Notes from BOF Council Meeting - 22nd September 2001

  1. Meeting not quorate; 6 regional reps needed, but only 5 present.
  2. Doug Kennedy, the BOF Environmental Officer, would like someone from each region to serve on an environmental panel with him to defend orienteering's corner. If EAOA doesn't have anyone interested, perhaps EAOA could ask clubs if they have any enthusiastic environmentalists prepared to represent orienteering.
  3. The Foot and Mouth Crisis goes on. BOF's policy has changed; now clubs are encouraged to put on events if landowners give their agreement. If clubs think they might attract competitors from foot and mouth infected areas, they should provide effective disinfection. Cumbria remains closed to orienteering until at least 2002. The Lakes 5 Days may be jeopardised.
  4. The rescheduled BOF AGM will take place on Saturday 20th October in Bangor, after the BOF Members' Day and a talk by Chris Bonnington. A 4th BOF Councillor is still sought. The British Individual Championships will take place on the following day at Newborough Forest on Anglesey.
  5. BOF finances for 2001 are heading for a £20,000 deficit, levy income being well down. Surprisingly, income from membership fees is up to target, though membership numbers are down by 10%; no explanation was available. 2 BOF office staff are currently working a 4 day week. For 2002 BOF are budgeting for a similar loss.
  6. The World Class Programmes, funded by UK Sport and Sport England, are currently being reviewed. Although our athletes didn't do so well at this year's world championships, the review is thought to be largely positive. However, there is the possibility of orienteering losing funding because it isn't an olympic sport. Only 2 non-olympic sports currently receive funding.
  7. The World Class Start Programme, for juniors like Ed Kelleher and Laurence Ball, will in future have to be a 2 tier scheme. It is funded by Sport England, who say it must be for only English juniors. BOF can provide a small amount of funding for the other UK countries and Scottish athletes can expect the shortfall to be made good, but athletes from Wales and N. Ireland can't.
  8. A National Orienteering Week is proposed for 8th-16th June next year. Clubs will be encouraged to put on events for targeted newcomers, such as families, running clubs, mountain bikers. Use of SI equipment is recommended.
  9. A full time Chief Executive is to be sought when the current Secretary General, Don Locke, retires next October. A further £8,000 of funding has been applied for from UK Sport.
  10. The World Orienteering Championships is to become an annual event from 2003 onwards. The Championships will comprise 4 disciplines, short, classic and a 3 man relay, plus a new sprint event. A British Sprint O Championship will be held annually from next year.
  11. A spreadsheet template has been put on the BOF website to help organisers of major events prepare an income and expenditure account.
  12. Angela Gratton is leaving BOF office. Remaining staff may be a little stretched during October.
  13. BOF is to be have a stand at the 2002 Outdoor Show at the NEC, Birmingham on 15th -17th March 2002, the same weekend as the Double Dumpling.
  14. After the World Championships in 1976, there was a surplus of £7,000, which was set aside for a capital investment. Unfortunately, nothing has been done with this money, which, with interest, has grown to only £17,000. Now Chris Brasher, who was an important figure in BOF in 1976, has come up with a proposal to use this money to lease a building in the Lake District as a training base. Chris Brasher is to come up with some figures to support his proposal.
  15. SMOC (South Midlands OC), are currently banned from entering teams in BOF events, because, apparently, they haven't paid a BOF levy for a Badge Event they held early this year.

Dick Towler (NOR)