Duty Overview

Members that are allocated a duty are sent a Rota List through the post.

Members can indicate duty preferences and in doing so it helps the smooth running of the club by reducing swaps and the number of members who are unable to attend. Members can view and download a form by clicking here.

The club operates over 1000 duties a year and, at present, only members aged 18 and over are picked for duties and, as there are sometimes under 300 members available for duty, it follows that a member can expect to be picked for at least three duties a year.

Members are picked in rotation according to the number of duties they have attended over a rolling period of time. Because of numerous factors, duties are not evenly spaced from the date of the previous duty, so sometimes duties can be allocated in quick succession. When members are picked for a duty they cannot perform, they must try to arrange a swap with other members and advise the Rota Secretary, preferably by email.

Duties can be safety based such as Officer of the Day (OOD) and Assistant OOD or set in the galley. Members are not selected as an OOD or Galley Chief until it is thought they have sufficient experience but these roles are to be shared amongst everyone. Please note that should the Officer of the Day require it, members in the galley must be prepared to assist in a safety role instead.

It is a requirement of the club that all eligible members do duties as stipulated in a roster list that is published from time to time, but having said that, we have many people who have severe restrictions on when they can actually attend, and we try to accommodate their needs when it is practical to do so. Members can inform the Rota Secretary of Duty Preferences that can include: ranges of dates for holidays; members in single memberships can arrange to be rostered with another member; adult members of family memberships are normally rostered together but they can arrange to be rostered on separate days e.g. to assist with child care. It is possible to exclude certain days of the week, but the system cannot cope with work shifts that change.

As there is no fixed date for the publication of rota lists, if it is known in advance that there are periods that will prove difficult such as being away on holiday then, members are encouraged to email the Rota Secretary rotasec@bcyc.org.uk as soon as they are aware of their absence. Currently the rota is paper based and is posted via Royal Mail. Two reminder emails or letters are issued about seven weeks and two weeks before the duty. The rota is only sent to those members who appear on it and we strive to issue the rota two months before the first duties becomes effective, which means some dates are announced up to 5 months ahead. A copy is placed on the notice-board in the OOD office (race control).

When Members attend for duty, they should find the attendance sheet and sign on, so the club knows that they attended.

You are here: Duty Summary