This topic contains 11 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
A handful of WGA members form the Superior area has asked the WGA for help in organizing a WGA Regional Camp-out/ Pancake feed at Patterson Park,just south of Superior, WI.
#1- Would you attend this event?
Since the WGA is literally unknown in this part of the state.
(Writer Guild of America,Western Governors Assoc.,Western Growers Assoc., WI Grocers Assoc., WI Golfers Assoc.) You ask a cacher if they know what the WGA is and they give you this look. 😕#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA?
#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
Thank you for your answers.
#1- Would you attend this event?
Yes, if it was a weekend I didn’t work.#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers and/or non-geocachers of the WGA?
Inform cachers via the event cache page. Include a link and list the ways the WGA will be present at the event. For example, providing downloads, providing the pancake equipment, providing a 101 class on geocaching and the members to volunteer with these things. Using WGA resources to print nametags is a great little idea because people have something to go home with that reminds them of the WGA, and they can wear and subtly advertise the WGA at other events as well.#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
Sure, especially if it will pay off with increased membership and awareness in that area.#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
Yes#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
I think it should be brought into the rotation as a 5th segment (maybe a pentagon instead of a quad system) of current WGA events which have been only twice (and now thrice) a year.#1- Would you attend this event?
Depending on prior commitments and weather/travel conditions, yes.#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA?
Having information readily available on both geocaching in general, and the WGA is always a good idea. There should be a knowledgeable person (or persons) willing and able to answer questions about geocaching and about the WGA. If the host has planned any “how-to” sessions, I would be happy to help out if needed.#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
It’s your budget, but every local newspaper has a “Weekender” or Community Events section. I think a well written article submitted there would be more effective. A well written press release might even get printed in the “real” news.#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
Yes, of course. (We have grills?)#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
No.
I think that WGA regional events should be held wherever there is someone interested enough to host one. I don’t think it should be dictated by geography.@Team Black-Cat wrote:
#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
No.
I think that WGA regional events should be held wherever there is someone interested enough to host one. I don’t think it should be dictated by geography.Hmm, I see your point. I should have amended mine to say “a 5th segment, provided there is an interested host and volunteers.”
#1- Would you attend this event?
not only would I attend, I would be more than willing to do a majority of the legwork on it. I used to work at Copper Falls State Park, so I still have contacts there to make it happen.
#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA?
contacting local papers besides the ads would get us some press. most do an outdoor section, and there’s always room in local section for it as well
#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
I think paying for the ads is reasonable. the expense would be quite small (they aren’t exactly the MJ-S), and like others have mentioned, the Sunday shoppers and whatnot would be free. Don’t forget, smaller papers would also post it for free (Mellen Weekly-Record for sure… i know the Editor/Publisher)
#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
they should be made available, but depending on the location and local cachers, there may already be more than enough grills
#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
maybe not once a year (every other, every 2?), but within the rotation would be a good start
I would not be in agreement with an annual WGA event held there but that feeling is not specific to that area. I would not be in agreement with a WGA event held annually in Appleton, WI (where I live) either. I think keeping the events moving around the state is best.
Would I attend? That all depends but I look at all events in Wisconsin and neighboring states and decide if I am going to attend. If it was a WGA event that would weigh in more heavily than if it was not.
I think some local ads (newspaper and other media) would help ALL WGA events. This coming from speaking to people at the campout last year who were new to geocaching and heard about the event through word of mouth. We could get new members specifically from advertising our events locally to the general public.
Thanks for the hypothetical question cheezehead!
I don’t feel it would be a good idea to have an event located at the same park every year, I would much rather have the events move around the state as they currently do including Northern Wisconsin.
#1- Would you attend this event?
I would be there with bells on ( not literally of course )
#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA?
Maybe contacting local chamber of commerce or even the local news channels to get it put on their calendar of events.
#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
Having worked at a newspaper for over 5 years, Instead of a “AD” which you would have to pay for, send in a “press release” to be published as a news article. This might not work in a paper like the Journal Sentinel, but small weekly papers thrive on this kind of news to report. After the event, send some pictures to the same newspapers and another “press release” about the event turn out and happenings.
#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
According to the bylaws these are available (at the cost of the event host to transport) I am just assuming that this equipment is in Southern WI (at the cost of gas today $2.72 you could buy a new grill for the gas money that you would spend going to get them and return them.
#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
Maybe not once a year, but there is now 4 events, they could rotate between the geographic areas lets say 46°, 45°, 44°, 43°
How about doing a lottery like the Olympics or Geocoin Fest.
