BOF fixture list

[Snail]

I don't go to as many events as I used to, so don't collect flyers and tend to rely on the BOF fixture list for forthcoming events. Why is this a bit unreliable?

eg the recent BAOC Aldershot and BKO Greenham events never made the fixture list at all, and the JK website has been up for some time but isn't mentioned on the fixture list.

This isn't a criticism of the BOF Fixtures Sec, who as far as I know does an excellent job with the data he receives, so why is it happening?

Do clubs not bother with full registration now that they can get publicity via websites as well as flyers? Are the events registered but ask for no publicity? (Seems unlikely) Are there steps in the registration process that introduce significant delays, so events have passed before they are completely registered?

What can be done to make the list more reliable?

(eg should commercial entry systems refuse to take entries for events that aren't fully registered? )

[Tatty]

Our club event for this Sunday - The Reptile Centre in the New Forest is not on the list. Sometimes it's due to late detail information from Club Secretaries. Our club frequently has problems getting officials and so info can sometimes be later than hoped for!
Plug.....
SOC Colour Coded event Jan 7th, Retole Center near Lyndhurst in nteh NewForest . Full CC programme, Emit punching. REDUCTIONS for BOF members!!

[PorkyFatBoy]

I must admit that I've started checking the local club websites directly rather than the BOF site, as they seem to be more accurate, especially for the informal events over Christmas/New Year and summer leagues.

Emit punching.

Well that's it, I'm not going!

[awk]

REDUCTIONS for BOF members!!

Really? I see the senior event fees are GBP 8 , or GBP 6 for BOF members. So would you have charged GBP 8 previously? For a district event? Or (which I suspect is the real case) would you have charged GBP 6 as the 'standard' rate?

If the latter - then there are no reductions for BOF members, merely supplements for those who aren't (a surplus that most clubs have no need of, as they were doing perfectly well on the 'old' fees before this scheme came in).

I'm not criticising SOC one bit, merely the sophistry of this new scheme which simply makes the sport appear more expensive to the non-aficionado.

[Tatty]

The latter. I agree - it makes the sport more expensive for non members. But it was a BOF decision, so seems our hands are tied.

[Gross]

I thought the original concept of the new membership scheme was to have a surcharge for non members not a reduction for members! Might mean the end result is the same but it's a different approach.

[PorkyFatBoy]

I agree, Gross, but I guess most clubs feel it is easier to give a discount than to enforce a surcharge, particularly if a newcomer sees the headline fee and most other members paying the normal fee. May avoid nasty scenes at the registration tent!
Also, if the newcomer sees others getting a "discount" it may also encourage them to join a club so they get it too.

[Paulo]

I find that by far the best fixtures list for anyone in the south-east is the one on the Mole Valley website.

http://www.mvoc.org/Events_Calendar.htm

It never misses anything, no matter how local or small an event - at least within the southern regions - and also includes details of all bigger events round the world.

[redkite]

Why bother to mention discount or no discount.

Fees are, say, Bof member £6.00, non Bof member £8.00

Keep it simple

[Peter B]

However, for the system to work, the non-BOF rate has to be higher than the BOF-member rate. The system is designed to get newcomers to join BOF, and [blatantly not] get newcomers to start the sport.

[johnloguk]

However, for the system to work, the non-BOF rate has to be higher than the BOF-member rate. The system is designed to get newcomers to join BOF, and [blatantly not] get newcomers to start the sport.

Erm, isn't the first year's free membership designed to do that?

Non-members should pay more, I don't have a problem with that, but there should be an easy route in for them to quickly get the lower rates, which there is.

[awk]

But it was a BOF decision, so seems our hands are tied.

That's an interesting one Tatty - are clubs required to give a 'discount' or charge a 'supplement'? What if a club wants to waive the extra income?

[lincolnsteve]

AWK In focus and on the BOF site it is worded as a "discount" for BOF members, also on the fixtures page is the following statement:

"The senior/adult fees published in this list are the full fees. British Orienteering National senior/adult member’s fees will be discounted by £2.00 on production of a valid membership card. For Local British Orienteering senior/adult members the fee will be discounted by £2.00 on production of a valid membership card at Regional and District events held within the region stated on the membership card. Junior fees are as shown in the event information, they are not subject to any levy changes and discount is not available."

I think that is quite conclusive.

If clubs chose not to offer a discount then I guess thats up to them but should advertise the fact??

[awk]

I think that is quite conclusive.

Well actually, no I disagree, not least because the fixtures list is in some disarray at present, with the opening statement, as far as I can establish, incorrect (although I may have missed a recent change).

As I understand it from the AGM, the "discount" applies, as standard, to District events and above, whilst the statement effectively states that for National members the discount applies at all events listed. I'm sure, for instance, that Warrior will be surprised that their short race on the 21st is available to BOF National members for £2, and Grampian that their Score event on the same day is for free! I'm equally sure that you, lincolnsteve, will be surprised that BOF members could enter your event for £3, at least according to the BOF site.

Then there are events like Saxons on the 7th or the GO regional event on the 14th who advertise on the list at £4 and £8, but when you get on to their websites, you discover this is actually the 'discounted' rate, not the full rate as the fixtures list states.

Or there are events like SUFFOC who advertise (most honestly in my view) that the event fee is £5, but that there is a £2 supplement for non-BOF members.

Some events have been kind enough to offer discounts at C5 level, which actually confuses the issue, because then are the other fees in the list full price or discounted price? Others have offered limited discounts (£1), others I have yet to work out what they are offering.

Several events state that discounts are available to BO members or "Seniors with British Orienteering card". But they aren't to all, and it's only when you read the small print at the top that you realise that some BO members/cardholders are excluded.

In focus and on the BOF site it is worded as a "discount" for BOF members

Just because somebody uses a particular label, doesn't actually mean it's so! The fact is that NO club I can find has actually discounted their fees. What they have all done, and what they were expected to do, is raise their prices by £2 and then offer the "discount". To my mind that's like raising your prices in a shop and then advertising a sale with everything at the old prices. That's no sale!

If clubs chose not to offer a discount then I guess thats up to them but should advertise the fact??

Of course, and they will need to, including all events that aren't District, Regional or National events given the situation described above.

The stupid thing is that there are clubs who don't even want or need the extra income. All it does is make our events look expensive (anybody for the £6 local event and £10 district event? We're not far off).

[Peter B]

However, for the system to work, the non-BOF rate has to be higher than the BOF-member rate. The system is designed to get newcomers to join BOF, and [blatantly not] get newcomers to start the sport.

Erm, isn't the first year's free membership designed to do that?

I have never been aware that the first year of membership was free. Even so, surely this still gets newcomers to join BOF, and not newcomers to start the sport (if that makes sense)