Athletes Representative Election Process

Background
It was felt, through consultation with AthletesCAN (the Canadian association for national team athletes) that the Canadian Orienteering Federation (COF), like most other national sports organizations, should have Athlete Representation on the Board of Directors to ensure that national team athletes have a voice at the decision making level of the COF. At the COF annual general meeting in August, a motion was passed to amend the COF constitution to add an Athletes’ Representative to the COF Board of Directors (BOD). The individual in this position has full voting rights in the same way other Board members do, but unlike board members that are elected by the general membership, the athlete rep is elected by national team athletes. 

It is in the best interest of both the athletes and the COF BOD to have the position filled so that the person might start working in the role as soon as possible.

Responsibility of the Athlete Representative
The Athlete Representative will serve a 3-year term. The rep is expected to:

• Advocate on behalf of the athletes as a participating member of the Canadian Orienteering Federation Board of Directors.

• Fulfill the duties of a COF board member including possible committee work.

• Provide input on the formation and structure of a new High Performance Program and possible Athletes’ Council.

• Be the orienteering athlete rep to AthletesCAN. Attend the annual AthletesCAN Forum (usually held at the end of September). Share the experiences and learning from the Forum with Canada’s national level orienteering athletes.

• Keep all Canada’s national level orienteering athletes updated year-round with relevant information from AthletesCAN and the COF Board of Directors.

• Work to enhance the profile of orienteering in Canada.

Who elects the athlete representative
The athlete rep will be elected by the Canadian members of the 2008 World Orienteering Championships or Junior World Orienteering Championships teams.

Who is eligible to be the athlete representative
All nominees must have been a Canadian national orienteering team member within the last 8 years. A Canadian national orienteering team member is defined as any individual who has represented Canada as a competitor at a World Orienteering Championships or Junior World Orienteering Championships.

Nomination process
The call for nomination will be circulated via email and web to the Canadian orienteering community. Nominations for the position must be sent to the COF (by email to info@orienteering.ca) by Nov 30, 2008. Individuals can nominate themselves or someone else can nominate an individual with his/her prior approval.

All nominees will have the opportunity to submit answers (by Dec 1, 2008 to info@orienteering.ca) to the following questions:

1. Why do you wish to run for the Athletes’ Representative position? (answer not to exceed 250 words)

2. What is your vision for elite orienteering in Canada? (answer not to exceed 250 words)

Election process
On Dec 2, 2008 the COF President will send by email the list of nominated athletes and their responses to the above questions to all the current Canadian national orienteering team members (the Canadian members of the 2008 WOC World Orienteering Championships or Junior World Orienteering Championships teams).

Voting will be done by Dec 9, 2008 by replying by email with the name of the desired Athlete Representative. The email is to be sent to the two COF officials acting as proctors (to be announced).

If an athlete has not responded within one week, a COF representative will attempt to contact the athlete by phone to ensure he/she received the email. Once the phone call has been made the athletes will have 3 days to cast their vote. Then the elected individual will be announced.

This information is also available as a .pdf file.