Introducing our Bingham Sub Aqua Club Committee

 The role of our Chair is to offer leadership and direction for the committee. Responsible for facilitating our committee meetings, the Chair ensures the conversation remains goal focused and activities remain for the benefit of the whole club. In her inaugural year as Chair is Eve Metcalfe. 

 Our secretary is a key point of contact between the committee and club members. As part of this they are responsible for organising the Annual General Meeting, and writing the minutes of the committee meetings. They also oversee our communications with members from responding to email enquiries to requesting member feedback. The club’s secretary this year is Ed Parker.  

 Responsible for ensuring the financial sustainability of the club, the role of Treasurer for Bingham SAC is varied. It includes managing the club’s bank accounts, paying expenses, overseeing our insurances, managing budgets and supporting with fundraising. With several years’ experience in the role, our financial management guru is Sue Shipley. 

 The welfare of our club members is incredibly important to us. The role of our Welfare Officer is to ensure that we maintain high levels of safety in all of our diving practices and that our club remains friendly, supportive, welcoming to all of our members. Although instances are rare, the role of Welfare Officer does include helping to resolve conflicts and reporting incidences or near-misses when needed. Our Welfare Officer for 2023/2024 is Tessa Durham. 

Training is one of Bingham Sub Aqua Club’s priority areas of focus, which is overseen by our Training Officer. From organising Try Dives and running training days, to delivering BSAC training courses, our Training Officer is committed to ensuring that all members achieve their diving goals. This year’s Training Officer is Dan Metcalfe.

 At Bingham Sub Aqua Club, we call Bingham Arena our home where we have a dedicated kit room with everything we need to hold Try Dives, run diving trips and help members to get started on their diving journey. This is all managed and maintained by our Equipment Officer. Our equipment officer logs equipment hire, oversees the servicing and testing of club cylinders and helps to keep our kit room organised ready for our pool sessions.  

 The role of our membership officer is support with the growth and development of our club community. This includes introducing and onboarding new members and maintaining accurate records for ever member of the club. It also includes ensuring that members have the appropriate medicals, BSAC membership and club membership when planning to dive or go on a trip. This year, our Membership Officer is Bob Nowicki. 

 One of the main benefits of joining a BSAC club is access to club run trips and expeditions. Due to the enthusiasm of members in our club for regular trips, this year we elected two Expeditions Officers. Their role is to oversee an active calendar of expeditions and support trip organisers with the planning of trips. As part of their role, they also ensure appropriate checks and planning have taken place and that club resources, such as the boat, are distributed fairly. 

Our Expeditions Officer for the UK is Dan Vaughan.   Our Expeditions Officer for International Trips is Keith Wignall.  

 From our annual fundraising Summer BBQ to our Christmas Scoot Challenge and Awards Night, we offer a wide range of events throughout the year for our members and their families. Overseeing and organising these events is our Events and Socials Officer. Alongside the logistical planning of activities, the Events and Socials Officer also focuses on maintaining a high-quality and value experience for all of our members. Continuing in this role for his second year is Ed Reckless.

 As a club, we are fortunate enough to own a 6m RHIB which we use to carry divers and dive from on trips. The upkeep and ongoing maintenance of the boat is a significant task, one which is overseen by our Boat Officer. Usually undertaken by someone with knowledge and experience, this officer ensures that are boat remains in a safe and high-quality condition for our divers, boat handlers and coxswains. Our Boat Officer is Steve Fardell. 

The role of our Website and Social Media Officer is to ensure that we have an active online presence through Facebook, Instagram, website and regular blogs. The support with this, they help to build the club’s visual identity and monitor analytics. The Website and Social Media Officer is also for increasing the reach of club activities and attracting new potential members to the club. Our current Website and Social Media Officer is Chloe Rollings.

  A new addition to the club committee this year is the role of Lead Instructor. This role was introduced  to support the Diving Officer and cover in their absence when needed. They also support with the delivery of training across the club. Our Lead Instructor for the 2023/2024 year is Helena Robertshaw.