International Rogaining Federation

Newsletter Number 49, April 1999

PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
neil.phillips@bigpond.com, 61-3-95721784 fax
President: Neil Phillips

This Newsletter contains important items including:

Development of the IRF
In Newsletter 42 in June 1998 there was an invitation to the rogaining membership to consider the way forward for the IRF, including a plan for new leadership to be in place by 4WRC in 2000.

Way forward for IRF: It is clear in discussions since Newsletter 42 that there is a significant body of rogainers supporting the current modus operandi of the IRF, its broad goals, its particular alliances, and its continued independence. For example, there is strong support for the current IRF from the three largest associations of Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales. At the same time, there are the more immediate changes including a constitution, financial system and legal framework that have been widely agreed as important medium-term aims for the IRF. This is not meant to suggest that there is unanimous support for all the IRF does (and obviously this is the case for our other rogaining associations too). To those not fully in agreement, the options available are to still support the current organizations and work from within to influence others towards the benefits of certain changes, or in the extreme opting out if rogaining is anathema to personal values or lifestyle. In most cases, however, all our associations have been able to accommodate most reasonable differences of opinion by either generating options (e.g. different rogaine event formats), compromise positions, or agreeing between individuals to disagree but still working towards the longer term good of the sport without being uncooperative. The bottom line is that whilst there remain rogainers who want strong and independent rogaining associations and are prepared to do the work necessary, rogaining as a sport will thrive, and we need to support their endeavours. This does not preclude other models being advanced from time to time that will also help the sport.

Plans for IRF Presidency: The IRF has been operating now for ten years. Leadership changes were foreshadowed in Newsletter 42 in order to allow sufficient time for discussion and an orderly succession. The approach to these changes over the last two years has centred around linked resolution of issues such as a constitution, finances, alliances with orienteering, and the IRF leadership. This approach is not providing the desired outcomes in an acceptable time frame, and the different issues are now being separated. In the absence of an overnight acceptance of the current constitution draft followed quickly by elections, there will be a parallel development that will involve the planned hand-over of IRF leadership to be executed by 4WRC in January 2000. In simple terms, delays in determining some long term rogaining issues will not delay a transition of leadership. Currently, there are informal discussions with some of our most experienced rogainers of the possibility of them playing key roles in IRF leadership in the forthcoming period leading up to eventual elections. Two former state rogaining association presidents have already expressed their willingness to join such a transitional group that takes-over and advances the IRF. It is exactly the people of this calibre that the IRF needs: those with wide knowledge of the sport, active participation, a history of giving back to rogaining through association leadership, wide grass-roots support through their earlier elected positions, and the ability to work with others constructively in committee and team situations. This hand-over needs to start shortly.

Balanced approach to management of IRF: While this leadership change occurs, the other functions of the IRF continue. It has always been necessary to balance the different roles of the IRF as they advance to their own agendas: immediate activities of visible benefit to most rogainers such as World Rogaining Championships, uniform rules, books, and the communication network; medium-term activities such as debate and resolution on the constitution framework; and longer term issues such as the important aspects of the sport's culture, its independence, and alliances. It has been critical to make sure the intensity of debate on one issue does not allow important parts of international rogaining to be neglected nor delayed.

IRF Elections
Discussion of a leadership transition raises the question of where elections fit in, especially as it is now several years since formal elections have been held.

The first IRF elections were held in Calgary Canada in June 1989 and at that meeting representatives from each rogaining country and an IRF executive were appointed. With informal agreement for the IRF executive to continue coming from the Australian Rogaining Association and within the IRF, formal IRF elections were not held in the period from 1989 through 1992. This was appropriate given the absence of new candidates expressing an interest to stand for IRF positions (beyond those co-opted onto the IRF during this period).

During formulation of the IRF Strategic Plan from 1992 onwards it was decided that the term of office appropriate for the IRF was longer than that necessarily appropriate for state associations, and the ARA suggestion was for a five year term. This would then take the IRF forward until 1997; and in the Strategic Plan the year 1997 was flagged for a constitution and formal elections of the IRF. A suggestion from the IRF President for IRF elections in 1997 using the then recently established IRF Guidelines was not enacted when a request came from the ARA via their President that elections not be held at that time. The ARA also said that they did not believe it timely nor necessary to change the leadership of the IRF.

