I can understand Badlad putting the constitutional amendments forward regardless of the working group that has been set up to look at the constitution.
Three years ago (I think) the BCA set up a Vision and Reform working group, intended to provide a future vision and direction for BCA. All eyes were on this working group to drive change in the BCA to meet the expectations of members now and in the future. In fact, I think this Working Group came under pressure to be the ?saviour? of the BCA. Even during my short time in the BCA, whenever someone suggested something modernising, there was always some pushback to delay this until the Vision Group had reported their recommendations. In the end, there were times when the Vision Group was being used as a reason to delay modernisation, which was never the intention and I know caused great frustration.
Unfortunately, lack of participation has prevented this working group delivering, despite some heroic efforts from a very enthusiastic convenor. It is an issue that has thwarted the BCA since the very start and which will always thwart organisations based entirely on volunteers.
That?s not to say all working groups are like that (the Radon working group have made excellent progress lately, and the IT Working Group have done a top job on bringing this ballot to fruition, to name a few of the BCA?s successful working groups). Furthermore, with MadPhil at the helm of this new working group, and his professionalism and enthusiasm, I suspect this will end up being an example of BCA working group operating at its finest.
Nonetheless, I can understand skepticism from anyone who has been involved in the BCA for a while when they are assured a working group is going to look at something.
If the changes put forward in this ballot are accepted and the new constitution working group delivers and rewrites the constitution in a year or two, then there has been nothing lost by some interim changes now. If the current changes are accepted and the working group don?t deliver for whatever reason, then at least there has been some reform of the constitution while we have been waiting.
Therefore, I don?t think the fact that a working group is looking at the constitution should be considered a reason not to vote on the current ?here and now? proposals.