There are many WGA members that know me either personally or through the forums but there are likely some newer members or those from the far reaches of the state that do not. I will try to give a little background for everyone to familiarize or refamiliarize themselves with who I am.

On a personal level, I live in Wild Rose, a small town in Waushara County. Married to Patti with 4 children. I work at the Wild Rose Community Memorial Hospital as a Medical Technologist and in the IT department. Active in my church congregation and hold a third degree Blackbelt in TaeKwonDo.

On a geocaching level, taking it all the way back to 2006, I first checked into geocaching as a possible extra event for an adventure race that was being planned for local youth. I checked out the http://www.geocaching.com website and soon was out the door finding my first cache. I thought it was a great activity and began caching on weekends when I wasn’t fishing or doing other things. In the winter of 2006, I suggested the activity to my brother in law for my nephew to get outdoors. Soon after it was a huge competition between me and my BIL and not so much my nephew. Anyway, the competition continued and I was officially hooked.

I had not yet realized there was a Wisconsin Geocaching Association until one weekend in May 2007, I noticed an event being held at Hartman Creek State Park. Turned out to be the WGA annual campout. Didn’t know any area cachers so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to see what it was all about. I did feel a bit out of place but was welcomed in and got some great instruction on how to use my GPSr from Geopink and was able to strike up a conversation with Team Honeybunnies as they had just finished finding my first series of caches. Pretty sure that that was the first day I met Zuma too. All this just drove the geocaching spike deeper into my being and I signed up on the WGA website.

Stayed behind the scenes for a while but in 2009, I was nominated for BOD and I accepted the challenge. Well, first time out, I did not make the cut but was highly encouraged by the support I did receive. Nominated again in 2010 and this time was on the board. In 2011, I was in my second year and the standing board elected me to the WGA president. for the 2012-2013, I ran again and returned to the board, no officer status that year as work had held most of my time in 2012. 2013, I currently hold the Vice-president office.

When nominated again this year, I initially thought that I would not run, but something about this organization sticks with you and it is hard to let go.
I look at this not as a personal accomplishment but as another chance to serve the WGA membership and to encourage that membership to be involved in the WGA and to take that membership as an opportunity to serve also. I find myself running against very worthy opponents and will let my views and responses to the membership questions speak for themselves.

I thank those who nominated me and support me. I look forward to your questions.

Peter – labrat_wr