There is absolutely no way that the AUK Board would/could organise LEL - they just do not have the time and skills.
I think there is a Will Carling quote that might be relevant.
We got to where we are because a few of us were so upset by the 2009 incompetence that we felt sure we could do better.
We have tried hard and done our best - and produced a much bigger world wide response than we could have predicted --given that we have to rely on volunteers ( and unlike PBP there is no tradition of the control towns committing huge support ) then there is no way that we could have planned a ride of 1000+- -cos what would have happened if we got the finances wrong and lost £30000 -- 2009 cost AUK £5000 - and they certainly had reservations about the new "team" approach - rather than a single organiser.
Given the huge interest -- many more than expected and could be accommodated - there were always going to be disappointed riders -- that is just a fact -- but that was impossible for us to predict - and at the 900ish level - the controllers and their volunteer teams are going to be working flat out in some cases throughout several consecutive 24 hour periods.
I suppose if AUK were to organise it they would have to employ people, which breaks the 'volunteer' model. I guess it proves there is only so far you can go on volunteer support.
If you were to employ people, then
everyone would have to be employed, no one is going to want to work for free if some are getting paid, unless you were a bit cute about it and farmed out the sh1tty jobs to the paid staff and kept nice rewarding jobs for volunteers.
I'm by no means saying breaking the volunteer model is the way to go. It might well be the case that I would prefer things less if they were more commercial, and that the volunteer model is better and if it means a few people missing out on a place then that's a price worth paying. But you do have to ask yourself the question, and I unlike others don't hold it as sacred and I don't regard it as axiomatic that it's better, it should defend itself and have to prove that it's still best. Volunteerism should prevail on its merit not just because of tradition, hopefully 2013 LEL will reinforce that merit. We'll see.
We need as many volunteers as we can get our hands on -- so think hard about putting something back into AUk for the pleasure it has given you so far - certainly that is why I am part of the team - to make a small repayment for all the rides I have ridden without contributing anything to help.
I'll definitely
consider it once it's definite I won't be riding but that isn't definite yet.