What is happening?
We are very pleased to announce that the management of our membership administration system and database is being transferred to SiEntries with effect from Monday 3 April 2023. As part of this important change, membership data will be migrated across to the SiEntries system on that date. The LDWA website will still be available during this time but will NOT be available for joining the LDWA or updating your membership details.

Why?
SiEntries have been providing membership administration and support services successfully since 2014 and this move will result in a number of benefits to our members and the LDWA;

• The SiEntries membership platform is more user-friendly and simpler to work with – making joining, renewing and updating personal details easier and quicker
• Due to its scale, SiEntries are able to put more time and resources into cyber security, reducing the risk of cyber-attacks and the unauthorised access to members’ personal and financial information. Due to the platform’s more comprehensive security your data is better protected
• SiEntries will perform many of the day-to-day administration tasks for us. By reducing the amount of transactional work carried out in this area, the Membership Secretary will be able to concentrate on providing more proactive support to members.

What are the next steps?
The changeover from LDWA to SiEntries will happen automatically on Monday 3 April 2023. Members don’t need to do anything. Once complete, SiEntries will contact all members confirming the change and inviting them to check / update their personal information. Just before the annual renewal period, members who pay by direct debit will be contacted again by SiEntries to confirm that their direct debit instruction will be transferred over to SiEntries and future direct debit payments collected by them going forward. All direct debit payments will remain fully protected by the direct debit guarantee scheme.

This represents the first phase of the important work we are doing to redevelop our website. There is no significant cost increase to the LDWA as a result of this change and, for this reason, it will not affect our current subscription fee.

What will SiEntries do with my data?
SiEntries will work on behalf of the LDWA and will not share any membership data with third parties unless requested to do so by the LDWA Membership Secretary. You can check out the SiEntries Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy on their website.

If you do not wish your LDWA membership data to be transferred to SiEntries you can remain a member of the LDWA for the remainder of 2023 but will not be able to re-join in 2024 without using the SiEntries system. If you would prefer not to have your data transferred to SiEntries then please email membership@ldwa.org.uk by Saturday 1 April, quoting your LDWA Membership Number. If you choose not to transfer your data to SiEntries and then change your mind and wish to re-join the LDWA at a future date, you will be issued with a new LDWA Membership Number.

If you have any questions concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact our Membership Secretary on membership@ldwa.org.uk

Regards,

Julie Cribb
Chair, LDWA