Notes from BOF Council Meeting - 19th January 2002

  1. Sports Council Grants to BOF for the 3 World Class Programmes for senior, intermediate and junior athletes are being cut by about 50% for 2002. The lottery is raising less money and our senior orienteers failed to win any medals at the 2001 World Championships.
  2. A new Chief Executive is being sought, to replace Don Locke, the BOF Secretary General, when he retires at the end of March. Funding has been obtained for this post, and for a new part-time post of Coaching Programme Manager.
  3. The Scottish Orienteering Association is to take devolved responsibility for its events, coaches and squads, plus a number of other issues, under an agreement with BOF.
  4. The National Orienteering Week, 8th –16th June, is gaining momentum, with the appointment of advisers to help clubs make preparations.
  5. The Clubs/Members Conference in Bangor on 20th October last year has generated a number of proposals for the BOF AGM, including one to allow non-BOF members to enter Badge and National events on payment of an agreed surcharge to the organising club.
  6. BOF Membership Fees are set to rise by 50%, if approved at the AGM, in an attempt to recover some of the losses suffered during the foot and mouth crisis.
  7. The BOF Event Levy is also to be discussed at the AGM, 2 alternative proposals being put forward, one based on a flat-rate charge per competitor, whatever the event, and a second, also flat-rate, but with a higher charge for Badge and National Events.
  8. The BOF Rules Update 2002, which will be completed shortly, will include a recommendation to clubs that competitors should be allowed to copy down all courses from master maps at colour-coded events before they start.
  9. The Harvester Trophy event is being moved from May to the end of August.

Dick Towler (NOR)