As we begin to engage in our preparatory tasks, we wonder how this meet will compare with our first attempt at meet directorship in the summer of '98 at Peebles Island (a wet day with low turnout). As we draw close to the 7th, the forecast is for a dry, but cool, windy day. So we are keeping our fingers crossed for NO RAIN! And the day turns out to be as the weatherman says. A bit chilly -- refreshing for swift moving runners and a good incentive for motion for slower moving participants. And the weather doesn't deter attendance it seems. Registration logs in 75 orienteers of all ages.

With setting courses for the first time, we are curious as to the constructive perceptions of the participants of all levels. The courses, with the limitations of a small park, are received very well. In particular, yellow and orange runners express the enjoyment of "fun courses" (and knowing that people are having fun in the woods is the rewarding piece for all the hours of preparation!) Scout groups identify that this is a good learning experience, and want to be notified of upcoming meet information. An experienced orienteer, Claus Borsting, identifies a transcription error on the red course, discerning that a control location has inadvertently been mismarked on that course's 2nd map. Corrections are made for all subsequent runners for this course, and Claus' time is adjusted accordingly (even without the 1 minute subtraction, he would still have had the fastest time!)

Many thanks to Club members for a team effort: Phil Hawkes-Teeter for field checking and OCAD expertise and thereby creating an updated color version of the 1980 Black and White Colonie Town Park map; John Beatty for start and finish support, and for giving instructions to inexperienced groups; Janet for obtaining trophies; Janet, Glen, and Rob Tryson for arriving early and making sure we have our act together; and to Rob, Marty, Eric, Phil, Glen, Claus, and Scott P. for bag pick-up.

-- Rob & Rita Reed