BSAC Hustings 2005

OK folks, so that we don?t get stuff all over the place let?s open a proper Hustings thread! All candidates are very welcome of course, as are your questions to all of them or any particular candidates. Usual rules apply in that we?ll try to keep it polite, but this is one place where you /CAN/ question the motives, actions and suitability of volunteers to do a particular job, that?s what elections are all about.

Keith L

Once again I am standing for election to General Council. I will be more than happy to answer any questions put to me by members.

Keith L

All

You might have seen my name on some postings; well yes I'm standing for a General Council post.

My expertise is generally unseen as its the mundane stuff like policies, procedures and guidance. The visible bit is the BOH, which I endeavour to keep up-to-date.

On the 12-year motion - I view all under 18 as minors and we should conduct ourselves appropriately. Whether under 12's should or shouldn't dive isn't the point (IMHO) it's should or shouldn't they be BSAC Members. That's a vote for the membership that I will pursue either way.

I do hope (being one of 15) that I can get movement on keeping the Web up-to-date and maybe get to the point where information can be found within 3 or 4 clicks - now there's a goal.

Like Keith said give us your questions.

Edward Haynes

OK folks, so that we don?t get stuff all over the place let?s open a proper Hustings thread! All candidates are very welcome of course, as are your questions to all of them or any particular candidates. Usual rules apply in that we?ll try to keep it polite, but this is one place where you /CAN/ question the motives, actions and suitability of volunteers to do a particular job, that?s what elections are all about.

Keith L

I think we can all agree that the position of Chairman is an extremely important position within BSAC and that the person holding this position has to be beyond reproach; be dignified and able to represent BSAC at all levels. The very existence of the BSAC relies to a great extent on the ability of the Chairman to manage all BSAC resources, not only within HQ but also within Council. The person elected to this vitally important position, in addition to mediator skills, has to be able to command the respect of the membership, council and HQ. Clearly, a vast experience of BSAC and the operations of council are pre-requisite to a successful tenure as Chairman as well as the further development of the BSAC.

So, we have 3 people standing for this vitally important position, one person has dedicated himself to the service of BSAC through many years on council, as an ITS instructor, coach and SDC instructor. The other two, on the contrary, have done little else but belittle the BSAC.

As an ex Vice-Chairman I had the pleasure of working on council with Marcus Allen for 5-years, his dedication to the job and undeniable ability to continue the improvements and development of BSAC is, IMHO, beyond reproach, he also has the benefit of youth (relatively speaking) on his side.

Whatever decision we, the membership, come to, we will be stuck with that decision for the next 3-years. Whilst a week in politics may be a long time, 3-years in the BSAC is a bloody long time and a lot of damage can be done in that time frame. The current Chairman has done much to move the BSAC forward over the last 6-years, I?d hate to see this reversed!

My vote goes to Marcus, oh, and Keith as well

Allan

I am posting this under my official ID because I am finding some of the comments being made by you Louise on your www.betterbsac.com web site misleading, inaccurate, completely out of date and insulting to the immense amount of work being put in by me and my IT Team. Much is made of ?let?s use technology!? as though it were simple and we?ve been sitting there twiddling our thumbs for years.

I know that you have been out-of-touch with the BSAC, not even bothering to be a member for the past few years and only rejoining just in time to have your nomination for Chair accepted, but your lack of knowledge about what is ACTUALLY happening and your simple answers to all of the problems I am finding frightening.

So you are a communicator are you? Come on then ? communicate! Instead of sniping at the BSAC from afar in your writings and on your website why don?t you try actually talking to us, talking to the people you seem to have so much distain for but whose votes you want. Let?s see you practice what you preach and use the forum system to have a discussion instead of you just telling us what we should be doing.

Yes Louise - /now/ you have annoyed me. But worse than that you worry me, by some of the comments being made by others it would seem that you worry a lot of other people as well. So come on then, let?s see if you have the courage to back up and justify some of what you?ve been saying.

Keith Lawrence
BSAC Council Member
BSAC IT Team Leader
Council 2005 candidate

My vote goes to Marcus, oh, and Keith as well

[fx : Blush!] Gee? thanks Allan.

I would like to echo Allan?s comments about Marcus, it has been a privilege to work with him and the other Council members over the years. Don?t get the idea that Marcus is establishment in any way ? far from it! He?s a moderniser to whom ?that?s the way we?ve always done it? is not really a valid reason for continuing in the old ways. Also he doesn?t just think he knows how the BSAC works, he gets out there and actually does it putting in an incredible amount of work both within and outside Council to actually practice what he preaches.

So yes, Marcus gets my vote as well ? because he knows what he is doing, he has that essential knowledge of the modern BSAC, he has a proven track record of improving the club in many, many ways. I have no hesitation at all in giving Marcus my full support as Chair and if I am elected again I look forward to having the pleasure of continuing to work with him.

Keith L

A few questions for all our Candiditates! To help me (& others?) make an informed decision?

1) Are you a current Member of a BSAC branch?

2) How active are you within that branch?

3) How many dives have you done in the past 12months?

4) How many dives with your branch?

5) How many dives not in Northern Europe?

1) Are you a current Member of a BSAC branch?

I am a member of BSAC Direct, the reason for that is my Council commitments mean that I cannot really contribute directly to one branch in the manner I did in the past.

2) How active are you within that branch?

See 1) But I do visit a lot of branches when I'm out and about, I dive with some of them on a "space fill in" basis, I also help out with a bit of branch training when I can.

3) How many dives have you done in the past 12months?

Not many :-( Only about 30 or so :-( I kept getting blown out last year but I have high hopes for this year.

4) How many dives with your branch?

Probably about half branch dives, half private dives with friends.

5) How many dives not in Northern Europe?

None! I didn't manage to get away diving at all last year.

HTH

Keith L

I am posting this under my official ID because I am finding some of the comments being made by you Louise on your www.betterbsac.com web site misleading, inaccurate, completely out of date and insulting to the immense amount of work being put in by me and my IT Team. Much is made of ?let?s use technology!? as though it were simple and we?ve been sitting there twiddling our thumbs for years.

come on then, let?s see if you have the courage to back up and justify some of what you?ve been saying.


Does this mean Council are official ****ed off with Louise?
People now seem to be "shouting" at her.

This begs the question when does this race start?

We still have not had any info on who is who yet, therefore it is unfair to try and get individuals to respond as yet.
If the establsishement (existing council people) start having a go at her then you could make her the under dog and she may get the sympathy vote.

Gary Cameron

Does this mean Council are official p****d off with Louise?
People now seem to be "shouting" at her.

No - it means that /I/ am, personally, as the Council member directly responsible for all IT issues within the BSAC. She hasn't got a clue what it is I've been doing or what I and my team are currently doing, she hasn't botherred to ask let alone suggest anything. But suddenly she has ALL of the answers!

If the establsishement (existing council people) start having a go at her then you could make her the under dog and she may get the sympathy vote.

So be it. I cannot speak for other Council members on this, I posted under my offial ID but in a personal capacity as the Council member responsible for IT. If she is going to use IT and technology as a bit of cheap publicity for her campaign and she wants it all changed then don't you think it reasonable that she actually starts talking to the people who actually know what they are doing?

Keith L