PUBLIC MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COUNCIL - January 2006
BSAC Council Meeting 28th January 2006 at NCVO Building, London
Present
MA Marcus Allen
MKT Mike Todd
CP Clare Peddie
TM Tony Marshall
DD David Dixon
AH Adrian Hall
AC Anne Clarke
AR Tony Reed
KL Keith Lawrence
DE Deric Ellerby
BH Bob Healey
EH Edward Haynes
AM Andy Moll
MT Mary Tetley
WD Wendy Davies
Apologies:
Harry Gould, Ernie Crook, Ian Irvine, John Betts.
Minutes of previous meeting
Approval of the previous minutes was proposed by MA, unanimous, motion carried.
Matters Arising
China - The group that we had been consulting with have withdrawn from negotiations with BSAC.
Dive contract - negotiations to discuss supply of the magazine are ongoing.
Chairman's Report - circulated previously
MA made a presentation detailing the decline in membership numbers from 2000 to 2005. He explained that the figures do include 2 months of lapsed members from January 2005 which equates to approximately 1,200 members. He also stated that, within 3 months, the figures should be more accurate due to the switching to the new membership database at the end of January 2006. MA stated that between 2004 and 2005 the BSAC lost 3,255 members. 1,200 of these were due to the 2 months lapsing procedure. He stated that all membership classes are declining and that the average length of membership is 4yrs (3yrs in 2000). The BSAC loses a large proportion in the 1st year of membership. KL stated that 50% of all joiners leave after 1 year.
18-25 - stable 10%
26-35 - declining 30%-20%
36-45 - stable 35%
45-60 - increasing 25%-35%
Gender split changed - 25% - 26% Female members
2006 Budget
AH stated that the audit for 2005 was ongoing and the auditors had not had any issues when he had spoken to them on Thursday.
He gave a presentation of the 2005 actual performance and the current position in relation to the 2006 budget.
Income has fallen by 133k, mainly due to subscriptions and retail sales falling.
Expenditure is 95k lower than 2005 due to savings made.
AH explained the cashflow position for 2005 and 2006 in detail and explained how the budget setting procedure affected the cashflow. As the BSAC is a not-for-profit organisation, the budgets are prepared on a conservative basis, assuming a continuing fall in membership income and the inflationary pressure on costs. No allowance has been made for any speculative income or benefits from Project Neptune. AH stated that the budget for 2006 must show a surplus for the year and make a cash contribution towards members funds. AH explained that this is normal business practice. He showed the position of the 2006 budget at the last council meeting.
MKT thanked AH for the work he had undertaken and for its clarity.
MA asked for a vote of thanks to AC for her contribution in obtaining the reduction in insurance premium for 2006.
BH asked if Council would consider letting snorkel members buy a copy of the Dive magazine from BSAC. MA said he would look into this after the meeting with Dive.
DD circulated some notes on his assessment of the standing of the PTP Scheme. He would be setting up a team for a full review. It was agreed that it should have DD, another Council member, Mike Clack and, possibly, someone with travel industry experience.
DE stated that the Thai and Asian tourist authorities have fairly large advertising budgets. MT to research and report back. Council agreed that the Come & Dive campaign should proceed if sponsorship is secured to pay for it.
MA declared that if subscriptions are increased by �2 from 1st April in 2006 the increase for 2006 would be approximately 25k and approximately 35k for 2007.
MA asked Council to consider Full Diving Members increase to be a flat rate across the board and not a percentage. Council agreed to implement a flat rate increase for full diving members.
AR - would like this to be a message from the Chairman or Treasurer and a communication in Dive extolling the virtues of being a member etc.
MA proposed that the subscriptions increase should be �2.50 for A group and �1 for B Group, seconded by AM, unanimous.
The �2.50 and �1 increases will be adopted.
MA thanked all present for a long and difficult discussion.
KL would like a vote of thanks for their efforts in relation to Neptune and wish HQ well during the final implementation stages.
MA thanked AH, MT and WD for their hard work in the preparation of the annual budgets.
MA to place a post on the members forum to urge branches to complete the survey.
MT confirmed that the industry response rate is 5 -15% - the current BSAC response rate is 37%.
CP - confirmed that due to costs etc DOC will remain at its location. Dinner costs are proving prohibitive.
MKT proposed that MA seeks representation on the Historic Wreck Committee for BSAC - possibly Jane Maddocks, Council agreed.
AC thanks to HQ for their efforts in relation to the insurance renewal before Xmas.
