BASI Chairman Election, Place your bets !

A snowHead

An unexpected entrant in the election race for BASI chairman is Simon Butler. Also running is ex BASI CEO Bob Kinnaird (1990-2000)

As of now only two declared as running but I am sure BASI will post a full list of all of those in the running

Place your Bets, it will be an "interesting" race given Simon is currently in a court case with BASI (due to be heard 8 March) and two sitting Board members put in an official complaint against him for teaching "illegally" a few months ago...

A snowHead

If SB. loses in court on 8th March he will have very little chance of being elected.
If he wins some other current board members will find their positions untenable.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I am going to wait before investing my pennies until the court case has been decided.

I think the odds will change rather rapidly dependant upon the outcome.

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agreed but if they are the only two running will be a compelling race should Simon win...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@skimottaret, Simon has some passionate supporters but also an equal amount of vociferous detractors.

The social media may be interesting. Very Happy

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I'm backing Bob Kinnaird.

I've known Bob over the past two seasons now and I've no doubts whatsoever that he is exactly what BASI needs at this time. Bob has a wealth of experience which will benefit the association and the members. Bob did a fantastic job as CEO of BASI and left the association in great shape.

Bob is a man of honesty and integrity, he is sincere, trustworthy and straightforward. From my own experience I can say that he is very much in touch with members' needs at all levels, he is always willing to lend an ear and help and advise. Bob continues to walk the walk and is to be found still actively teaching at all levels. His passion and enthusiasm for snowsports is infectious.

Bob as Chairman would be very, very good news for BASI.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Speaking of betting and odds, what's the concensus on the outcome of the court case?

After all it is free

I see Jimmy Lister has put his hat into the ring for chairman....
Had him as a trainer for L3 - he was harsh Wink

- but a good dude who was honest and straight down the line.
Smart, astute and on the ball.

Suspect he (or Bob Kinnaird) could be good for BASI moving forwards from their current position.

@Haggis_Trap, as well as Coral our ex legal director who I rated when she was in post.

Good to see a strong field for Chair and two running for Legal which is surprising as I assumed that was a poisoned chalice.

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@skimottaret, but alas three posts with no candidates.

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Don Bates is also standing for Chair! Shocked

I suspect that is more as a counter to SB than any real desire to be Chair.

@sarah, Bob didn't preside over Cairngorm Mountains most memorable period. In his time there uplift was closed and investment reduced. He didn't leave a great legacy.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

Out of interest, what was the % turnout for previous elections?

A snowHead

@ALQ, not sure what the % is when the Chairman is being elected, but when I've stood in elections for other positions on the Board the turnout has been 600 - 800 (from a membership of 6000+).

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@rob@rar, 6000! That's quite large and I presume they have some skin in the game with their annual subs, so not lapsed or dormant members. 10-13% turnout is far too low IMHO and can very well lead to a Board that's unrepresentative of the membership (and influenced by special interests). I'm not saying that's the case with basi, but regardless of who wins, this issue needs to be investigated and solved as it can be very damaging in the long term (illegitimacy etc). I see this lack of engagement by the majority so often in clubs, unions, local councils, plcs, governments - I really don't understand it.

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@Haggis_Trap, yes Jim Lister another good candidate. Don't know any of the others.

@rob@rar, I think part of that is the eligibility criteria for those positions perhaps, so for example only trainers as trainer director, only full telemark members as telemark director etc not saying that's wrong but just means less people eligible. Agree with you about ensuring the appropriate size of the board and trying to make it representative.

@Gaza as @Haggis_Trap says about Cairn Gorm. And in terms of BASI he was well liked and successful.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Simon butler all the way.
I've done many many hard slog courses with Basi.
It's a system built in fear and anxiety, and having switched codes, other systems are much more positive and constructive.
I've had some great, great trainers, and some absolute jokes, many household names ( within the Basi environment ).
And Basi is now earring itself from within.
It's too weighted in looking after it's french licenced members.
It's too Scotland weighted ( yes our mountains are in Scotland, but do we need to go to courses in andorra and be serenaded by bagpipes ( which several trainers have done ))?
It's training mechanism in my opinion needs to be more based on positive encouragement rather than fear.
I've given up my ski teaching career now, after 15 years in the industry, but I'm seriously thinking of rejoining, just to give Simon butler my vote.....

