2006 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

USOF President Chuck Ferguson announced the winners of two Presidential Awards being presented this year, with both members hailing from the Quantico Orienteering Club. One goes to Bob Turbyfill for his unremitting contributions to improving the orienteering skills of our youth and the teaching ability of our coaches.  The other recipient is Valerie Meyer, our very own E-Punch expert. The following are Chuck's comments at the presentations.

Bob Turbyfill

Bob serves as the Chair of the Coaching Committee, personally administering the USOF Coaching Certification Program, assuring that all standards are met and producing and mailing the certificates at his own expense. To breathe new life into the coaching program and in support of USOF’s 2007 goal placing emphasis on improving the orienteering skills of our youth, Bob has developed a coaching course, which he has taught at the United States Military Academy and in Georgia.  He has shared his curriculum with other interested orienteers and will offer the course at the 2007 Convention. Bob’s course carries both college credit and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. In addition, Bob has developed and taught a course to give new orienteers the basic skills needed to master orienteering at the orange level course. His course is named: “Zero to Orange in Three Days.” I’ve become a strong supporter since I helped as a Teaching Assistant when he offered the course at Fork Union Military Academy. Bob will also offer this course at the 2007 Convention. Finally, Bob has completed a draft of requirements for the next level of USOF Coaching Certification, the Level II Certificate (see the USOF Coaching Manual’s current requirements), which is in coordination.

Valerie Meyer

Valerie has been a fixture at nearly every championship orienteering meet in the past year, either totally programming and handling the use of electronic punching, or being the hands-on expert, advising and repairing all problems. Valerie has not restricted her service to championships, but has shown up time after time, traveling at her own expense to any A-meet that requested her help. By her count, she has worked eight events in the past year or slightly more; by mine, at least nine. Regardless, few individuals have given so unselfishly of their talent, time and personal resources to orienteering. Valerie’s gift of electronic punching expertise has re-engaged many of our more technically minded youth who might have drifted away from orienteering. She has personally taught a number of our USOF members to a high enough technical level to enable them to continue using SportIdent (SI) punching for local and national meets as well as training. And, we all know how much more fun orienteering can be when you can compare splits and intervals with your orienteering buddies after that long hard run. 

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