Present
MA Marcus Allen
MKT Mike Todd
CP Clare Peddie
TM Tony Marshall
DD David Dixon
AH Adrian Hall
AC Anne Clarke
AR Tony Reed
KL Keith Lawrence
DE Deric Ellerby
BH Bob Healey
EH Edward Haynes
AM Andy Moll
MT Mary Tetley
WD Wendy Davies
Apologies:
Harry Gould, Ernie Crook, Ian Irvine, John Betts.
Minutes of previous meeting
Approval of the previous minutes was proposed by MA, unanimous, motion carried.
Matters Arising
China - The group that we had been consulting with have withdrawn from negotiations with BSAC.
Dive contract - negotiations to discuss supply of the magazine are ongoing.
Chairman's Report - circulated previously
MA made a presentation detailing the decline in membership numbers from 2000 to 2005. He explained that the figures do include 2 months of lapsed members from January 2005 which equates to approximately 1,200 members. He also stated that, within 3 months, the figures should be more accurate due to the switching to the new membership database at the end of January 2006. MA stated that between 2004 and 2005 the BSAC lost 3,255 members. 1,200 of these were due to the 2 months lapsing procedure. He stated that all membership classes are declining and that the average length of membership is 4yrs (3yrs in 2000). The BSAC loses a large proportion in the 1st year of membership. KL stated that 50% of all joiners leave after 1 year.
18-25 - stable 10%
26-35 - declining 30%-20%
36-45 - stable 35%
45-60 - increasing 25%-35%
Gender split changed - 25% - 26% Female members
2006 Budget
AH stated that the audit for 2005 was ongoing and the auditors had not had any issues when he had spoken to them on Thursday.
He gave a presentation of the 2005 actual performance and the current position in relation to the 2006 budget.
Income has fallen by 133k, mainly due to subscriptions and retail sales falling.
Expenditure is 95k lower than 2005 due to savings made.
AH explained the cashflow position for 2005 and 2006 in detail and explained how the budget setting procedure affected the cashflow. As the BSAC is a not-for-profit organisation, the budgets are prepared on a conservative basis, assuming a continuing fall in membership income and the inflationary pressure on costs. No allowance has been made for any speculative income or benefits from Project Neptune. AH stated that the budget for 2006 must show a surplus for the year and make a cash contribution towards members funds. AH explained that this is normal business practice. He showed the position of the 2006 budget at the last council meeting.
MKT thanked AH for the work he had undertaken and for its clarity.
MA asked for a vote of thanks to AC for her contribution in obtaining the reduction in insurance premium for 2006.
BH asked if Council would consider letting snorkel members buy a copy of the Dive magazine from BSAC. MA said he would look into this after the meeting with Dive.
DD circulated some notes on his assessment of the standing of the PTP Scheme. He would be setting up a team for a full review. It was agreed that it should have DD, another Council member, Mike Clack and, possibly, someone with travel industry experience.
DE stated that the Thai and Asian tourist authorities have fairly large advertising budgets. MT to research and report back. Council agreed that the Come & Dive campaign should proceed if sponsorship is secured to pay for it.
MA declared that if subscriptions are increased by �2 from 1st April in 2006 the increase for 2006 would be approximately 25k and approximately 35k for 2007.
MA asked Council to consider Full Diving Members increase to be a flat rate across the board and not a percentage. Council agreed to implement a flat rate increase for full diving members.
AR - would like this to be a message from the Chairman or Treasurer and a communication in Dive extolling the virtues of being a member etc.
MA proposed that the subscriptions increase should be �2.50 for A group and �1 for B Group, seconded by AM, unanimous.
The �2.50 and �1 increases will be adopted.
MA thanked all present for a long and difficult discussion.
KL would like a vote of thanks for their efforts in relation to Neptune and wish HQ well during the final implementation stages.
MA thanked AH, MT and WD for their hard work in the preparation of the annual budgets.
MA to place a post on the members forum to urge branches to complete the survey.
MT confirmed that the industry response rate is 5 -15% - the current BSAC response rate is 37%.
CP - confirmed that due to costs etc DOC will remain at its location. Dinner costs are proving prohibitive.
MKT proposed that MA seeks representation on the Historic Wreck Committee for BSAC - possibly Jane Maddocks, Council agreed.
AC thanks to HQ for their efforts in relation to the insurance renewal before Xmas.
Page last modified: 1st Nov 2006 - 12:17:26