The current members of the Board of British Orienteering have conducted a skills audit to help any prospective director nominees assess how their individual skills could fit into the overall skill set of the Board of Directors.

There were a number of skills that featured frequently amongst current Directors, these were Administration, Strategic planning and Training, Governance, IT and Management experience, amongst others.

The skills that featured less frequently, and may be areas where prospective candidates could bring experience to the overall skill set of the Board of Directors, were Safeguarding Children, Legal, Disability awareness, Equality awareness and Marketing.

The deadline for nominations for candidates for the Director elections at the 2010 AGM is Friday 12th February 2010.

There will be 3 Director vacancies open for election at the 2010 AGM. 
The role of Director includes taking part in induction training, attending about six Board meetings a year and, from time to time, to take part in other working groups. The role is voluntary and unpaid, but Directors will have all reasonable expenses reimbursed.

The role of a Director is primarily in the development of policy and the formulation of strategy.  The work entails thinking about where British Orienteering is heading and how it will get there; keeping as far as possible in close touch with members, clubs and Associations’ views. The work is challenging but rewarding, and offers the chance to help shape the future of orienteering in the UK.

Since Directors will be in a position of authority regarding the strategy surrounding the safeguarding of children and in accordance with good governance procedures, Directors will be asked to complete a confidential enhanced CRB Disclosure.

If you would like to discuss being a Director, contact Mike Hamilton, Chief Executive at the National Office on 01629 734042.

Nominations of candidates must be received in writing (see below) at the National Office by Friday 12th February 2010, signed by two voting members of British Orienteering as proposer and seconder.

Nominations may be submitted in either of the following ways:

(i) on paper, being signed by two voting members of the Federation as proposer and seconder
(ii) by email supported by e-mails from two voting members of the Federation as proposer and seconder.

Should e-mail be used, requests for confirmation will be sent to the candidate, proposer and seconder at their e-mail addresses given on the British Orienteering membership database.

The nomination will be void if email confirmation is not forthcoming from all three persons within 7 days.

Nominations may be accompanied by a pen portrait of up to 150 words for each candidate which must be received at the National Office by Monday 22nd February 2010.

Item posted by Laura Martin

Do you have opinions about what is good about the competitions held in orienteering or about how they could be improved?

The Board are looking to get your feedback and opinions about current orienteering competitions, why you enter some and not others, how far you will travel, whether you like to compete against everyone on a course or against your friends or age group, do you like relays or is your preference for individual competitions? And would you like more inter-club competition?

Once this feedback has been gathered there will be opportunity to confirm that the current set of competitions does meet your needs or to shape some changes to the competitions that will meet your needs better. During December and January we will be conducting an online survey to gather your opinions on orienteering competitions. Please let us know your opinions by taking part in the survey.

Mike Hamilton

Item posted by Caroline Povey