Month: July 2020

OUSA Recommendations for Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission at Events

Orienteering USA has approved the following recommendations for holding events in the new coronavirus era. These recommendations are required for OUSA sanctioned NRE events. Clubs holding local events are strongly encouraged to follow these recommendations as well, in conjunction with local, state & federal guidelines in place at the time of the event.

These guidelines will remain effective through December 31st, 2021 and will be updated by the OUSA Board as necessitated by the shifting realities of the pandemic. Please note that certain OUSA Rules of Competition are waived or otherwise modified for the duration of these guidelines.

Any additional suggestions for these guidelines should be directed to Joe Huberman, VP Club Services.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LufpnKQR01dCqSFQXc0EnYYMj57YkR8_/view?usp=sharing

CRNA Offering Free Virtual Trail-O Course

The Capital Region Nordic Alliance will be hosting a series of four online Trail-O training sessions over the next five weeks. This course is intended as an introduction to Trail-O and is free of charge. Each class will cover fundamentals and progressively utilize more training and virtual Trail-O’s throughout the four sessions. Classes will be conducted via Zoom and pre-registration is required.

Sessions are scheduled for:
Tuesday, July 21, 11AM Eastern
Tuesday, July 28, 11AM Eastern
Tuesday, August 11, 11AM Eastern
Tuesday, August 18, 11AM Eastern

Register at: {expired link removed}

Coaching Course Survey Announcement

Are you interested in becoming a certified orienteering coach, or are you looking for some formal technical orienteering training? Members of OUSA’s Youth Coaching Working Group have been transitioning the workshop content from the Level 1 Coaching Certification Course and Zero to Orange into an online, blended education model.

As we prepare our proposal to launch the blended version of the Level 1 Coaching Certification (and the unit that contains the Zero to Orange content), we would like to get a feel for the interest level in both courses so we can make sure we have the teaching staff and resources to meet demand. Even if you are already a certified coach, please respond to this survey and provide your input.

Take the Survey

If you are a club leader, a Scouter, JROTC or ROTC instructor, or an educator, please pass this survey on to others who might be interested.

We greatly appreciate your input. We will close the survey on July 19th.  Thanks!

Tori Campbell
OUSA VP Youth Initiatives

New EventReg Administrator: Videlin Aleksiev

Orienteering USA welcomes Videlin Aleksiev from the Quantico Orienteering Club as its new EventReg Administrator. In his new role with OUSA, Videlin will serve as the primary club contact for the Event Register system and will work closely with registrars to facilitate using the system for their events.  He began orienteering as a youth in Bulgaria over 35 years ago and competes at both the local and national level in the US with his family including daughter Diana who is a member of the 2020 US JWOC Team.

OUSA Board of Directors – Call for Nominations

This fall, Orienteering USA will hold it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). At that meeting, there will be voting for at least three openings on the OUSA Board of Directors.

The term of office for a Board member is three years. To be considered, you must have been a member of the Federation for at least one year, and must have been active in orienteering either by active involvement in a local club or by prominent Federation work such as committee membership, publications, etc. It is also expected that you will generally attend Board meetings, either in person or by teleconference.

The duties of the Board of Directors are:

  1. Select OUSA officers and plan for management succession.
  2. Set policy and provide guidance and strategic direction to management
  3. Review and approve the Federation strategic plan and annual operating plans, budgets, and other business plans
  4. Oversee the financial reporting process, including selection of auditors, audit and control policies, and follow up on audit recommendations.
  5. Approve financial strategies, borrowing commitments, and long-range financial planning
  6. Monitor the Federation’s compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and the performance of its responsibilities as the National Governing Body of orienteering in the United States
  7. Ensure that the Board and management are prepared to act in case of an unforeseen crisis (disaster planning).

OUSA has a Nominating Committee that will present some candidates at the AGM. If you meet the above qualifications, and have an interest, please present your name and orienteering background to the head of the Sanctioning Committee (William Jameson, william.jameson@nullteamrubiconusa.org, (803)804-7364) by 15 AUG. A phone interview will follow.

SARS-COV2 Recommendations – DRAFT for review

Orienteering USA’s SARS-COV2 Task Force is currently developing recommendations for holding events at both the local and national level in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.  The Task Force recently released a DRAFT document for comments.   Comments from the orienteering community can be made directly on the document for others to see. 

The Board will review these recommendations in late July before setting a policy.  Please consider it from the perspective of both an event organizer and a participant. Think about how safe you would feel.  Let us know if sections are more restrictive, or not restrictive enough. Are important points missing?, or do points need to be moved between Recommendations and Suggestions.  You can make your edits directly on the document as “suggestions”.