This topic contains 14 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
GrouseTales 19 years, 11 months ago.
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The WGA is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors. Click here to go to the elections page and nominate the WGA member(s) you would like to have serve on the Board.
Four positions on the Board of Directors are up for election this year. These positions are currently held by the following individuals:
- Rhonda Veroeven (not seeking reelection)
- Ken Braband (not seeking reelection)
- Brian Geoffrey
- Jeffrey Little
Some general notes about this phase of the Board of Directors election process:
- Individuals must receive two nominations to appear on the ballot when voting for the Board begins.
- Individuals receiving one nomination will be contacted via email to determine if they are interested in serving on the Board. If they are, their name will be placed on the elections page in a list of individuals who have one nomination and are looking for a second.
- Please do not nominate individuals who are not eligible or are already on the Board. To serve on the Board, individuals must be WGA members and meet other eligibility requirements (including being at least 21 years of age) outlined in the WGA bylaws.
- You are not allowed to nominate yourself.
- Nominations will be accepted until January 28, 2006 at 11:59pm. At this time, voting for the Board of Directors positions will begin and continue until 11:59pm on February 12th.
If you have any questions about this phase of the Board of Directors election process, feel free to post them here.
[This message has been edited by jvechinski (edited 12-30-2005).]
I’d like to offer my perception on what being on the board means and doesn’t mean:
- It is a voluntary position. There is no pay. There is no compensation for travel expenses etc.
- It is a two year term. Plan to be involved for two years.
- It is not an honorary position. You are a board member because you love geocaching and its people and have something to offer.
- Most of the board activities are handled electronically (the message board, email, etc) but you will be asked to travel to a few meetings in the state (usually central) over the year.
- The two most visible board activities are the annual campout and picnic, which you will be expected to help organize, run and attend.
- You will take some guff, directly and indirectly from the membership. If you internalize criticism or lash-out, this is not a job for you.
- You need to work well with others, sometimes with people you’ll see once a year.
- If your mission is to start a crusade on the quality or mechanics of caching (example: ‘ban all micros’) find another soapbox.
- All cache approvers need to be board members but only a few board members are approvers.
- If you are nominated, accept and are elected you will be working with some of the best people you’ll ever meet.
Well said, Jeff. The only thing I might add is that elections should not necessarily be based on geocachers who make the most posts in the forums or geocachers who have the most finds. Being on the board should not be seen as an affirmation of popularity in the geocaching community. It would be better for all members if board members have an open mind (no single-issue agendas, please), a willingness to pitch in and work (not just offer opinions) and a reputation for cooperation rather than confrontation.
Let me add my personal thanks for allowing me to serve you on your board. I’m stepping down at the end of my current term to give someone else a chance to contribute. See you at the campout and on the trails!
I also thank Jeff for posting this!
I wanted to share my thanks to the WGA BOD and the membership. I also have decided not to run again for a board position and focus my energy on delivering a healthy baby boy and just being a mom that likes to go for hikes in the woods with my family looking for hidden “stuff.”
I will consider running again later, and thank those that have contacted me asking if I would run. Best of luck to the new board members!!! I will, however, continue to be the liaison to Madsion Parks department…I would hate to lose any ground that we have gained there!
Happy (geo)caching-
Ms. WISearcherSorry to hear the Rhonda will be taking a leave of absence from the board but her reasons could not be better.
Please do not take offense at this comment but all the “qualifications” to be a board member seem rather overdone. They are a lot like all the political phone messages we all received prior to the last presidential election.
I think people understand what they want for the Camping/Picnic Committee and will vote accordingly if they decide to vote.
Last election about 1 out of every 8 voters ended up on the board. Hopefully this year will have more participation.quote:
Originally posted by wzbt03:
Please do not take offense at this comment but all the “qualifications” to be a board member seem rather overdone. They are a lot like all the political phone messages we all received prior to the last presidential election.
I think people understand what they want for the Camping/Picnic Committee and will vote accordingly if they decide to vote.
Last election about 1 out of every 8 voters ended up on the board. Hopefully this year will have more participation.Different board members do make up the picnic and camping committee, but that’s not what people are voting for.
I’m offended.
I think that both Jeff T and Ken B hit the nail on the head. They should know, they’ve both volunteered years of their lives to HELP geocachers in WI.
We have some really tallented geocachers in the State that will make some great board members.
[This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 12-30-2005).]
Consider the time it takes to travel to board meetings, review cache submissions, coordinate functions, work with land managers, and successfully make the majority of Wisconsin geocachers a happy bunch of folks. These people have been donating their own time- and in doing so have done us all a great service.
Time is precious, and in these days most people lead very busy lives. I don’t think becoming a board member is a decision that anyone should take lightly. Some might find it enjoyable and fulfilling, yet it is indeed a responsibility. Additional responsibility is something a lot of people would choose not to go looking for.
Thanks to all the board members who have given to this association- past, present, and future.
