Facebook groups versus the WGA website?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

When we first discovered this website, there was a decent amount of discussion on many topics here. People also would offer get-togethers, much like beccaday did today for snowshoeing this weekend.

Now, except for the drivel thread, the site seems to have become irrelevant to most. Trekkin’ is on that unofficial WGA facebook group and posted a question yesterday. Lots of good discussion resulted from that. If it had been posted here, there might have been one or two responses.

I know some of the folks who are regulars on those facebook sites hang around here silently. What’s going on? Please discuss in a respectful manner. Maybe that discussion can help our organization’s leaders find ways to include all, or maybe it will reveal that things have changed and new directions might be in order.

[bartrod]

I’m wondering if most of the folks that hang out here are veteran cachers that really don’t have many questions about caching, problems with their gps, etc. That’s why I originally started looking in the forums. And I actually found more help, in that respect, in the Groundspeak forums.

Oconto...the birthplace of western civilization:)

[labrat_wr]

I do think that it seems easier to reply to the FB stuff as it pops up and smacks you in the face when you open your FB page and scroll through your news feed. On the site, you have to look for stuff and in today’s instant messaging, give it to me now mentality, we look for the easy fix or simple method.

maybe there are some other ideas out there to help move discussions back to the forums.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[Mister Greenthumb]

Just saying hi before going over to FB. Just kidding. I do think the group of 25-50 regulars do post and respond on the topics here. It is rare for someone new though to get involved. That is evident by all of the attention that new “regular” Todsam received in the last week. I try to check in everywhere most days including WGA FB. I think it all comes down to doing whatever we all can to promote WGA membership and PARTICIPATION. I have a really good idea on how to promote this, but am waiting for the new BOD to be in place.

[Lacknothing]

PARTICIPATION. I have a really good idea on how to promote this, but am waiting for the new BOD to be in place.

I hope you get elected or we will never see the good idea!

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA board.

[Walkingadventure]

25 days until the annual BOD meeting but Mr GT isn’t running.

Following the signals from space.

[Todd300]

Many people are on Facebook anyways, so that could be why there is more activity there.

[Team Black-Cat]

Instant gratification, short attention span, no commitment.

[JimandLinda]

The 9 Board Members use this site for 95% of their communication. We see 4 times the posts as regular members and it can be overwhelming, at times.

I think it is still a valuable asset for Event promotion. Events is the most visited link on the site, other than the TS thread.

[hack1of2]

From time to time I post things on a FB page with a link to a WGA topic to direct traffic here. I’m not sure of this but a recent observation I’ve had is that cachers who only cache locally are more likely to post things on a FB site and those with a more expanded awareness of caching the entire state will frequent the WGA site.

[amita17]

This is only my perspective. I am not on Facebook currently due to the way one must establish a profile. I suspect at some point I will have to cave in. While I am not the most avid respondent on this site, I try to post something if the topic is pertinent to me or funny or sparks an interest. I check the site daily, sometimes more often if I happen to have the time. It is my main source of geocaching networking, for information, conversation, and education. I am very happy with the WGA website. 😀

[sandlanders]

Debby, do not feel pressured into signing up for Facebook. The world does not end for people who are not on FB. I am on FB, but you can see that I am still very active on the WGA site. 😉

This site is for ALL of Wisconsin. While we may participate in regional activities, events, and get-togethers, and chat with each other in our local FB geo-groups, this is the site where all of us from around the state can come together to experience geocaching in Wisconsin. Some other states are officially split into regions (Illinois being the one I am most aware of), but if that had been the case here, I might never have gotten to know all of you from the far reaches of Wisconsin… and it was through the WGA website and chatting with everyone that we expanded our geocaching to other parts of the state. When you know other people, even just online at first, it’s fun to do their caches and go to their events.

Just think, if Wisconsin was divided into regions without any WGA… depending on how the state was split, it could be me, jar42, geolivestrong, and Labrat only. Not a bad group to be a part of, but I’m so glad we know cachers from north and south and east and west… and even from north of Highway 64… and all of this is thanks to the WGA website, not Facebook groups.

[Uncle_Fun]

I am not on facebook and hopefully never will be. I check in here for new posts about once a week or so just to see what’s going on. As you can see by the number of posts, I don’t generally post much unless I have something to offer.

[Mister Greenthumb]

@Uncle_Fun wrote:

I am not on facebook and hopefully never will be. I check in here for new posts about once a week or so just to see what’s going on. As you can see by the number of posts, I don’t generally post much unless I have something to offer.

Dave you don’t need a FB account. Tracy tells us everything about you that you don’t want us to know.

[BeccaDay]

@Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

Trekkin’ is on that unofficial WGA facebook group …

What about the official WGA facebook page?

I can see that too, how the WGA website is becoming less used as Facebook groups crop up. The fact is that when people are arranging group caching trips it seems natural to invite those that live close to that area. There are lots of small groups in different corners of the state. This way people have actually met each other and may actually get together to cache.

I’m glad that the WGA has an active Facebook page. I think this is the way that a lot of people prefer to get their information and socialize.

Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien

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