2005 Service Award Winners
SANDY HEATH
Sandy is one of our really "old timers" so far as length of membership goes, having first joined DVOA in 1979. In our early years on the old black and white maps, Sandy did nearly every job needed, from being meet director to field checking and revising maps. In those days the job of meet director often included going out early to set controls and staying late to retrieve them, plus handling registration, start and finish in between. He taught at Moorestown Friends School for 27 years and every spring arranged a special orienteering experience for his classes. He was instrumental in getting permission for our events from Chief Crazy Horse after Rancocas State Park in New Jersey became headquarters for the Rancokas Indian Nation. Sandy has been on the help crew at some of our A events, continues to assist as the New Jersey Scout orienteering events, and at Colliers Mills, Four Mile Circle and Assunkpink as well. Though not as active as in the past, he still manages to get to about eight meets a year.
Sandy and his wife Susan live in Moorestown, NJ and have three grown daughters, Suellen, Lisa and Jennifer, all of whom orienteer, even in Calgary and Salt Lake City. Since retiring five years ago, his many interests have led him to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, in a prison, as a guide at a Meeting House in Philadelphia, and in two schools. He is currently on the board of directors at Camp Dark Waters in Medford, NJ and serves as the clerk for Moorestown Monthly Meeting of Friends. But, orienteering is still one of his major loves.
CHARLIE AND JULIE ROBINSON
At the winter meeting in January 1993 we recognized our 500th DVOA member. Along with the recognition went a cash award of $15 which recipient Charlie Robinson promptly donated back to the DVOA treasury. Charlie had been transferred here from England by Unisys, and he already had orienteering experience, having been a member of South Midlands Orienteering Club - or SMOC for short - in the UK. He was transferred back to England and they still have a house in the High Wycombe area which is between London and Oxford in the Chlitern Hills. In 1999 he rejoined DVOA when he came here again on assignment. England's loss has been our gain, since Charlie and his wife Julie have been eager and reliable volunteers at many local events, and at the Mid Atlantic Scout Orienteering Championships. You have probably seen them at the finish, and if you are a regular, you may not realize it but Charlie probably knows your map number.
Charlie and Julie have three daughters, Sarah, Melanie and Bryony who live in England. Melanie and Bryony used to go orienteering when they were here in 1993, and Bryony still competes occasionally. Many of you will know their lovely dog named Scorcher who is a regular attendee at orienteering events and keeps them company at their home here in Glenmoore, PA. Charlie lists tennis as a hobby and Julie is an excellent cook and we understand that they enjoy an occasional good bottle of wine - the rest of the time they enjoy lots of not such good bottles of wine ... but not in the Parks of course!!
MIKE AND MARILEE BALL
Mike and Marilee first heard of orienteering when they attended one of Mark Frank's clinics at Kings Gap State Park southwest of Harrisburg. They joined DVOA in 1988 and, despite living quite some distance away, became active and enthusiastic members. Luckily for us, they had the drive to establish a club in the Harrisburg area and on December 8, 1990 a charter was granted by USOF to Susquehanna Valley Orienteering, commonly referred to as SVO. We're lucky to have a sister club so nearby, as we can work together on Class A meets and enjoy going to their local events. Mike and Marilee retain their membership in DVOA and help however needed.
Mike is a budget analyst and Marilee is a registered nurse. They live in Wellsville, PA southwest of Harrisburg. Mike's hobbies include x-country skiing, running, and biking. Marilee enjoys x-country skiing and music. Recently Mike has been doing some adventure racing which combines orienteering with other sports requiring physical endurance.