Don’t be offended Brian, my comments were not made to be taken so personally.
I was speaking as someone who found little in WGA that enhanced my geocaching to the point that I spent most of 2005 as a non-member of the organization and did not feel as if I missed much.
There is no doubt that the camping event and the picnic are very popular and liked by all.
My comments have always revolved around how the geocaching community as a whole is what has made Wisconsin Geocaching what it is, not the board alone.
I just found others telling us to not vote for this person just because they do this or not to vote for this person because they are this way or that, a bit overdone.quote:
Originally posted by wzbt03:
I was speaking as someone who found little in WGA that enhanced my geocaching to the point that I spent most of 2005 as a non-member of the organization and did not feel as if I missed much………..I just found others telling us to not vote for this person just because they do this or not to vote for this person because they are this way or that, a bit overdone.
OK.. standing on the fence here trying to observe all the threads to get a feel for where concerns are coming from.
We all need to remember that not ALL of us are Old Timers to the WGA and may not understand what the qualification for candidates are. Some people may think it is a paid position and they can do everything via computer. I, personally have not voted before, though reading the by-laws, did not have a full grasp on how I should choose whom to vote for.
Brand new people coming into the site, may see someones threads reaching to 600 or 700, and cache finds of 800. These people may think “Wow.. they interact a lot on here, they must be really be active, so I’ll vote for them or nominate them.” By offering statements that this does not necessarily mean they are a highly active cacher and knows alot about the sport and the organization, might be important to a newbie. I am ONLY choosing that example, as that is one most prominent, that “I” see as from the conversation.
As for feeling like the WGA does not do much for caching in the state, we all need to be aware that the goings on, behind the scenes, is plentiful, but not necessarily noticable. Working with the DNR, for one, or the generating of the State coin. We all need to remember that in order for the WGA to be a worthwhile part of the sport we all need to offer SUGGESTIONS. That’s OUR job as a member, or Being ON the board in hopes to make a difference!!
I took a moment to think about it. If there were no members, we’d have no need for the WGA. No WGA would mean a lot more craziness and frustrations to the difficulty of getting hides approved. We are essentially linked with GC.com with our approvers. With no WGA, caching in Wisconsins COULD have the potential of being a bust or being illegal or even being charged a fee to place a cache. The WGA helps and protects its cachers, in a sense, ensuring that how they play the game is safe and fair. All this can’t be done by one site, GC.com, which is there to handle the hides for distribution to the world.
I am by NO MEANS saying the WGA has almighty powers, but when issues come about, the WGA can come in and lend a helping hand.
My 2 cents……These are only observations and personal feelings. Without this type of interaction, the world would be a very boring place. Therefore, “Thanks” for the views and concerns from all sides!!!
A note to several WGA members who have been nominated but whose names don’t yet appear on the ballot:
As WGA Secretary and commissioner of the 2006 election, I’m sending an email to each person nominated to ask whether you wish to run for a board position. I have not heard back from 6 of you (two others have replied to say you are still considering whether or not to run). If think you may have been nominated — or even if you are unaware you may have been nominated — and your name doesn’t appear on the ballot web page ( http://www.wi-geocaching.com/elections/ ) please check to make sure the e-mail address you provided with your WGA membership registration is correct and that you have checked that email account recently.
This is a note to the person/persons who contacted me personally about comments/ concerns on comments I made in my post.
THANKS for e-mailing me!!! I greatly appreciate that!!
Hope I made sense on where I was coming from.
quote:
Originally posted by wzbt03:
I was speaking as someone who found little in WGA that enhanced my geocaching to the point that I spent most of 2005 as a non-member of the organization and did not feel as if I missed much.Many snowmobilers are not members of a local snowmobile organization or the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs, yet they share in the benefits that those organizations work to ensure and provide. The same applies for hunters and Ducks Unlimited or Wisconsin Deer Hunters Association, ATV riders and the Wisconsin ATV Association, and so on. Just because you sometimes choose not to be a member, it doesn’t mean you are not benefiting from the work being done by those who choose to join, belong and consistently contribute.
quote:
Originally posted by pcfrog:
Just in case the only candidate that I can totally recall from memory is BunnyFuFu. So, regardless of what I might think of her, she is one step ahead of the rest since I can relate the cache name to a face.
OMG….. I looked THAT bad!!! Now I am permenantly embedded in your memory now. ROFLMBO
[This message has been edited by Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu (edited 01-10-2006).]
Just a little reminder, voting for the Board of Directors starts tomorrow morning, 01/29/06 at 12:00 AM.
You’ll have two weeks to make your decisions and place your votes. Please remember that you must be a current member to vote. If you haven’t done so lately, please renew your membership HERE. It’s free!
Some people have asked me about voting system security. Voting for the Board members is taken more seriously then COTM. The voting system logs the voters to curb the possibilty of fraudulent votes. This reduces the possiblity of someone creating sock puppet accounts to place multiple votes.
We have a great pool of candidates. Good luck to all!
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