A0040409P

Newsletter Number 72, New Year 2002

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

IRF Executive

President: Neil Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer: Rod Phillips
Promotions and Development: David Stephens
World Rogaining Championships Manager: Gordon Birch

Czech Republic: Tomáš Prokeš, Jaroslav Vavra
Finland: Iiro Kakko
Canada: Alan Stradeski
United States of America: Eric Smith, Clinton Morse, Bob Reddick
Australia: David Stephens, Rod Phillips, Gordon Birch, John Berwick, Neil Phillips
Founders Representative: Bob Reddick

Observer status
Estonia: Andres Kaar
Sweden: Lars-Ĺke Svensk
New Zealand: Michael Wood
Russia: German Shestakov
China: Jianping Zhang

President’s Report

2001 was a busy year for the IRF as rogaining in several countries developed further. Activities included assisting and encouraging groups starting rogaining in new parts of the globe, amending the IRF constitution, and updating the strategic plan for rogaining. 2001 was also the 25^th anniversary of rogaining. This was celebrated with a 24 hour rogaine held in classical rogaining territory of the Strathbogie Ranges in central Victoria, Australia. This occasion brings to mind two separate thoughts. The first is land access, the other is where we go next as a maturing sport.

Land access:
Issues to do with land access have been raised recently by North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. In Australia, some former rogaining areas are now unavailable:-  either the area has totally changed, or the land owners have long forgotten their association with the sport and the goodwill that was generated a decade previously. I sat next to a gentleman on a plane recently, and he volunteered that he owned property. I recognized the area and asked if he knew of rogaining. He said yes, and that there had been a major rogaine on his property over twenty years ago: he added that the rogainers would be welcome back any time they wanted to come. But that welcome would presumably be renegotiated once that property had a new owner. To maintain land access it is important that we have the community on our side. Communities need to be given the opportunity to derive their own challenge, satisfaction and pleasure from seeing a successful outdoor activity on their land. There are organizations in rural areas that would have strong synergies with rogaining, our people and our activities (self-reliance, respect for the countryside, enjoying the outdoors, navigation). We need to work with these groups.

A maturing sport: In a few years, rogaining will be thirty years old. Indications are that we will have consolidated activities in a number of countries, and have new groups running sports in countries that have not seen a rogaine yet. Do we have the most appropriate structures and support systems to develop rogaining on different continents? What can we learn from the parts of rogaining, and other sports, that are actively growing? What can we learn from places where rogaining has gained a foothold for a few years but not continued? Are we using our finances in the best way for the rogainers of today and next decade? Our stronger associations are strong because of investments of resources and time made one or two decades previously. Resources from these areas assist growth of the sport elsewhere so that we can all enjoy major rogaines in different countries.

There are other questions too. What type of public profile is appropriate for rogaining? As we grow, how do we accommodate more participants? And where should our alliances be focussed – we have had close links to Scouting, universities, orienteering, walking clubs and others. What alliances will serve us best in the future? And as a maturing sport, can we benefit from a headquarters, and if so, where, and what form?

These comments and questions are a preview to updating our strategic plan. Our immediate priority is winning the confidence of all rogainers in the new processes that have flowed from our constitution and incorporation. The next step is to revise our strategic plan for the next decade. In the meantime, our 5^th World Rogaining Championships are only a few months away.

Neil Phillips

World Rogaining Championships Manager

Gordon Birch

This report is about impressions of Prague and the Czech Republic.

To those of you that have never visited Prague, it is an old city with fantastic buildings including a very special castle. I spent many hours wandering around the cobbled streets. There are many interesting laneways leading to squares where you can enjoy a coffee whilst watching the world go by.

For those that appreciate music, there are many music venues such as Charles Bridge where I spent a couple of hours listening to traditional jazz. There are places that play disco music or classical music, there is ‘Real Theatre’, and there are cruises down the river.

Within Prague itself there are crystal glass shops and even blacksmiths complete with anvil making products of their trade. The Charles Bridge is a walk bridge on which artists of all kinds are allowed to display and sell their wares.

Outside Prague, there are many interesting castles that are a thousand years old, and many remain untouched despite wars. There are also small villages, pine forests and marked walk trails. I recommend the tours that are being promoted in the Czech programme if you have not been there before. These are good value and provide insight into Czech history.

Those that have seen the movie ‘A Knights Tale’ that was filmed in the Czech Republic will gain an idea of the terrain. And finally for the young at heart, good King Wenceslas (Father Christmas) came from the Czech Republic.

Election: Secretary / Treasurer

The IRF is calling for nominations for the position of Secretary / Treasurer. Duties and details of the position can be found at www.rogaining.com. The Secretary / Treasurer position is for a four-year term until 2005.

This election was due and foreshadowed in late 2001, but has been held-over while the IRF council has considered important matters from the Australian Rogaining Association.

The returning officer for the election of Secretary / Treasurer will be David Stephens, one of the founders of the IRF and currently Promotion / Development Officer on the Executive of the IRF. Nominations by email or in writing should reach the returning officer by 21 February 2002 davidstephens@echidna.id.au

Any rogainer may self-nominate, or nominate another rogainer.