A summary of the committee meetings in September and October from Club Secretary, Eric Brown.

It has been a transitional period for the Committee, with three Working Group members Susie Hall (Publicity) Gerry Elliott (Fixtures) and Robin Barris (Club Captain) retiring having completed their 3 years tenure and being replaced by (Jacob Sharpe, Helen Errington and Val Challacombe respectively). Equally, it has been a busy time with several items on the agenda attracting a great deal of attention.

The maps produced through Millennium funding have been delivered on schedule, Hedley Calderbank has received the end of grant letter and all appears satisfactory. The provision of permanent courses on some of the new areas has been delayed. Rothamstead Management Committee is engaged in a consultation exercise over the siting of controls and it is anticipated that a similar exercise will take place for Verulamium. Following some confusion, the Committee has clarified 'who does what' issues surrounding publicity for the new areas and for the Saturday Orienteering events.

To maintain a broadly common format for the Saturday Orienteering, Hedley drafted a set of notes for future planners and organisers of the Saturday events. Local publicity for each event will be provided on an ad-hoc basis to supplement the main listing of Saturday events. Pauline Goddard agreed to complete the task of producing the general posters and leaflets for new areas. Looking further ahead, Hedley has agreed to summarise the list of potential Hertfordshire orienteering areas for possible reconsideration and to offer a mapping course.

Harry Goldingay cautioned that the Ashridge Colour Coded event in early December might have to be cancelled if insufficient support was found within the Club. Pauline agreed to re-survey the membership to update the information on who would be prepared to volunteer and for what. Helen Errington agreed to work up ideas about mentoring, by which less experienced members are paired with established organisers and planners.

The initial difficulties faced by the National Event team, with English Nature and as a result of the identification of Burnham Beeches as an SSSI, have been resolved. Several meetings of those involved in the National Event have been held and the detailed planning is well advanced.

A meeting with Hatfield Park's new representative, Gavin Clavell, had proved encouraging. Gavin would like to see a five-year plan for orienteering in Hatfield Park and so Gerry was asked to review the options with Roger Moulding and Helen Errington. There is a slot to map Hatfield in November. As there will not be a Badge event on the land until at least 2004 by which time remapping will be necessary, only the bottom half - adequate for smaller events - will be mapped.

In preparation for the AGM, the Secretary investigated the terms of the Club Constitution to see how a quorum for the AGM is defined, feeling that with the gradual fall in membership, it may be time to redefine the numbers required.

Frances Street presented an outline of the HHOC financial position and discussed the points raised. Although the number of members has dropped slightly over the year, the Club remained financially healthy. Apart from the electronic punching equipment purchased - primarily with the aid of a grant - very little equipment had needed to be purchased during the year and so the receipts from events had virtually balanced the out-goings. The conclusion was therefore that the annual subscription should remain the same which, it was felt, would make the membership happy!

Because there had been little orienteering during the latter half of the last season, it was agreed at the AGM to allow the extra two months to see if an obvious choice for the Farmer trophy - now to be presented at the Club Dinner - emerged. Several names are under active consideration.

Future Committee meetings will be held on Mondays as follows:

10th December - Hedley's
21st January - Harry's

Meetings are open to anyone, but it would be helpful if any member wishing to raise an issue at one of the meetings should contact the Secretary well ahead of the meeting.