AGM
UBUC AGM Minutes 2005
1. Welcome by Chair Ellen welcomed club members, new and old, and the prospective new committee.
2. Apologies for Absence Iain Simpson (ETO) and Libby Lee.
3. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous AGM. Club voted and ratified minutes of last year’s AGM.
4. Business arising from the Minutes. No business arising.
5. Committee Members’ Reports:
Diving Officer: Becky Seeley
Skomer Week 1 of Skomer was fantastic but the sun left on the Tuesday a day after I arrived and we were hit by gales. My initiation as DO turned out to be more about dealing with a field full of soggy divers with tattered tents than which site we were going to do! However perseverance and a visit to the launderette soon had spirits raised and we managed to get some diving in!
Summer 2004Dave’s hardboat trips catering for the more experienced diver have been a great success (weather permitting), though even hardboat engines breaks as we found out on the way back from the smalls in Pembrokeshire!!
No summer expedition in 2004 but many weekend trips throughout the southwest Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. The sinking of the Scylla near the James Eagan layne in Plymouth has created a great day out suitable for all levels of experience. A few intrepid divers went to Mull for a week long trip in September where Minke Whales and Basking Sharks were spotted in between some great diving!
Autumn term FRESH – Very successful down to a lot of hard work by lots of people! Thank to all who manned the stalls!
Crossover-trips were a priority in October and a number of chilled shorediving trips were organized with up to 20 divers attending!
PK Piss-up was again meteorologically challenged with some great gale force winds but the 44 divers who went (including 10 new members) all took to abseiling down a rock in dive kit very well and the diving was very nice.
Spring Term Started to get back in the water with some nice chilled day-trips.
Easter - Blown out more kite flying than diving, but we managed a couple of dives.
PK – Made up for all the bad weather we have suffered with perfect conditions and a huge amount of diving with 58 people attending during the course of the week.
Summer term and Beyond Since the summer term started we are averaging 3 (sometimes 4) trips a week! Equating to about 20-30 dives per week!
The Diving Calendar for next few months is very exciting:
Big Trips: Skomer, Mull, Summer expedition to Scillies Weekends and day trips: Dorset, Dover, Littlehampton, Skomer marine life surveys, Chesil, Babbacombe, Meadsfoot, Plymouth, Cornwall, Swanage, and Lyme
In the Pipeline: Isle of Man, Gower, Salcombe
Really good mix of old and new people organizing trips. Thanks everyone!!!
Projects Suit hire/Weightbelt loans: Has been really helpful in getting people into the water for first UK dives (particularly crossovers). PK suit hire has been very reasonable from Extreme Marine.
Website: Managed to vaguely keep it up to date but not had the time to spend on the new one. Working with a team of people over the summer on the new one Watch out in October 2005!
Documentation: Still finishing a trip organizer pack to help divers of all levels feel comfortable organising trips.
UBUC Stats 2004-2005 Members: 170 Students: 119 Staff: 9 New: 82
Trainees: see Emma B % completing pool/theory training % now ocean divers
Crossovers see Emma B
To Ocean Diver: % in water % Sports Diver
To Sports Diver and above: see Emma B
7 in water!
Qualifications see Emma B
Ocean Diver: More to come as well! Sports Diver: Dive Leader: Not many but many part way through and expect a bumper crop this summer!
Instructing
10 IFCs + a couple of OWIC’s Expect a lot of new NQI’s over next winter
Incidents A couple of minor incidents
Weight belt Bad air Dry suits
NOT a cause for complacency
Thank you’s
A huge number of people; Committee, Instructors, Trip organisers, Adam P (Direct feed) as well as my trainees and dive buddies!
President: Ellen Bale
A lot of people were very sceptical of how we as a Committee would fare this year, but I think we've proven that even with 8 out of 9 members new to the Committee we're more than capable of doing a good job for the club. Thank you very much to all those people who have given me advice, info and feedback, whether encouraging or not so encouraging (!), and huge thanks to the Committee who have worked their socks off. I want to wish the new Committee all the best with UBUC this year.
