No 5, December 2005 BRITISH CAVING NEWSLETTER ASSOCIATION Membership 2006 Summary lieves that they should not have to contribute towards the cost of this insurance is entitled, of BCA membership fees for individuals are re- course, to hold that opinion; but BCRA Council duced for 2006. This is a refl ection of the fact that believes that our members should contribute to the more members in the Association, the smaller this ‘caving tax’ in order to secure the future of everyone’s contribution is to the insurance policy. cave science in the UK. The defi nitive table of fees for 2006 is on page 4. From 1/1/06 cave divers do not have to pay a CONTENTS higher membership fee to BCA. There are, how- ever, still special arrangements for members of News and BCA Updates p2 the Explosives Users Group. The additional BCA fees for Clubs providing BCA Offi cers & Contacts p3 Accommodation and Access Controlling Bodies are halved for 2006. BCA Membership Fees 2006 p4 BCRA Membership Fees BCRA Membership Fees 2006 p5 At its AGM in September, BCRA members voted to accept the motion to amend the consti- BCA Council Roles p6 tution to read, “Membership of the Association shall be open to all those members of the Brit- BCA Council 2006 Candidate Form p7 ish Caving Association interested in furthering its objects”. This means that from January 2006, the Regional News and Access: route to becoming a member of BCRA will be to Mendip and Peak District p8 join BCA and to pay a £10 supplement for BCRA North, Wales & membership. The defi nitive table of fees for 2006 Forest of Dean p9 is on page 5. Why BCRA members should join BCA LCMLA/CIC Training Course Dates p10 Some BCRA members have voiced the view that they should not have to join another body in Training and Forthcoming Events p12 order to support BCRA – particularly if they are not an active caver. But BCRA Council is fi rmly BCA/BCRA Publications Sales p14 of the view that we are now a single caving organisation. The Caving Diary Moreover, membership of BCA is the method & Quick Reference Contacts p16 by which you can contribute to the process that makes caves available to you, as a scientist. Even if you never go caving, you are reaping the ben- 2006 BCA & BCRA efi ts of others that do, and this depends on access Membership Fees agreements, insurance for landowners and so on. Anyone who has a connection with caving, but be- Defi nitive Guide on Pages 4 & 5 Supported by UK Sport and Sport England Affiliated to C.C.P.R, International Union of Speleology, Speleological Federation of the EU 1 News and BCA Updates 2006 – but please don’t wait Speleology Magazine BCA HANDBOOK until the last minute (a steady 2006-2007 flow is much easier to deal We are pleased to (due to be published early with). Thank you. announce that BCRA have April 2006) E-m: [email protected] or appointed a new editor – Erin post Hurst Barn, Castlemorton, Lynch – who will receive a Work on next year’s Malvern. WR13 6LS small remuneration for her Handbook is now well in work. We are confident Erin hand but there is a limit to will do an excellent job, and what one person can do. NEW LOOK that that Speleology will I need contributions from BCA WEBSITE appear regularly in 2006! all concerned, not just Speleology is now being corrections, changes of name The BCA website has published by BCRA on behalf or address or personnel, etc, recently been revised and will of BCA. It will be sent to all but also suggestions for new continue to be updated and BCA members whose mem- items of interest/information. ammended in the near future. bership package entitles them Apart from major club events, It aims to provide an easy to to receive a copy. .e.g. annual Gaping Gill Winch use quick reference guide to Those of you who have Meets, I cannot include local all that we do at BCA. Please submitted material for publica- caving club activities, but be patient over the coming tion and have not yet seen it larger events, sponsored or months as we complete the in print are asked to contact involving the Regional Caving work! Erin to check that it is still on Councils, the Specialist www.british-caving.org.uk file. It is possible that one or Groups, e.g. BCRC, BCRA two book or magazine reviews and CRG, can and should be remain buried amongst the included. I am interested not Cave & Karst Science paperwork. just in forthcoming events, but Contact Details: Erin lives also in anything that you might Please note that all members in China, and although email feel to have been a great of BCRA will continue to receive access is generally good, success that