I am delighted to announce the recipient of the 2025 BAOC Service Award - Sarah Williams!
Sarah was presented with the award at our Bayfront event last Sunday. It was great that many club members were there to congratulate Sarah in person, including many previous recipients of the award.
Our club is run entirely by volunteers and depends on the support of all members to present our year-round schedule of events throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Thus it is a great honor each year to recognize the particular contributions of one BAOC member through the Service Award.
Each year, starting 1994, we celebrate an individual who has provided outstanding service to the club. The recipient is nominated by the all club members and selected by previous award winners.
Here are some of the highlights of Sarah's contributions:
Sarah has provided many years of volunteering to the club. Everyone sees her smiling face as she welcomed you to an event, helped you complete your registration form or directed you to the start area.
As club registrar, Sarah made it her mission to make everyone, from newbies to regulars feel welcome and prepared to start their orienteering courses.
She has lead the club in several important initiatives, including implementing our online registration and credit card processing systems. She has been a key interface between registration and e-punch teams, and coordinates entries for larger groups attending our events.
Sarah was Chief Registrar for the California Orienteering Festival in 2022 - a major international event and the largest ever run by BAOC. She spent countless hours of detailed preparation and problem solving (over several years due to Covid), then led the registration for all 10 days of the festival.
All volunteers who work with Sarah will confirm that she performs her duties with dedication, immense patience, enthusiasm and a wonderful sense of humor.
Thank you and Congratulations to Sarah for all that you have done and continue to do for the club.
Stephanie