Is there anyone left at BOF?

[Copepod]

A bit off topic, but related to potential involvement of well-known athletes in orienteering.
If anyone spots Dean Macey (former decathlete) at an orienteering race, please let me know. He was so happy at London Rat Race 25 / 26 Sept, particularly at bottom of abseil down The Oval, that when I saw him again back at village, chatted about adventure racing in general. He said he'd like to navigate next time (he was guided round by a company representative), so I suggested orienteering and mentioned Essex club names.

[andypat]

I think having respected orienteers doing paid orienteering jobs is excellent both for ensuring the sport goes in the right direction and for making the general membership have more faith in the administrators really representing their interests.
This is one of the reasons Scott will be so difficult/ impossible to replace in the SOA.

Difficult but surely not impossible. Sure Scott brought a number of key strengths to the job, but apparently the competition he beat off for the role was very stiff and I'm sure theres people out there who'll bring their own strengths to the role when the time comes.

[Adrian]

perhaps the point being made was
would it not be better to keep the "doing orienteering" jobs rather than the administrators ?

A central office mainly needs administrators, since most of the "doing orienteering" is hopefully being done by the clubs.

[Big Jon]

I doubt Scott will be impossible to replace - difficult but not impossible. The new person will bring a different set of skills to the job, but I'm sure someone of different but equivalent talent will be attracted to take the position.

[Big Jon]

Going back to BOF, couldn't it manage with a part-time/volunteer CEO? - to help ensure that as much money as possible went towards orienteering rather than administration.

[madmike]

Big Jon,
methinks it would probably send the wrong message to the Weasels in Whitehall and of course having some non-orienteers in the NGB should help ensure some diversity of perspctive.
It's the dealing with Gov that worries me most though