It is now ten years since the formal elections at the start of the IRF, and it is appropriate to hold new IRF elections shortly given the transition of leadership.

Constitution
The process of holding elections that have widespread support is made considerably easier by having a set of procedures outlined in an official constitution. For this reason, several people have been working hard to draft a constitution for the IRF that takes into account the many different viewpoints. This followed what appeared to be unanimous support from all rogaining parties that an IRF constitution was an important early step.

The constitution is now to the stage where it has been through a sub-committee on several occasions, disseminated to key parties and modified, and recently distributed to all major rogaining groups. It is probably time to make any small changes, and consider adoption.

The latest draft of the IRF Constitution is distributed with this Newsletter.

5th World Rogaining Championships
A formal call for expressions of interest in holding the 5th World Rogaining Championships was made in IRF Newsletter 45 in September 1998. At the close of expressions of interest there was one application from the Czech Rogaining Association. Recently, agreement was reached to re-open the process to allow USA to submit an application to hold 5WRC. Procedures to select a host for 5WRC are reprinted from Newsletter 45. This process is very similar to that used for 4WRC. 2WRC and 1WRC were decided informally.
  1. After publication of the summaries (this Newsletter), the IRF will not be organizing any open debate on 5WRC (but is not discouraging such). Every IRF representative is asked to advise and consult their member groups and one another. This might include asking for specific details of either bid from the respective parties.
  2. A simple vote amongst IRF representatives will lead to one group being invited to prepare a more detailed submission (as was done by the Kamloops team for 3WRC). Votes will be accepted by the IRF up until 31 May 1999. The option will be kept open to call for more details from both groups if no clear decision can be reached.
  3. IRF representatives from the bidding countries will not have a vote.
  4. As IRF President Neil Phillips has offered his assistance to each group to prepare their submissions, similar to his role for 3WRC and 4WRC. He will not exercise his vote except in a tied situation.
  5. A strong bid from either rogaining group will inevitably involve discussions with non-rogaining groups that might include government and other sports. For such discussions to proceed to our mutual benefit, it helps each bidding group to know and be able to say that the IRF is taking their bid seriously. Both groups can proceed on this understanding.
It is not too early to think about 6WRC, and when and where this might be held. Although a decision on 6WRC may be some time away, organizations are welcome to indicate their interest in staging 6WRC if they believe that this will help everyone formulate 5WRC plans.
Northern Territory rogaine
 The IRF President met recently with Andy Black and David Palmer in Darwin to discuss the development of rogaining in the Northern Territory. They are planning to run their first rogaine at the end of July 1999, and start a rogaining association at the same time. What is clear is that the communication network now available in the sport has made it relatively easy for them to make contacts elsewhere in the sport, publicize their rogaine, seek assistance in matters of running their event, and downloading critical details of the sport. See flier later in this Newsletter.
New IRF members
We welcome Sue Clarke and Warren Smith, the new presidents of the New South Wales and Western Australian Rogaining Associations, respectively.

Outgoing presidents, Julian Ledger and Gary Carroll, remain on the IRF list as representatives knowing they will continue to contribute to the progress of the IRF in their new, retired roles in much the style of the valuable on-going contributions of former QRA and VRA presidents, Richard Robinson and Nigel Aylott. This action of course has implications for voting on forthcoming issues such as 5WRC, so anyone with reservations about these ad hoc inclusions should speak up promptly.

