Company database and list of members

At the end of June this year, the Clerk circulated members concerning the Company's intention to produce an updated List of Members this autumn, and to advise each member of their personal information that the Clerk currently holds on file. A tear off slip was provided to enable members whose details on file were out of date to advise the Clerk of any amendments she should make before sending the forthcoming List of Members for printing. There was no need to return the tear off slip if the details held on file were correct.

This article is to remind members that the closing date for the return of the tear off slips was 30 September 2005, so any member needing to send amendments to the Clerk should do so without delay (see the Clerk's contact details on the back cover of this Newsletter).

Members are also advised that under the Data Protection Act they are entitled to decline to have their personal contact details published in the List of Members. However, the Company takes the view that it is up to members to make that election if they do not wish their contact details to appear. The List of Members is only distributed to other members of the Worshipful Company, but if any members do not wish their contact details to be circulated within that select group, they should contact the Clerk without delay to make those wishes known to her. Otherwise, it will be assumed that members have no objection to your contact details being made known to other members of the Company in the forthcoming List of Members.

In December 2004 the Clerk circulated a note requesting members to give their permission for other members to be able to look up their contact details on the website. This is a very useful facility, and members who have not already done so are urged to give their permission by registering at the Members' Area of the website (at www.arbitratorscompany.org), accessing their own details, and giving permission by altering the entry in the first box of their Profile. This gives 4 drop-down options, which could not be simpler.

Members who have registered on the website may also check the details that the Clerk currently holds for them, and alter those details on-line if need be, without disturbing the Clerk. They can however only look up the contact details of those members who have consented to making themselves visible to other members of the Company on our website. So if you have not already given your permission, now is probably a very good time to do so.