Discussion: COF Conference
in: Western Canadian Orienteering Championships (Aug 21–23, 2009 - Brandon, Canada)
Apr 14, 2009 1:40 AM
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Apr 16, 2009 5:29 AM
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AZ:
Hey cedarcreek, when I look at the overall schedule I'm not sure where the extra time is - are you suggesting holding the conference over more days? What adjustments would you suggest?
Apr 21, 2009 5:03 AM
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Maybe I'm just not understanding the history.
It looks like the Conference starts Wed at 6pm. I'm assuming going before 6pm on Wed would be lengthening the conference---so that's out.
And it looks like the conference ends with a COF General Meeting on Friday at 7pm. And there is a Model all day and Championship Sprint at 2pm.
Thursday there is a morning session and a relay at 1pm, and then a late session 7-9pm.
I see your point that within the constraints of 2 sessions a day (9-12 and 6-9), the schedule is full.
It's not clear how meals are handled. With nothing on the schedule it seems like people have to go out for food.
Travel times aren't mentioned, so it's unclear exactly when people will be available for additional sessions.
I feel like I'm whining and not offering any better solutions. But just reading through the schedule, it seems like there isn't enough to really encourage someone to spend the week. There's apparently nothing on Monday and Tuesday because of the Jr. Camp.
I suspect the schedule is the way it is because of a lot of constraints I don't know. Without knowing those, I'm going out on a limb. A guy I work with has a framed sign at his desk that says "Mr. Turd in the Punchbowl" because he does what I'm about to do.
Here are some of my ideas:
1. Have an orienteering event everyday. Pick a good time based on expected temperatures, travel times, and whether you are expecting people to arrive late (for example the Thurs before the COC sprint). I'd propose that certain conference tracks, like Coaching, might have to miss an event.
2. Fill the time slots with suggested times to eat (or figure out a way to order out and let people eat during a session). If there are holes in the day, suggest tourist activities or maybe just provide a place to sit around and talk.
3. Put the long 3-session events that are extra fees (Coaching?) into the middle of the week, and the ones that are shorter, with large audiences, or with special emphasis (for example you want people to attend the officials session) closer to the COC weekend.
4. Go 6pm to 10pm rather than 6-9 or 7-9. To the extent possible, try to let everyone attend everything.
It looks like the Conference starts Wed at 6pm. I'm assuming going before 6pm on Wed would be lengthening the conference---so that's out.
And it looks like the conference ends with a COF General Meeting on Friday at 7pm. And there is a Model all day and Championship Sprint at 2pm.
Thursday there is a morning session and a relay at 1pm, and then a late session 7-9pm.
I see your point that within the constraints of 2 sessions a day (9-12 and 6-9), the schedule is full.
It's not clear how meals are handled. With nothing on the schedule it seems like people have to go out for food.
Travel times aren't mentioned, so it's unclear exactly when people will be available for additional sessions.
I feel like I'm whining and not offering any better solutions. But just reading through the schedule, it seems like there isn't enough to really encourage someone to spend the week. There's apparently nothing on Monday and Tuesday because of the Jr. Camp.
I suspect the schedule is the way it is because of a lot of constraints I don't know. Without knowing those, I'm going out on a limb. A guy I work with has a framed sign at his desk that says "Mr. Turd in the Punchbowl" because he does what I'm about to do.
Here are some of my ideas:
1. Have an orienteering event everyday. Pick a good time based on expected temperatures, travel times, and whether you are expecting people to arrive late (for example the Thurs before the COC sprint). I'd propose that certain conference tracks, like Coaching, might have to miss an event.
2. Fill the time slots with suggested times to eat (or figure out a way to order out and let people eat during a session). If there are holes in the day, suggest tourist activities or maybe just provide a place to sit around and talk.
3. Put the long 3-session events that are extra fees (Coaching?) into the middle of the week, and the ones that are shorter, with large audiences, or with special emphasis (for example you want people to attend the officials session) closer to the COC weekend.
4. Go 6pm to 10pm rather than 6-9 or 7-9. To the extent possible, try to let everyone attend everything.
Apr 29, 2009 6:23 PM
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AZ:
Interesting thoughts. They spurred me to survey some of the organizers and I have this information...
1. Since the Sass Peepre junior camp relies on volunteer helpers it is absolutely not the done thing to provide simultaneous events that would reduce the attractiveness of volunteering at the camp ;-) However, I did check with Kitty Jones (the camp's perennial organizer) and she has told me they would very much appreciate help at the camp. Kitty can be reached at kittyjones at shaw.ca
2. Since the local club is very small it is stretched to the limits with the current schedule and can't possibly put on more events. However I checked with them and they are able to make other maps available for training / events if people would like. Someone would need to step up to organize, but it shouldn't be too much trouble - and in fact it should be pretty fun. I thought it would be cool to do training on the WCOC maps (the competition takes place on the preceding weekend). So if someone is willing to take the lead in organizing some informal training or racing earlier in the week then give me a quick email - adrian at barebones.ca and I'll help arrange it.
3. Also Kitty suggested that it might be possible to piggy-back some adult training camp with the Sass Peepre camp, using the control sites they will be setting out for the juniors. This would make the work involved in option 2 even less.
4. Those from Manitoba assure me there are some great touristy things to do in the sandhills and around southern Manitoba.
So those are some ideas about how to fill in the days leading up to the conference which hopefully make the week more attractive for travellers. As for modifying the conference schedule, I think the main trouble there again is volunteer levels - even with the current schedule those organizing the conference get pretty wiped out and it takes away from their fun and even their performances. I'm not sure that adding more hours is likely an option.
1. Since the Sass Peepre junior camp relies on volunteer helpers it is absolutely not the done thing to provide simultaneous events that would reduce the attractiveness of volunteering at the camp ;-) However, I did check with Kitty Jones (the camp's perennial organizer) and she has told me they would very much appreciate help at the camp. Kitty can be reached at kittyjones at shaw.ca
2. Since the local club is very small it is stretched to the limits with the current schedule and can't possibly put on more events. However I checked with them and they are able to make other maps available for training / events if people would like. Someone would need to step up to organize, but it shouldn't be too much trouble - and in fact it should be pretty fun. I thought it would be cool to do training on the WCOC maps (the competition takes place on the preceding weekend). So if someone is willing to take the lead in organizing some informal training or racing earlier in the week then give me a quick email - adrian at barebones.ca and I'll help arrange it.
3. Also Kitty suggested that it might be possible to piggy-back some adult training camp with the Sass Peepre camp, using the control sites they will be setting out for the juniors. This would make the work involved in option 2 even less.
4. Those from Manitoba assure me there are some great touristy things to do in the sandhills and around southern Manitoba.
So those are some ideas about how to fill in the days leading up to the conference which hopefully make the week more attractive for travellers. As for modifying the conference schedule, I think the main trouble there again is volunteer levels - even with the current schedule those organizing the conference get pretty wiped out and it takes away from their fun and even their performances. I'm not sure that adding more hours is likely an option.
This discussion thread is closed.