World Orienteering Marathon Trophy 2000
Michael Wood (NZ) has approached the International Orienteering Federation, with IRF support, to have 4WRC designated the 2000 World Orienteering Marathon Trophy event. Michael's suggestion is that this event rotate between a marathon O and a World Rogaining Championships in alternate years with no change to the management and style of future WRCs. In effect, rogaining would be organizing a major event on the orienteering program that was also the peak event for rogaining - a win-win situation.
IRF Constitution
 Note: this is the mid April 1999 draft for final comments. It is essentially the same as the 9th March email draft which went to all rogaining associations and all rogaining countries. The March draft included detailed explanations relating to each of the suggested changes and the reasons for adoption or otherwise. No further suggested changes were received that relate to the March draft. Comments have been received on behalf of the Victorian Rogaining Association and the Western Australian Rogaining Association committees expressing their satisfaction with this draft, and their interest in seeing the process move forward to completion and enactment.

This draft differs from the January draft on the basis of the recent comments from VRA, WARA, Czech and Peter Taylor. The January draft went on limited circulation for initial input: this draft is going on wider circulation for comment. Each earlier suggestion has either been incorporated below or explained beneath the constitution draft. The earlier draft has already taken into account comments from Richard Robinson, Neil Smith and his sub-committee, Rod Phillips, NSWRA, input from several countries besides Australia, and many others in late 1997/98; and particularly Nigel Aylott in late 1998/99. It seeks a hopefully fair balance involving some of each of these suggestions.

Constitution of the International Rogaining Federation - draft April 1999.

  1. The name of the federation will be the International Rogaining Federation. This can be abbreviated to IRF.

    Definition: Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation. The championship rogaine is of twenty-four hours duration, but there are several shorter variants. Teamwork, endurance, competition, and an appreciation of and respect for the natural environment are features of the sport. Rogaining involves both route planning and navigation between checkpoints and may use a variety of map types.

  2. The Aims of the International Rogaining Federation are:
    • maintenance of the fundamental principles of Rogaining,
    • maintenance of the culture of rogaining,
    • communication and co-ordination of international rogaining,
    • provision of assistance to new rogaining groups,
    • fostering international rogaining meetings,
    • awarding and regulating regular World Rogaining Championships.
  3. For legal and registration purposes, the IRF is based in Victoria, Australia.
  4. Responsibility for the IRF is vested in the IRF Council.
  5. Members of the IRF
    1. Membership of the International Rogaining Federation will be open to:
      • National rogaining associations,
      • Groups from other nations actively involved in rogaining,
      • National rogaining representatives from other nations actively involved in rogaining.
    2. Inaugural membership of the International Rogaining Federation will be offered to:
      • Australian Rogaining Association
      • Ceska Asociace Rogainingu (Czech Rogaining Association)
      • other national groups that have expressed an interest, have a rogainer who can represent them on the IRF, and have run at least one 12 hour or 24 hour rogaine in the last 18 months.
    3. After constitution of the IRF, new Members shall be admitted if approved by at least 75% of the Councillors.
    4. Members can be dismissed from the IRF on the basis of at least 60% vote of all Councillors. Reasons for exclusion of a Member can include:
      • failure to hold a 12 hour or 24 hour rogaine during the last 18 months,
      • no longer having a rogainer who can adequately represent them on the IRF.
    5. The final decision on membership will rest with the IRF Councillors and this includes the situation where more than one group wishes to represent rogaining in a single country.
  6. IRF Councillors
    1. Each Member of the IRF with a national rogaining association will be represented on the IRF Council by two people whom it so nominates. All other Members will be represented on the IRF Council by one person whom they so nominate. These representatives will have one vote (except as in 9), and will be known as Councillors.
    2. The Councillors can be changed by IRF Members at their discretion, and this change will take effect from the time written or electronic notification is received by the IRF Secretary.

  7. IRF Executive
    1. The IRF will have an elected Executive, and each member of this Executive will have a vote on Council. The Executive will comprise:
      • President,
      • Secretary,
      • Treasurer.
      The IRF executive will come from Members that have national rogaining associations recognized by the IRF. Any individual who is a current member of one of these Members can nominate for these Council positions.
    2. The IRF Executive will be elected by Councillors.
    3. In the case of an existing Councillor being elected to the Executive, that Councillor's national rogaining association is entitled to appoint a further Councillor.
    4. Elections for the IRF Executive positions will be held at least once every 24 months as determined by Council.
    5. Day-to-day management of the IRF is vested in the Executive. If Executive decisions are not unanimous they should be referred back to Council.
    6. An executive officer can be removed from office on the basis of a vote of at least 75% of all other Councillors.
    7. The Executive will present an Annual Report and Financial Statement to the IRF every calendar year.

