Discussion: New club in New York

Did one of their events last year and really enjoyed it.

https://northcountryorienteering.org/

Very exciting to see a new club! They joined OUSA on December 20.
http://orienteeringusa.org/clubs/all#New%20York

Very nice looking, attractive web site. Definitely exciting to see a new club.

A few questions / comments:
The website gives no names of any of the people involved in administering the club or events. It would be nice to know some names. Not a fan of generic "contact" forms that don't tell you who you are sending to. Please identify yourself(ves).
No information on fees or how to register for their two 2019 events (ok, its early - this isn't a criticism, just curiosity).
Results page doesn't seem to have any results listed (RWorner, are there results from the event you did last year someplace?). Again more curiosity - wanted to see how many people they had and if the results indicated whether they allowed solos (since the info on events didn't mention that either).

NCO only does rogaines?

If so, IMO they should have a name similar to the other long-nav-only orgs; eg, North Country Nav Adventures. Using "orienteering" implies a wider range of navigation-based competition/recreation events than just rogaines...

If hosting rogaines is what helps fund a club to later create orienteering maps, then go for it.

I think that's a great model for a new club without any professionally made maps.

If rogaines are the 1st step toward offering a wider range of events, with appropriate maps, that's fine. I just don't see the evidence that that is the plan.

Give them time?

I agree with Greg, especially since "Our maps have less detail than a standard orienteering map, but more detail than a USGS map. Recently (March 2018) released LiDAR data and fieldwork (2019) make our St. Lawrence County maps more accurate." Good starting point.

Well, in contrast to GuyO, as someone whose favorite form of orienteering happens to be rogaining, I would be quite happy if a few more of the orienteering clubs who have never put on a rogaine were to consider doing so! I certainly see no objection to somebody whose favorite version of the sport is the same as mine shouldn't focus his efforts on putting on the sort of event he prefers! I'm sure that Joe and David will be running high quality events, and I hope to be able to take advantage of many of them!

If they have possible plans for non-Rogaine events in the future, there's no point in choosing a name that reflects only what they have on the table now.

Exactly, JJ - let's not be critical of any new effort to establish new clubs that promote any variation of orienteering. Not everyone likes the same cup of tea. My questions were motivated mainly by curiosity, except for the suggestion that they identify themselves, which in my opinion makes visitors a lot more comfortable and willing to make contact or ask questions, and therefore would benefit the club if it brings in even one extra person.

I guess I was a bit too negative...

Good on them for starting a new club -- and one with a great looking website.

Wishing them nothing but success!

I am the president of the North Country Orienteering Club. It's great to see enthusiasm and support for our efforts. It's also helpful to see evidence of constructive criticism from folks who have high expectations from us. We will deliver! One of our main challenges is to attract people to events that are VERY rural. The terrain is beautiful and challenging, but the effort to get to that terrain requires long trips in cars for most people. This is a work in progress. Be patient and (above all else) make plans to attend the events!

Welcome to Attackpoint!

DVickers, reach out to me @ programs@ottawaoc.ca if you want to chat about getting Orienteering Ottawa members out to any of your events. As you probably know we're quite a large strong club and really want to support neighbouring clubs to help grow orienteering in the region.

We're partnering with CNYO to host a spring training weekend on some of the maps they have north of Syracuse in June.

I'd love to know more about your new club and if there's anything I or we can do to support.

Ohhh ... neat:
We embrace staggered starts. And we allow solos.

Perhaps I'll see you in September!

Best of luck Wandering Rocks
(Joseph Shayka & David Vickers)

ROC already in contact with Joe and David and willing to help in any way.

@DVickers - you should ping AnnaB. She goes to Saint Lawrence U. and has created a sprint map of the campus and surrounding woods. Perhaps some synergies exist.

I would imagine you could get Clarkson University ROTC and outdoors club folks interested. I would imagine St Lawrence and SUNY Potsdam also have outdoors clubs. As well as some interest from nearby Fort Drum.

As a clarkson alum I would absolutely love to make it to your events, the terrain is beautiful up there! It’s a long drive but maybe we can make it happen. Looking forward to seeing your club grow!

Re: Bernard's suggestion: Thanks! I would love to contact as many "locals" in the north country as I can. If you have contact info for people, please forward it along!