A new British Orienteering membership scheme was adopted at the 2012 AGM. The resolution passed stated: That from 1st January 2013 British Orienteering will have a single tier of membership with two categories:

• Senior – any member aged 21 or older on 31 December of the membership year
• Junior – any member aged 20 or younger on 31 December of the membership year 

Membership fees for 2013 will be:

Senior member – £5.00
Junior member – £2.00

We have taken some time to reflect on how the membership scheme is implemented and in particular have gone back over a number of issues raised by clubs during the last few years. These predominantly concern the issue of when clubs need to provide club membership fees to British Orienteering in order for them to apply at renewal time. Having renewals commence on the 1 September has caused clubs problems, hence the change to the 1 November from now on.

The key problem has been in trying to keep the collection costs at as low a level as possible and this has meant linking renewal notices and membership cards to the publishing of editions of Focus, hence saving on postage. We are seeking to reduce our costs as much as possible and this has caused us to completely rethink how the membership collection process has worked. The results of our deliberations are as follow:

• Membership Cards: These cost around £2,000 per year for the cards alone. After discussion with a number of members and clubs it appears that membership cards are rarely asked for at events. Consequently we are considering ceasing providing membership cards and instead providing a welcome pack to new members and a renewal letter/certificate to renewing members stating the member’s unique number amongst other information.
• Renewal notices and welcome packs: Even when mailed with Focus have a considerable cost, a) cost of paper/printing b) due to the handling charges of the mailing house and c) the increased weight for postage. We are proposing to issue renewals by email to those members who we have email addresses for, approximately 5,200 from 6,000 or 86% of members, and by post to those who have not supplied us with an email address. We will still only contact those people who are the ‘default’ member of the membership unit. We will also issue welcome packs to new members by email.  

By implementing the above changes we are able to change the membership schedule considerable, hopefully addressing the problems caused to clubs by the current system.

• 31 October: Last date for club and association 2013 membership fees to be notified to the National Office.
• 1 November: New members and online renewals commence for membership year 2013. (This is a change from the 1 Sep)
• 1 November: Clubs to have returned their Annual Return (see faq 8) including Affiliation Fees.
• 12 November: Renewal notices issued including direct debits.
• 23 November: Last date to notify office of any changes to membership details paid by direct debits. This does not include Bank details.
• 5 December: Direct debits taken from bank accounts.
• On-going: Distribution of welcome packs and renewals.

2013 Membership Scheme Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will British Orienteering still have a Local and National Level of Membership?

British Orienteering now only have one level of membership.

2. Will British Orienteering continue with first year free membership?

Now that the cost of British Orienteering membership is so low the reasons for offering a free first year of membership cease, consequently free membership of British Orienteering for the first year of membership is no longer being offered.

3. Will British Orienteering still have junior, senior, student, family and Associate grades of membership?

British Orienteering will only offer senior or junior membership (and Honorary) but clubs can still have student or family memberships if they wish.

4. Will clubs still be able to have a family membership category and will the British Orienteering system be able to support club family membership?

As previously stated Clubs and Associations can continue to offer a Family Membership Fee when the new British Orienteering membership scheme commences. Unfortunately the British Orienteering membership scheme will only be able to validate family memberships based on the British Orienteering Senior and Junior grades:

• Senior – any member aged 21 or older on 31 December of the membership year
• Junior – any member aged 20 or younger on 31 December of the membership year

Therefore Family memberships can contain:

• A minimum of one senior member
• A maximum of two senior members
• Any number of junior members

All members must be resident at the same address.

Families can continue to join/renew British Orienteering as a ‘Family’ but the membership fee will be made up of the sum parts. E.g. A Family containing two senior and one junior members will be charged a British Orienteering Membership Fee of £12 (2 Senior members at £5 + 1 Junior member at £2). If the Club or Association offers a Family fee, the family will be charged the Club/Ass family fee on joining/renewing. Otherwise the Club and Association membership fee will be calculated in the same way as the British Orienteering Fee e.g. the sum parts.5. Will British Orienteering still offer Direct Debit as a payment method?

Yes, the ability to pay membership by direct debit will be continued. However now the membership fees are so low there will no longer be a £1 discount for paying by direct debit.

6. Will the renewal period still be January to December?

Yes, the membership year remains as January to December with people being able to join or renew for the following year from the 1 November.

7. Will the membership of British Orienteering benefits package change?

Yes the benefits package will be changing and we will let you know the details as soon as they are confirmed.

8. Do Clubs still need to be affiliated to British Orienteering and pay an affiliation fee?

Yes, the affiliation fee remains at £46.00 or £9.20 for Student Clubs.

9. What does a Club need to provide British Orienteering?

As per the 2010 AGM, Clubs need to submit an Annual Return to the National Office by the 1^st November. To comply with the AGM proposal, Clubs needs to: 

• Pay the British Orienteering Affiliation Fee of £46.00 (£9.20 Student Clubs) and ensure that the Clubs 2013 membership fees have already been sent to the National Office.
• Be administered by a Committee that consists of a minimum of 3 people.
• Notify British Orienteering of the names of at least 3 Officers, typically Chair, Secretary, Treasurer who may form the minimum number required as the club committee. 
• Have a constitution and return a copy to the National Office.
• Take responsibility for the maintenance of correct financial records. These shall be audited or examined annually, by a person that is independent of the committee and not related to a committee member. These accounts must be presented annually at a Club AGM and approved by club members. The minutes of the AGM should be returned to the National Office.

More detailed information about the scheme has been communicated directly to Club and Association Officials. If you have any further questions please contact the National Office.

British Oriernteering Membership Team
info@britishorienteering.org.uk