Well I'll be jiggered. I'm beginning to think I'm unbeatable. This is the second year in row that I am the not-hotly contested M35 New Brunswick champion. I suppose I might as well get used to it. I wish to state categorically that my performance was not chemically enhanced (other than legumes). There is no truth to the rumour that Kevin Costner wants to play me in a blockbuster movie of my life story; nor does Mr. Bean.
As I write this, outside is enveloped in cold, sticky water. The orienteering season is over. The annual general meeting has been held followed by a COF board of director's meeting. That's my signal that I am overdue for writing something for ONB Notes.
It has been a pretty good season. Membership is up a bit, up a lot in Saint John. In general, meet quality has improved substantially, showing more attention to getting the details right. I believe our meets compare favourably with others I have attended in other parts of Canada or the US.
We have successfully weaned ourselves from requiring large print runs for maps. We are now producing maps as we need them, either by local colour printer or using the Sport Branch's special Xerox colour copier. We print maps directly from electronic format, with the courses being printed simultaneously.
This year produced the best ONB Notes since I've been orienteering. This is due to the number of articles received from different sources. Keep sending stuff.
We seem to have developed a tendency to lose people. Fortunately these stories had happy endings. It is apparent that we can do more to minimize the likelihood of participants getting lost, such as keeping certain courses away from the edge of the map. We are working on setting up some guidelines.
This is the year that COF runs out of government support. It is becoming a 100% volunteer organization.
At the recent COF board of directors meeting, functions were defined in light of the new realities at COF. I have been tasked with two functions. The first is as a liaison (ombudsman) to provide an alternate channel for complaints about COF and to encourage those with grievances to make them known. (I wonder why people think I know something about complaining?)
I also am responsible for a new high technology portfolio at COF. We want COF to become a focal point for the understanding and dissemination of orienteering-related information for subjects such as OCAD, software, hardware and using the internet for orienteering purposes. No, I am not an expert in these areas. I am seeking help for specific tasks so they can be performed well. Hello.
Anyway, I hope you all had a good season. I hope to see you out there next year. As for me, I'm going to rest on my hardies, or should that be laurels, for a few days before I begin my rigorous off-season training program.