occurred with C&KS on paper until they are she reports that the post can the current year (April 2005 to given the option of choosing oth- be very slow. For this rea- April 2006). erwise. son, David Gibson will con- Also I would like to At this future time, it is like- tinue to act as the UK contact develop the adverts side of ly that there will be a decrease in point for post and telephone: things, both the club freebies subscription for those who want EDITORIAL OFFICE and the paid ones, (page 44 of to receive it electronically and an 12 Well House Drive, LEEDS, the current Handbook sets out increase for those who wish to LS8 4BX. Tel: 0113 248 1218 the parameters for this). receive it on paper. The methods Fax: 0870 164 0389 Please check through of electronic delivery (CD-ROM E-m: [email protected] your (or your club’s) copy of or web download) have not yet Email to speleology@bcra. the 2005-2006 Handbook and been decided. We will continue org.uk will go direct to Erin in let me have your updates, to offer C&KS on paper for as China. If you have large files revisions, additions, etc. long as it is economically pos- to send, please contact Erin Final closing date for sible to do so. first for advice. contributions is 1st March Report: David Gibson BCA Newsletter Editorial Address BCA N/L Editor, Jim Cochrane, BCA N/L Editor, 148 Mackintosh Place, Cardiff, CF24 4RS E-mail: [email protected] Note: The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the formal view of the British Caving Association. 2 BCA AGM 2006 BCA OFFICERS 2004-05 BCA Annual General Meeting 2006 Chairman: Mick Day, The 2006 AGM of the British Caving Bryn Aur, Brecon Road, Penycae, Association will take place at 10.30am on Swansea, SA9 1FA Tel. 01639-730125 Saturday, 25th March 2006 at the Baptist E-m. [email protected] Church Hall, Alvechurch. Items for the Agenda must reach the BCA Secretary not later than Secretary: midnight on Saturday, 21st January 2006. Paula Grgich-Warke, A Candidate form for members wishing to Rock Climbing and Caving Centre, stand for election to BCA Council for 2006, plus Rock House, Station Hill, Chudleigh, descriptions of the available roles are on pages Newton Abbot, TQ13 0EE. 6 and 7 of this Newsletter. The form plus an Tel: 07821 426107 election statement must be returned not later E-m. [email protected] than midnight 21st January 2006 to the BCA Secretary. Hon. Treasurer: Jonathan Roberts, How to find the Baptist Church Hall! Bridge House, High Street, Wanstrow, Somerset, BA4 4TE. Travel from M42, Jn 2 (approx. 5 minutes) E-m. [email protected] 1. Take A441 towards Birmingham Conservation Officer: Elsie Little, 2. Left at 1st roundabout (signed Alvechurch) Hennoyadd Villa, Hennoyadd Road, Abercrave, SA9 1UR. Tel. 01639-730331 3. Ahead at 2nd roundabout (signed Alvechurch) E-m. [email protected] This is Birmingham Road, leading through Alvechurch village Equipment Officer: Andy Pryke, 4. Take 1st. road on right as you come into 2, St. Maurice Road, Plympton, Plymouth, the village, (called Tanyard Lane) immediately PL7 1JS. Tel. 01752-205853 before the Red Lion Inn E-m. [email protected] 5. Turn 1st. left (behind the Red Lion) and past Training Officer: the recycling Centre into signposted car park. Idris Williams, (Free public car park with public toilets) Glen Cottage, Holden Lane, Ruyton-XI-Towns, Salop. SY4 1JD. 6. Through gate in railings and down left hand Tel. 01939-260412 side of Church Hall (side opposite the Red E-m. [email protected] Lion) Legal & Insurance Officer: David Judson, For Council Roles 2006 Hurst Barn, Castlemorton, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6LS. and Candidate Form Tel. 01684-311057 See Pages 6 & 7 E-m. [email protected] Publications & Information Officer BCA / BCRA MEMBERSHIP OFFICER & Webmaster: Lynne Bailey, Hafod Swn-y-Dwr, Les Williams, The Dardy, Crickhowell, NP8 1PU. 51 Churchill Road East, 01873 811662 Wells, Somerset, BA5 3HU. [email protected] E-m. [email protected] 3 British Cave Research Association BCA Membership Fees & Benefits for 2006 BCA Direct Individual BCA Club Individual BCA Member Club / Organisation Associate Members Member Member You can join BCA via a club A club pays a membership fee This membership category is intended for outdoor activity service You can join BCA as an or organisation based on the size of the club providers, businesses and other individual or joint member, You would do this primarily Club Members have the option of joining as DIMs ‘corporate’ bodies which wish to and as a caving or non- for insurance reasons, and or CIMs: see left.