I gave two examples of the kind of events, among many, that justify the need to hold a reserve. I don't yet have a plan for any other mitigation, I've only been in the role for 2 months. In my report, I've proposed carrying out a risk analysis, which would identify which risks are considered...

It's not unreasonable to ask, and I was happy to answer. For anyone who hasn't read it, there is more background on my recommendations, and some numbers, in my report to Council, linked in the first post.

It's been a BCA policy, since the BCA was founded, to hold an Insurance Reserve of about that amount. I wasn't involved in the decision, although I suspect it would have been on the advice of the broker, but whatever number you pick could be questioned. The main thing is to have something in...

Sorry, what's your point?

Would you prefer that it didn't plan for unexpected events? Loss of banking services was just an example, from me not the BCA, of the kind of thing that happens to organisations and plunges them into crisis.

A variety of reasons, none of which are so important that it would cause a problem if Council wanted to make the rises more consistent. One reason was to make them easily divisible by four, to simplify admin for joining part way through a year, although I discovered after I'd written the report...

From the pictures, my guess is that the rock dropped out of the wall above and landed on the ledge, shattering the slab (which had previously delaminated from the ledge). Some bits of the slab would have been scattered and forced off the ledge by the impact, and the rest of the debris may have...

Recently there was long thread about the BCA. I can now post possible answers to some of the questions, such as "Why is the BCA still raising membership prices when there is a significant amount still left in its coffers?" In March, I volunteered to take on the vacant BCA Treasurer role, and...

Half way down, under Permit Limitations, Leadership: "a permit to lead caving will allow you to take a group of no more than eight people, and no fewer than four people (including yourself)"

I've seen this with rockfall on a climb, and also on a motorway when a car had a blowout and slewed across two lanes into our path. It only happens when you perceive a threat to your own safety, adrenalin etc kick in instantly and speed up your brain so that you can react - and since your brain...

Some more physics, then - the energy in a 180kg rock falling 100m is the same as a typical car travelling at about 30mph.

Just measured my microwave - 50cm x 30cm x 30cm, at 2400kg/m3 that's 180kg

You'd have to have been negligent to be sued successfully, but even if you weren't liable being sued for an amount that would ruin you is very stressful and could take years. If it happened to me, knowing that there was some insurance to avoid even the remote chance of losing my house would be...

It's worth noting that most clubs and associations offer a range of benefits to their members, and individual members vary in how much they value or use those benefits. Many caving clubs will have gear to lend to novices, ropes, a hut, etc - not all the members use all of these, but they're...

That's a very good point. I believe it would still be beyond the capacity of BCA. To sell insurance (rather than providing it as a membership benefit) requires authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority, which is quite complex. A technical infringement of the FCA's rules can result in...