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To all members of the CAS elist - [log in to unmask] We are writing to you as members of the CAS email list which also makes you de-facto members of the Computer Arts Society. This email concerns our relationship with the British Computer Society (BCS). As you may know the CAS has been recognised as a Specialist Group (SG) of the BCS since its formation 40 years ago. BCS have been very generous to CAS over the years and subsidise our activities to the sum of several thousand pounds each year. Our budget application this year is just under £10000 and includes support for exhibitions and a conference. However the BCS now wishes to formalise what has previously been a fairly informal agreement and since this impacts on you we are writing to ask for your input. Below there are two items/questions which we would like you to respond to. If you do not respond we will assume you agree to both items. 1. the BCS want all SG members to also be members of the BCS. The cheapest category is Affiliate Membership which costs UK£25 per year. However for the first year the BCS is offering free membership at all grades to members of its SGs. Affiliate Membership has a number of benefits including the possibility of joining other SGs at no extra charge. If you wish to take up this offer please go to http://www.bcs.org/sgoffer If you want to apply as a full member or student member use the links at the bottom of that page. If you want to apply for Affiliate membership use the link on the sidebar "What can I apply for?" and say "no" to all the questions. You will then be asked to download a form which you should fill in and return to the BCS. Please be sure to mark the form "SG Special Offer" and include your membership of CAS. If you do this please also let us know (so we know you are now a BCS member). If you are already a member of BCS please also let us know - although the free one-year membership offer is not extended to existing members. The CAS will continue to negotiate with BCS for free on-going lay membership of CAS for those who do not wish to take up this offer. At the current time we have no indication of how successful these negotiations will be. There is the possibility that if you do not all agree to take up the BCS offer then CAS may have to reconsider its relationship with the BCS. 2. the BCS are requesting the names and email contacts of all members of SGs including the CAS. They have assured us they will not use this information and will only contact you via this CAS elist (which is moderated so any improper emails can be intercepted). However, due to the UKs Data Protection Act you must agree for us to give your information to the BCS. As mentioned above if you do not reply to this email we will assume you agree and pass on your details. If you do not agree it is important that you reply to this email and state this. The CAS committee has some misgivings about the changes required by the BCS feeling that they might inhibit our objective of encouraging and promoting the use of computers in the arts to the public at large. There has been much discussion and we feel the right response is to go along with the changes and try to make them work. If they turn out not to work we can review our position. We respect the opinions of the BCS policy makers and their mandatory responsibilites as a registered Charity which have led to these proposed changes Please let us know your opinions regarding these issues ASAP. And please note that the offer of free Associate Membership of the BCS expires on 1 May 2008. With best wishes the CAS committee ==== Paul Brown - based in OZ Dec 07 - Apr 08 mailto:[log in to unmask] == http://www.paul-brown.com OZ Landline +61 (0)7 5443 3491 == USA fax +1 309 216 9900 OZ Mobile +61 (0)419 72 74 85 == Skype paul-g-brown ==== Visiting Professor - Sussex University http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/ccnr/research/creativity.html ====