Discussion: Announcement of Resignation

As summer comes to an end and we start to think about and prepare for another fall season, it is time for new beginnings in a lot of things in our lives. Over the summer some things happened that have brought new and exciting things to the USA Junior program. One of the changes is I resigned as the US Junior Team Administrator and from the Junior Team Executive Steering Committee as requested by others. I truly enjoyed all of the many years that I worked as hard as I possibly could to do all that I could for the USA Junior team Program. We raised a lot of money for the expenses of many a JWOC team to keep the cost as low as possible for the parents of the juniors. I helped to start the now successful Blue Mtn. Junior training camp every spring. I had a wonder time a few years back when I took some of the US Juniors overseas to help them become adjusted to orienteering outside the USA. These are all among my very fond memories of the USA Juniors. They are some of the brightest and best young Americans that I have had a chance to work with and get to know. I will miss working with them but I know that they are in good hands and that they will continue to grow and become some of the greatest orienteers that this Country has ever had.

Juniors I am always here for you! See you in the woods!

Janet Porter

Thank you so much for what you have contributed to the Junior program, Janet. It wouldn't have been the same without your selfless work.

Yes, Janet, thank you.

Janet, there is a generation of US Juniors who are extremely thankful of the phenomenal and dedicated job you did to promote junior orienteering through organizing many excellent junior training camps, leading the trip to Sweden for a number of juniors and the multiple JWOC's you did all the organizing. You volunteered endless hours to rally the juniors and the constnat fundraising - there are few others who have committed some much to our juniors. Thank-you does not do justice to the gratitude the US juniors, their parents and Orienteering USA owe you. There is no doubt your care and passion to make our juniors successful will be sorely missed. That said you have been doing this for many years and it is time others took over the reins.
I know you will be always there for the juniors.

Thank you, Janet! Go USA Juniors!!

Janet,

I want to send out a general thank you for the amount of time and effort you have put into orienteering in North America. Though most of your direct work and influence has been spent with young american athletes you have, by extension, touched and positively affected the greater North American orienteering community.

Thank you!

Thank you Janet. We all very much appreciate all that you have done.

Janet--thank you for your dedication, your passion, and countless hours you gave to grow the Junior Orienteering!

As John said, thank-yous really can't do justice for the years of dediaction and support you've given the juniors. I know you've spent countless hours preparing for the junior training camps, setting up fund raisers, going on the junior trips and taking care of JWOC stuff. Heck, even now there is a whole committee dedicated to what you used to do by yourself.

Thank-you for all that you have done and I know that every decision you made and action you took was because you thought it was in the best interest of the juniors.

thanks for all the work you put in!

Janet, I've enjoyed getting to know you. I especially liked making breakfast so you could sleep in a little at the training camps, because you worked so hard! Thanks for being there for the kids.

Thank you Janet. I know juniors across the US will continue to appreciate your support.

I wanted to add my thanks to all the others, Janet.
I think back on the years that you gave to help support all the juniors and their activities. Denny and you bringing all the food and then cooking it at many meets. Your organizing and preparing all the food for the Junior training camps at Blue Mountain and beyond. Our late night, "short" conversations about who needs to do what to get the JWOC trips off and running. Your concerns about "your juniors" goes way beyond what anyone can imagine. I appreciate all the support you gave to get the program to where it is. You have been a great champion of all things Junior and I appreciate all the support you gave them - and me!- over the years.

I'd like to echo Canadian's message: Thanks for your part in making orienteering in North America stronger.

Thank you, Mom for your truly selfless dedication to supporting and developing all junior orienteers, and thank you to those of your on this thread that have shown your appreciation for her and the work that she has done.

As her child and a former junior team member, I can say that my mom has shown as much dedication and determination in individually assisting juniors and growing the junior program as a whole, as she has in raising her own children. Of course, the Junior Team would not be where it is today without the same selfless work of others, so thank you to everyone who has helped and supported my mom over the years. The result of all of their hard work is a junior orienteering program which Orienteering USA can be proud of, which I hope will carry on in the future.

Janet, I have worked with you on many Junior related projects over the years and I know for sure that you are not going to just disappear. You love the youngsters too much so I'm sure we'll be working together again. I can't imagine a silent auction without you!! And, who is going to feed us those great burgers and soup!?