WOC 99

[andy]

Can I suggest that we only get better by stretching ourselves. Aspirations above that that can be achieved easily are to be praised.

Exactly! Now all anyone considering doing any of these WOC roles needs to decide if they have the time/energy available (as well as the skills) over the next 3 years to do it very successfully, it just can't be a half arsed 'make do attempt'

[Mrs H]

....and if the Scots get independence will we be ineligible to help, and would they even want us to ( to meld two other threads together)?

[brooner]

Can I suggest that we only get better by stretching ourselves. Aspirations above that that can be achieved easily are to be praised.

Exactly! Now all anyone considering doing any of these WOC roles needs to decide if they have the time/energy available (as well as the skills) over the next 3 years to do it very successfully, it just can't be a half arsed 'make do attempt'

And as a voluntary position, this is quite a big ask.

[mappingmum]

....and if the Scots get independence will we be ineligible to help, and would they even want us to

Scotland will not be independent in July/Aug 2015.

Even if the referendum returns a majority in favour of Independence it's going to take a considerable amount of time to negotiate the terms with Westminster (eg how much of the national debt we take on) and to legislate for it.

[EddieH]

Quote : "We've had a fair amount of dealing with BT through work and their pricing scheme for anything not covered by the OFCOM fair play rules (or whatever you call them) is absolutely extortionate. "

In the days when I dealt in all types of phone services, I managed to get a 100Mb pipe installed for a remote Welsh company for 10% of BT's quote saving them a few hundred thousand - despite the fact that the company told me there was no alternative. Basically I contacted numerous global phone companies and Telia (Sweden) did the job.

For my business I am not really interested in doing this sort of work any longer but the point is it's always worth trying.

[AndyO]

....and if the Scots get independence will we be ineligible to help, and would they even want us to ( to meld two other threads together)?

to answer your question, Mrs H, you would be most welcome to help but, as mappingmum points out, it ain't gonna happen before this WOC. You might have to get permission from UKA/BOF though

[Meat Market]

....and if the Scots get independence will we be ineligible to help, and would they even want us to ( to meld two other threads together)?

I think this is a fair point, I don't think we could put on a 6 days without the volunteers from clubs in the rest of the UK since it would be analogous to us asking Norwegian clubs to provide helpers.

A lot of what we do in Scotland relies on volunteer help which doesn't guarantee quality (although I believe we are very fortunate to have it at this moment in time). If someone criticised the events that I controlled/planned last year then I had the option to curl up in a ball and refuse to do anything more, although I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed it enough to do it all again.

I couldn't do that if it was my paid job and that's why I welcome the paid help we get from BOF (good and bad) and paid roles such as the Edinburgh coaching job and the Regional Development Officer in Grampian (and all the mappers). It doesn't guarantee professionalism in our sport but it does allow us to expect it.

[Mrs H]

Yes I know I was being a bit flippant but it's because I caught myself feeling a bit arsey in response to Mappingmum's post on the Scottish debate.

I've thoroughly enjoyed standing on the start line at the S6D telling people what to do (well it is one of my favourite occupations) even in the rain. But part of that was because I felt we were all pulling together for the common good. I'm not sure everyone in Scotland feels the same way in a sporting context ( well obviously they don't). Orienteering in GB is a very small sport and I'm not sure how much division it can tolerate. I would have no problem if the national governing body was administered from Scotland instead of England as I accept there are a lot of areas of excellence and expertise north of the border.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here just trying to look at the practical implications of a theoretical situation - something which I'm afraid BOF itself is not terribly good at it seems. It's the old "be careful what you wish for" scenario

[andy]

I'm not trying to pick a fight here just trying to look at the practical implications of a theoretical situation - something which I'm afraid BOF itself is not terribly good at it seems.

Irrespective of politics (bof or otherwise) Scotland can put on a 6 days every couple of years but we have had help from English (and others, but mostly english) clubs, certainly in the years I was involved. There's no way Scotland can put on both a WOC and a 6 days at the same time, simple as that.

but..

Given the location and drive to get the bid going (from SOA: Donald G/Scotia/freefall), I'd hope there was a distinctly Scottish flavour to the organising team. Not to mention the incredible effort that goes into the Scottish 6 Days every couple of years (without which I don't think the bid would ever have been made), I don't think any event in the UK comes close in terms of effort to organising 6 days of O for 3-4000 people even the JK (which this year seems to have been organised with a fraction of the team who are normally involved with a S6D).

[graeme]

Based on 99, I think its a bad mistake to start appointing technical or IT roles for WOC. This will set up a structure which by design will cause clashes with people doing the same things for the 6-day. Not having an integrated approach to the whole event is madness.

Some specifics from these roles last time...
Two electronic punching systems, both SI and emit.
Maps done to different standards in the section used for WOC courses and the rest of the area, used for 6-day.

People often make the mistake of thinking that jobs like "leading IT for WOC and 6-day" are harder than "leading IT for WOC while trying to keep the guy leading IT for the 6-day sweet". They aren't, quite aside from the problem of needing to find more people.

The WOC format seems to be settled now - so is there even a draft programme for how the week fits together?

[andy]

People often make the mistake of thinking that jobs like "leading IT for WOC and 6-day" are harder than "leading IT for WOC while trying to keep the guy leading IT for the 6-day sweet". They aren't, quite aside from the problem of needing to find more people.

Uhh, having done the S6D version that was quite enough thank you! It needs to be two separate roles but I think it would benefit if the two doing it had a good relationship and weren't just keeping 'sweet' the other but rather sharing and collaborating.

[graeme]

Ah the triumph of hope over experience!
The IT role is perhaps more likely to survive having two heads, but two Finance Directors? two Commercial Directors? two Volunteer Managers?
I'm sure you can do a great job, I just urge you to make sure you carve out exactly the role which enables you to do it the best.

[andy]

I'm sure you can do a great job

I'm sure I can too, but I don't think I have the time to do it well enough. Pesky job.

[Paul Frost]

I'm also intrigued as to how the 6 Day and WOC will co-habit the same space.
The 6 Days is already a huge event (by UK standards) and has it's own identity, WOC has a changeable identity depending on who is hosting it. So is it the Scottish 6 Days including WOC, or WOC including the 6 Days?
Is it one event or two events running concurrently?
Is it common for WOC to be connected to the largest event in that country?

[mappingmum]

I'm intriged why the WOC roles are volunteer ones? Is there not enough event revenue to cover the salary for a short term contract? In WOCs held abroad are the core event managers paid? If yes, is this because O has such a high profile and can attract sponsorship and TV deals?

Are we under estimating the potential revenue WOC 2015 will bring in? Can we sell TV coverage of the event and attract sponsorship from abroad? Or is it a cash flow thing - even if the event raises revenue you need it available x years before the event for salaried positions?

I just can't see why an individual would take on such a massive, high profile international role over a few years without recompense. The S6D key roles are a big ask, but this is on another planet. But hats off to anyone who does.