Training Officer: Emma Brennand
OD and SD training ran really well. At the beginning of the year we signed up 48 novices and 31 cross overs. Although we lost a few on the way 45 passed all the theory and pool assessments. We are signing up more and more crossovers each year and this is where we are losing the most of the new people. This is something that Ali and I have spoken about tackling this year, any help/ suggestions would be much appreciated :) Big, huge thank you to everyone who was involved with training. At PK loads of people commented on how good everyone was and that is all down to you guys. Yey! and we get to do it all again in about 4 weeks ;)
Vice President: Chris Mitchell
What Chris Did in his year as VP: Organised a trip, went diving, SCORE(- the big one. Sold 50 tickets made the club £75 one hell of a night, I don’t remember the works that well, which is probably a good thing), PK autumn trip (pissup) (after much faff with accommodation the weekend was a great success though I wasn’t aware of my weather booking duties at the time), Christmas Meal- Fiesta Havana (all went well except a number of people confused by the 6’6” woman at the base of the stairs to the club but all photos and memories show a good night), other social events were the pub quiz (where there were about 50 club members taking part, the highlight of the evening was Dave’s round), Jesters comedy night, paint balling and the second SCORE of the year. The biggy, PK for real, after rearranging the week so that we could get caravans I moved the weather booking as well, those in charge of weather for the globe not best pleased at this request but I talked them round. All things considered one hell of a week! Thanks to all the committee for the help with all things over the year. Chris.
Extended Training Officier: Iain Simpson
A lot of courses very nearly didnt run this year, but thanks to prety much everyone else, a lot did. A couple of succesful O2 Admins and PRMs were run for the Dive Leaders (of which I think 15 passed their DL theory tests this year). A healthy 10 regularly attended the AD theory lessons too, though the exam has not been run yet (in fact I think a few from the preceeding year also need to sit the test, something for this year perhaps). The Marine Radio course proved very popular this year, as did the boat handling which was run succesfully on the cumberland basin. By the way, it's totally my fault this whole report is so late, not Alex's. So, I've been man enough to admit it. I suspect no-one will really be bothering to read all this stuff though so I hope to away with it. Things to do next year, organise all the paperwork in the eto folders. Plan ahead, at least a little bit.
Treasurer: Jody Armitage
Financial statement period ending 25/04/05:
Total income: £19424.87 Total expenditure: £16075.48 Club profits 2004/05: £3349.39
The profit came from fundraisers, membership, some dive trips, notably Porthkerris spring trip. The club was awarded £2000 from the AU capital grant to be spent on equipment with a lifespan greater than one year (cylinders).
Equipment Officer: Carwyn Ward
At the start of the year several new(ish) cylinders were bought for the club, along with a couple of second-hand Buddy stabs over the year, to replace some of the dying ABLJ's (something which will need continued attention over the next couple of years). Stores were kept very tidy until the summer term, when Carwyn resigned from the post and Iain took over. After that it just seemed to get a bit messy... Some things to consider for next year, kit fixing sessions involving other club members (the experienced teaching the less-so, ideally). Also a FULL kit inventory as records for the past few years are patchy at best & a couple of reg sets are still unaccounted for. Finally a kit database to help ensure service dates are met etc.
Boats Officer: Johan Grosberg
This year the boats have had a lot more scheduled play time than last year. There were no major break-downs, just the usual tweaking. The boats weren't going to be sent in for service because of the little use they got (thus not worthwhile) however the engines are going in for their usual annual service. At present, we are expecting a few more parts again for the engines, but everything was in order. Many thanks to all those who helped out in whatever way they did to make sure the boats were working at home and at dive sites. A special thanks to Anthony for all his time and effort, and also to Dougal for coming through with transportation and all the last minute parts pick-up.
Secretary: Dougal Matthews
Until joining the committee I had no idea how complicated and involved the running of the club was and I want to say thanks to the other committee members on behalf of the club for all their hard work this year keeping the club running. For myself my year has involved helping out with boats engines and kit as well as the normal secretarial duties my role is based on – and I’d like to thank the other committee members for their help and patience getting in getting it all done.
