Call for Membership and Community Education volunteers

[zuma]

This is a call for volunteers for the membership committee and the community education committee. These committees will be working on membership growth, membership welcoming, geocaching classes, community education and other projects.

We have requested volunteers in the past, and essentially there have not been enough volunteers to get this running as well as hoped. We do have enough members for the web committee, so we are not seeking volunteers for the web committee at this time, and that committee, as well as the campout committee is working quite well. Also, we have appointed a geocoin committee, that is an ad hoc committee for the life of the project, and no more volunteers are needed for that committee either.

Here is a cut and paste from the original motion for the committees that gives much more detail:

Whereas the Wisconsin Geocaching Association created a process for the creation of committees to assist the Board of Directors in decision making and working towards growing the association 2 years ago.

Whereas the committee structure has had mixed success since then, and a number of problems in keeping committees active and vibrant has emerged.

Whereas, a committee structure still seems to be a good process in accomplishing more for the Wisconsin geocaching community since there is a pragmatic limit to what any 9 individuals can do alone, and bringing more individuals into the process is a good way to expand the reach of the Wisconsin Geocaching Association in improving programs and services to the Wisconsin geocaching community.

Therefore, be it resolved that the committee structure be modified in the following ways:

1. The campout committee will be reformed to include all 9 members of the WGA Board of directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The campout committee will be viewed as starting new each February, and dissolving 3 weeks after the annual campout is held. The campout committee will have a chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be a Board member. The campout committee will have a co-chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be not be a board member and generally be an individual who resides in proximity to the location of the campout. The campout committee will have a folder in the WGA forums for use in decision making and task assignment. The campout committee will hold at least one face to face meeting approximately 3 weeks (plus or minus a week) prior to the campout at the location of the campout, a meeting used for final planning, recognizance and cache placement.

2.The picnic committee will be reformed to include all 9 members of the WGA Board of directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The campout committee will be viewed as starting new each June, and dissolving 3 weeks after the annual picnic is held. The picnic committee will have a chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be a Board member. The picnic committee will have a co-chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be not be a board member and generally be an individual who resides in proximity to the location of the picnic. The picnic committee will have a folder in the WGA forums for use in decision making and task assignment. The picnic committee will hold at least one face to face meeting approximately 3 weeks (plus or minus a week) prior to the picnic at the location of the campout, a meeting used for final planning, recognizance and cache placement.

3. The web committee will be reformed to include 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 6 other members of the WGA. The web committee will be viewed as a permanent committee of the WGA. The web committee will have a chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be a board member, and a co-chair designated by the board of directors who will be a non-board member. The web committee will have a folder in the WGA forums for use in decision making and discussion with the web master(s). The primary mission of the web committee is to assist the web master(s) and the Board of Directors maintain and improve the WGA web site.

4. The community education committee will be reformed to include 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The community education committee will be viewed as a permanent committee of the WGA. The community education committee will have a chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be a board member, and a co-chair designated by the board of directors who will be a non board member. The community education committee will have a folder in the WGA forums for use in decision making and arranging for community education programs. The primary mission of the committee will be to advance awareness and understanding of geocaching within Wisconsin. Part of this mission includes the development and implementation of basic geocaching training programs.

5. The membership committee will be formed to include 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The membership committee will be viewed as a permanent committee of the WGA. The membership education committee will have a chair designated by the Board of Directors, who will be a board member, and a co-chair designated by the board of directors who will be a non board member. The membership committee will have a folder in the WGA forums for use in decision making and arranging for membership growth and assistance programs. The primary mission of the committee will be to advance awareness and understanding of the WGA among Wisconsin geocachers and grow the membership of the WGA. Part of this mission includes the development of regional events to attract new members and the development and implementation of advanced geocaching training programs for new geocachers to help them grow in their enjoyment of the game.

6. Each of the 9 Board members will be a voting member of one of the three permanent committees (web, public education, and membership). All board members will be ex-officio members of the other committees as well, and can participate to the extent that is desired.

7. All committees are empowered to make decisions and work on behalf of the WGA and the Board of Directors within the scope of their mission and as agreed to by the Board members on each committee. In the event issues are felt to be in any way controversial by the board, or have a fiscal impact, the actions of the committees are considered to be advisory in nature, and all decisions are the final responsibility of the WGA Board of Directors. All decisions with a fiscal impact are decided by the usual method of voting by the Board of Directors.

8. Non board members who are members of any WGA committee are expected to be actively participating. Any member of any committee who has not participated for 4 months will be contacted by the chair or co-chair of the committee to see if they are still interested in participating, and if they are no longer willing or able to serve, their listing as a member of the committee will be deleted and the position filled by a new volunteer.

9. The Board of Directors may create new committees as the need arises. Any new committee created needs to have, at a minimum, a designated expected life expectancy, a well defined mission, a description of number of members expected to serve on the committee and at least two Board members on the committee.

