Once a DVOA member - Always a DVOA member
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Topic created by johncampbell on Sun Oct 16, 2022 at 3:16 pmIt is strange to look back at how I was introduced to DVOA way back in 1985. It was at the Scottish 6-Days when I knew in a couple of months I was coming to Philly for a year. I had seen there were a few folks from DVOA attending and being on car park duty one day, got the chance to meet Carolyn and Kent Ringo who immediately made me welcome. Two months later my first eventy was a night -o at Hibernia followed teh following day with an event at FCW. Well that one year turned into 37 years and being part of the DVOA community has been wonderful, lots of amazing DVOA events and events all over the country. I have met so many wonderful friends over those years. Also I have been very fortunate in that Alison took a real love for the sport and has had the honor of representing the USA at JWOC, World Univ Champs and on the WOC team. It is important for me to make a special call out Janet Porter for the amazing job she did for many years organizing the USA Juniors. I know the Swedish trip that Alison went on with Janet was a key learning experience.Over the 37 years we have seen the club consistently set the standard for putting on events. The dedication and commitment by so many volunteers is amazing. It has been interesting to see how the membership and encouraging juniors into the sport has ebb and flowed. It is a tough dilemna that the sport faces, not just in the USA, but across the globe.So while we have moved to Scotland, I will still always be a DVOA member and look forward to seeing you all in the woods sometime soon.I rejoined FVO (Forth Valley Orienteers) who are incidentally 50 years old this year (started 5 years after DVOA) and today I got baptism by fire as the first event running for FVO was the Compass Sport Cup final where FVO was just pipped by SVO as the winners of the Compass Sport Cup (for large clubs). SYO 2425 pts, FVO 2419 pts. There was also the Compas Sport Trophy ( for Small clubs) that was won by Interlopers, an Edinburgh club. Just to give an example of the size, FVO alone had 97 people competing for the club!It was good to be back out in the Scottish woods, but definitely a little rusty.Wishing everyone well.
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Reply by Steve on Sun Oct 16, 2022 at 3:44 pmBon Voyage John (and Carol and Allison, even Heather) Trust me here, You have given far more to the club than you could ever take.In 95 I was the A meet director, while you set the relay courses at FCC. Knowing no one in the club, you joined a few people to look over my shoulder and keep me straight. The event was a success, and my admiration for you was permanant. You always had solid advice, and encouragement for me. ( Anything I have done wrong is his fault) Thank you again
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Reply by johncampbell on Mon Oct 17, 2022 at 4:21 amSteve,Thank-you for your kind words. the feeling is mutual. you and Sharon do so much for the club for which we are all extremely grateful. Alas for me, through other commitments, the last few years, my help was pretty limited.
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Reply by Orienteer7 on Mon Oct 17, 2022 at 9:22 amJohn & Family:We will surely miss you here in DVOA land but I am sure when the opportunity presents itself we will meet again on a DVOA map or on some map in Scotland or elsewhere. Your family has been a vital part of the organization and I carry a constant reminder of your family with the DVOA Orienteering plate (designed by your family) on the front of my car. Your family has been a vital part of the organization and all their volunteer work greatly contributed to making DVOA one of the largest, friendliest, and most successful clubs in the U.S. We are also so proud of Allison for her love of the sport and her training dedication to make the varied U.S. teams over the past years and we will hopefully continue to see her in the international results. Wishing your family ALL THE BEST!Mary, Mark, Robert and Michelle Frank