  8. Council Meetings of the IRF
    1. Council Meetings may be held in person, by mail or email, or by internet relay chat, or by other means as determined by Council.
    2. Decisions by Council will be made at duly notified Council Meetings or by Council Vote.
    3. Four weeks notice in writing or by electronic mail to all Councillors is required before a Council Meeting or Council Vote. This notice must include items upon which the Councillors will be voting. This must also include either the date for the Council Meeting or the final date for votes to be returned for a Council Vote.
    4. Each Council Meeting can also involve general business sessions, but decisions from such a session do not become official until Councillors not present at the Council Meeting are given the opportunity to have their vote included.
    5. Councillors may provide a proxy for each Council Meeting or Council Vote, and if they do so, should be in writing prior to the meeting.
    6. For a Council Meeting or Council Vote, no formal Quorum is necessary but all decisions will require a majority of all Councillors being in support (or higher percentages if so specified in the Constitution).

  9. Duties of President

    The President shall preside as chairman at each Council Meeting of the IRF. On each voting matter, the chairman is entitled to a deliberative vote at the time all other votes are cast. In the case of an equality of voting on a motion, the chairman of the meeting is entitled to exercise a second, or casting, vote.

  10. Duties of Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep minutes of the resolutions and proceedings of each Council Meeting together with a record of the names of persons who were part of each Council Meeting.

    The Secretary should be the recipient of all information regarding bids for a World Rogaining Championship, and should distribute all this information to each of the Councillors.

    The Secretary shall act as chairman of a meeting should the President be unavailable.

  11. Duties of Treasurer.

    The Treasurer shall collect and receive all money due to the IRF and make all payments authorized by Council; and keep correct records showing the financial affairs of the IRF with full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the IRF.

  12. World Rogaining Championships
    1. The World Rogaining Championships remain the championships of the IRF, but are awarded to IRF Members or other active rogaining groups to organize the event.
    2. Award of the World Rogaining Championships shall be made by Council.
    3. The IRF Executive is responsible for ensuring that the World Rogaining Championships are of an appropriate quality.
    4. The World Rogaining Championships shall be a 24 hour rogaine, and shall not be held more than once in any calendar year.
    5. Where there is a national rogaining association, bids for the World Rogaining Championships shall come to the IRF through the national association, and the IRF may delegate the monitoring role of those World Championships to that national association.
    6. An IRF levy shall be charged at each World Rogaining Championships. The amount of this levy will be set by the IRF in consultation with the organizers of the World Rogaining Championships.

  13. The International Rogaining Federation can be dissolved at a Council Meeting by a resolution agreed to by all Members. Upon dissolution of the IRF all funds and assets will be vested in the Australian Rogaining Association. In the absence of an Australian Rogaining Association, funds and assets will be directed to the Victorian Rogaining Association, and failing that will be directed to any other non-profit organization including either a rogaining association or charity, as determined by the President.

  14. The Constitution can be amended at a Council Meeting or a Council Vote by a resolution agreed to by at least 75% of all Councillors of the IRF.

    --------------------------------
    Copies of the Constitution will be available from the IRF Secretariat, PO Box 3, Central Park, 3145, Victoria, Australia.
    Dated: April 17th 1999.

    5th World Rogaining Championships - Proposal
     Czech Republic. Czech Rogaining Association.

    The Czech Republic is a small country in the heart of Europe with an area of 78,000 sq. km and 10 million inhabitants. The country is well-known for its many places of historical and tourist interest, especially Prague is famous as a place of magnificent cultural atmosphere. The Czech countryside is characterized by more than 1000 years of agricultural utilization. Over 30 % of the area is covered by monocultural forest, and there are no dangerous fauna or flora in the Czech Republic. The height of the land varies between 100 and 1600 m above sea level, but most of the highlands above 1000 m are natural reservations where sporting events are restricted or prohibited.

