A0040409P
Newsletter Number 71, December 2001
PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
neil.phillips@bigpond.com, 61-3-95721784 faxIRF Executive
President: Neil Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer: Rod Phillips
Promotions and Development: David Stephens
World Rogaining Championships Manager: Gordon BirchCzech Republic: Tomas Prokes, Jaroslav Vavra
Northern Europe: Iiro Kakko
Canada: Alan Stradeski
United States of America: Eric Smith, Clinton Morse
Australia: David Stephens, Rod Phillips, Gordon Birch, John Berwick, Neil Phillips
Founders Representative: Bob ReddickObserver status
Estonia: Andres Kaar
Sweden: Lars-Åke Svenk
New Zealand: Michael Wood
Russia: German Shestakov
China: Jianping Zhang1st Annual General Meeting of the IRF
This Newsletter has been scheduled to coincide with the completion of the IRF Annual General Meeting for 2001.
The organization of this meeting meant overcoming some significant challenges, not the least being rogainers spread over four continents speaking at least six different languages. This potential barrier to communication was compounded by the fact that several key leaders in the sport had not met one another face-to-face. At this stage of its development, the IRF does not have the resources to fly members to the AGM nor to provide professional translations of proceedings and discussions. We have had few comparable international sporting bodies from which to draw ideas or seek advice.
The solution to this situation has proved very successful and will be looked at by other organizations in a similar position to the IRF.
The 2001 AGM was conducted by email following a strict agenda. Several days were allowed on each agenda item to accommodate the needs of translation, discussion and formulation of replies, and where necessary further translation. The AGM was opened on 15 October 2001 and closed on 24 December 2001.
Thirty-two email items were circulated by the Secretary.
1. Welcome and agenda
2. President’s Report
3. WRC Manager’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Summary to date
6. Constitution item 1: outline and responses (What is a Rogaining Association?)
7. response to 6.
8. Constitution item 2: outline (Individuals not to vote)
9. Constitution item 3: outline (Some of executive not to vote)
10. Constitution item 4: outline (Co-opted members not to vote)
11. Seeking more information.
12. Constitution item 3: responses
13. Constitution item 4: responses
14. Constitution item 2: responses
15. Constitution item 5: outline (Removal of Founders position)
16. Constitution item 5: responses
17. Constitution item 6: outline (Removal of Commercial Operators position)
18. Constitution item 7: outline (Reduce time between elections)
19. Constitution item 8: outline (Elections for the executive)
20. Constitution item 6: responses
21. Constitution item 7: responses
22. Constitution item 8: responses
23. Constitution item 9: outline (No subscription fees)
24. Constitution item 10: outline (Change from ¾ to 2/3 majority)
25. Constitution item 11: outline (Change from three members to 60% of members)
26. Constitution item 12: outline (Removal of Preamble and Definition)
27. Constitution item 9: responses
28. Constitution item 10: responses
29. Constitution item 11: responses
30. Constitution item 12: responses
31. Conclusion
32. Closure of meeting.
The lengthy coverage of items followed dialogue with the Australian Rogaining Association who had prepared some changes to the IRF Rules. IRF members agreed with many of these suggestions, amended others, and felt that the remainder were probably better as they currently stand. The ARA has been kept informed as the AGM agenda unfolded, and we will discuss the outcomes with them before formally voting on any changes.
With the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, the IRF provides a report to the Incorporations Office, and now this is done the reporting from our first full year as an incorporated organization is successfully completed.
To everyone in the IRF team, members, observers and those who have assisted from national and state rogaining associations, your help and support have been much appreciated and have contributed to a strengthen international rogaining infrastructure that can assist the sport in any, and every, country.