Discussion: Mapper availability

I'm starting a thread for the discussion of the availability of mappers, which has been going on in another thread with a somewhat unrelated title.

FWIW, I am not aware who, if anyone, maintained the database of US maps. I do know that the first maps I orienteered on were numbered, but not recent ones.

Also (posted this on the other thread too):

There's a database of mappers, on the OUSA site. Not all are located in the US.

Mark Dominie of central New York should probably be added, but he has plenty of work (word of mouth) and has not requested to be added.

Anyone else who maps in the US and is willing to be added to the list can contact me at the email address in my profile.

At one point Swampfox was maintaining the map database, back when it was in some spreadsheet format that's so old that I don't have anything that can read it any more. Then at some point when when Bill Jameson was the map committee chair or whatever, he declared the concept to be obsolete and abolished it (along with USOF-issued map numbers). That was probably at least 25 years ago.

My suggestion is also that OUSA should think carefully about who they promote as mappers in the database. OUSA should probably not be advertising field checkers who do not have the proper work permits etc to perform work in the USA for clubs. Without proper paperwork for contracting mappers, clubs risk having legal/immigration/loss of $$$ investment/schedule issues. In 2017 there is far less tolerance by the authorities for missing paperwork.

One approach the need for mappers is to try to increase the availability of local, in country mappers. The perpetual whinge, that orienteering is full of us old geezers who've been doing it for forty years, is an opportunity here. People with that much experience have an enormous amount of experience seeing how various terrain can and should be mapped. There may be many of these people who can successfully make the transition to good quality mapping, for a bit of side retirement income. Some may have mapped recreationally already, and started thinking about the problem of how to represent the terrain. How can we help more gain an interest and aptitude? If nothing else, starting mapping forty years ago improved my orienteering enormously.

I agree . OUSA database should be updated and should have some basic information such as level of experience with orienteering, field checking and map drafting and availability to work in US. A once a year refresh on say June 1st (with call for names to be submitted before that date) would serve to help get folks to step forward and keep it current. An up to date database would answer many of the questions that clubs have.

I've done a few maps, not perfect, but fairly well recieved. I've toyed with getting back to it, particularly as I edge closer to retirement. Not ready to toss my name on a list as 'available', but will likely work on something small and local to determine if I want to pursue it on a more formal basis. So I'm keeping an eye on this thread...

I’ll be retiring from my paying job in about a month (Clint: beat you to it :-) ), and so will soon be much more available for mapping projects. I’ve mapped on and off for not quite 20 years, most recently the Ward Pound Ridge map for last fall’s US Champs and this weekend’s Billygoat. I’ll be at the BG this weekend as Head Goat, so if you have a project you’d like to chat about, I’ll be easy to find.

Rick - Great Forest is calling.

I've listed myself in the OUSA mapper database. Available 5-6 weeks late August through September, or next year.