This is my annual report on the status of the Western PA Orienteering Club.  I am a couple of weeks later with the report this year because of a few other things I have been doing for the club (explained later in the report).

The club ended 2008 with 51 memberships (29 individual and 23 family).
This is up from 2007 when we had 37 memberships and only 3 of them in
the family category.

The club sponsored 9 events in 2008, including a night-O at Stackhouse Park a Street-O in Beaver and a String-O as part of National Orienteering Day.  There were a total of 307 starts at these events, down from 357 in 2007.  Part of the cause of the lower number of starts was the weather which did not cooperate for at least two events

Two new maps were produced in 2008:  Deer Lakes Park and Keystone State Park.  In addition, we completed consulting with DCNR and Penn State on the Whipple Dam permanent orienteering courses.  We conducted four orienteering educational activities:  teaching a high school class in May, girl scouts at a day camp in June, and a conservation class in August (all done by Jennifer); and teaching an orientering class to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in July (Jim).

The club took several steps forward in the promotions area:  producing flyers being distributed by the Indiana County Tourist Bureau, acquiring some professionally made brochures for distribution in the future, and being featured in two newspaper articles.

I have included a financial report at the end of this message.  You might note that the club lost a little money in 2008.  This was primarily due to becoming incorporated and applying for 501 (c)(3) status - see outgo.  Also, I am counting the membership dues a little differently now - those who became new members late in the year get membership for the end of 2008 and all of 2009 (I am now counting their dues as part of 2009 finances).

I think we had another good year.  Club membership grew and I think we are continuing to attract more people from the Pittsburgh area because both Deer Lakes and Keystone are closer to them.  Alexis wants me to make a map of Frick Park, something I will be looking into in 2009; that may attract even more Pittsburghers.  I am also looking into mapping the south shore of Yellow Creek State Park.  And hopefully sometime in 2009, WPOC will become a recognized 501 (c)(3) organization - IRS processing takes a while.

Financial info is not included here.