BCRA > Special Interest Groups > SIG Policy
In the light of BCRA/BCA 'consolidation', BCRA Council discussed its SIG policy at its meeting in Nov. 2004. A policy was then confirmed with the SIGs. After further discussion at the SGM, BCRA Council agreed a set of points at its meeting on 27th Feb. 2005, as stated below.
BCRA SIG Policy BCRA Council agrees to continue to support the concept of SIGs as "groups of members with a common science interest" rather than as "member clubs". Council agrees…
1. that BCRA will continue to allow the SIGs to use the name 'BCRA' in their title, subject to certain guarantees, as at present. These to include: i. At least two SIG executive officers must be BCRA members (as at present) ii. Financial control remains with BCRA (as at present) iii. Full voting members of the SIG must be BCA or BCRA members
2. that from 1st Jan 05 the members of a BCRA SIG must be individual members of BCA (DIM/CIM) or BCRA.
3. that BCRA will investigate the possibility of providing similar services to the SIG members that it intends to provide to subscribers to C&KS - i.e. centralised collection of subscriptions, centralised printing and centralise mailing services.
4. that, because BCRA can now be more focussed as a science body, it will look at additional ways of supporting the work of the SIGs.
5. that a means will be found whereby BCA 'club officers' insurance can be applied to all SIG officers.
6. that a means will be found whereby temporary PL insurance can be offered to participants in SIG events.
7. that there shall continue to be a 'non-member subscriber' status of SIG supporter.
Note: the statement about the SIGs becoming 'independent', which was made in BCA newsletter 3 (page 2) is incorrect. That statement was supposedly a report of a BCRA Council meeting, but no such point was agreed at the meeting and several minutes were subsequently amended at the next meeting.