    The history of rogaining in the Czech Republic is short with the first official event in 1997. The head organization is the Czech Rogaining Association (CAR). This organization co-operates with The Czech Orienteering Association and other sports bodies.

    There was a special team delegated by CAR to select suitable sites for a world rogaining championship. The following three areas were considered as the best available in the country:

    KOKORÍNSKO (about 40 km north of Prague)

    Area: around 200 sq.km
    Terrain: sandstone rocks, flat terrain (200-450m above sea level) with deep rocky valley. There are alternate forest areas in valleys and farmed meadows and fields. There is a high density of roads and small villages.
    Note: The whole area is a natural reservation with particular restrictions.

    DOUPOVSKÉ HORY (about 100 km west-north-west from Prague)

    Area: around 350 sq.km
    Terrain: medium hilly terrain (400-900 m above the sea level), mostly open (70% is non-farmed meadows), some roads, sparsely populated area.
    Note: The whole area is a military training area with prohibited entrance (for a world rogaining championship, we could get special permission from the Ministry of Defence).

    KRUŠNÉ HORY, WEST PART (about 150 km west-north-west from Prague)

    Area: around 200 sq.km
    Terrain: There are three types of terrain here:

    1. in the north-west part are deep valleys
    2. in the north part are flat marshes covered with knee-high timber
    3. the rest of area is medium hilly, typical Czech mountain forest (500-1000m above the sea level). The whole area is covered by forest, and relatively sparsely populated.
      Note: There are some specially protected places in this area. These cannot be entered during the event. The area borders on the north with Germany.

      If the Czech Republic was to become 5WRC organizer, CAR would finalize a competition area and organizing committee. We suggest some weekend in July or August as the most suitable for WRC organization in the Czech Republic. Average temperatures in July and August are 15 - 20oC with 14 hours daylight in the beginning of July and 12 hours in the end of August.

      Especially for participants from overseas, there could be the possibility to take part in a multiday orienteering event (around five events during July and August) during their stay in the country. If there was any interest, we could arrange sightseeing in buses for small groups.

      We see the following as positives and negatives of the Czech Republic application:

      Positives
      Support for international development of rogaining - so far rogaining has spread mostly in the Pacific area (Australia, N.Z., Canada, U.S.A.),

      Help through co-operation with orienteering and IOF - Europe as a centre of orienteering can introduce rogaining to many orienteers, increase of WRC prestige - through entering Europe this event can become a real World Championships.

      Negatives
      The development and popularity of rogaining in Europe is still low - it is possible that there will be modest interest in the 5WRC in European countries except the Czech Republic, long distance from Australia and North America (high travel costs) - how many participants from overseas will really come?

      There is no real wilderness in the Czech Republic - it is impossible to find any area untouched by civilization (e.g. density of roads); and we are not so experienced in organizing rogaines as Australians.

      5th World Rogaining Championships - Proposal
      Arizona, USA. Tucson Orienteering Club.

      Date: The proposed date for 5WRC is late May - early June 2002, tentatively May 25-26 as this coincides with the full moon and is a long holiday weekend in the USA.

      Site: The proposed site of 5WRC is on the Mogollon Rim in Coconino National Forest. The site is approximately 2.5 - 3 hours drive from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, which has excellent connections to destinations in the US and abroad.

      The terrain itself is rolling ground cut by watercourses ranging from small streams to medium sized canyons. The vegetation consists of light to medium density ponderosa pine forest, with occasional meadows.

      This area is around 2300 meters +/- in altitude. The weather in this area for the proposed date is very dry (the driest time of the year in Arizona) and pleasant, with high temperatures around 27 oC, and lows around 10 oC. The site is also near the Grand Canyon, Four Corners Monument Valley, and Las Vegas for participants who would like to vacation in the west.

