EOD Fees

[Patrick]

Instead of putting words in my mouth why don't you just read what I actually say!

Because this:

Do you know any different? Every club publishes their accounts at their AGM. Don't you know anyone in another club?

is not a meaningful answer to my question (how do you know that "many" clubs have over 10 grand in the bank). Unless, that is, you're seriously telling me you've taken the trouble to track down accounts for each of the clubs in BOF.

I asked the question because I thought you might have access to some central data source (eg. on the BOF website) that I didn't know about that keeps a record of these figures. As far as I can tell from your answer you don't. If I'm wrong about that then please enlighten me.

Patrick

[Sunlit Forres]

Can't we just leave it up to clubs to decide what they need to charge for their own events? Surely they're the ones with the facts on which to base the entry fees. If they want to make a profit to finance a mapping project or some other develoment project then so be it; the organisational man hours put in by club members will have earned that right. If you think someone's charging too much then save your money and go to somebody else's event another day..... if nobody turns up they probably wont make the same mistake twice.

This talk of having to justify costs by publishing event accounts does my head in. We're all volunteers for God's sake. As if putting on a decent sized event isn't enough hassle without having to expect the Spanish Inquisition.

[AndyC]

I can't resist this
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

I know-- someone else thought this was an orienteering forum

[awk]

Totally agree Sunlit Forres.

[RJ]

Can't we just leave it up to clubs to decide what they need to charge for their own events?

I do agree, in part, with what you are saying. My basic premise of regional events suddenly costing three times as much as a 'similar' district event, still stands.

Of course it is up to clubs to set their entry fees. But the bigger picture is..... for the last five or so years the regional event has been falling into 'disuse' because the orienteering fraternity have chosen to go to the excellent district events instead. Regional events that used to attract 750+ now struggle to get 350.

However, there is a move afoot to do something about it. The new event structure is trying to re-establish the regional quality event. IMO the wrong thing is happening. Perfectly good district events are being elevated to regional, L2 status, and the fees are just being tripled for the 'move'.

If we are not careful we will not achieve anything. We will just get overpriced district events with a regional label. Frankly, I would suggest that we don't allow ANY regional events to be just put forward. They should be quality controlled by the region, at least, and by BOF if they have the label of championship. This badge of quality can entitle the event to a much higher fee structure, and IMO, the region should have a levy there to help finance the region (eg regional junior squad).

[NeilC]

Of course it is up to clubs to set their entry fees. But the bigger picture is..... for the last five or so years the regional event has been falling into 'disuse' because the orienteering fraternity have chosen to go to the excellent district events instead. Regional events that used to attract 750+ now struggle to get 350.

Can you point us to the data you used to support this picture - assuming that you are not restricting your analysis to the Lakeland clubs. My impression is that yes numbers at Regional Events in my region have dropped but that they are still much more popular than the Districts.

[IanD]

Just to give an update on the Mole Valley Regional / Level 2 event at Sheepleas, Effingham Forest & Oldlands Wood: the organiser has cut out some things previously deemed essential (such as toilets at the start, you'll now have to go before you get on the bus), and reduced the advance entry fee for adult BOF members to £12.50. Please come along if you can so that we don't lose too much money.

And it's absolutely nothing to do with Level 2 v Level 3, just different costs for different areas, but the same club is running a full colour-coded event on 28th December with EOD at £5.00 for adult BOF members - and expecting to make a profit if the weather's decent.

Details of both at http://www.mvoc.org.

[EddieH]

[quote]and expecting to make a profit if the weather's decent.
[/quote]

Exactly my point.

MOR haven't had a single wet event this year - INVOC have had a string of torrential unpleasant days. With no reserves, and with members charging expenses, such a year could easily

a) make a club like ours appear money grabbing ...

b) bankrupt a club like INVOC and put it out of business.

[SeanC]

Parking Leatherhead Leisure Centre GR TQ 162562 OS sheet 187. Registration and
download in the Leisure Centre, also toilets, changing rooms, showers and
refreshments. There will be a bus shuttle service to the event running approximately
every 15 minutes. You will be allocated a bus time rather than a start time.

Seniors £12.50; Juniors/Students £7.50.

Rather than seeing the forced change of car park as a problem, perhaps we should see this as the way forward? An extra £3 for changing rooms, showers, cafe, after event swimming pool. Many would prefer to pay the extra given the choice. Plus some of us can leave our cars at home, which many who live in London prefer to anyway (or avoid hiring one out of a car pool scheme). With future high fuel prices/road charges etc this might be the future model for regional events.

[awk]

Many would prefer to pay the extra given the choice. Plus some of us can leave our cars at home, which many who live in London prefer to anyway (or avoid hiring one out of a car pool scheme). With future high fuel prices/road charges etc this might be the future model for regional events.

We would like to more often as well, but often can't, not only because of access, but also because O-events are largely on Sundays. Fortunately this year, we've been able to go to a lot more Saturday events, and public transport has been regularly been an option.

It's made even easier by the fact that many of those Saturday events have been urban races.

[geomorph]

We would like to more often as well, but often can't, not only because of access, but also because O-events are largely on Sundays. Fortunately this year, we've been able to go to a lot more Saturday events, and public transport has been regularly been an option.

It's made even easier by the fact that many of those Saturday events have been urban races.

And for me its just the opposite. There are now more distance accessible events for me on Saturday than on Sunday......but I can't make them. And as for urban events being more accessible - hah; it was a three-trainer-hourer to get to Oxford, or 40 mins by car.

In a couple of years the taxi services required on Saturday will become redundant, but until then its lots of extra travel to further away events which are (one for RJ) more costly fees-wise.

[SeanC]

The rules are a little different for London though. Many/most people in inner London don't own a car since it's difficult to find parking and the public transport is usually quicker. As many people have a stint of a few years in London in their early 20's having public transport friendly regional events would help to reduce the drift away in this age group.

Presumably it also helps (nearby) university clubs as they could avoid hiring a minibus (it always used to be difficult to book the uni minibus when I was at uni, too many other clubs, "qualified" drivers needed etc, though that was a while ago)....

And in future when we might all be forced to drive electic cars that conk out half way to the event.