Question for the Candidates… MAGC

[Coastiegirl04]

[LightningBugs Mum]

OK, I’ll try wading in here….

Is WGA willing to help me hold Introduction Classes?

I think the WGA should be able to help any one who wants to teach about geocaching. Education should be one of our primary goals.

Meet/Greet events?

As of right now, the WGA only gets involved with the two big events it holds each year. But of course anyone can hold an event and solicit help from individuals in the WGA. I’m sure board members or other members would be willing to give any assistance to you (or whoever would be hosting) that you would need. But it wouldn’t be a WGA event. Now some have discussed the possibility of the WGA hosting smaller, more regional events in the future and maybe there is some potential there for what you have in mind. But I’m sure these events would have to be open to all geocachers, not just military.

Would WGA be interested in taking over the WI Chapter of MAGC on the MAGC Website when I leave?

This one is a little stickier. I certainly support what the MAGC is doing and, having checked out the website, it is nice to know that membership is open to anyone – not just people in the military. However, I can see people objecting to having the WGA take it over when you leave since it is rather narrow in scope. I could see the WGA supporting this endeavor since it does promote geocaching in Wisconsin, but I think it would be best if an individual was in charge of actually running the chapter. However, if the majority feels like this should happen, then I would not object.

[GeoPink]

I believe the WGA should offer as much support to the MAGC as we can, within reason. I don’t see the WGA taking over any part of another group but instead facilitating the transfer when the time comes.

As far as no response from the board, it has been stickied to the top of the Board forums, waiting for a response for several months. We felt we owed you a response, which I will apologize for not getting to you in a timely matter. However, we really had not been able to come to any clear consensus.

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

Since I am not currently on the WGA BOD, I can not speak for them. I can see where the WGA could be of help but not take over 100%. I know I, personally, would help in any way I could.

[rogheff]

That is a tricky question.

I guess I feel the same as the previous posters. The WGA should do “something” to contact the MAGC, but it should also contact the Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota geocaching associations in the same fashion. They’re all various entities which serve geocachers, so they all have that in common.

I do not feel the WGA should take on the task as the crusader for this mission. Do we have the man-power to do so? I wouldn’t ask the WGA to do that any more than I would ask the WGA to take on my personal mission of bringing more Scouters into the geocaching family.

[K0rpl]

I can definetely see both sides of this question. Being a MAGC Member, I do realize the importance of this orginization. The guys and gals give there all in the service, and we should all support them whichever way we can. I beleive the WGA would help out on some capacity, but not being a board member myself, I would not know which way the board was leaning at the present time. I will surmise, though that the WGA could help out in many ways, but not sure if there is the resources at this point to fully take over. As was stated before, the WGA sees geocaching education very important, and would be more then happy I would think to help out to meet the education goals.

Justin

[zuma]

Regarding MAGC Involvment:

Coastie asked: Would WGA be interested in taking over the WI Chapter of MAGC on the MAGC Website when I leave?

Is WGA willing to help me hold Introduction Classes, Meet/Greet events?>>>>

I believe that the WGA should support linkages with the WI Chapter of MAGC, and I am not saying that just because Coastie helped me make it up the “high road” when we tackled the Gauntlet together.

I wish that the BOD would have given you a quicker response, and am a bit saddened and shocked to learn that you were not given a response to a reasonable request for help. I think that when any WGA member poses a question to the WGA BOD there should be an expectation of a timely response. The response may not always be the one you had hoped for, but it at least should be timely and polite.

Anyway, here is how I would have answered this question if on the BOD:

I do believe that there are a number of things that could be done to work with and build bridges with MAGC to our mutual benefit. These should be explored as soon as possible. Much can be done, short of “taking over” the WI chapter, which is probably not feasible. We could however provide a link on our website to the MAGC website. The MAGC website could have a link to the WGA website. We could also add a folder to the current regional forums for MAGC members, where military people within the state could make connection and discuss issues of interest to MAGC members. And we could also offer assistance with events, and with classes, something that could be easily done once we reorganize and implement an Education Committee.

zuma

[Coastiegirl04]

I realized i probly used the wrong wording on my question, oh if WGA could take over as a WI Chapter Leader, maybe WGA could appoint a person to do this When/If i leave. Because it is a one person job at this point of time, because right now its just contacting MWR at the bases and explaining about Geocaching and how we can help make a program/classes/meet and greets,

*also as far as the current BOD not getting in contact with me about an answer i in no way place any blame on them for that, I understand about being busy for myself i have been pretty busy with other things, after i placed the questions to the BOD, and i have a year and half before anything has to be in black and white in who will take over when/if i leave.

[Team Deejay]

I think it goes without saying that you would get lots of help with an Intro class, whether or not the board got involved. You just have to go to one of these to see how many volunteers show up to help the newbies.

As far as being WGA determining the state rep for MAGC, this isn’t our call to make. MAGC should determine who your successor is, regardless of WGA involvement.

[NSLP1]

I think have a more formal handout about the WGA and geocaching would help with some of the education you mentioned, as well as having a “presentation kit” for more in depth education.

I think some sort of partnership between the WGA and MAGC would be worthwile, but that they should still be seperate entities, though individuals would be welcome to belong to both groups and thereby be able to share in the education.

[AuntieNae]

Coastiegirl04,
Attempting to answer your many questions, here goes:

Is WGA willing to help me hold Introduction Classes and Meet & Greets?
I have been trying to figure out why you may not have already been doing so. It is just a matter of planning the event and posting it on geocaching.com if it is open to everyone. You would not need WGA approval for these. Are you asking for technical assistance? I know my handouts from the Intro classes have been used by others. They have come to one of my workshops and saw what I did and asked to use my handouts. If you offer it, people will come. With the events I have hosted, it simply has been a matter of letting others know the help I needed and the help came. I am trying to figure out what role you are asking WGA to take here.

Would WGA be interested in taking over the WI Chapter of MAGC on the MAGC Website when I leave?
Sorry, I do not see taking over a chapter of another organization as a function of the WGA.

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