After all it is free

@rob@rar,

It's chicken and egg, isn't it? But if a large majority of members (rather than a more involved minority) really feel BASI is not looking after their interests they need to get off their butts and vote.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Different problem than voting, but a club I used to be in had a real issue with cleaning/maintaining the place it was always the same few members doing all the work and if on a day we did not those too lazy to do anything themselves where the first complaining that it was a mess ( their mess from the day before ). A solution was found, subs where raised by £20 which if you helped clean or helped in comps etc you got back the year after, those who did not then paid more.

This may work for voting within BASI at least till members get back into a routine of voting.
Also on any training course this should be discussed and the importance of every member voting. It will take time but it can work.

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@Haggis_Trap, I agree, the on-snow experience with BASI is entirely first class, and I think you're right that the low turn-out is mostly because most members aren't interested in how the organisation is run or its strategic direction. The licence, which may or may not facilitate their teaching, plus discounts and fringe benefits are sufficient. But I wish more people took your attitude about voting as a matter of principal.

I don't care where BASI has its office located, and Grantown is certainly a cheaper location than having a brass plaque on an office in London or Manchester. However, having to schlepp up to Aviemore for the Common Theory course was a bit expensive and frustrating as that could be held anywhere in the UK.

I have no interest in over-turning the Eurotest. Tweaking it, perhaps, but it is well understand and serves a purpose. It's the other half of the relevant EU Directive which needs attention, and that is where BASI has served its membership very poorly, IMO. The soon-to-be-agreed (perhaps) Delegated Act will confirm that.

You know it makes sense.

^ would roundly agree on all points (most members taking time to post on social media are not so pragmatic or reasoned)

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

How many of that 6000 are people who are members because they have done L1 or L2 and need the membership to allow them to teach part time in the UK I wonder? If it's not a career, it's just a hobby, you have no intention of taking it further, and you don't know who the people are, it's not very likely that you are going to vote.
And another thought, there is so much controversy about what BASI is for, where it ought to be going, who will do what if elected, etc, that if you don't have any interest in the politics you'd be worried about voting for the wrong person if you did vote.
People vote if they have an opinion, if you don't have an opinion you don't know who to vote for, so you probably don't vote at all.

A snowHead

@Haggis_Trap, In defence of BASI, I understand that they had investigated the idea of L3 mountain safety, they were interested. I would have assumed that the reasons that the course would be better held in alpine rather than maritime mountains would have been communicated to you.
I was one who was interested in attending in Scotland.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Posts on the forthcoming BASI elections seem to have ceased. Am I missing a thread? I am keen to research what others are thinking with regard to Chair Elect as I want to make an informed decision and use my vote wisely. Chair Elect is an important position to fill - you can't beat a good election debate!

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@dolomite, I'm going to vote for the candidate that I think will be most likely to push for the needs of L2 and L3 members. Some of the candidates seem to me to be about electing more of the same, but I think Coral and Simon are probably more the "change" candidates. Of those two I think Simon has the better chance of being elected, as slim as that is.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

^ you can already use your BASI L2 in every country in the world (even France with Test Technique test pass, which locals also need).

I have already voted : was a very tough call between Bob Kinnaird and Jimmy Lister.
Make you own minds up. Hopefully there will be a decent turn out.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

That voting form is awful to use

After all it is free

@Haggis_Trap, yes I've seen that. Not much there for L2 and L3s, IMO. It seems to be set out as a defence of the status quo.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@Haggis_Trap, More a recap of what has happened in the past than BK's thoughts on the future.

Why do BASI not just simply introduce Test Technique before L1 than people will know where their skiing standard is?

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BASI Chairman Election, Place your bets !

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