      Rogaining experience of organizers:
      TOC has hosted Rogaine events annually since 1991, excepting 1996 (which was cancelled by the Forest Service's closure of the site due to fire danger). The 1991 - 1995 events were 8-12 hours in duration, 1997 (North American Rogaining Championships) and 1998 were 24 hour events. These events have been strongly attended, growing from local entrants (mostly Tucson and San Diego), to 151 entrants from across the US, Canada and New Zealand. The 1998 Rogaine drew 109 participants. We enjoy a very good reputation in the North American rogaining community. Over seven rogaines, there has not been a misplaced control nor a course protest.

      Personnel:
      TOC has several members who have been active in organizing a Rogaine (either as meet director and/or course setter):
      John Maier, Mark Parsons, Roger Sperline, Wilkey Richardson, John Little, Dan Cobbledick, Peg Davis and Rachel Gelbin. In addition, there are experienced rogaine event directors from other US clubs who are available to furnish advice and assistance in setting up the WRC5 venue.

      Support:
      The USOF board recently voted unanimously to support TOC's bid to host the 5th WRC. This support ensures that the resources and talents of the national organization and its membership can be called upon to assist in the planning and staging of a world class event.

      Maps:
      Maps from previous events are available upon request if needed to ascertain quality and typical terrain. The 1998 map is typical terrain, previous maps are from different areas with different terrain, but the quality of mapping is similar.

      EXPERIENCE TROPICAL AUSTRALIA 'THE CROC & ROCK ROGAINE'
      THE FIRST N.T. ROGAINE 31ST JULY, 1999
      BE PART OF THE FIRST ROGAINE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY -
      Help us to take the sport where it has never existed before. Take this opportunity to experience the beauty of northern Australia at the best time of the year- the nights are cool, the skies are clear, many woodland species are in flower and the humidity has dropped. Explore Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, or the Kimberley. Visit the World Heritage wetlands and come face to face with the unique flora and fauna including the renowned crocodile (NOT while actually rogaining). Litchfield National Park, site of the rogaine, is known for its many waterfalls off the escarpment draining the Tabletop Range.

      This first rogaine will be a 6 & 24 hour event. It is to be held in Litchfield National Park, about 2 hours drive south of Darwin. The course is mostly open forest, with areas of rocky outcrops and streams. The ubiqitous speargrass, 2m high in the wet season, is traditionally burnt by July. The altitude extremes are 50 and 250m. There is no history of development on the course, apart from park management, offering challenging navigation and sensational scenery. The course map of 1:25,000 scale has 5m contours (discontinuous in parts where only 25 m index contours are shown) and with premarked controls. The Hash House will provide culinary delicacies as in all quality rogaines.

      We are enjoying a particularly wet wet season which bodes well for a well-irrigated course with swimming holes included. Camping is available at the Hash House on Saturday night and other campsites around Litchfield N.P.. Other accommodation is available just outside the park - Banyan Tree Caravan Park ph.08-89760330 or in Batchelor - Rum Jungle Motor Inn (ph.08-89760123) and Batchelor Caravillage ph.08-89760166. All the national car hire companies are represented in Darwin, plus some locals - Cheapa ph 08-89818400, Dollar 08-89240035, Nifty 08-89812999, Orrs 08-89484822 and Rent-A-Rocket 08-89413733. A 4WD is not required to reach most of Litchfield, including the Hash House.

      The Dry is the most popular time to visit the Territory. Events of interest include - Darwin Marathon/Half-marathon 10K 11/7/99, Katherine Show 16-18/7/99, Darwin Show 22-24/7/99, Darwin to Ambon Yacht race starts 24/7/99, Darwin Cup 2/8/99, Darwin Beer Can Regatta 8/8/99, Oenpelli Open Day (Arnhemland Aboriginal community) 14/8/99 and Katherine Gorge Triathlon 14/8/99.
      Join us for what promises to be an exceptional event. Meet local and interstate rogainers and defeat them on neutral ground.
      Further information and entry forms
      David Palmer : 08 89457139 (h), 08 89850000(w) U962057@student.ntu.edu.au
      Andy Black :08 89280623 (h), 08 89228888(w), andrew.black@health.nt.gov.au

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