Obtaining lists of members from a society

[silverfoxcc]

I belong to a society which also has charitable status

It has a magazine issued 3 times a year which gives details of new members
( names and addresses)
Old issues of these magazines can be purchased on ebay so these details are in effect in the public domain

I wish to apply to the membership Sec for additional details eg Tel number and email as there could well be a vote of no confidence brewing against the committee and i would like to assess who is either for or against

Can they hide behind the Data Protection Act and not let me have access, or would they be trying it on?

Reason for this is it is a lot cheaper to phone or email than send out about 400 letters!!!

I

Edited by silverfoxcc on Friday 17th July 00:00

[s2kjock]

I'm not too sure what right of access members actually have to a membership register. Have you a copy of the governing document/constitution and have you checked it?

What is the legal form of the society?

Would the secretary actually have the details you want? If they only correspond by post ie for sending out the magazine and advising of meetings etc they might not retain that info.

[davepoth]

Presumably the membership secretary is on the committee. You won't get the details from them. Rather than helping you I imagine the information commissioner might have something to say about publishing member's details in the magazine.

[RyanOPlastry]

As a member of the society mentioned, I can confirm that I am also in disagreement with the committee.

[akirk]

I can't imagine any basis on which you would have the right of access to that information.
It is information provided in confidence between member and organisation and the committee only have access in their roles as committee members, not as individuals, and would not be able to use that information for any purpose other than on behalf of the organisation...

If you have addresses and need phone numbers etc. - time to hit Google -amazing what you can find, try electoral register websites