Regional Forums??

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:09 am

Team Deejay wrote:

I did an analysis of the membership list and divided the membership using the same quarters that the DNR uses to decide whether a property is NE, NW, SE, or SW. The N/S division is roughly just south of Appleton, while the EW division is just east of Madison/Wausau. The numbers are as follows:

NW = 116
NE = 137
SW = 121
SE = 509

I think that having regional section of the forums is a great idea, that way topics posted about non-SE Wisconsin caching issues won't get buried before they are answered.
You also just outlined the problems with cache of the month. Now I know why it seems my vote doesn't even matter, the majority of the cachers are from SE WI. Someone will now probably say something about caches in all corners of the state have won, well that just goes to show you that SE wisconsin cachers do sometimes get out of that region to go caching.
I live in SW Wisconsin and totally understand where the topic starter is coming from, but when it has been mentioned in the past about modifying COTM into regions no one seemed to like it, so it's a surprise to me to see most people like the regional forum idea.

I'm not trying to change the issue, but point out the problem isn't just the forums.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:15 am

I look at the forum postings almost daily, and post once in awhile. I don't read everything, but pick and choose depending on the subject line and the locale of the poster. I follow the most topics according to geographical area - Fox Valley / Waupaca area, and up around Oconto County. But some of the general discussions are interesting, too.

If we had regional sub-forums, I would probably go there first, but would still look at everything else, too.

On a side note, we have had both of our kids living up in the Ishpemming and Marquette areas of the U.P. for a couple of years now. Naturally, we do some caching up there, and have signed up for MIGO membership. We are not too active, but do look at their website as we are planning a trip up north to see the kids. MIGO has regional forums, and I have not seem much if any activity on the U.P. section... Cachers seem to be far and few between up there, just like in some parts of northern WI.

Could postings in the general sections be optionally tagged so they got copied to a regional section as well?

cYa, Grandpa

Joined: 2002-02-18 Posts: 3399 Location: West Allis, Wi

A couple of my comments/observations:

1. I think our message boards have plenty of "forums". I'd hate to add 4 more to the list. I like the idea of adding one new forum, perhaps called "regional forums". That forum could then be subdivide into N, S, E, W, or N/W, N/E, S/W, S/E.

2. I don't think the WGA leaves anyone out. It seems that our membership directly reflects Wisconsin's population base. I don't feel that the WGA caters to S/E Wisconsin, but agree that a good chunk of our members live in S/E Wisconsin. Again, I think our membership roles mirror the population base. I'd be more then willing to move up north to help add to the membership up there, but my wife won't let me Very Happy

.

Bri

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:01 pm

I think the general forum would have to stay the same. The regional forums would then become secondary and used to post specific "regional" questions and comments.

This I think would work out for anyone, regardless where in the state they lived.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:50 pm

Sounds like the Civil War after finding Confederate Spy today. Smile

I think 2 forums is better than the 4. I found out about your Assoc. when I picked up my 1st geocoin. Team Little Bug had the Assoc. info scrolling on their Profile for User page. It really caught my attention!

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:43 pm

Gram&Gramps wrote:

Could postings in the general sections be optionally tagged so they got copied to a regional section as well?

Unfortunately the forum software we are using does not support automatic "cross-posting" of the same topic in multiple forums. You could do it manually, but then people could respond in multiple places and you'd end up with multiple discussions going on.

So for now, the answer is no... each topic has to be put in a single category, so you'd have to decide when posting whether the topic was of interest mainly to those in a region or to all WGA members.

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:20 pm

Jeremy wrote:

each topic has to be put in a single category, so you'd have to decide when posting whether the topic was of interest mainly to those in a region or to all WGA members.

I think that would be great.

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:43 am

OK, the regional forums have been set up. The Board approved creating these forums and decided how to divide the state into regions several weeks ago... I apologize for not implementing the wishes of the Board and membership sooner.

In each regional forum, I posted some basic guidelines. The most important point is not to post the same topic in a number of regional forums... doing so will quickly make a mess of things.

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:58 pm

Thanks Jeremy for implementing the regional forums. Smile

Today I see a thread in the recommended caches section which is asking about caches in a particular part of the state. I think the idea for the thread is great and I would probably check it out if we make the six hour drive (seven if my wife drives Rolling Eyes

) down there. Perhaps it would be more applicably moved to the regional forum section? It would be much easier for future cachers to find if they had the same idea.

Perhaps all the threads in the recommended caches section could be moved to the appropriate area??? (..or at least lock the forum). It would make the regional forums more useful from the outset.