Late 20th Century, 1984-1999

During the 1980s and 1990s, NEOOC matured into a well-established organization, hosting 10 to 20 events per year. The most commonly used venues included North Chagrin, South Chagrin, Virginia Kendall, Mill Stream Run, Hinckley, and Brecksville. Membership fluctuated but generally remained between 70 and 90 members. 

The Grapevine remained the club’s primary communications channel and was published several times per year. Producing the newsletter was a substantial task, with carefully formatted event results, announcements, stories, graphics, cartoons, and games. As word processing tools improved, the newsletter took on a more personal and lively tone. 

Improving mapped venues remained a high priority. Mapping clinics were frequently held to build club skills, and several international mappers from Czechoslovakia and Russia visited Northeast Ohio in the 1990s to assist with mapping efforts.

Hello from Czechoslovakia

“Tom & I visited Anton in Czechoslovakia this fall. Many of you will remember Anton as the mapper who redid the N Chagrin map. He was married in September and we had the honor of attending his wedding. He and his new bride send greetings back to the club. While there, we also had the opportunity to visit with John, George, and Milos, the three mappers who redid the Mill Stream Run and S Chagrin maps. They also send greetings to everyone. They all had many happy memories of the U.S.” – Sue Wills, December 1992

The club also embraced creativity in event design. Orienteering offerings expanded beyond the standard point-to-point format to include Ski-O, Canoe-O, Car-O, String-O, Wine-O, Boggle-O, Poker-O, Atomic-O, Time-O, and Vampire-O. Even competitive events often carried playful themes, such as the 1995 A-meet “Buzzard’s Revenge” and the 1998 Midwest Championships “Reentrants of Doom.” 

NEOOC’s involvement extended well beyond local events. Many members regularly traveled to A-meets and national championships throughout North America, representing the club in competition. Stanislav Rachitskiy, former head coach of the Russian Orienteering Team, was probably the club’s best-known and most well-traveled member, having competed and ranked highly in orienteering competitions around the world. In addition to his own competitive success, Stanislav also coached young athletes from Northeast Ohio who went on to compete nationally and internationally, including Dave Kostansek, who qualified for the US Orienteering National team in 1999. 

Other club members traveled extensively as well, and their adventures were often documented in The Grapevine. Former club president Dave Karberg competed in at least ten U.S. states, including Alaska, and may hold the distinction of having traveled the farthest of any NEOOC member, competing as far away as South Korea.

Despite the club’s success, challenges remained. In 1995, NEOOC faced the potential loss of access to Cleveland Metroparks because of restrictions on off-trail use. The issue was resolved in the short term, but the relationship became strained. 

The most persistent challenge, however, was recruiting volunteers for operations and event planning. Club newsletters regularly included pleas for help, and the club created a volunteer incentive program. By around 1999, organized orienteering events were close to ending because of too many open officer positions. 

Fortunately, a mix of returning and new officers stepped forward. Their willingness to lead helped NEOOC enter the new millennium with renewed energy.

Member Spotlight: Angus Bond+

Angus Bond was one of NEOOC’s founding members and helped create the club’s first orienteering map at Hell Hollow in Lake Metroparks. During the club’s first 25 years, he was one of its most active volunteers, serving in numerous leadership roles including parliamentarian, treasurer, equipment manager, event coordinator, and president from 1996 to 1998. 

In July 1995, Orienteering North America published Angus’s article, “A Course Designer’s Diary,” which chronicled the planning and course design for NEOOC’s Buzzard’s Revenge A-meet. The article reflected the thoughtful planning and creativity he brought to course setting. 

Beyond orienteering, Angus had wide-ranging interests. He enjoyed astronomy, woodworking, art, classical music, and calligraphy. He also developed a deep appreciation for both his Scottish heritage and his wife’s Chinese heritage, eventually learning to speak Mandarin Chinese.

Longtime club member Bob Boltz recalled one of Angus’s memorable ideas:

“The photo above is of Angus preparing to haul a load of ice cream to the beaver pond east of Kendall Lake. Angus got the idea when he noticed that the control code was ‘DQ.’ He always had tremendous energy and wisdom. Every event was better when Angus was involved.” 

Angus passed away in 2017, but his enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication continue to be remembered. His contributions helped shape NEOOC during its formative years and left a lasting legacy for future generations.