BCS rebels apologise ahead of crunch meeting

The rebel group opposed to recent changes at the British Computer Society have issued an apology to Ken Olisa, a BCS trustee who had accused the rebels of libel.

The rebels have removed a previous message questioning the management of the BCS and made clear it was a general criticism and not aimed at Olisa personally.

The BCS's attempt to update itself by rebranding as "the Chartered Institute for IT - Enabling the Information Society" and alter its future direction has led to fury from some members.

Rebel members have pushed for an Extraordinary General Meeting which will be held tomorrow at BCS headquarters in Southampton Street, London. It is a chance for its 70,000 members to approve or condemn recent changes.

Votes can be made in person, by post (if you're quick) or online. Members will decide on calling a temporary halt to the change programme, and a vote of no confidence in current management.

The rebels, who claim several senior figures and an ex-president of the group, insist that the £5m "Transformation" programme has not been approved by the BCS Advisory Council and the Council's questions on the scheme have still not been answered.

The BCS declined to comment ahead of the meeting, but promised us a full update tomorrow after the vote.

In the past the organisation has defended the £5m rebranding scheme as part of a process which aims to improve the status of the IT industry and and aid members' careers.

The BCS side is put here, and the rebels' point of view is here. ®