Could the AGM proposal be dropped if we agreed to version 2 of the bof fixtures list software?
[*] A way of searching on and describing the competition (eg NW Galoppen) would be a good start and might address some of the problems that the 4 level advocates have.
Not sure if such a change would be easy to implement but... nevertheless a point worth adding to the possible lists of enhancements for the next delivery of fixtures software .
I have other suggestions , which were put to BOF whilst I was an Association Fixture Secretary. I wanted ........
[*] the BOF diary entry to include something that indicates the number and variety of courses on offer. Oli O'Briens interactive map & diary facility achieves this by utilising colour coded blocks. A very quick informative way of sorting the (big) sheep from the (small) goats. Oli's system also provides a facility to filter the diary lists by regional association. If Oli can achieve this on his diary from the BOF Fixture list data can BOF do it on their Diary system ?
[*] the Find Event facility to indicate on the top screen a new icon which gives the number of courses on offer. You should not have to dig down through a hierarchy of screens to find out what is being staged.
[*] the Find event facility to indicate, by icon, that the event is ranked.
[*] the downloadable ( printable) Fixture list ( which often finds its way into club news letters) to contain some consistent guidance as to the number and range of courses on offer. Currently fixture secretaries are completing the tick box course matrix but it is not being used to derive any text for the fixture listings. That could be why some clubs aren't bothering to set them up. Inoticed an instance recently where an event was titled as being a score event but the associated matrix (visible through find event ) showed the club were putting on a full range of colour coded courses.I bet they didn't. If stored data is made more visible clubs are more likely to ensure it is accurate and complete.
[*] the downloadable ( printable) Fixture list to state what group/family entry fees were being charged. Currently the list only gives Senior, Junior, Student and car parking fees.
[*] to sort out when discounts apply. The Find Event facility, at the insistance I understand of the BOF Board, states that a BOF discount will apply for all level 3 events. Don't care if we move back to a £2 surcharge instead of offering a £2 discount but the current situation is not sensible. Discounted fees are a feature of the old District style of event as well as at Regional events. They are rarely offered at true low key local events. By putting District events in the same level as the small local events BOF have confused a lot of folk. New orienteers and occasional browsers will not have learned when to ignore what is stated on a BOF web site. If of course clubs re-register old district events at level 2, the level 3 discount guidance on the web site will be even more misleading . We need a little more joined up thinking.
Just a few ideas to kick start a new topic. I made other suggestions to improve navigation but the ones listed above were in my view the ones which introduced better clarity to what is displayed and printed.
The current version of the fixtures software suffers from the fact it had to be implemented in haste so that the new 3 tier event structure could operate from the start of last year (the start of the so called year of transition). This time last year BOF hadn't agreed how the matrix would be constructed; the ranking system had not been devised. To be fair they couldn't implement some of these ideas in the initial launch of the software.
I understand BOF are likely to be introducing some refinements to the fixtures system later this year. Don't have any idea what they have planned. Perhaps the ideas listed above are "work in progress" ~ you never know.
Any views ? If we want anything to be considered that might add some clarity let's bring them out into the open. If the willingness to accept new ideas it there, they could introduce them with the new software release.
