Gwyn aka known as the Birdin’ part of Trekkin’ and Birdin’

[Trekkin and BirdinParticipant]

Hi, I’m Gwyn Calvetti, known in caching circles as “Birdin’.” Dick and I began caching at the urging of Timberline Echoes to try this out as a way to get more use out of his GPSr. Finally in 2006, we got a Groundspeak account, looked up the nearest cache and haven’t looked back. We’ve cleaned out our nearest 50 miles from West Salem a few times now.

We enjoy combining many of our other shared interests in our pursuit of stuff in the woods; canoeing, biking, xc skiing and snowshoeing. I’d say yesterday we put on a good 5-7 miles of snowshoeing to log two finds!
We’ve also discovered that planning a road trip around geocache placements brings us to spots often known only to the locals, and we’ll seek out those that take us far out into nowhere. We’ve completed many cache challenges, and challenging caches as well. We get the lightposts and guardrails along the way!

Although we put a lot of miles and time into geocaching, I also have other pursuits and interests, some that mesh well in the field and others that have nothing to do with it. Birding and nature photography are interests that mix well. I also enjoy gardening, fiber arts and paper arts and am an avid reader.

I’m a speech pathologist for the School District of LaCrosse, and have been in that field for almost 30 years now. Yikes! Currently my assignment places me at a school with a high percentage of kids on the autism spectrum. I was moved to that position because….

I’m also a storyteller. My supervisor hoped that I could take that gift into my work with those kids, which I have. Makes the teacher happy, makes the kids happy!

What I could bring to the Board:

Currently I’m finishing up a long tenure with the Northlands Storytelling Network board of directors as President. That organization is the largest regional storytelling network, serving five states, but attracting folks from both coasts and beyond. Our board has dealt with many issues similar to those facing the WGA. Last year, we moved our conference from Madison to Green Lake to try and keep costs down and quality up. It was not without problems, but we managed to make money even with the lower attendance. We are in the midst of, oh happy days, a logo and branding process! My experiences serving that organization will perhaps bring fresh organizational perspectives to the WGA.

I have good writing skills. I’ve been published in a number of places, in the storytelling media, in the arts and crafts world, and serving as a community columnist for the LaCrosse Tribune.

I am a team player, but I do have my opinions. I have learned how to agree but disagree, which can be an important skill in an organization like the WGA. I am able to see many sides of an issue, and though I may have my own opinion about it, I will listen openly to the opinions of others.
That listening can even *sometimes* persuade me to rethink my opinion for the greater good.

I can work. Give me a job and I’ll do it. I am not afraid to empty the garbage!

I have a lot of enthusiasm for this sport. I love to share the many aspects of the game with interested folks. We enjoy looking for all kinds of caches, and placing all kinds as well.

I’m Gwyn Calvetti, aka Birdin’, and I would be honored to serve the membership of the Wisconsin Geocaching Association. Thanks.

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