6. Motions:
Motion 1 Proposed by Sam Webb: Addition of a Fundraising Officer to the Committee.
Sam: I propose that the constitution is altered to add a new committee post, that of fundraising officer. The role of the fundraising officer would be to work with the VP and treasurer to run 'non-traditional' events with the express aim of raising funds for the club, e.g. raffles, guest lectures, speed dating etc. Formalising this role will increase club interest in fundraising, something we don’t do enough of. It will also free the treasurer from trying to make money, a potential conflict of interests. Instead the treasurer should be returned to its true role that of an auditor for the club accounts.
Discussion of Motion: The need for this to be a committee post was raised (Tim/Jez/Stu). It was suggested that this could be a sub-committee post (Stu). Committee positions don’t work for reasons of accountability etc but an additional committee member could be one too many. This would also complicate constitution with extra posts (JL). There was some discussion whether clubs tended to raised money for charities rather than themselves (Chris) but that fact that fundraising office can be very effective (Irish Sam) was agreed upon. The general consensus was that the club accepts issues with constitutional change but does feel that fundraising is overlooked.
Amendment Proposed by John Liddiard & Trevor Mathers: Fundraising will be added to the duties of Vice President for next year.
Amendment carried.
Motion 2 Proposed by Damian Wozniak: To avoid potential training and instructing problems and conflicts UBUC will: Hold a Instructors Meeting per term to discuss and evaluate any issues arising from training.
Damien: UBUC is affiliated to, and its governing diving body is the British Sub Aqua Club. The UBUC constitution adopted is as per the BSAC. Thus strictly, UBUC training should be in accordance with and not deviate from BSAC rules, requirements and regulations. Currently UBUC training is not in line with very many of the BSAC rules. Also UBUC training does not include much of the training actually required by BSAC. Many current required skills are not being taught by UBUC trainers. This is not acceptable and is potentially very dangerous. UBUC training has deviated and is now not even in accordance with previous long established, experienced and safe BSAC training requirements and rules.
To avoid problems and conflicts UBUC must decide: Either: 1. UBUC will strictly follow all BSAC rules, requirements and regulations; Or: 2. UBUC will have an adapted UBUC training regime which will not only encompass all the current BSAC training rules and requirements but include skills from previous BSAC training rules.
Such training would thus cover ALL current BSAC training rules and requirements and would include additional training based on long established previous BSAC rules and training requirements, apart from such that are explicitly banned by BSAC in official BSAC documentation and publications. (not simply on the say so of some BSAC employee without evidence of his assertions).
Motion Withdrawn by Damien Wozniak for the following reasons:
There are many reasons some of which are: 1. The motion is misunderstood and misinterpreted by many UBUC instructors and there is a totally erroneous perception that UBUC would suffer. On the contrary it would benefit UBUC. 2. The motion concerns and affects trainees, yet many trainees are not aware of the motion, the rationale behind it, nor of the matters involved. 3. Very unconstitutionally, opportunity has not been given for all members of UBUC, especially trainees to be involved in training discussions. There has been withholding of information to trainees, saying training issues are not trainees concerns.
I have reflected on many questions and discussions. 1. I have been asked why now? (i.e. this year and not in previous years). There are many reasons why things have surfaced now but time allows me to mention only a few. 2. I have been accused of not adapting to evolving and changing diving and training schemes. This is silly really if such people realised how much everything and diving has changed in the 33 years I have been diving and training. 3. Evolution can be good and bad. Many of us agree that some changes are very bad but where regulations stipulate that things have to be done we need to follow the rules if unwillingly, especially where litigation could loom. 4. Trainees should be aware of all aspects of a risky sport and are confused because of censorship and disinformation. 5. Trainees have not been aware of and have not had access to the complete details of the BSAC Ocean Diver and Sports Diver training scheme requirements. They have been denied access to the BSAC Instructor Manual which is available to all. 6. Time has been spent on skills not immediately necessary, to the detriment of skills more urgently required by Ocean Divers such as finning technique, duck diving, snorkelling, buoyancy, etc. There is a lot of snorkel training in the Ocean Diver course much of which has not been done at all by many UBUC instructors. 7. There is no pool test in BSAC sheltered water training. It is a continuous assessment scheme where individual instructors decide when a trainee is competent and confident in a skill. 8. There is no in water Artificial Ventilation in the BSAC Ocean Diver training. Much more distinction between Ocean Dive and Sports Diver training should be made by UBUC training. 9. UBUC Ocean Diver trainees have been falsely led into thinking that they MUST pass a 'pool test', which includes in water AV (artificial ventilation) before they can do any of their open water Ocean Divertraining.
