Becky Waldmann — greyhounder

[greyhounder]

Hi,

I’m up for re-election for the WGA Board of Directors and would like for you to consider voting for me.

Geocaching Background:
I’ve been geocaching since January of 2004. Geocaching has been nothing short of amazing for me. I get to go places and see things I never would have before. I currently have just over 600 finds, with a goal of 750 finds by the end of 2008.

I have hidden 10 geocaches, three that are currently active. I’m always looking for a new and interesting location to hide geocaches. I adopted a cache of Lil Otter’s this year (one that I really enjoyed visiting myself). I have held one event on my own.

I was elected to the WGA Board of Directors in 2006. I have enjoyed my time on the board and have learned all sorts of things about the inner workings of the WGA! I oversaw the Cache of the Month and Cache of the Year for 2006. In 2007 I was elected by the board as President. In addition to helping out with the 2006 campout and 2007 picnic, I was co-chair for the 2006 picnic and 2007 campout.

During 2007 I have been able to share my love for geocaching with other groups. I have done several presentations for various organizations in the state. In fact, one day I did 4 presentations on geocaching to the Wisconsin Woodlands Owners Association (without electricity and my beloved Power Point!). It’s been great and I think I recruited new geocachers at each presentation.

I have also accepted a faculty position at Madison Area Technical College in Fort Atkinson as a teacher of geocaching basics. I have a 3 hour class that includes videos as well as allowing students a chance to get out and find a few geocaches themselves. The class is held each semester.

In July 2007 I volunteered to be a reviewer for new geocaches submitted in the state of Wisconsin. You would know me by a different name for this (WGA3). This has opened a whole, new aspect of geocaching to me. I get to use all sorts of fun mapping software and work with geocachers to put out great geocaches.

I love geocaching for many reasons. It’s often given me the incentive to get off the couch, get away from the computer, and get outside. It has introduced me to many different people through events (many here in the state, and I have also attended events in Illinois and Midwest Geo-Bash in Indiana) and I have made some great friendships. It has increased my awareness of the importance of our planet and our duty to keep it clean (through CITO).

I have had the opportunity to geocache with some of you, and we’ve always had a great time. My favorite person to geocache with is ldybugldy, who is my mother. She began geocaching just a month after me and has been a great companion. It has really enhanced our relationship. Mom has some physical challenges, but geocaching has surprised us with some of the obstacles we have overcome. She’s also much better at finding micros that I!

Personal Background:
I’m 38, single and live in Fort Atkinson. I have been working for almost 14 years at Opportunities, Inc. as a training specialist in Supported Employment. I assist people with disabilities in becoming successful at community jobs. I do a lot of traveling for work, and have been able to geocache in new towns on my lunch breaks (it’s really fun looking for geocaches in corporate casual clothing!) At work I have served on the safety committee, Christmas party planning committee and personnel advisory committee.

I earned my bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and English Writing. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Part of my Master’s Degree program covered public speaking and presentations. I feel that I am very good at communicating both orally and in writing.

I have been very involved in our community’s Relay For Life, serving as my team captain for approximately 9 years. I have also been on the Relay For Life committee for its education tent. We were responsible for lining up doctors to speak on various cancer issues as well as setting up stations for people to have their blood pressure and blood sugar checked.

I am also active in the world of retired racing greyhounds. I currently own one greyhound, but did at one time have 2. I have also fostered greyhounds prior to their placement in permanent homes. I have assisted the local Greyhound Pets of America chapter with doing home visits for prospective adopters to ensure that they would make good greyhound owners, as well as being able to answer their questions about greyhounds. In addition to my greyhound, I also have a terrier mix (she’s the geo-dog in the family) and 3 cats.

My Goals:
I would like to continue to be the voice of the membership. People have contacted me with questions and suggestions in the past, and I have passed them along to the rest of the board. I’ve always wanted people to feel that they could come to me with any concerns or thoughts on improving the WGA.

I would like to see the WGA involved in the WPRA (Wisconsin Park and Rec Association). This is something the board has been discussing, and I would like to continue this in my next term.

I would like to see us do more with the Adopt-A-Highway program. We have adopted a highway segment. I would like to see us getting out there and cleaning it up. And if this is successful, I would like to see other parts of the state taking on their own segments.

In 2007 we pulled garlic mustard at the campout. I think this was a great opportunity for volunteerism and I would like to see us continue this tradition — perhaps at non-event times as well. I think a CITO event should be a WGA sponsored event.

I suppose that’s enough information on me. Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance for your vote. Please feel free to ask me any questions. I can be reached by PM or at greyhounderATwiDASHgeocachingDOTcom.

Bec

[Author]

Posts