new club

[Val Evans]

I am looking for infomation and help as to setting up a low key dive club,We are a few good mates whome dive regulally but want to go it alone we are members of an established dive club but feel the need to break away. we are all qualified to sports diver and above and have a qualified bsac instructor. we are not looking to set up as a training club at the moment but we would like to gain higher bsac qualifications ourselves. please help all infomation greatly appriciated thanks Val

[Keith Lawrence(BSAC)]

I am looking for infomation and help as to setting up a low key dive club,We are a few good mates whome dive regulally but want to go it alone we are members of an established dive club but feel the need to break away. we are all qualified to sports diver and above and have a qualified bsac instructor. we are not looking to set up as a training club at the moment but we would like to gain higher bsac qualifications ourselves. please help all infomation greatly appriciated thanks Val

Hi Val

Most of what you need is in the Branch Officers Handbook, the link below is direct to the bit about branch formation.

HTH

Keith L

[richard2338]

Hi Val
I'm Chairman of a BSAC branch formed less than two years ago. Its really quite simple....

As Keith has shown on the link provided to the BOH, you need to have an inaugural meeting, agree your objectives and byelaws (you can use/modify the standard BSAC ones provided) and take minutes of the meeting. You will, of course, need a minimum of 8 founding members.
Its sounds like you will need to get friendly with your local regional coach for several reasons... 1) he needs to visit you and approve your application... geography can be an issue here I understand- BSAC sometimes do not seem to like a number of BSAC branches in one area unless there are clear reasons for doing so (ie high numbers of members, differing objectives). That was one of our experiences at formation. 2) Unless you have an advanced diver as a founding member that you can make branch D.O., technically whomever you elect to that role will be an acting D.O., with the Regional Coach overseeing. In practise, this may amount to nothing, however at founding, I'm guessing BSAC HQ may take more of an interest.
We were fortunate in having a number of Advanced Divers at formation.
You will need at least one NQI to conduct any training (which you appear to have).
Keep it simple! (Which it sounds like you want anyway). We've found that in general, the fewer branch rules, regulations, bank accounts, committee jobs, assets the better! Thats obviously a sweeping statement, however in general terms, keep your initial objectives simple and clear to your founding members. Don't try to be ambitious and if pooling members money to buy assets, remember to allow for things going wrong. Don't reinvent the wheel - BSAC has many recommendations for Safe Diving Practises, Branch Officers Handbook / Guidelines (well worth getting a printed copy from HQ). You will need to create your own branch dive record sheet, again there are 'model' ones around to copy.
If your members need help with Dive Leader training and happen to be anywhere near Hertfordshire (you could be in Australia for all I know!?) we are shortly beginning our training course for that grade and could possibly help.
If you would like a chat about our experiences as a new club and any other advice feel free to email me directly on: <a href="mailto:divekiwi@hotmail.com">divekiwi@hotmail.com</a> or phone BSAC Membership who are very helpful.
Good luck!

[Ben Field]

&gt; We are a few good mates whome dive regulally but want to go
&gt; it alone we are members of an established dive club but feel &gt; the need to break away.

I wish you the best of luck, running a club is one thing, building one from the ground is something else...

One piece of advice, as you are members of an existing club I would reccomend talking to them as you go about forming your new club (whether its locally or far away)

This will help to both ease any unfounded bad feelings that can emerge from a number of people leaving a club at once and so as not to "burn your bridges". As a small club you might find having friends in other clubs useful in filling boats and trips.

Dive Safe,
BEN

[richard2338]

I wish you the best of luck, running a club is one thing, building one from the ground is something else...

One piece of advice, as you are members of an existing club I would reccomend talking to them as you go about forming your new club (whether its locally or far away)

This will help to both ease any unfounded bad feelings that can emerge from a number of people leaving a club at once and so as not to "burn your bridges". As a small club you might find having friends in other clubs useful in filling boats and trips.

Dive Safe,
BEN

Val, I would fully agree with Ben on the above point. If you have specific objectives in mind for your 'new branch' thats fine, but have you tried to move your existing branch in the direction you and your friends want to go? Is it that your existing branch isn't carrying out the type of diving you wish to do? Or the more advanced training you and your friends want? If not, maybe you should be trying to help with these things more and help move your branch democratically in the direction you want?

I have a friend who bought a house with a big, ragged old lawn full of weeds - he killed the whole lot off with weedkiller and planted fresh lawn seed. He got fresh new grass growth but a whole fresh crop of weeds! Beware, the same thing can happen with BSAC branches! Sometimes its easier to change what you have than start afresh...

However, at the end of the day, if you have totally different objectives or if its 'less club' that you want, less admin, thats fine, but as I said earlier... keep it simple! Admin and other issues can rapidly escalate...

[richard2338]

Ben has also has a very valid point about filling spaces on boats.

Its well worth noting that both Ben's branch and our branch have had unfilled spaces available on hardboats to a similar location at a similar point in time... (see 'Go Diving' Forum)

Particularly given that we are both originally from the same, split branch...

[AQUABIN]

Ben has also has a very valid point about filling spaces on boats.

Its well worth noting that both Ben's branch and our branch have had unfilled spaces available on hardboats to a similar location at a similar point in time... (see 'Go Diving' Forum)

Particularly given that we are both originally from the same, split branch...


Richard,
I have mailed you twice regarding the club you have setup, are you not receiving mails or do I take it you arent interested in any new members at the moment?

Rgds
Matt