diving holiday with Emperor Divers. They win a lot of awards for tour operating. The holiday was advertised as being only suitable for divers with more than fifty dives under their belts. There were four on the trip who had only 20ish. The dive guide was keen to emphasise that they would fit in as many dives as possible. This worked out at four dives a day. Some of the surface intervals were only 1.5 hours. Not much when your first dive of the day is often 30+ metres. Nobody was asked to restrict the length of dives. A while ago, people complained about too much supervision and follow-my-leader diving but it seems to be going almost too far the other way. I suggest that any of our club members should remember what they have been taught when they are on holiday. You need to watch your own intervals and be sensible. Liveaboards are great fun, but if all we think about is how many dives we can pack in, there will be accidents before long.

My other thought stemmed from a shore dive we did at St Abbs yesterday. If you have a long walk from your car to the water - or even a cross-country assault course as we did - please check your gear before you set off. To struggle down a steep rough hillside only to find you have a faulty reg and then have to hike all the way back is very frustrating, Check your kit!!!

Kate

5.

Training Officers Report (sent in by Dave Colley – Apologies)

Its been a fairly quiet month, Ian, Chris, Diane and Neil have now completed all the lectures and will be doing the exam in the next couple of weeks. Thanks to Kate, Andy, Ray, and Steve for their hard work giving lectures.

Trish has now passed her Ocean diver

We are having a steady trickle of enquiries for try dives and should have 2 new members in the next couple of weeks.

6.

Treasurer's Report

End of September 2003 – net surplus of £20.80, total surplus for the year of £267.25

Net surplus for October 2003 of £191.50 total surplus for the year of £458.75

However, we are approaching a large number of bills for kit maintenance, etc.

We now also have the bill for the solicitor for £338.00 however, the document has resulted in the trustees names being listed which obviously results in further cost in the future…Richard will check this situation with the solicitor.

7.

Equipment Officer's Report (sent in by Andy Briggs – Apologies)

All is fine and dandy as far as I know.

Still no news on the compressor cage but will keep you all informed.

Andy

8.

President situation

Steve Hepworth has agreed to take up the role as president

The committee agreed to this appointment and Steve will be present at the next committee meeting

9.

Club Christmas Event

13^th December at 8:00pm, £17.50 per person (£10.00 deposit payable to Pete Edwards no later than 1^st December – sooner please if possible)…..PLEASE GET YOUR COMMITMENT TO PETE ASAP

Would all committee members please consider the ‘merits’ of providing a raffle prize to help fund raising at the event

10.

Commemorative BSAC 50th Shield

DO to consider the award