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Document D1

Membership Fees and Benefits

This document explains BCA's membership classes and the membership benefits of each class. The document is quite lengthy for a web page, although it fits onto two sides of A4 if you wish to download it as a PDF. The text is split into sections, as follows. Where the hyperlink is shown with a this means it will take you to a separate web page, although all the information is contained in the one PDF.

   
BCA logo

  BCA Membership Classes go to top of page
  Individual Member (Direct | Club) | Caving Club | Associate  
  Direct Individual Member (DIM)
You can join BCA as an individual or joint member, and as a caving or non-caving member		  
  DIMs receive all the main benefits of membership, which include the BCA newsletter, Speleology magazine, the annual BCA handbook, third-party public liability insurance cover and a vote at BCA General Meetings. (Other benefits are listed in the chart on p2).  
  The DIM category includes Joint Members (defined as two members residing at the same address). Joint members only receive one set of mailings, but both are entitled to vote at General Meetings.  
  For an explanation of the difference between a caving and a non-caving member see How BCA Membership Works.  
  Individual members residing overseas should be aware that there are some limitations to the public liability insurance cover.  
  Overseas cavers who are covered by a third-party public liability insurance policy administered by their own national caving organisation may join BCA at the 'non-caver' rate. This does not affect the insurance cover available to you under our scheme, but it is recognition of the fact that you are already contributing to an insurance scheme that benefits all cavers, wherever they are situated.  
  Club Individual Member (CIM)
You can join BCA via your caving club/group, which must be a member of BCA. . This is a 'low cost' route to BCA membership that is primarily intended to provide you (and your fellow club members) with third-party public liability insurance cover. This is only direct membership benefit that CIMs receive other than a vote at BCA General Meetings and in postal ballots. 		 
  Caving Club
Caving Club membership is available to organisations that meet BCA's criteria for being classed as a 'caving club' (See Definition of a Caving Club, below). The range of benefits is broadly the same as those for DIMs although clubs may opt out of receiving Speleology magazine. 		 
  Members of caving clubs have the option of joining BCA as DIMs or CIMs. You do not have to join BCA individually, but your club may require you to do so because certain additional benefits of the third-party public liability insurance scheme apply to clubs only when all the members of the club are also individual members of BCA.  
  A club pays a membership fee based on the size of the club. The nature of this class of membership means that it may not be quite as suitable for overseas clubs, for which Associate membership or a subscription to publications may be more appropriate. A similar class of membership applies to Access-Controlling Bodies, Regional Councils and certain specialist bodies.  
  The above classes comprise the Full Members of BCA. Each Full Member has a vote at BCA General Meetings. DIMs & CIMs have a vote in BCA's House of Individuals, whilst clubs etc have a vote in the House of Groups  
  Associate Members This membership category is intended for outdoor activity service providers, businesses and other 'corporate' bodies which wish to become members of BCA but are not clubs or access controlling bodies. Associate Members are not covered by the public liability insurance and they do not receive a vote at BCA General Meetings but, otherwise, the range of benefits is similar to that of DIMs.  
     
  Membership & Subscription Fees go to top of page
  These are listed on a separate web page. Membership & Subscription Fees  
     
  Methods of Payment go to top of page
  These are listed on a separate web page. Methods of Payment  
     
  FAQ for BCA/BCRA Publications go to top of page
  Who receives BCA and BCRA newsletters?
The BCA newsletter is posted to all BCA members except CIMs. The BCRA newsletter is posted to all BCRA members.		  
  Who receives Speleology?
Speleology is posted to all BCA members except CIMs and except those clubs who have elected not to receive it. You can subscribe to Speleology without becoming a member of BCA. This may be the cheaper option if you live overseas or do not need the other benefits of BCA membership.		  
  Who receives Cave & Karst Science?
The paper edition of Cave & Karst Science is shipped to those BCRA members who have requested it. Additionally, from vol 34(1), all BCRA members may access C&KS online (as a set of PDF formatted files). You can subscribe to C&KS (both on paper and online) without becoming a member of BCRA. This may be the cheaper option for you if you live overseas or do not need the other benefits of BCA/BCRA membership; but please note that subscribers will not receive the BCRA newsletter.		  
  Will you continue to publish C&KS on paper?
Yes. BCRA is committed to continuing to produce a paper version of C&KS. Please see document M4 for further information about C&KS online.		  
  Do I need to pay extra for overseas postage?
Anyone requiring Speleology or Cave & Karst Science to be posted to an address outside the UK must pay a postage surcharge. If you wish to receive both periodicals then you must pay the surcharge twice. Non-member subscribers must also pay the appropriate surcharge. For the purposes of bulk-mailing of printed papers, Western Europe comprises the following list of countries, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. All other European countries (whether or not they are in the European Union) count as 'Rest of World').		  
  What happens if I am late in renewing?
Membership of BCA entitles you to receive the periodicals that are published only during the period for which you are a member. Individuals that join part-way through the year at a discounted fee must purchase any required back-issues separately. Clubs and Associates that join part-way through the year, having paid the full yearly fee, will receive any back-issues to which they are entitled. 		 
  If you cease to be a member of BCRA, and publication of C&KS is delayed, we will, on request, keep your subscription active until the end of a volume. If you re-join BCRA after a period of non-membership, or you re-subscribe to publications after a lapse BCRA will offer to supply your missing copies of Cave & Karst Science (and Speleology where applicable). Postage will be charged but there will be no cost for the periodicals themselves. (This offer is for a limited time, and we cannot guarantee to be able to supply all back-issues).  
  Is there a discount for Caving Clubs wishing to advertise in Speleology?
This benefit is limited to Caving Clubs (whether or not a BCA member), who can place an eighth-page advert in Speleology for £18 including VAT. 		 
     
