BCA Newsletter 31 is now out and online

[Ian Ball]

I really don't understand some of the sentiments given in above posts. I'm just a normal caver, an ordinary member of several good clubs, actively involved in exploration and other caving related projects. I can certainly vouch for BCA's usefulness to me. I could give a great many examples but here's one from today. I just had a reply from BCA's most efficient librarian, to my request for scans of an article in a caving journal (relating to a current exploration project). All the material was with me within 48 hours - brilliant! As I said, I could give many other examples of BCA's great value to British cavers.

There seems to be a number of members of the caving community who just aren't willing to recognise the good in our national body, preferring to denigrate it and just pick holes in various aspects. OK, it may not be absolutely perfect - I don't agree with absolutely every aspect of how it operates. But please give credit where it's due. Many officers are volunteers, just doing their best. Give them a break. They put a lot of time in for the benefit of all members of the caving community. That's people like you and me.

I strongly disagree that the "BCA is irrelevant".

 

[Cavematt]

There are some things that I feel the BCA could/should be doing differently (and I have made some suggestions to them directly). But everyone will have a different view on these matters.

It is critically important to realise that the BCA can ? and does - add value to British Caving for many people, be that through insurance, the library, the training services, the equipment and techniques group, the CRoW campaign, or the reimbursement of some expenditures to regional councils.

Maybe one of the things they could do better is make more people aware of this!

The BCA are soon going to be seeking a new Chair and Secretary. Getting new people into each of these roles, who proactively want to be there, with new ideas, is critical to ensuring the BCA can not only continue to add value, but also improve the services it offers to its members over coming years (i.e. so that it is not just all about the insurance as several people have said).

It would be nice to see more positivity in these discussions to help encourage those considering standing for a role.

I can certainly speak from some experience; after deciding to stand for CNCC Secretary in 2014, a whole load of anti-CNCC discussions erupted on this forum, which had me very close to throwing in the towel before I?d even started. Rather than having the intended result (of discrediting the former Officers to get them to step down), all this did was dissuade others from coming in to take on the roles and change things ? exactly the opposite to what the critics were wanting.

I think the BCA has a bright future, but only if we can encourage new people into the top jobs. This can only be achieved if the BCA presents itself in an open and engaging way (something that David and his predecessor, Robin, are helping to achieve with the likes of the newsletter) and by ensuring potential applicants are not scared away by negative rhetoric on forums.

There is a fine line between constructive, and destructive criticism. I think the discussions above have thankfully been fairly controlled in their tone (thank you everyone), but I can see what route they are potentially headed down if we are not careful.

Certainly, a few more posts like that of Pitlamp (above) would be nice to see now and again.

 

[droid]

It is critically important to realise that the BCA can ? and does - add value to British Caving for many people, be that through insurance, the library, the training services, the equipment and techniques group, the CRoW campaign, or the reimbursement of some expenditures to regional councils.

Maybe one of the things they could do better is make more people aware of this!

Yes, I agree.

MY comment about relevancy was based on my own experience. Others' mileage clearly differs.

 

[NewStuff]

Yes, I agree.

MY comment about relevancy was based on my own experience. Others' mileage clearly differs.

While I understand the BCA has value (I argue for change despite not being part of it), I do know a lot that have Droids view. It's a green card to wave, beyond that, they're not interested and never will be.

Horses for courses.

 

[Pitlamp]

Yes, I agree.

MY comment about relevancy was based on my own experience. Others' mileage clearly differs.

While I understand the BCA has value (I argue for change despite not being part of it), I do know a lot that have Droids view. It's a green card to wave, beyond that, they're not interested and never will be.

Horses for courses.

Well, I guess that's their choice. But if they engaged a bit more maybe they'd begin to understand the great value of our organisation better.

I'm really encouraged by Cavematt's post above but I'd just add one thought; the ideal makeup of the top jobs list wouldn't be all new faces, it'd be a blend of the new and the experienced (the latter having usefully long memories). But I'm just grateful that individuals are willing to volunteer to do work on cavers' behalf. That certainly includes you Cavematt.

 

[NewStuff]

Most of them (IME) cite "old people" and "not changing", so it may well change. Who knows?

 

[Pitlamp]

Perhaps you could mention to your mates that, if they don't try and have slightly greater involvement, then they'll never enjoy the many benefits of BCA membership - which would be a real shame for them.