Could you make a difference
to BASC?
Conor O'Gorman
If you think you could steer the future direction of BASC on behalf of its members and shooting, now is your chance with two national Council seats up for election. But be quick – the application deadline is 30 December. Conor O’Gorman provides a personal insight.
Almost 20 years ago my first task for BASC was making a round of tea for committee members of Lough Foyle Wildfowlers Association.
For several years thereafter, helping wildfowling clubs with leases and consents, I gained an invaluable insight into the wildfowling ethos and the ups and downs of running wildfowling clubs.
So, what’s that got to do with BASC Council elections? Well, perhaps it’s everything or nothing but here it goes.
The Wildfowlers’ Association for Great Britain and Ireland changed to BASC in 1981 to better reflect its widening remit protecting and promoting all forms of shooting.
BASC’s structure and operations were modelled on that of a wildfowling club and that democratic framework has continued to this day.
A shared desire to protect and promote
When I joined BASC, its elected Council was mostly made up of people who had spent decades serving on wildfowling club committees. Those skills and experience were a strength for a rapidly growing Association.
Today, BASC continues to have wildfowlers on its Council as well as those with other shooting disciplines as their primary interest.
What binds Council together is a shared desire to protect and promote of all forms of shooting. Council members bring to the table a mix of skills and experience gained from working or volunteering in the shooting and non-shooting sector.
That’s not me parroting a company line – that’s been my personal experience working closely with many dozens of Council members through thick and thin over two decades.
Whether it’s your first or 50th year shooting and whatever your favourite shooting discipline, be it on the clay ground, rifle range, foreshore, farm, wood or hill, you can make a difference at BASC.
Becoming a BASC Council member
So, what’s involved in running for election and becoming a Council member?
Well firstly, there is some paperwork to complete and submit to the chief executive by 30 December and that will take some time to complete and process, so best to get started on this straight away.
If you are confirmed as a candidate, your photo and 500-word statement will be published on BASC’s website and in its membership magazine – Shooting and Conservation – as part of the election process which concludes on 20 May 2023.
If you are successful, be ready for a bit of a whirlwind year during which you will sometimes feel out of your depth but will always be supported and mentored by your fellow Council members and staff.
Understanding the Association
One thing many new Council members say is that they had no idea just how much BASC does, and the volume of information and decision making can be overwhelming at times to keep up with.
But you will soon get to grips with it all and the years will fly by, and you will make many lifelong friends along the way.
Ultimately, you will feel a deep sense of contentment and pride at your role in steering the direction of the Association as it continues to grow and improve with the support of its membership.
Then, your five years term will be almost up and you may be thinking, “That’s enough for me”.
But likely as not, you may find yourself thinking, actually I need to run for election again to get the opportunity to get all those other things done that I wanted to achieve for BASC.
And who knows, maybe you will even leave a legacy in the history books of shooting when the next ‘Sporting Century’ is written about BASC.
So, over to you, and let the journey begin!
Click here to start your application for the BASC Council elections.
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