This topic contains 8 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
With the success of the West Bend CashBash event and the forums starting to bring up discussions about MWGB and GeoWoodstock I have some questions about events, or maybe more specifically mega events.
1)Should Wisconsin aspire to host a Mega Event?
If yes: why and what can the WGA do to help this occur?
If no: why not?Again Thank You for answers
Should Wisconsin aspire to host a MEGA event? I can see no reason not to aspire to want to draw cachers from the nation and abroad to our state. Wisconsin has some great areas to cache and a slough of great caches to seek out. It also has a great bunch of cachers to meet.
My understanding regarding an event reaching Mega status is that it would need to have 500 in attendance. Finding a venue to hold such an event would pose a challenge in itself. Logistics would be another challenge with camping, facilities, etc. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but MWGB is a multi-group effort to get things set up. Could the WGA be a part of this group, sure. And if the location for the Mega be in Wisconsin, all the better.
My hope is that one year MWGB finds itself in the great state of Wisconsin.
Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
I would suggest that any thoughts of the WGA acting as host to a mega-event be considered very carefully. Here’s why I feel this way.
This is a volunteer organization, which already puts a lot of work into putting on two great events each year, events open to anyone from any state. The WGA has also tip-toed into helping with events in other parts of the state, like the New Auburn one last summer. Adding a Mega Event might stretch the abilities of the board and the membership to a point where our established events suffer.
I don’t make this statement lightly. The board on which I sit right now has gone through a somewhat similar decision process. We put on a conference every spring, one which, I’m proud to say, sets the standard for others in the field. Our national organization has started to model its conferences after ours. We have lots of member help to pull it together. This past year, the national organization decided NOT to do a conference in 2009. Re-organization and burnout suggested a year off. We were approached to host an additional conference to fill the “void.”
Lots of prestige, lots of exposure, lots of good reasons to do it. We aren’t doing it. We knew our own conference would suffer, and in the end, our members set as high priority “a great annual conference.”
I’d rather see the WGA lend support to another group in the state who wants to establish mega event status. The West Bend folks have a lot of energy, and the event went well last year. My suggestion would be to study what kind of resources and help we could offer them.
If I’ve learned anything from sitting on my other board, it is to look carefully at things that sound good, evaluate, and maybe we have to say “no” sometimes to things that initially sound like a great thing.
We should aspire to host a mega-event. We’ve attended two Midwest Geobashes now, and both have been highlights of our caching year.
But… Should we try to create one from scratch? Probably not. We have two excellent WGA events each year that could gain that status all on their own. I don’t know the attendance figures but a short search could bring them up. If we decided to push in that direction, either of those events could gain mega- status.
Another option is adding our resources to the West Bend event, though a lot of smiling WGA faces were already there every step of the way for that event. It too has a good likelihood of becoming a mega-event.
MWGB is always a possibility, but the couple running it are Ohioans and I think it will stay more in that area. Never hurts to ask though.
We will have to remember the impacts of that many people caching in a pretty tight area. The caches closest to the event are going to see a couple hundred people and a couple hundred signatures. That’s some pretty serious wear and tear if we choose the wrong area. Just something that’s important to take into the equation.
1)Should Wisconsin aspire to host a Mega Event?
If yes: why and what can the WGA do to help this occur?
If no: why not?Yes, and I agree with the well made points by Seth, Gwyn and Peter on this topic, including their discussions of the advantages of having a mega event here, as well as the potential risks. I will not repeat all of their well made points here, except to say that I agree.
I will add that it is not likely that MWGB will ever come to Wisconsin. I spoke to -Eleanor- and The Moop Along (two of the chief organizers of MWGB) last year at the event, and they see it as a Michigan, Ohio, Indiana event, as it historically has been.
One excellent way to bring a mega event to Wisconsin would be for the WGA to partner with the West Bend Chamber on their excellent Cash Bash event, and a proposal is currently in the discussion stage regarding this idea. I think it is better to build on success to achieve even greater success, rather than try to start from scratch.
zuma
Everyone here has very good points which I must agree with.
As zuma has stated, it doesn’t look as if MWGB will come, but one never knows what the future will hold. The mid-west doesn’t consist of only 3 states and as cachers get may become bored with the same old…same old, then maybe it can be persuaded to have the event here in WI. I never like to say NEVER.
Geowoodstock is a whole other animal. Bidding gets put in a year ahead of time or more. When I to the event a couple years ago, I had heard that one state/city had been putting in a bid/plea for several years. They look at a lot, including accommodations, # of caches in the area and honestly, who knows what else.
WI needs to put its mark on the map with its own event, i.e. The West Bend CashBash. One thing I DO know is that if the WGA was to create another Mega event of some type, it needs to really have its ducks in a row. Though I was unable to attend the West Bend event, due to work, I heard it went excellent!!
My experience at the Texas GeoWoodstock was shear frustration. It was very poorly run, having the event at a park that charged person in the vehicle and not per vehicle, they held a pre-event the night before at the same place so we got double charged, registration people we late as well as the TB drop off persons. Lets just say…they not only didn’t have their ducks in a row… they forgot the ducks altogether!!
So my answer….the WGA holds great events on its own and assists with helping others. In due time, I do see a mega event held by or with the WGA.
I like the idea of having one of these events visit our state, but I’m not so sure we have the volunteer base to pull it off. With regard to Geowoodstock (I just don’t think MWGB is a possibility), we would need to form a team of people to put together a proposal for a site, and a second team (or possibly the same people) to organize and run the event. With GW, you are talking about several thousand people, so organization is much more critical. You don’t want to be on a national stage and have a bad campground, insufficient food, or other significant problems. That said, it seems like a fun thing to try to achieve, as long as people are willing to step up and play a part.
A Mega Event, defined as an event that must be attended by 500+ people, would be a great opportunity to bring geocachers together. Just think, if we could get many of the WGA members together at an event, we could do it.
It would take members who volunteer to take on roles in planning, promotion, coordination and actually the day of the event to make it happen.
There have been a number of events already held in our that have realized attendance between 250-300 so it is possible.
Again, finding folks willing to take it on, a venue suited, sponsors .. a big task.
A mega geocaching event in the state would be terrific. We’ve had quite a few large events in WI. I have assisted at many large events and know that they are well received. Events require many people and man hours to pull off and do them well. I think WGA would be the group of people that offered those man hours and volunteers while assisting a core group that worked with the local community and area hosting the event.
It’s a very forward looking thought to be considering the hosting of a mega event. I just don’t think that WGA would be the vehicle to take us there at this time.
The forum ‘Candidates Corner 2009’ is closed to new topics and replies.