The people who would like to help host the event in their area pitch why they want the event there, and let the BOD or Body decide where it should be.
Thank you for the questions.
To answer your first question, Yes, I would attend. I try to make as many events as I can all over the state, and Beyond. I would love to see an event up there.
For the first part of your second question, When the cache page is published, it appears in the Weekly Cache notification from Geocaching.com, In addition, there would be a link posted on the WGA Homepage under the Events Section. The Idea that was posted about a article for a “Weekender” Type paper, is also a good Idea.
For the second part of your question, As far as the WGA Paying for any advertising, It would have to depend on what the cost was, and if it was approved by the Board of Directors. If the costs are reasonable, I do not see any problems with that.
For the third question, Yes, WGA Equipment can be used, as long as it is returned in the same condition that it was when it was received.
For the fourth question, I do not think that setting up a Event has to be an every year. If someone up there, or in any part of the state wants to head it up, thats is fine, but to say and event has to be held up there every year, or in any of the quadrants, I would have to respectfully say no. The regional events are put on by other cachers, with the WGA’s backing.
I would really like to see an event in some of these less cached areas of the state.
@k0rpl wrote:
Thank you for the questions.
To answer your first question, Yes, I would attend. I try to make as many events as I can all over the state, and Beyond. I would love to see an event up there.
For the first part of your second question, When the cache page is published, it appears in the Weekly Cache notification from Geocaching.com, In addition, there would be a link posted on the WGA Homepage under the Events Section. The Idea that was posted about a article for a “Weekender” Type paper, is also a good Idea.
For the second part of your question, As far as the WGA Paying for any advertising, It would have to depend on what the cost was, and if it was approved by the Board of Directors. If the costs are reasonable, I do not see any problems with that.
For the third question, Yes, WGA Equipment can be used, as long as it is returned in the same condition that it was when it was received.
For the fourth question, I do not think that setting up a Event has to be an every year. If someone up there, or in any part of the state wants to head it up, thats is fine, but to say and event has to be held up there every year, or in any of the quadrants, I would have to respectfully say no. The regional events are put on by other cachers, with the WGA’s backing.
I would really like to see an event in some of these less cached areas of the state.
Just a rebutal answer and if it get deleted fine. What good is posting it on the WGA site if the people you are trying to the event don’r know about the WGA? How many people read the weekely GC.com Email?? With instant notifications set up, I don’t.
#1- Would you attend this event?
I would like to visit the “Up Nort”. I would make the effort to attend.#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA?
It may take some doing but by emailing the local cache owners to promote the event may be one option. Unsure if this type of promotion would violate any spamming regs though. Sending a press release or article to the local papers is another option. If the papers there are like our local weekly paper, we would need to do some advanced planning to get this information out in a timely manner.#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
small ads should not be a great financial burden but the ads may be too small to really be noticed. An well written article explaining the sport and including the event details is more likely to be noticed.#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
Equipment should be made available. the transportation logistics may be difficult but not out of the question.#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
The BOD has already decided that these events would be moved around the state and if there are members willing to do some of the footwork, I can see that North of Hwy64 would be worked into the rotation, though once a year may be difficult to do.Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
#1- Would you attend this event?
Sure.#2a- How would you help promote this event and educate local cachers non-geocachers of the WGA? Well, first of all, you would want the event listing to be published early, something like 6 months ahead. This gives people a chance to plan to attend. Second, we would want to publicize it in the forums of the MiGO and MnGA to draw interest from there. Third, posters could be placed in local outdoor stores, computer stores, and other sites likely to be on the radar of locals not yet involved in the WGA. Finally, I would encourage local cache owners to advertise it on their cache listings.
#2b- The idea of placing a few small news paper ads in a few of the local papers was brought up to help promote this event. Should the WGA help pay for the ads?
I would support ads, but not SMALL ads. Anything less than a 1/4 page is unlikely to provide much in the way of results. If we cannot afford an ad of significant size, I would suggest that publicizing in the event calendar sections of local papers.#3 Should WGA equipment (such as grills and such) be made available for this event?
Yes.#4 Do you believe that a WGA regional event(camp-out/picnic) should be held at least once a year north of highway 64?
I would suggest that 45°N is a better choice instead of a highway. Almost the same place without so much wandering to the north and south. If the current quadrant approach is much lower than that, I would support moving the NS line up.
The forum ‘Candidates Corner 2010’ is closed to new topics and replies.