UBUC training standards have been slipping badly for the past five years. Damien withdraws motion because of concerns of instructors.
Alternative Motion Proposed by Lucy Stone: Lucy proposes Section 9 of the Constitution is rewritten as follows:
The Diving Officer is responsible for UBUC's diving and training programme and the safe conduct thereof. The final decision on all matters relating to BSAC's recommendations and guidelines rests with the Diving Officer. The Diving Officer will, in liaison with the Training and Extended Training Officer, hold regular instructors meetings to: ensure instructors and assistants are informed of any changes to training, ensure that the training programme runs smoothly and effectively, address any issues raised by Instructors and Assistant Instructors and to resolve any conflicts that may occur. The Diving Officer may delegate training duties to a Training Officer and Extended Training Officer, who shall be responsible to him / her for the performance thereof. The Diving Officer's decision in respect of his / her responsibilities shall be final in the Club, subject only to such guidelines consistent with these Bye-laws as may be established from time to time by the Committee.
Lucy commented on the standard of trainees and their abilities at PK etc based on her 7 years in the club and her experience as an instructor.
Discussion of Alternative Motion:As the motion has been withdrawn should we pass amendment formally stating the role of DO being responsible to NDO (Tim/Jez). In order to clarify situation within club buck must stop with DO (Si). Stu reiterates from experience as DO the DO as responsible party should have it explicitly stated. There is concern that this puts too much emphasis with the DO (Keith/Tim). DO must consult with instructors anyway but the DO must have the authority to go with their responsibility (JL). Position doesn’t need explicitly defining issue lies with undermining of the DO (Jez).
Trev proposes moving to a vote.
For Alternative Motion: lots, Against 2, Abstentions 3. Alternative Motion carried by two-thirds majority.
7. Election of Committee Members
Training Officer: Nominees: Ali (proposed by Emma B and Emma V), Steve (Steve steps down).
Vote: Ali Carpenter by majority
Vice-President: Nominees: Kate E (proposed by Davina and Alex), Olivia (proposed by Ellen and Chris).
Vote: Kate Elliot by majority
Boats Officer: Nominees: Davina (proposed by Kate E and Alex), Johan (proposed by Chris and Keith).
Vote: Johan Grosberg by majority
Treasurer: Nominees: Emma Y (proposed by Steve and Demelza), Tom Playford (proposed by Johan and Olivia).
Vote: Emma Yates by majority
President: Nominees: Nicola (proposed by Emma V and Adam), Stu (proposed by Johan and Trev), Stu steps down.
Vote: Nicola Winstanley by majority
Secretary: Nominees: Alex (proposed by Davina and Lucy B).
Vote: Alex Howe by majority
Equipment Officer: Nominees: Steve (proposed by Si Parker and Stu Rundell), Iain (proposed by Ellen and Rosemary).
Vote: Iain Simpson by majority
Extended-Training Officer: Nominees: Emma V (proposed by Rachel and Nicola).
Vote: Emma Vardy by majority
Diving Officer: Nominees: Emma B (Bex and Nicola).
Vote: Emma Brennand by majority
Direct Feed Team: Adam Peltan explained the process this year. Bex suggests one issue per term.
Nominees: Davina, John and Steve
All accepted.
8. General business. Underwater Olympics coming soon!
9. Close.
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