We need a BASC Forum on the BASC Website

[Pinkfooty]

I have just been scanning through some of the threads on PW that David BASC has been manfully replying to (and taking some stick on).

 

I run the Wildfowling Forum and there are at least 11 BASC staff who regularly subscribe to that one.

 

I know of at least 8 other internet discussion forums concerned with shooting sports in the UK plus dozens of American-based ones that have a lot of UK contributors.

 

In one thread here, David was pilloried because he took a couple of days to answer an question. On the Wildfowling Forum there has also been, in the last few days, criticism of BASC for not answering a complaint immediately (despite it being in a subject section rather than in the dedicated BASC members' section)

 

The point I am getting to (rather slowly, I hear you say!) is that maybe it is unreasonable to expect BASC staff to monitor a large number of different internet sites just to pick up on questions or complaints.

 

Personally, I would prefer that BASC developed a discussion forum on the Members-Only section of its own website so that all enquiries, questions, comments and complaints about BASC services, or general shooting enquiries that BASC has the specific expertise to answer, could be concentrated in the one place. That would just have to be a much better use of expensive staff time and also provide a better focal point for members who wanted to discuss such matters.

 

Just a thought.

 

Eric

[David BASC]

From February this year I took over line management of the BASC web site. The first thing I did was a formal review of the current site and an analysis of other membership organisation sites world wide.

 

This prompted me to go to tender for a complete re-write and re launch of the BASC web site- not just a wash and brush up – we are talking about a brand new site.

 

Part of the development will be a significantly enhanced ‘members only’ section, and we are discussing the options for a members only forum within that, and we are also reviewing a ‘facebook’ style arrangement where members can set up their own groups of friends and communicate.

 

Anyway, phase 1 of the development will be the launch of the new site in spring 2009 with and forum etc being aimed for phased 2 in the autumn of 2009.

 

As for BASC being slow to respond to posts on forums, it often makes me wonder why if someone wants an answer from BASC they don’t just call and speak to someone? By all means post the reply etc if you want, but if you need us please call or e-mail us.

 

Ta

 

David

[Catamong]

I'm told the CPSA have refused point blank to set up a members forum on their website.

 

I reckon it's because they don't want to hear comments from disgruntled members, (of which there are quite a few).

 

Cat.

[pavman]

Eric

 

its a nice idea, but most should understand they can phone and e mail marford mill or there area rep, and should not expect BASC to monitor sites, if they do it’s a nice bonus and I guess gives them an insight into daily discussions,

 

Personally I would rather see resource put into the fiasco of multi BASC membership and then refunds. A single yearly policy and a simple means of cross checking would doubtless save a small fortune for clubs and BASC, the time and money wasted at both ends on Admin must be mind boggling unless someone is making money out of it?

 

So far I have paid my subs 3 times for 3 wildfowling clubs and as yet none have paid BASC for me to claim the refund as renewal from paying subs to club paying BASC can be as much as 3 or 4 months, this of course is not the fault of BASC, however if I could pay BASC by direct debit like I do my fishing licence it would be very helpful, I am also a member of several fishing clubs and don’t have to pay them all for my rod licence just prove I have one!

[Bagsy]

I'm told the CPSA have refused point blank to set up a members forum on their website.

 

I reckon it's because they don't want to hear comments from disgruntled members, (of which there are quite a few).

 

Cat.

 

:blink: In my limited experience the CPSA don't seem to like listening to their membership or engaging in discussion. Shame, I believe they could offer so much more than they currently do.

[David BASC]

Guys,

 

Please, PLEASE do not take this the wrong way…but I think the issue with the CPSA and some of the other organisation is that of size, not the size of the membership but the number of people in the organisation staff.

 

If we accept that it will typically only be executive staff who can or should answer questions, especially if the question is in the form of a complaint, technical or legal aspect, then most of the organisations will only have a couple of executive staff – in some cases if that.

 

Indeed, I remember one senior members of one of the smaller organisations being dragged into a debate about insurance on this very forum, and one of his final posts was along the lines of ’now I know why I don’t join forums – they take up so much time’

 

This is not a criticism, far form it, these smaller guys have a lot on their plate, they will often have to multi task (not easy for us chaps) and will often thus be generalists. Consequently when they prioritise their work I guess forums come low down the list.

 

BASC however, being a bit larger, having more executive staff, in specialist roles rather than generalist roles have the ability to monitor and respond (as often as we can) to forums like PW.

 

Moving forward though, in my opinion, any organisation that ignores the power of web based forums as a very positive and proactive form of communication with its members, and supporters and indeed non members are going to lag behind.

 

David

[Cranfield]

As for BASC being slow to respond to posts on forums, it often makes me wonder why if someone wants an answer from BASC they don’t just call and speak to someone? By all means post the reply etc if you want, but if you need us please call or e-mail us.

 

Ta

 

David

 

This is a very pertinent point and one we support completely.

 

If anyone wants to ask the BASC a question on here, then don't expect an immediate response, if any.

We appreciate David BASC monitoring this Forum occasionally, but he is under no obligation to do so, or to respond to questions on the Forum.

He does us all a good service by being here and commenting, long may that continue.

[Pinkfooty]

Personally I would rather see resource put into the fiasco of multi BASC membership and then refunds. A single yearly policy and a simple means of cross checking would doubtless save a small fortune for clubs and BASC, the time and money wasted at both ends on Admin must be mind boggling unless someone is making money out of it?

 

Pavman,

 

Solving that problem would involve a huge amount of very complex and costly administration (we are told) and would, incidentally, lose BASC a lot of income from the couple of thousand members who are happy to regard their duplicate subscriptions as "donations". Recent figures that I saw suggested there were about 125,000 members holding about 128,000 memberships. The Direct Debit method of payment is being expanded and encouraged but, unfortunately, it cannot apply to members who pay their subscriptions via clubs or syndicates.

 

I think that the duplicate subs problem is not just an irritation to the affected members but it is a serious problem for clubs themselves. I am led to believe that many members would join several more clubs if they were not faced with the outlay (albeit temporary) of multiple BASC subs. Clubs (most of them anyway) desperately need more members but see the duplicate subs issue as a deterrent.

[lurcherboy]

Either way I for one thank you and David for monitoring and doing what you do

 

 

 

 

LB