|
The Records Committees main function is to apply uniform adjudication standards to claimed records of scarce and rare birds in East and West Sussex. On occasion the Committee is also involved in the adjudication of early and late migrants, species in unusual locations and exotics and escapes. Membership
The Committee consists of six members one of whom may be the Recorder and members undertake a maximum five-year term of duty at any one time. Vacancies occur on a fairly regular basis, either through automatic retirement by members who have served five years or more unusually through voluntary resignation. A retiring member shall not normally be considered for re-election for at least three years following their retirement. Membership of the committee should attempt to provide a reasonable geographical spread and with members having a detailed knowledge of both East and West Sussex. Current Members of the SOSRC
Recorder: Christian Melgar
Assistant Recorder: Tony Cook
Members: Justin Atkinson, Ian Barnard, Richard Fairbank, Bernie Forbes, Dave Smith Nominations & Elections
The SOSRC usually nominates its own candidates to fill vacancies but nominations can also be put forward to the Recorder who will then circulate and discuss nominations with the Committee and a decision made by all current members, the Recorder and the Assistant Recorder. The prime qualifications of candidates are: acknowledged identification competence proven reliability in the field a track record of quality submissions of descriptions of scarce and rare birds to county records committees and BBRC the capacity to handle quickly and efficiently the considerable volume of work involved in assessing upwards of 200 records per year, and preferably considerable experience of record assessment.
Although there is no obligation to live within the County, all members of the Committee should have a detailed working knowledge of birds, habitats and observers within the County and it is usually useful to be an active member of the County Birdwatching scene. All members are required to have access and use of a computer and the Internet as records are circulated via e-mail to members for assessment. Recorder and Assistant Recorder
The SOS Recorder and Assistant Recorder positions are usually nominated from within the Society and both positions must be proposed, seconded and approved at the Society’s AGM. In addition, because of the confidential nature of the records they are handling both nominations must be approved by the SOS Council. Both the Recorder and Assistant Recorder positions are for a maximum term of five years, although both positions can be refilled by the same person on subsequent occasions after a minimum interim period of one year. The Assistant Recorder must work closely with the Recorder and so good communication links between the two is essential. Committee meetings
The Committee normally meets twice a year, although this is dependent on items to be discussed, and includes a variety of discussions including identification, re-circulation of records and species status within the county. Scientific decisions are either proposed by SOSRC and forwarded to the SOS Scientific Committee for discussion or may be dealt with solely by the SOS Scientific Committee when it involves taxonomy and related subjects. In general it is solely the SOSRC that takes the lead when dealing with species status and occurrence, as well as provenance of records, although the Scientific Committee may be asked to ratify a decision. Public involvement
The SOSRC is conscious it must uphold confidence of the Sussex (and wider) birding community and, like BBRC, has no automatic or legal expectation that birders submit records to them. The Committee can only perform the task of record assessment and keeping of the County (and in turn National) record with the co-operation of the majority of birders in the county. Confidence in the Committee's fairness and efficiency is essential. Any suggested improvements in its operation are always welcome and should be sent to the SOS Recorder.
|
