another group wants to hear your ideas
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Topic created by Nancy on Thu Oct 16, 2014 at 1:58 pmOrienteering USA, our sport's national body, is working on its strategic plan.
The OUSA board is seeking ideas for 'the next big thing' to add to that plan, something that can help grow this sport. They're just asking for ideas now. Think out of the box. Be creative. Maybe a crazy, outlandish idea could be made into a workable one. Not just board members need reply. Ask around at your local meets and at A-meets.You can view the current draft strategic plan document at this web address:http://orienteeringusa.org/documents/board-related-documents/2014-18-strategic-plan-draft-july-2014My suggestion: we need another orienteer on the Wheaties box! It's been a long time since Peter Gagarin represented us there.You can send your ideas--no matter how big or how bold--to Peter Wolfe: pgwolfe66 [at symbol] gmail.comMake that two groups that want to hear from youi: if you have an idea that could help DVOA grow our sport in our region, post it here! -
Reply by kathyu on Thu Oct 16, 2014 at 3:39 pmA lively high school program -- but how to accomplish this?
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Reply by camperpat on Sat Oct 18, 2014 at 5:25 pmMaybe someone in high school or a teacher could start an orienteering club.
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Reply by edscott on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 8:38 amFind a volunteer or two to actively promote our facebook page. Write a short bit on each upcoming event and perhaps a short summary afterward. I realize it will be data that is already on the web site, but it may reach a new audience and direct them toward our events.
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Reply by ErikEddy on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 2:10 pmFacebook is being used to promote events. It's the easiest thing for me to share. Plus I like the promotional pictures given each event a uniqueness.
I would love a better way to promote events to my friends besides sending a link to 4-6 pages on our website to get all the necessary information.
It would be nice to simplify with a one click link like (Announcement tab/Results tab):
http://qoc.us.orienteering.org/events/2014/9/27/swanson-road/results
Really, each event should have it's own separate page.. not buried in the schedule and eboard.
Facebook could be the easiest (supplementary) way, but it's alot of work for 1 (or 2) person to do (unless they enjoy it of course). Is this an ED job or our FB team's job? I'll make one for Mt Penn. -
Reply by ErikEddy on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 2:34 pmor pay someone specifically focused on youth. COC just hired event director:
http://www.attackpoint.org/discussionthread.jsp/message_1004291 -
Reply by kathyu on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 5:02 pmhttp://www.colletontoday.com/congrats_colleton/cchs-njrotc-cadets-place-second-at-orienteering-meet-congrats-colleton/article_36c2e520-5895-11e4-8da4-bfce05274885.html This is a link to an article about another big ROTC orienteering meet. JROTC seems to be a super target group.
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Reply by kathyu on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 5:05 pmTo Ed Scott, looks like the ads I put on Facebook all summer have escaped your notice. I'm just about to put something up for Green Lane tonight. Signed, Discouraged in Blue Bell
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Reply by kathyu on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 5:07 pmAnd finally, I'll make up a sign for registration that says "like us on Facebook".
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Reply by edscott on Tue Oct 21, 2014 at 9:44 pmYes I realize there is lots of good information on the facebook page. We need to find a way to get more non members to see it.
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Reply by kathyu on Wed Oct 22, 2014 at 12:03 pm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kathyu/15586190932/in/set-72157648821194386
Nancy, here is a photo of Peter to paste on your Wheaties box. -
Reply by Guy-O on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 3:44 amYou can send your ideas--no matter how big or how bold--to Peter Wolfe: pgwolfe66 [at symbol] gmail.com
That would be OUSA President, Peter Goodwin -- who lives in Wolfesborough , NH. :-) -
Reply by bobburg on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 1:41 amThis year at Wash Crsg our attendance from JROTC groups more than tripled - from an average of 100+ cadets the last few years (mostly from 2 groups) to approx 350 cadets (from 14 groups) - thanks to the participation of one unit commander contacting all the Area 4 units.
From my involvement training one NJ JROTC unit over the past several years, the thing that especially engages me is that JROTC cadets select themselves for participating in orienteering. They are serious about improving their skills to compete at higher and higher levels both locally and nationally, have great team esprit de corp, and are dedicated to physical fitness.
This seems like a perfect population to invite to local events, our annual Hickory Run Training weekend (I already envision the opportunity we could provide in having JROTC high school cadets sharing training and competition with the West Point cadets who annually attend), as well as hosting an annual championship event for them. I already think that next year's scout/jrotc championship can easily attract 600+ cadets to compete in, and a number of JROTC unit leaders are enthusiastic about making our event a truly inviting event for scores of units.
And Scout leaders, don't worry. Our NJ Championship fully intends to keep providing Scouts of all ages and gender a great event at our annual event. The infusion of so many JROTC cadets only made our Oct 18th event more exciting. The staging area was certainly a happening place to be, all in great October weather.
JROTC units seem like such a natural population for our sport, we should do everything we can to foster relationships with JROTC units. We've tapped into Navy JROTC groups so far. But talking to Mark Frank at Mountain Lakes this past weekend, it sounds like Army JROTC units are eager to join in. A win/win situation for everyone - the high school cadets, DVOA, and the growth of orienteering in general.
I have all sorts of ideas about how DVOA could host a large Mid-Atlantic JROTC Championship every year, and I more than welcome others who would like to join in that project. If you want to share your ideas and help in implementing them, please contact me at bburg@comcast.net. We can confer with the DVOA Board, and present them with plans on how we could pull this off.
Even if you can't personally help out, please send ideas and contact information for units you know about. And to the DVOA Board, let's talk. When is the next meeting?
