Professional "O" organisation team

[Forest Gump]

I was minded after reading about the Lakes 5 days issues elsewhere (BTW I thought Day 1 was great, but had to get back home for kids school so missed the rest of the week) as to whether the time has come to have a "professional" organisation team for ALL these types of multiday/high profile events. The often "thankless" task of not managing to please all of the people any of the time, the multitude of organisations and agencies that need consulting and the varied and challenging issues that always crop up makes me think that this is the way forward. I know that the 6 days sort of has this approach and it works well. Similar to Adventure racing, Triathlon etc, etc.

What are other folks thoughts?????? The only "down" side I suppose would be that the fees would have to rise.

[andy]

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/so ... hips-2015/

if we win that, we'll need one

[Clive Coles]

Frankly IMO the last thing we need.

The strength of orienteering is that the sport is run by folk who spend hours of their time ( especially between events ) endevouring to ensure that events are staged to high standards.

Very occasionally there is a hitch ~ hindsight is easily harnessed on this forum to pour critism on the club ( and sometimes individuals) who were rash enough to volunteer.

But the views posted to Nopesport are not necessarily representative of the majority of those who attended an event.

Lets keep the problems in perspective ~ 'tis always easier to gripe than to say thank you.

I hope the officials for the L5D are enjoying a short rest and will soon be looking forward to the next season of events.

[AndyC]

I think that most of the officials who run our larger (not even "major") events along with the officials who keep most clubs running are "professional" in all but payment.
I turn up (I can't claim to compete) at a wide range of events in three regions regularly and am always grateful for the effort put in by volunteers to make them happen -I also try to be philosphical when things go wrong (On the other hand if you're reading this, Marco Polo, I still think I can claim reinstatement under rule 6.2.3 for last week).
I'd also comment that the events I find most enjoyable (as an official or a participant) are those friendly low key events we used to call C5 but then there are others who think that anything less than running Brown/Black at a Regional Event is a warm up.
The great thing about our sport is that we (and a whole lot of others) can both enjoy ourselves and contribute.

[andy]

it would be interesting to know in this discussion how big (if any) the events people commenting have organised.

I think someone who just turns up and 'runs' could have a different opinion than someone who puts in the time as a volunteer.

[andypat]

I think there's pros and cons. I've planned a few events, but never organised anything big. Planning definitely helps improve my O skills, but organising? I could live without it.

[Marco Polo]

Andy,

I sent you a pm.

( I take it that's an offer to plan )

mp

[Copepod]

I was minded after reading about the Lakes 5 days issues elsewhere (BTW I thought Day 1 was great, but had to get back home for kids school so missed the rest of the week) as to whether the time has come to have a "professional" organisation team for ALL these types of multiday/high profile events. The often "thankless" task of not managing to please all of the people any of the time, the multitude of organisations and agencies that need consulting and the varied and challenging issues that always crop up makes me think that this is the way forward. I know that the 6 days sort of has this approach and it works well. Similar to Adventure racing, Triathlon etc, etc.

What are other folks thoughts?????? The only "down" side I suppose would be that the fees would have to rise.

Very few Adventure race organisers / marshals are paid anything - expenses covered if you're lucky plus some clothing, in my experience of marshalling. When I marshal at Triathlon races, I usually make a bit of cash, but only because they're nearer to home, so travel costs are less. Just ask all those with O backgrounds involved in Bank Holiday weekend's adidas TERREX race, particularly Bruce Duncan, course planner, and his dad Tony, responsible for O sections and towing canoes south from Keswick and much else, I'm sure. Lack of sleep at AR is an issue, as it can mean needing to take time off work to be safe to drive home.