The former Norwich and WASH orienteering clubs have merged to form a new club covering the whole of the county. Here Dick Towler, the first Chairman of the new club, gives some background to the merger.
About a year ago, Sue Vine and I were told that our neighbouring club, WASH, would be considering its future at its forthcoming AGM. Membership was continuing to decline and the committee was questioning whether the club could remain viable for much longer. We agreed that NOR should offer to support whatever decision WASH took; NOR has had a long tradition of working with WASH, particularly in the Norfolk Schools League and the Double Dumpling Badge Events.
WASH decided to carry on for another year. A survey of the membership was undertaken and the committee set up a working party to consider the way forward. With membership dropping below 40, the working party recommended that the committee should seek a merger with a neighbouring club. Their committee accepted the proposal and so, a couple of months ago, NOR was approached.
The NOR committee decided to support the proposal. We too have problems finding organisers, planners and controllers; an injection of enthusiastic orienteers, keen to play their part in a larger club, would be very helpful. A larger number of runnable areas, a bigger active membership and a larger bank balance were also attractions.
Proposals to merge the 2 clubs were put to their AGMs and approved. Immediately after the NOR AGM on 17th June, the inaugural meeting of the new Norfolk O.C., still to be called NOR, was held. A new committee has been elected and we look forward to building a stronger, more successful club.