The groups include :
- The BSD itself
- The Dowsing Research Group
- The Professional Dowsers Register
- Affiliated Local Groups (affiliated to the BSD)
- Other local dowsing groups
- Functioning or dormant Dowsing Special Interest Groups
Dowsing in the UK also plays a large part in the life of other organisations and disciplines, such as Feng Shui, and some forms of Complementary Medicine.
(Indeed the best 'warm-up' technique for
getting ready to dowse
- though it is not referred to as dowsing - which I have come across is in 'Your Hands Can Heal You', a book about Pranic Healing).
Some dowsers may be members of several of the organisations listed above.
The case of Affiliated Local Groups is interesting. At the last count there were over 30. Frequently the key members or officers of such groups are also members of the BSD, but it is thought that the bulk of an ALG's membership may consist of people who are
not
members of the BSD.
This has led to the view held by some people that the interests of the BSD and the ALGs are sometimes opposed, as people can go along to an ALG, learn and refine the skill, draw on expertise developed elsewhere, but not make an (e.g.) financial contribution to the on-going work of the BSD. Others disagree, citing the ALG's outreach role.
I suggest that in the coming year the whole question of the relationship between the different dowsing players listed above is examined, to see if we can identify ways of increasing mutual benefits.
Emails received from ...
The Professional Dowsers Register
For some time now, an organisation formed to promote practical dowsing has been in existence. Comprised of mainly ex BSD members who are involved in either Archaeological dowsing or Water Divining. All members have excellent track records in their fields. Full details of existing members can be found on
www.professionaldowsersregister.co.uk
.
Jill Moss
I hope life goes well for you. I would like to contribute to the discussion about BSD and ALGs. Grahame Gardner, however, is working to restore the BSD Forum, which should be the most appropriate place for sharing views and would obviously not be restricted to ALG members. Your idea of having ALG "reps" on Council is not really helpful, particularly now when the Society is struggling to survive. The Council is not a talking shop for dowsers as its main focus is on running the business. The pursuit of dowsing was always left to the SIGs and the ALGs. There is a desperate need, even more so now, for Trustees with excellent IT, financial and/or marketing skills, who have the time and energy to work hard for BSD. Any ALG member, with those skills, can apply to join Council but there is clearly a reluctance to do so (and most of us are busy people anyway!). All Council members, incidentally, are Trustees - there have never been separate meetings for Trustees. Members of Council co-opted during the year have to have their appointment confirmed at the AGM.
Nigel Twinn
Good morning. Interesting points.
As one who has spent some time on the ‘inside’, my own view is that the Council is elected (like MPs), some members of it have specific responsibilities (a bit like cabinet ministers) and the BSD office (which hardly seems to exist at the moment, with the President doing much of the spadework) would be the civil service - paid employees (or volunteers) who carry out the admin side of the organisation.
To be fair to Colonel Bell, the BSD was set up by him, and run by him, for thirty years, at a time when the precise roles and responsibilities of the elements of the organisation we(re) never really considered. Right up to 1963, it seemed to be a benign dictatorship - much valued, I’m sure, but essentially run on military lines.
As far as I understand, the ALGs have no status as such (and a £25 membership fee doesn’t buy a lot anywhere these days, I’m afraid), and to the extent that they interact with the BSD at all, they occupy a position akin to political lobby group, based on their locality (maybe crudely like the SNP or Mebyon Kernow).
If local groups do wish to be represented, clearly members of them should put themselves forward for Council in the usual manner.
If elected, they could provide the voice of their and/or all ALGs, but they would also need to work for the membership as a whole.
If the ALG members on the floor of the house (together with BSD members not in ALGs) feel they are appropriate representatives, then they will doubtless be elected - if not, so be it.
And bear in mind, there may be no competition for the posts!
However, having seen up close the stresses and demands on Council members, and the ‘cabinet’ members in particular, I feel that anyone willing to stand should first examine both their own credentials to serve and their mental health, before throwing their hat into the ring! Previous Presidents and Directors have personally suffered greatly in the cause of duty, and anyone thinking of standing should be very confident both in their own field of expertise and in their ability to withstand continuous psychic attack.
Not that many, and certainly myself, have been willing to do two stints, and I have great respect for those who have managed it.
It is not surprising to me that Council posts are difficult to fill, and to keep filled - but anyone willing to do so will need sound support from the body of the membership, a considerable amount of genuine compassion when things do go wrong, and certainly not persistent barracking and back-biting.
I sincerely hope the BSD is still with us in September, as it has been, and remains, an important part of my life - and it has, potentially, an incredibly valuable role to fulfil in bringing the dowsing community in the UK, and beyond, together. It is something that many other countries lack altogether, and others openly admire. We rarely really appreciate something until it’s gone, and by then it’s too late.
My personal view is that I strongly doubt that so many vacant senior posts can be filled satisfactorily (as I feel any suitably qualified and willing candidates would have put themselves forward long before now) - but, as with all things dowsing, I will keep an open heart and an open mind, and trust that the best outcome will emerge.
Please feel free to circulate this, if you wish.
As you will probably have heard, I intend to stand down as co-ordinator of the TDs myself at the end of the year - and as we have no structure at all . . .
See you at Conference.