Discussion: CMOUSA strategic plan, rules, and mapping specifications public review period

The Corn Maze Orienteering USA (CMOUSA) committee in charge of important things has been working this afternoon on a complete overhaul of our most important documents -- the strategic plan, the rules, and the international corn maze mapping specifications. Over the past hour we have reviewed the documents, debated potential changes, and solicited input from committees that are heavily impacted by these documents. We are now making a preliminary draft available for public comment. Please note that this is still a draft - final touches are not complete, minor grammatical issues may not be fixed yet, appendices are not included in this draft, and some committees are still discussing changes they may want that don't occur in this draft.

Normally -- meaning, based on CMOUSA's record of moving fast -- a final proposal for the CMOUSA Board of Directors would be made in the next hour or two, then the Board would meet, and things would be wrapped up this evening. But seeing as many AttackPointers only access AP during working hours, we will allow more time and will not submit the final proposal until Monday afternoon.

The current strategic plan says (in its entirety) -- "There must be a post-race party."

Our draft proposal is that the strategic plan is perfect as is and no changes are needed.

The current rules. Well, there are no rules.

Our draft proposal is that the rules are perfect as is and no changes are needed.

The current International Specifications for Corn Maze Orienteering Mapping (ISCMOM) says (in its entirety) -- "It is strongly recommended that the map be perfect."

Our draft proposal is that this be changed to -- "It is strongly recommended that there be a map."

The reason for this change is a concern that the requirements of ISCMOM in its current form are too demanding and are counter-productive to the growth of CMO.

Please post any comments or proposed changes here on AP. Comments sent directly to me, or posted elsewhere, will be ignored.

Peter Gagarin
CMOUSA

Seems a bit corny to me, but I do wonder ... Is there a dress code?

A-maiz-ing how efficient CMOUSA is.

Seems a bit corny to me, but I do wonder ... Is there a dress code?

Plaid shirts are preferred, as are overalls.

Is there anything in the strategic plan concerning international development?

I see a risk that a lot of the less developed CMO countries will fall behind if there is no help from more developed countries.

My biggest concern here is that we basically have no corn fields in Sweden - how could we ever reach the levels of CMOUSA elite runners when training opportunities and races are so scarce?

Yeah, well, Europe may be short on corn, but you'll have to make do with intricate medieval cites as a second-rate substitute for this style of orienteering.

Is there anything in the strategic plan concerning international development?


No, but if there was I would imagine it might include --

1. A clinic at our champs for developing (third-world) countries. I assume most would come from western and northern Europe?
2. Certainly there should be a World Cup. Based on the the standard in regular O', all the events would be in North America except for a once-every-few-years token event in New Zealand/Australia.
3. And the USA should send a delegation to other countries, Sweden included, to show them how to party.

But this will all take time. I wouldn't expect anything to happen for at least a week.

I notice that anything with a party that occurs after a race appears to qualify as corn maze orienteering. (Examples: the running of the bulls at Pamplona; the French Revolution - I'm sure there was rejoicing among those that survived after a race to the scaffold; any running race ever; and so on.) Presumably this is intended.

Wow, someone with an even more expansive opinion of CMO's role in the universe than me. :-)

I would think it would be a very good thing if, under feet's criteria, a lot more of foot O' events qualified as CMO. (My sense is that ski-O often qualifies, and that trail-O never will, but there may well be things going on in the latter that I am not aware of.)

Actually, you could set some really good trail O at Mike's Maze, including using the viewing platform, and since the map is perfect, there might not be any protests. Though the mandatory party might be a bit of a culture shock.

IMO you need to add a few requirements for the pre-race briefing, specifying minimum/maximum counts of the phrases "y'all runner folk", "hyuk" and "that there corn field, yessirree bob."

you'll have to make do with intricate medieval cites as a second-rate substitute for this style of orienteering

One advantage that this may have compared to the original form of CMO is that the actual course and/or map has built-in facilities for having the mandatory party. Heck, this could even be organized while out on the course :)

IMHO not having any corn fields is not much of an excuse. If we think of Olympics and TV rights and all the income, cost for transplanting a corm maze isn't really that much of a cost. For CMWRE's just order corm maze from the corm maze industry, simple as that. But for training snow would have to do http://www.facebook.com/snowart8848

Just :-)

If we are going to set that token event in Australia, we have one orienteer who has sown more than his share of maize- sorry, corn. Jymbo... have you ever explained this to your brother, or thought about it while sitting on the tractor in sowing season?

I seem to remember that Europe has a good supply of hedge mazes on the grounds of stately homes. Would seem to be perfect for CMO; post race party in the grand ballroom. Minor draw back is that they tend to take 50 years to grow. And the mapping standard might need to include symbols for greek statue, decorative iron bench, and grotto.

At this past weekend's Corn Maze Orienteering event, the subject of how awful the initials "CMO" are, came up yet again. Around here it means a card game, and once the band CMO was formed, well, we just can't get any traction with the country's youth.

I heard a rumor that CMO doesn't actually stand for Corn Maze Orienteering, the real story is that it was founded by a guy named "simmo". But you can't always trust rumors.

Worst possible interpretation...

Collateralized Mortgage Obligation

That's worse than 'rogaine'. Needs it own thread started.

Have I missed the public submission period? Disappointing.

Will CMOUSA also be the national governing body for corn maze rogaining? If so, where will we find large enough corn mazes to hold events?

Corn maze rogaining:
1. Go to Iowa
2. Buy a few 12 packs
3. Hire a few farmers with combine harvesters
4. Give beer to farmers
5. Get aerial photograph of Iowa
6. OCAD, rubbersheeting, something something
7. Have an event with the most hated name ever, CMO ROGAINE

If you're in a field planted with Monsanto seed, then you have to call it a GMO CMO.

and Old MacDonald had a farm.

Eee I O' I O'