Celebrating Our Unsung Heroes: Thank You to the SOA Volunteers

Scottish Orienteering is rooted in volunteering and pitching-in, most obviously at club level where countless individuals give up their time and energy in many different ways. They do a fantastic job at delivering key things that make Scottish Orienteering tick.

However at this time of year we feel it is important to say thank you to those whose, often unacknowledged, contribution is key to supporting our small staff team and helping Scottish Orienteering. There are two types of volunteer role which directly support the SOA – Board Directors are the most often highlighted but this article is here to say thank you to those SOA Volunteers whose quiet work in the background is not often noticed. Their roles include coordinating the competitions calendar, making sure winners get their trophies, providing valuable technical expertise, and managing the Scottish squads for the annual Home Internationals competitions (Juniors, Seniors and Veterans) as well as in the background guiding our work on equality, inclusion and diversity.

They do a fantastic job, don’t seek the spot light -but their dedication, expertise and commitment plays a vital role in ensuring that orienteering continues to flourish across Scotland. As highly active and enthusiastic orienteers they are familiar faces at our events, but you may not be fully aware of the work they do behind the scenes on behalf of all of us. You can see them on our website, Our lovely volunteers , but the current roll of honour is below.

So as we reach the end of another successful year, a special thank a special thank you to them, and here’s to a well-earned break before the start of another busy calendar!

Current SOA volunteers: (in alphabetical order)

Caroline Clarke – Trophy coordinator

Colin Eades – Planner advocate

Esther Gooch –  Advisor on Inclusion Group

Janice Nisbet – Veterans Home International team (VHI) manager

Katherine Kirk – Advisor on Inclusion Group

Kirsten Strain – Senior Home International (SHI) team manager

Judy Bell – Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad (ScotJOS) team manager

Paul Hammond – Scottish Orienteering League (SOL) Scores coordinator

Rachel Kirkland – Scottish Orienteering Urban League (SOUL) coordinator

Robin Strain – Electronic systems coordinator

Roger Goddard – Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad (ScotJOS) head coach

Steve Scott – Fixtures secretary

Ted Finch – Clocks and GPS timing