John Carvin – Cachew

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[Cachew]

Questions from wzbt03
1- Since the main board function is the two WGA events, campout and picnic, what do you intend to offer as a board member over the next 2 years to these events?
I see an ongoing challenge for the WGA and others who sponsor cache events. It has to do with the high volume of foot traffic by VERY enthusiastic participants and the effect on local vegetation. In particular, I’m remembering the New Glarus Woods State Park Event where a handicapped cache was placed just off of a level hiking trail. (Within 2 feet of the trail!) After all was done, it looked like someone took a machete to the area — 15 feet into the bush. We received no complaints — but with our numbers growing so fast, I wonder how to avoid such damage in the future. I know there is a solution here and want to work with other board members to resolve it.

I helped place temporary hides at Devil’s Lake 2003 Geo-Picnic and found that to be a blast! I’d like to help others to participate like this and in other ways at our picnics and campouts.

Of course there are other very important board functions as well, especially interacting with the State of Wisconsin, maintaining our web site and being a ‘home’ for all of our members.

2- How do you intend to help mentor the other cachers in the state who might struggle with the accepted ethics of geocaching?
I believe that mentoring takes place one-on-one and as such, I mentor only as John Carvin – not as a board member. I further believe that mentoring should be a positive experience and the mentor should reinforce positive values. My style is not to make decisions or to discipline as a mentor. I do like to discuss positive alternative solutions to an issue.

Of course, when ethics is not the subject, I love to mentor the use of GPS and the endgame of a find!

3- Since it is the caches in Wisconsin that make us what we are, what caches do you currently have out there that would be considered assets to Wisconsin (including past events you have hosted)?
I put a lot of thought and planning into each cache I hide and want it to be both survivable and memorable to the finder. Please see the ones I listed at my ‘bio’ above. Maybe my best contributions to Wisconsin caches are the ones that are accessible to ALL cachers. Think about how you do that – and get them to survive as long as they have! I made sure that each of the events I worked on had handicapped accessible hides as well.

Speaking of events, all of the thank you notes and well wishes we received after the New Glarus Woods Event certainly made our planning, preparations and energies worthwhile. It was also a test bed of new ideas for the WGA to think on and comment about.

[Cachew]

Questions from GrouseTales

For the sake of discussion, perhaps the candidates could list any of the contributions they’ve made to the WGA? Items such as volunteering to help with events, hiding caches temp caches, any suggestions that have been implemented, etc…
I’ve made a couple of minor contributions so far to the WGA.
· A fun-filled afternoon spent hiding temporary caches for the 2003 Geo-Picnic,
· Participated in a day of picking wildflower seeds for the City of Madison. This was an event hosted by Ms WISearcher and I was able to spend a fair amount of time chatting with two people from the Parks Department. The conversations about wildflowers, city parks and geocaching were quite meaningful for all.

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Ms WISearcher
What direction do you think the board should take specifically regarding what issues you think should be addressed (if there are more issues than one what is the order of priority in addressing these issues)…and what skills/experiences do you have to help to facilitate this direction?

I apologize in advance for not having any new direction to offer the WGA or any new problems to give you – other than that of other than the ‘Cacher Path’ dilemma mentioned previously. My sentiments align with bnb and Rpaske about WGA issues, direction and action.

As an Association, and as individuals, we all deal with the DNR. I’m not close to any current dialog between the WGA and the State – but we have certainly put our best ideas forward and have demonstrated responsiveness. Good job WGA. We interact with the DNR as individuals, too: every time we ask permission to place a cache on state land, every time we respect the Trails AND the Bush in the parks, every time we Cache In Trash Out. As a Board member, I want to personally promote these ideas to our membership.

We have worked well with our local communities, too. As a citizen and WGA representative, MsWISearcher helped establish a process to use Dane County Parks for caching. And she has had very useful dialog with the City of Madison.

We have a positive relationship with Groundspeak and I believe we are valued as Cache Approvers.

We do have a great website.

But most of all, we offer a positive environment for all to participate and enjoy.

I have to say congratulations to all WGA board members for a job well done. You give us good direction.

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