graeme wrote:I was surprised to hear recently that people have been joining under family membership (as kids) up to age 26, so this could be a real double-whammy for some students.
Don't quite know how this works, but I can confirm that at 25, 2012 is the first year membership where I am not classed on a family membership. Reason being, I have permantly moved out. However it also ties in, with the fact that it is very unlikely I will re-new my BOF membership for 2012 as a senior instead becoming a local member. Currenlty I orienteer about once every 6 months or so, it seems very silly to be a national member when all I need that for is the British champs. These proposals, would mean presumably next year (2013), local and national membership is the same and so I will revert to being a 'member', or just not bother at all.
Someone mentioned loss of participation due to juniors and spouses not counting on family membership. Having been involved in some participation instructions, I am under the impression this is to do with national sporting participation increases of which Orienteering is to "do its part" all down to a certain large event happening this summer and it's legacy. I strongly suspect that by 2013, when it appears these will come into force, this will no-longer be a significant target. Whilst we always like to encourage more members, I think the focus will switch back towards publicity in the media, "elite" competition and medals.
Finally, the student debate. Is there anything in the proposals about 2nd clubs. When I joined my university club, I believe I did so as a 'local' member of that as a second club. I continued being a member of my home club, where my BOF membership was counted, as I was still on the Family membership. As such, both clubs appeared on my BOF card. This allowed me to run for the Uni in relay league, and BUSA events, but still turn out for Compass sport cup etc, as my home club. From what is here of these new proposals, this seems really daft, as that would now mean paying double once for each club.
On the whole, the reduction in membership fees is a good thing and I actually think it may help increase student participation. I remember annual fees for most uni sports clubs were around £10-£15 so I wouldn't see it as too much of an issue and I would expect most university training sessions and internal events would be run as activities so the levy wouldn't have a great impact. In comparison to other sports this seems a really good deal and I think Orienteering as a sport could really benefit from it. For example, the basic senior membership to British Cycling is £13.50, which has no insurance cover, and to allow you to compete your up to £36.00 before you've even entered an event. The baseline number of people in Orienteering could go down, for the reasons stated above, but I think overall it will give a much clearer picture of where the sport is at and encourage people at (no disrespect) the right age, to have a go and join up. The future of the sport depends on getting young, independant people invloved and enjoying the sport who are then willing to help out and encourage others in the same way. Focusing on getting juniors in and bring their parents along or vice versa is all well and good whilst it continues, but once they do not rely on each other the chances of them continuing fade.