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The results of the BSAC elections were officially announced at the 51st BSAC Annual General Meeting at the Kingston & Elmbridge branch Clubhouse on 21st May 2005.

The results were as follows:

OFFICERS OF THE BSAC - Election of Chairman

Results - 1 to elect

Marcus ALLEN	1021	ELECTED
Mark BAUWENS	287
Louise TREWAVAS	491

There being only one nomination for the positions of Vice Chairman (A MARSHALL), Honorary Secretary (M TODD), National Diving Officer (C PEDDIE) and Honorary Treasurer (A HALL), there was no ballot for these positions, it shall be deemed that they have been elected as if by ballot in accordance with Article 24 of the Articles of Association and Rules of the BSAC.

GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

Results - 10 to elect

Mark ALLEN	1476	ELECTED
Gordon ARCHER	1102
Anne CLARKE	1507	ELECTED
David DIXON	1476	ELECTED
Deric ELLERBY	1399	ELECTED
Edward HAYNES	1238	ELECTED
Bob HEALEY	1215	ELECTED
Keith LAWRENCE	1427	ELECTED
Andy MOLL	1417	ELECTED
John PEDERSON	1462	ELECTED
Tony REED	1519	ELECTED

RESOLUTION RESULTS OF THE 51ST BSAC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Special Resolution 1 - To amend the Articles so that an office other than BSAC HQ can be used for the return of ballots and to allow electronic voting for Council Elections.

For	1283
Against	81
Abstention	45

This resolution was passed (91%).

Special Resolution 2 - To allow electronic Proxy Voting at an AGM.

For	1355
Against	117
Abstention	38

This resolution was passed (90%).

Motion - Council to use its powers under Articles 9 and 46(A) (7) to reduce the minimum age for Junior Diving Members to 12 years old.

For	945
Against	504
Abstention	44

This motion was passed (63%).*

*The motion to reduce the minimum age for Junior Diving Members to 12 years old was supported by a majority of 63%. Council noted the repeated majority view of our members at their Council meeting on Sunday 22 May 2005. NDC have been tasked with preparing the advice for Branches who wish to train divers between the ages of 12 and 14. The NDO will report back to Council at the next Council Meeting on July 23/July 24 2005 with a view to implementing this change. The advice of the NDO will then be communicated to all BSAC Branches.

If you have any queries on the above, then please contact Mary Tetley, BSAC Operations Manager at maryt@bsac.com or on 0151 350 6220

Until this time, the BSAC policy remains at 14 years of age as the minimum age for Junior Diving Members.

The BSAC's annual Come and Dive event has had a re-vamp for its tenth anniversary in time for the biggest campaign yet. Taking place from 26th September - 2nd October 2005, this year's event will see branches charging try-divers to take part for the first time. The £10 try dive fee has been introduced to drive branch participation and cover the costs of hosting the event (£2.50 will cover administration costs at HQ). It should also help to convert participation into membership by attracting those truly interested in diving.

To make it a nationwide event it is important that as many branches as possible decide to take part in the event!

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

After the success of the 2004 campaign, Come and Dive will once again have sponsorship and support from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism for the second year running.

The British Sub Aqua Club, along with other organisations interested in recreational diver safety in the UK, is a member of the British Diving Safety Group (BDSG).

One aspect that all the agencies and other BDSG members are concerned about is the capture of information relating to diving incidents. The BSAC Safety Advisor, Brian Cumming collates all the information that the BSAC receives from a wide range of sources including the RNLI, MCA and other diving associations. He considers that the annual report includes the vast majority of diving incidents and definitely all the fatality reports.

The ideal situation for collating a fully comprehensive report is to be reassured that we receive reports of every diving incident. From this extensive supply of information it is hoped that any trends in incidents may identify a need for amendments in diver training, possible changes in equipment configuration or highlight equipment failures. Without this full picture a lot of speculation may take place.

