Following the AGM, at which candidates stood from the floor for the two remaining vacancies, preparations for the elections are in progress.
Details are now on the BCA website:
Details are now on the BCA website:
BCA Council Elections
- Thread starter ChrisB
- Start date
cap n chris
Well-known member
Ditto.
Gmail and Hotmail both went to junk.
Other than that issue, its a really simple process to vote.
A lot of thought went into working out how to send 6000 emails without them being labelled as spam, and clearly it hasn't worked. It shouldn't be a problem in future years, as BCA is moving the membership communications to JustGo, an international company specialising in managing memberships, which the spam filters will recognise as safe.
Mine didn't go to spam, and since it didn't, the headers don't show what the reason is. It would be most helpful if anyone whose email went to spam can access the full headers, or the full source text of the email, and please copy it to me via a forum message / conversation.
Mine didn't go to spam, and since it didn't, the headers don't show what the reason is. It would be most helpful if anyone whose email went to spam can access the full headers, or the full source text of the email, and please copy it to me via a forum message / conversation.
Two examples received, which is enough for diagnosis - don't need any more, thanks.
aricooperdavis
Moderator
Email deliverability is a little like witchcraft. Different providers have different requirements which they don't fully publish so spammers can't work around them. This ballot email should have met the bare minimum, but didn't do a lot that would have improved deliverability due to the short notice I had to get them sent out. I'm happy to chat about nerdy details such as SPF alignment and the number of received headers with anyone who cares.
My experience with JustGo is that their support staff have very little understanding of email deliverability. They do send using a major email sending service, though, so as long as you don't want anything too out of the ordinary it should be fine.
My experience with JustGo is that their support staff have very little understanding of email deliverability. They do send using a major email sending service, though, so as long as you don't want anything too out of the ordinary it should be fine.
My thoughts on the elections are hopeful.
I looked at the two candidates for BCA secretary and read their statements. I can tell just by looking at the proposers and seconders that it is the usual 'old school' v 'modernisers' all over again. Good luck to Aiden (and Rostam), I sincerely hope you get the support you need to make BCA something to be proud of.
Of the individual and group member reps I guess they will do no worse than cancel each other out. I do despair when I see names that have recycled themselves around BCA for decades, just standing in different positions to stay on Council. I know they think they have the best of intentions but they really do need to step aside and let new blood take over.
Looks like Justgo will be a big help too. Good luck all.
I looked at the two candidates for BCA secretary and read their statements. I can tell just by looking at the proposers and seconders that it is the usual 'old school' v 'modernisers' all over again. Good luck to Aiden (and Rostam), I sincerely hope you get the support you need to make BCA something to be proud of.
Of the individual and group member reps I guess they will do no worse than cancel each other out. I do despair when I see names that have recycled themselves around BCA for decades, just standing in different positions to stay on Council. I know they think they have the best of intentions but they really do need to step aside and let new blood take over.
Looks like Justgo will be a big help too. Good luck all.
andrewmcleod
Well-known member
I think they would if sufficient new blood was standing...
Better to have the positions filled (with experienced people) than vacant.
There is a chicken and an egg argument here. It may be that the same people standing again and again actually puts other people off standing.
The 'filling posts with experienced people' argument is also misleading. Experienced at what? Look at the experience other new faces are bringing to council from different organisations, that's what is needed.
I remember clearly how one of those so called 'experienced people' tried very hard to put off a well qualified person who wanted to stand for a prominent BCA role on the grounds that trying to modernise the BCA would not work. Another person who had volunteered was shouted down across the meeting table for just doing the role they were elected for.
I won't name the individual involved but they are on the election ballot - again.
aricooperdavis
Moderator
A small number of emails couldn't be sent due to malformatted addresses (generally typos), and some bounced because the receiving server couldn't find the mailbox (also generally typos). If you think you should have received a ballot but didn't then email membership@british-caving.org.uk (I guess?).
That is what Katie said on other thread
cap n chris
Well-known member
Fully agree. I dispute the statement that it is "better to have the positions filled (with experienced people) than vacant". Vacant chairs in a room where all the other chairs are occupied by new blood would be a total revolution and novelty for the BCA. It's worth trying for that reason alone, imo.