  How BCA Membership Works go to top of page
  Insurance Contribution
Central to BCA's membership structure is the concept that all individual members pay a contribution to the cost of providing the third-party public liability insurance cover, since this policy provides a 'community' benefit to caving in the UK. However, BCA 'weights' the contribution its members make by charging cavers more than non-cavers. Although the policy cover is the same for all members there is the clear expectation that, if you pay a non-caver membership fee, you will not be participating in anything other than surface activities.		  
  You only need to pay the insurance element of your membership fee once so, if you are a member of several clubs, you need to give your BCA membership number to your club secretary to avoid multiple charges.  
  If you are joining BCA as a DIM and you have already paid the insurance element via a club then you do not need to pay it again. However, in future years, you should pay the insurance with your BCA DIM membership instead of via your caving club. Additionally, UK members who have adequate third-party cover from another body (e.g. FFS, SUI, university) need not pay the insurance element. (But 'adequate' does not mean cover that is part of a household or travel policy!). Currently cave divers and members of BCRA's EUG do not need to pay an additional insurance contribution.  
  Basic Fee
In addition to the insurance contribution, an element of the fee for Direct Individual Members covers the periodicals that we issue. Joint members pay this Basic Fee element only once; and receive one set of publications per subscription fee. However, both joint members receive a vote at general meetings. The 2008 Basic Fee is £15. This is not shown explicitly in the table of fees above but, by adding this fee to the insurance elements of £16 / £8 / £5 / £0 you can arrive at the DIM fees given. (This fee element may include a contribution towards other membership services). 		 
  Caving Clubs
Clubs pay a membership fee that depends on the club's size. Some aspects of the public liability insurance cover are only available to clubs if all the members of the club are Individual Members of BCA. So, if you are member of a caving club, you do not have to join BCA, but your club might require you to, for insurance reasons. For further information see document D2. 		 
  BCRA Supplement
All classes of member except CIMs may pay an optional supplement to join BCRA. (CIMs should upgrade to DIMs to join BCRA, or else subscribe to Cave & Karst Science as a non-member). The benefits of BCRA membership are shown below. BCRA members have access to C&KS online, but only those who have paid an additional fee will receive it on paper. 		 
  Part-year discount
BCA membership runs for a calendar year and expires on 31 December each year. There is a discount for DIMs and CIMs if they join part way through the year, which reflects the fact that such members will only receive insurance cover and periodicals for part of the year. 		 
     
  Table of Membership Benefits go to top of page
  BCA CIMs are not shown in this table. The only membership benefits they receive are the 'insurance' and 'voting' elements.

  BCA Direct Individual Member BCA Member Club / Organisation Associate Members
  Membership form M1 Membership form M2 Membership form M3
Publications Newsletter, handbook, Speleology magazine
Clubs may opt out of receiving Speleology if they are not members of BCRA
Insurance All Full Members benefit from the third-party public liability insurance scheme However, some aspects of this insurance are only applicable in certain circumstances or if additional fees are paid Not applicable to Associate Members
Voting All Full Members can vote at BCA General Meetings and can take part in postal ballots. DIMs & CIMs have a vote in BCA's House of Individuals, whilst clubs have a vote in the House of Groups. Individual BCRA members and BCRA Member Clubs receive a vote at BCRA General Meetings and can take part in BCRA postal ballots
Additional BCA Benefits
  • Discounted entry to BCA events
  • Access to BCA information services
  • Services of the BCRA librarian (e.g. photocopying; answering postal enquiries)
  • Membership of Regional Caving Councils (RCCs).
    (Note: BCA Clubs can join RCCs but some RCCs may not have other applicable categories of membership - see BCA and RCC handbooks)
  • Access to caves, where controlled by applicable agreements.
    (Note: Some Access Agreements may provide access to BCA Individual Members; others may restrict access to BCA clubs or organisations. Please refer to the BCA and RCC handbooks)
BCRA Benefits
  • BCRA Newsletter and Cave & Karst Science
  • 20% discount on all BCRA publications
  • Access to BCRA information services
  • Eligible for membership of BCRA Council
  • Eligible to receive BCRA Research Grants
Not applicable to Associate Members
  • Discounted entry to BCRA events
 Not applicable to Member Clubs
 
     
  Definition of a Caving Club go to top of page
 

The guidelines used by BCA and BCRA to determine suitability for club membership are as follows

  1. The club has a major aim or objective that is in support of the sport of caving, mine exploration, caver science, cave and mine conservation or caver training
  2. The club consists primarily of individual members (BCA would normally expect there to be at least four members)
  3. The club anually elects at least two officers
  4. The club is controlled by its members

To demonstrate these points, the club should submit a copy of its constitution which will, typically, include (as a minimum)...

  1. A statement of the aims of the club
  2. A provision for holding general meetings together with a mention of a quorum and of voting fractions required to pass motions and amend the constitution
  3. A system for the election of at least two officers
  4. Additionally, BCRA requires a dissolution clause in favour of an organisation with similar objectives to those outlined in (1) and preventing distribution of the assets amongst the membership. Note: This clause is being reconsidered by BCRA and may be removed, in order to bring BCRA's requirements in to line with BCA's. for information, contact secretary[at]bcra...etc.. [June 2008].
  

British Caving Association, The Old Methodist Chapel, Great Hucklow, BUXTON, SK17 8RG
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