JOTTINGS The Editor’s bit

While new Chairman Bob Kempton has decided not to write a Chairman's column each issue, I'm afraid you don't get away from me so easily!

I know that many members have been over to Stoney for their last dive of the 1900s, but for many of us this is the quiet time of the year. This doesn't mean however that there isn't anything to do. Many members are involved in trip planning for the new season, especially with a couple of regular trips moving to earlier in the season for 2000. There's also plenty to do on the kit and boat front, getting everything ready for a couple of months hence, not to mention the annual dinner. I'm sure people will ask, but if you feel you can help in any area or add anything, please make yourself known. I can assure you that your offer won't be turned down!

The Draycote barbecue finally happened, and didn't we pick a wonderful evening for it - the weather was glorious. An apology though to all those who were expecting the RIB to be there. So were we, but given the problems at West Bay in August, the Committee felt that it was important to get it straightened out before taking it anywhere - including Draycote.

Please, please support this annual event, this year with a new voice to listen to! Details are on the first page, and tickets will be available soon.

It was good to see a late season trip. Not brilliant weather but a good time seems to have been had by all. Fletch has jotted a few notes about this weekend, and a Red Sea trip, both of which appear further on.

This year's trips are now being planned. A few dates have been firmed up on, but there will be plenty more. Watch the noticeboard for details.

If everything falls into place, 2000 will see us stationing the RIB at Portland for four weeks during the summer, with local arrangements being made for launching. The idea is that anyone can then go down use it, provided of course that there are experienced boat handlers present. period. Hopefully this will encourage members to get down to the sea and use the RIB.

So, the report is out, all 100 pages (no, that's not a misprint!) of it.

As expected it puts much of the blame on ex-Financial Controller Mike Wellings who is alleged to have made various misleading statements about the Club's income and expenditure. However, what is doesn't explain is what the Treasurer, Maureen Coulthard was doing, after all, she was supposed to be in charge. Commenting on the report she said 'I wish I had caught things earlier'. This misses the point. If she had been doing her job they would never have needed catching in the first place. What about the Business Director, David Roberts, a Chartered Accountant? Of all people surely it should have occurred to him that something was amiss.

The report also looks at the crazy situation around the two Underwater World conferences at Harrogate. In 1997 it made a loss of £97,000, yet in 1998 Council reckoned they would only lose £16,000. No-one apparently queried whether this was a reasonable target, not even budget holder Bob Bolder (who apparently relied on Dave Roberts for financial control). Obviously it wasn't, as it actually lost over £115,000.

I think it confirms what I thought, namely that those on Council who should have been controlling what was going on simply were not up to the job.

Amongst others, the report also criticises ex-Chairman Chris Allen's, again for his lack of control, but also for his blatant interference in the election process.

Essentially what we seem to have had is a long tale of inadequate control and too many people who simply were not up to the job. It concerns me that this could happen again. Being a long time diver, active at Club and regional levels does not alone, I'm afraid, qualify you for Council.

BS-AC should be congratulated to commissioning the report and for making it available, in full, to members. The Club must however ensure that this does not happen again.

It's great to see a couple of trip reports and other contributions to this issue. Every little really does help! All contributions to me please, preferably by e-mail or on disk, but I'll even take paper too!

A happy 2000 to everyone. While it's really no different to any other new year, this one really does feel more like a time of change than those that have gone before. I'm sure that the new century will bring some changes for all of us one way or another. Whatever it brings, diving or otherwise, I hope it's what you want and that it works out.

Happy diving and may you bubbles ever upwards go.