Since both Chairman and Secretary were only coopted into their new posts at the very beginning of 2021, after an unprecedented series of withdrawls and resignations for various reasons (which have been going on since 2019 !) it was probably too much to ask for them to organise an AGM in June 2021, which would have meant starting the preparations 18 weeks before then. Although it would have been good to be able to revert to June this year, even going for a date at the very end of June would have meant the preparations had to start, according to the current constitution, 18 weeks prior to that date, that is by 7th. February.
Additionally, it seemed likely that the 2021 AGM would have to be held online, as was the 2020 AGM, because no-one could be sure whether a large body of people meeting together would be possible, even as late in the year as October. It isn't ideal but there is the experience from 2020 to draw on and it was always going to be a steep learning curve after BCA just managed it last year. However the appropriate constitutional deadlines have been met to enable us to hold an AGM in October 2021 - though maybe they haven't always been communicated as effectively as possible to the members. However, communication with members has come under a different system this year and seems to be now the remit of the Publications/publicity/information officer rather than the Secretary or Chairman.
The organisation of the AGM would have been far more effective if it had been possible to inform all BCA members direct, by email/facebook/twitter or even an individually targeted Newsletter, of the various deadline dates but, as it isn't yet possible, there is at least the website to rely on. This isn't infallible because not everyone checks the website every day and various other means have to be used as well - don't forget not all cavers are glued to their mobile phones or frantically twittering to each other all the time; nor does everyone follow online forums.
A lesson possibly to be learned for next year, when the proposal is to revert to a date in June but to accept that the AGM may well be online, is that there should be a clear statement on the website (and on all appropriate forums) for all to see as early as possible: a notification of the date of the AGM itself, together with all necessary deadline dates and all posts up for election. This may change during the course of the year as people make up their minds not to continue in post for another year, allowing the notification to be amended accordingly; this happened at the last minute this year, some withdrawals not reaching the Secretary after the deadline date for nominations.
My own opinion is that what BCA badly needs is a period of stability so we can stop navel-gazing and get on with working for the members. There are enough external threats and worries to remind us that BCA needs to put forward a united front on behalf of all cavers. Therre are a lot of people out there working their socks off to enable cavers to do their thing with the minimum of hassle and BCA should be supporting and backing this in every way possible.