BSAC 18 - Huddersfield Sub Aqua Club

10th May 2004, 9:15pm Huddersfield Sports Centre

Minutes from Meeting

1 Apologies

Andy Booth, Trish Holmes

All other committee members present

Also present, Richard Manning, Martin Charlesworth

2 Matters Arising

Training Vulnerable People

Martin Charlesworth provided a large number of comments and items to consider, including;

BSAC do not specifically record the number of incidents based on the age or vulnerability of the member

BSAC18 already have the BSAC HQ policy guidelines ‘Welfare of Children’ on its web site

BSAC consider anyone under the age of 18 to be a vulnerable person

All trainees under 18 must have parental consent, gained after meeting with the parent and trainee and advising them of the physical contact element of the training

There must always be an independent observer and the trainer / trainee should never be alone

From 2006, all instructors and all committee members must be Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked and an amendment to the club constitution needs recording to note that all members may be subject to CRB checks (these checks will be free of charge)

Unless you are a training school, the BSAC minimum age limit for training is 14, however clubs can set their own limit and their own conditions to training vulnerable persons

It was agreed that due to the complexity of this information, an extended meeting would be scheduled for next month to discuss this issue fully and come to a club resolution.

Fees increase - it was agreed by majority vote to implement the new fees structure proposed by Richard Robinson at last months meeting.

Compressor - risk assessment still pending

Dive Marshalling Sheet - a new sheet has been produced and will be provided for download once approved

Dive Marshalling Training - still pending as we still require an additional member to achieve minimum numbers (of 6 trainees)

Dive Safety booklet and guidelines was adopted and will be distributed by Kate to all Dive Leaders and any other member organising trips.

Octopush T-Shirts - Dave has not found the design and will speak to Craig

BSAC 50th - Kate pointed out that we are actually in our 50th year and that we are already effectively half ways through the year - extra impetus was made to Andy Waugh and it was agreed that AW would speak to Steve Hepworth to agree an outline of the '50 dives' award t-shirt. It was also suggested that we could combine this with the 'WWF Big Swim Event'

Cheque Book / Paying in book - Richard and Andy to discuss and present and appropriate requests to the meeting

Club printer - Martin raised concerns over the club funding a laser printer. He stated that the club could be accused of bias even if the printer was understood to be for exclusive club use. MC suggested that the committee should consider very carefully what it's policy was for the funding of purchases.

3 Membership Secretary

Membership Report for Committee Meeting 10^th May 2004

04 new members (Andrew Davis, Jason Booth, Dan Bousfield & Eleanor Evans).

06 Renewals.

10 Due.

02 Overdue (Martyn Butterworth & Dan Isley).

Sent e-mails out around the country to a wide selection of clubs requesting info on membership fees etc, summery as follows;

Billericay Sub-Aqua Club 1620, £100/annum regardless of qualification + £50 on-off training fee + materials. Club has own rib.

Bishop Aukland SAC, £200 initial + £50 ??? to BSAC. 2 ribs and 2 compressors.

Boston SAC 1200, £50/annum + BSAC fees + £30 Training pack.

Brighton BSAC 007, £257 new membership fee currently under review.

Blyth 0348, £40 joining fee then £14/month by DD (£8 for Students and Unemployed).

Congleton BSAC 1645, £15/month all inclusive, reduction for abated members. New RIB soon.

Darlington Dolphins, £45/annum + BSAC fees, £140 for new trainees + Club kit hire.

Poseidon Sub-Aqua Club 676, £10/month by DD + £55/yr ??? to BSAC.

Stingray Divers York, £73/annum including BSAC subs.

Wearside BSAC, £120/annum all in, all members regardless of qualification.

And this is outrageous

Bournmouth & Poole BASC 006, £560 for the full training course up to Sports Diver, Includes BSAC & Club Membership (43 & 65), Books & Stationary (38), Training (100), Rental of club kit for Pool Use (150), Open Water Use (150) and ’88 Tables (14). I assume that £65 is the yearly membership to the club itself regardless of qualification. They've gotta be ‘avin’ a larf.

Locally (Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, etc) I've had nothing back yet despite e-mails and phone messages.

4 Diving Officer's Report

Diving Officer’s Report May 10^th 2004

Having just returned from a superb week of diving in Scotland my report for this month targets equipment. Almost everyone on the trip, including me, had problems with equipment. Even though most of the dives were relatively shallow and easy, it was quite alarming how one thing after another seemed to leak, fall apart or stop working. When the water is cold, it is no fun being soaked through and last-minute failures of regs etc just before jumping in the water is frustrating. As usual, people like Cheeks and Jacques bent over backwards to help put things right and I know I for one felt very grateful. My thought for the month is, when are we going to run some equipment maintenance workshops? This was mentioned ages ago and I feel very strongly that we could learn a lot about basic repair and maintenance. Your life depends on your equipment and we shouldn’t have to rely on the few members of the club who have to spend half their holiday mending other people’s stuff.

Kate Falkingham, Diving Officer

5 Training Officers Report

2 new members and 1 try dive this evening

6 Treasurer's Report

Summary of last three months;

March - (£230.25)

April - (£550.00)

May to date - £864.00

Overall, the bank account is healthy although the increased costs from the Sports Centre will be feeding through soon

7 Equipment Officer's Report

Nothing to report

8. Martin Charlesworth asked to mention that the Regional Coach was standing down and as the Regional Coach appoints his / her own team of Area Coaches, Martin may or may not be picked to continue. Martin will advise once he is aware.

NOTE - MEETING TIME FOR NEXT
MEETING HAS CHANGED - 8:00PM START
NOT 9:15PM