Incident reports are often not supplied because of concerns that those involved will receive unnecessary publicity, possible chastisement from their organisation and their names emblazoned in the tabloid press. Please be reassured that this is not the case. All reports are dealt within strictest confidence and any information passed between organisations is totally anonymous with no reference to named persons and branches.

As such, this short article is a request for members and Diving Officers to consider sending in a BSAC Incident Report for all diving related incidents. These can be considered as situations that should not have occurred and may have led to the use of emergency training, rescue training, first aid or other situation controlling methods. Rapid ascents and uncontrolled descents, equipment malfunctions, diver separation from dive buddy or surface cover and DCI can all be considered incidents worthy of reporting.

There was a clear reduction in the number of incidents reported last year and DCI incidents were reduced to 265. These figures may be genuinely due to a reduction in overall incidents, however, hyperbaric centres are nevertheless reporting an increase in the number of treatments being given to divers several hours, and even days, after diving has taken place. These centres are unable to report the facts due to patient/centre medical confidentiality. As a result it is suspected that there may be several incidents that should be recorded but are going unlisted thus detracting from the completeness of the statistics.

The BSAC Safety Advisor would like the membership to consider supporting the collating of a fully extensive report by submitting an incident report for any diving incident that may be encountered during the remainder of this diving year. In particular, the reporting of those incidents that are considered 'minor' and those that manifest themselves after the diving has finished.

Double your discount - Exclusive Red Sea offers for BSAC members.

As a BSAC Preferred Travel Partner, Regaldive is delighted to offer BSAC members an exclusive 10% off* holidays to the Red Sea departing this May and June. With prices starting from as little as £179 for a week's B&B accommodation, Flights and transfers, there's never been a better time to grab your diving gear and getaway to the Red Sea.

Remember you can also take advantage of the great value BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE DIVE OFFER on 4, 5 and 6 day dive packs on selected dates.

Take your pick from a range of resorts including Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba, Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam. Various accommodation options are available including the 5-star luxury of the Intercontinental hotels, to family friendly resorts and everything in between. Choose from Manchester or Gatwick flights to Sharm and Hurghada or fly direct to Marsa Alam from Gatwick.

So don't delay - get your BSAC number at the ready and call Regaldive on 0870 2201 777 to book your getaway to the Red Sea.

*These are limited offers, subject to availability and may be withdrawn without notice. 10% includes normal 5% discount. Conditions apply - please call Regaldive for details.

There is a facility on the SDC section of the website for those instructors who want to obtain 'Approved Instructor Status' for any of these courses, to register their interest.

The on-line form will then be forwarded to the Regional Skill Development Course Organiser, who will try to accommodate your request. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/sdc/appinstreg.htm

***COMING SOON - RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW***

A comprehensive manual covering every aspect of seamanship a diver coxswain is ever likely to require. It covers boat terminology, knots, charts, weather, boat handling, engine basics, VHF operations and much more. There is also a detailed section about procedures to take in an emergency right up to and including being picked up by a SAR helicopter.

Available late summer/early autumn.

Illustrated with many detailed diagrams and colour photographs this book is a must for anyone who owns or drives a diving RIB. Retail Price : £20.00 Members Price : £17.00

To reserve your copy now, please go to http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/manuals.htm

The following fantastic new items are now in stock:

Oscar the Basking Shark - Paul Critcher

Join Oscar in his search for a meal as he meets a variety of marine animals. The first in the 'A drop in the ocean' series, this book includes stunning marine life photography with easy-to-understand fact boxes for the younger reader. Oscar the basking shark is feeling hungry, but what is it that he likes to eat?

'Is it you that I like to eat?' he asks the diver, the seal and the ray.

Price : £5.99.

Jackie the Seal - Paul Critcher

Join Jackie on his journey through the ocean as he meets a variety of marine animals.

The second in the 'A drop in the ocean' series, this book includes great marine life photography with easy-to-understand fact boxes. Jackie the seal is upset; he doesn't think he can do anything. "What am I good at?" he asks, as he tries to jump like a dolphin, hide like a scorpion fish and see like a squid.

