News and Notes
Various tidbits will be posted here from time to time.
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Park-Relations Task Force Forming
One of the most disturbing events the club experiences is when an agency prohibits, or seriously limits, our access to a park. This has happened several times over the years. Sometimes it has been a new or re-interpreted policy that is invoked, sometimes it is because of external factors, sometimes our own actions have been the catalyst.
In an effort to reduce the likelihood of losing more parks in the future, the club is starting up a task force to look at ways in which we can proactively strengthen our relationships with the park agencies. The task force is holding an introductory meeting at the McLaren Park event this Saturday, March 13. If you would like to contribute to this work, or just share some thoughts, please join us in the registration area about 1:00 PM.
If you are interested in the task force, but are not able to attend the McLaren event, please email me at 
, and I will make sure that you are included.
Nick Corsano
BAOC President
(March 11, 2010)
2009 BAOC Survey Results Now Available
Please see the 2009 Survey Results (http://www.baoc.org/club/survey/2009) for some interesting insight into our club.
BAOC Secretary
(March 3, 2010)
New BAOC Sprint Series Coordinator
First of all, thanks to Rex Winterbottom for creating the Sprint Series, and being involved with so many of the previous sprints. Rex has stepped down as the Sprint Series Coordinator, although you'll still see his smiling face as he is still our Social Director!
We now have a new BAOC Sprint Series Coordinator. Please welcome Shura Kretchetov to the position! Shura is no stranger to the Sprint Series. He has put together the system you can use to track your power and rankings — not just for sprinting, but across all of our events.
The BAOC 2010 Sprint Series is on. We have already had two events, and there are four more this month alone.
What is a Sprint? In orienteering it means a short course where you get to make quick decisions and route choices. The control placements are not as technical as on advanced courses. We typically run them in our urban venues. You do them at your own pace — walk, jog, or run. They are a great training tool for practicing reading the map while moving.
We'll get the Web site updated with a 2010 Sprint Series page so you can follow all the action. Shura will have more details to follow.
BAOC Event Coordinator
(March 1, 2010)
New San Francisco & Tahoe Event Coordinator
Join me in welcoming Scott Novotny as the new Regional Event Coordinator for San Francisco and Tahoe. Scott is now living in San Francisco, but also has roots in the Tahoe area. He has worked with the U.S. Ski Association as a Junior Olympic Coach as well as helping coordinate events and doing course setting for the Alpine Competition Committee. He also likes maps. Thanks to Johanna Merriss, I think he has caught the orienteering bug.
In the same way that Steve Gregg helps coordinate events in the East Bay, and Steve Haas helps in the South Bay, Scott will be helping to coordinate Event Directors, Course Setters, and venues for the San Francisco and Tahoe areas.
If you enjoyed last year at Spooner Lake, or want to see an event up at Tahoe this summer, or perhaps like running in Golden Gate Park, contact Scott and see what you can do to help make it happen.
Introduce yourself to Scott, and help him help us put on some great events!
By the way, the position of North Bay Regional Event Coordinator is still vacant (hint, hint).
Thanks,
BAOC Event Coordinator
(Feb. 22, 2010)
UC Berkeley Orienteering Club Being Formed
We've got a small group of students at UC Berkeley who are starting an official UC Berkeley orienteering club. I want help getting the word out, so if you know somebody affiliated with the university, please pass this message along to them!
The exact nature of the club is still being determined, but we'll figure a lot of this out at our first planning meeting. This will be on March 7th, at the Point Pinole event. After running Steve's excellent courses, we'll gather to discuss the club's format and make some future plans. This should be around 1:30 PM. It should be a very fun afternoon. Anyone who shows up will be an official founding member! (By the way: Point Pinole should be a good event for beginners.)
Point Pinole is a very close drive from Berkeley (about 15 minutes). If anybody needs help finding a ride, place let me know. Hope to see the Golden Bears out there!
(Feb. 17, 2010)
Found E-Stick
I have E-stick number 500559, for which I can't find an owner. I thought at first it was one of the rental sticks, since it was blue and red, but the number is not in the range.
This stick was returned to me from use at Las Trampas.
Sound familiar to anyone? If so, please contact me.
(Feb. 17, 2010)
BAOC Facebook Page
There is now a BAOC Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-Area-Orienteering-Club/208432029957?v=wall&ref=sgm) — courtesy of Cameron Ferguson.
25 of you have already found it, but let's get the rest of you on. Go to the page and become a fan!
Cameron has been adding upcoming events. I just posted a couple of interesting video links.
Please comment on items that interest you, RSVP to events you will be attending, and add thoughts, photos, videos and links. When you do, your facebook friends will see them as well. It might be just the nudge people need to get out and try orienteering.
Have fun!
Alex Finch
(Dec. 27, 2009)
Some BAOC Garments Are Available
We have the following (new-style) BAOC uniforms available for purchase or exchange (if the exchange is a new saleable garment).
PANTS: XXL(2) = $40 each S/S TOPS: SM(1), LG(1), XXL(2) = $75 each L/S TOPS: MED(1) = $80 each
We also have a few of assorted sizes of gray, BAOC club, long-sleeve T-shirts & sweatshirts, and one blue, short-sleeve, medium T-shirt.
Let us know, if you have a need or desire for them and we'll put your name on it.
Cheers, Ev & Jean Beuerman
408-255-8510
(September 6, 2009; updated November 8, 2009)
Old News
Items previously posted on this page are available here.