10. The Board of Directors may abolish any committee at any time.

*****************

Anyway, I am hoping that folks will consider volunteering for the membership committee or the public education committee.

Please PM me if interested. Or if you have questions, feel free to either PM me or post them here.

thanks

zuma

[kansas64]

Zuma,
One suggestion, I know last year there was a posting similar to this one, the biggest difference was that those who were interested had to apply by a certain date, and the posting wasnt up a very long time before that date. I maybe wrong but I think it was posted just before I went on vacation and the apply by date was while I was on vacation.
Since that date I dont remember seeing a posting or hearing anywhere that more people could be used in these committees
Either keep a thread saying we need x# of people for these spots going to post the need for more people on a occasional basis. As an example I know one person that had interest in one of these committees last year but never knew the need for volunteers was needed after that apply by date so never inquired

[zuma]

@kansas64 wrote:

Zuma,
One suggestion, I know last year there was a posting similar to this one, the biggest difference was that those who were interested had to apply by a certain date, and the posting wasnt up a very long time before that date. I maybe wrong but I think it was posted just before I went on vacation and the apply by date was while I was on vacation.
Since that date I dont remember seeing a posting or hearing anywhere that more people could be used in these committees
Either keep a thread saying we need x# of people for these spots going to post the need for more people on a occasional basis. As an example I know one person that had interest in one of these committees last year but never knew the need for volunteers was needed after that apply by date so never inquired

Good idea. Thanks.

z

[zuma]

I had a member PM with a question, that others may have on where the committees meet. My expectation would be that most, if not all of the work of the committee would be in the forums. There is a special forum for each committee here, that those who join can see and participate in, that is not visible to non-committee members.

Also, my expectation for the education committee is that they will help guide us in setting up geocaching 101 type classes where needed. The board also discussed developing a geocaching educational brochure, similiar to what Geocaching U has and what Groundspeak has, only with more specific WI information and WI pictures, and that is a project that the education committee could undertake.

Hope that helps, and still looking for volunteers.

z

[zuma]

Thank you to the folks that have volunteered.

We have 7 volunteers so far, and can still use a few more.

The plan at this point is to make an announcement later this week, and get both committees up and running with their own tabs in the forum so they can begin work and discussing what needs to be done.

Thanks a lot.

zuma

[zuma]

A big thank you to the folks that volunteered to serve on WGA committees this year. Here is the current list for the Membership and Education Committees:

Membership:

Scrappy Scout
uws22
Cheeto
Labrat
zuma

Education:

Jerry’s Dad
TyeDyeSkyGuy
Code Junkie
Gotta Run
AuntieNae
TeamDeeJay
Trekkin&Birdin

In the next day or so, each of you should be given access to the forum for your committee, where much of the work will take place, and priorities will be discussed.

These are empowered committees, and as a general guideline the committees are authorized to develop programs and ideas for the WGA as committee members see fit. Items with a fiscal impact are referred to the Board for authorization.

We still have openings on both committees, so WGA members who wish to volunteer for either, may PM me, and we will get you on the committee of your choice.

Thanks,

zuma

[uws22]

any update on how soon will we have access to the forum?

[zuma]

@uws22 wrote:

any update on how soon will we have access to the forum?

Sorry for the delay. Will get that moving quicker if I can.

z

[zuma]

I remain aware that the committees have not yet been updated with the new members. Working on it, and hope to get this done this week.

z

[zuma]

The Community Education Committee is now up and running. Pat of the Sandlanders as also volunteered to serve and has also been added to the committee.

Members of the Community Education Committee should now be able to see your special forum tab. Please take a moment to check it out, and stop in and say hello.

The Membership Committee has not yet been set up, and more members are still needed to volunteer for this group.

thanks all.

z

[Scrappy Scout]

So any word on the membership commitee and when it is going to start or if it is going to start. Just wanted to throw it out there and see what is going on haven’t heard a word since this last post. There is a lot that we could be doing with the current memebers that have Volunteered

Thanks
Scout

[kmhiker]

We contacted Zuma in March 27th, and haven’t heard a word back. So I assume the Education Committee is filled.

[Scrappy Scout]

I dont know about that because i am on the list of members filling spots. last i heard was they were going to start with what we had then move on but they were trying to get a couple more memebers to fill spots. so I think it is up in the air some where.

[zuma]

@Scrappy Scout wrote:

I dont know about that because i am on the list of members filling spots. last i heard was they were going to start with what we had then move on but they were trying to get a couple more memebers to fill spots. so I think it is up in the air some where.

Sorry for the delay. And yes, we are still accepting volunteers. Please PM me if interested.

thanks
zuma

[zuma]

The membership committee has been appointed and members of the committee should now have access to the membership committee forum.

The members are:

kmhiker
mizfit
Scrappy Scout
TyeDyeSkyGuy
uws22
zuma
Cheeto
Labrat

thanks,

zuma

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