Oxygen Mask

Oxygen mask 40% (10 litres/minute) with 2.1 metre Star Lumen tubing and connectors. These masks sometimes called High Air Flow O2 Enrichment (HAFOE) masks incorporate a Venturi Barrel and Bernoulli principle to deliver a predetermined and fixed concentration of O2 to the patient regardless of the patient's respiratory pattern by providing a higher gas flow than the peak inspiratory flow rate. Due to the exhalation holes on the mask, expired gas is flushed out resulting in minimal rebreathing and little increase in dead space. Ideal for your oxygen first aid kit for your club and or dive boat.

To reserve your Oxygen Mask now, please go to http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/accs.htm

Price : £3.00.

Do you know what's on the BSAC websites? Have you taken a look at what's on offer just lately? If not, how about taking a look now! You can go to http://www.bsacshop.com for all your relevant training support materials, the latest in leisurewear and books on diving almost anywhere in the world! This site is secure so feel free to place an order or order your copy of the BSAC Mailshop catalogue online.

http://www.bsac.org has almost everything you need to know as a member of BSAC. You can find other branches in your area, Coaching info, Stationery Order Forms, Member Benefits and events where the BSAC has a presence. There is a huge range of information on this site such as the Branch Officers Handbook. If you are having a heated discussion in your branch about how the BSAC works then this will put you straight! Everything a new Branch Officer needs to know and even a Clip Art service of BSAC logos for your important advertising posters.

http://www.bsacsnorkelling.co.uk is a must to take a look at if you have young children who love the idea of having fun in the water but are not yet old enough to go scuba diving. This site is real fun!

And, of course, the BSAC Travel Club has its own site at http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk. Now this site is a real must for anyone contemplating a trip either now or in the future. It has everything for the travelling diver - where to go, what to see, even reports that people have written on various locations across the world so that other people can get an insight into the locations before they go. It's all here! And, if you fancy having a go at writing a travel report when you get back from your trip, you can even win yourself a £15 BSAC Voucher. In most cases you can save at least the cost of your annual BSAC membership by booking through one of the BSAC's Preferred Travel Partners, all you need is your BSAC membership number.

Take a look at any of the sites and see just what you have been missing!

The "Friends of DDRC" has been formed to promote the aims and objectives of DDRC and to raise funds towards the purchase of capital equipment. They are very dedicated supporters of our work and we would really like to see their efforts recognised.

The current appeal is to raise funds for the purchase of an additional monoplace chamber and associated equipment, which will aid in the treatment of emergency cases. In September 2005 seven members of staff from DDRC will set out from John O'Groats to cycle to Lands End. They aim to cover the 837 miles over eight days - a real challenge!

The team are making a superb effort on behalf of the charity, not least because they will be undertaking the journey in their own time and contributing much of their individual expenditure.

If you would like to support them please send a donation to DDRC, Hyperbaric Medical Centre, Tamar Science Park, Research Way, Derriford, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8BU and mark it for the attention of John Smith or Elaine Budd. Please make cheques payable to DDRC.

Thank you for your support.

Q. What if a diver joins BSAC from another organisation and does not wish to further their training?

A. If a diver joins BSAC from another organisation and does not want to further their diver training with BSAC, they do not need to purchase a training pack. Evidence of their qualification should be shown to the branch Diving Officer.

Q. Why do Instructor Training Scheme results take so long to issue?

A. The staff examining on the events are allowed up to 2 weeks to prepare, collate and submit their reports to HQ. Once received by HQ they are then sent to the relevant Chief Examiner for approval, he has a further week to approve all the results and confirm the results back to the ITS Administrator at HQ. Once everything is approved, HQ then has a week to process all the results and post them out to each of the individuals on the course/exam.

Wherever possible results are processed earlier than this but the timescale allowed by the above ensures that appropriate allowances are made for the time necessary for volunteers to complete the exam reporting process. Utilising our supportive network of volunteers in this way keeps the cost of each event as low as possible.

If you know friend or colleague who may like to receive this monthly bulletin, please ask them to visit www.bsac.org/etalk, where they can subscribe online.