Questions for Candidates – Attendance at Events

[Ray]

The WGA sponsors 2 events per year and members of the Board of Directors are encouraged to attend these to get to know their constituents. Should members of the Board also be expected to attend at least some of the local events for the same reason?

[K0rpl]

I do beleive that BOD members should at least be strongly encouraged to attend as many events as possible in their area, to let there constituents needs and wants be heard. I know, I try to attend as many events as possible, for two reasons. I like to share stories with others, and love meeting new people to go caching with. It is amazing how talking to someone once or twice, can turn into a great friendship. I feel that it is very important for BOD Members to be accessible by there constituents, for the progression of an orginization.

Justin

[zuma]

Regarding attending events by BOD events, I would think that BOD members, like all WGA members would attend the events that interest them, and for which they have time for in their personal life and work schedule. I do not think that being on the WGA BOD mandates that one must attend all events sponsored by the WGA. I also do not think that a BOD member should feel “forced” to attend local events if they have other things going on in their life, or if they have work committments.

On the other hand, I would think that BOD members would be interested in geocaching in general, and in local events and would attend a majority of events in their area. But I think it is wrong to say that there is a mandate for this. Personally, I do this for fun, and the moment that it is mandated that I must attend an event, is the moment that I will do something else.

I have attended the past 2 WGA spring campouts, and enjoyed them both. I do plan on attending the next one as well, because I am looking forward to the fun and seeing old friends and meeting geocachers in person that I have met on-line. I will not attend because of being made to feel obligated too. Rather, I will attend because I want to.

zuma

[Team Deejay]

I guess I would draw a distinction between “required” versus “encouraged”. I attend as many events as I can, especially the local events, but I don’t think it is fair to require someone to attend an event just because they are on the board. Not every event is of interest to every geocacher. That said, events get the “face to face” contact that is often missing in our technologically oriented hobby and would certainly let a board member be more effective in their role.

[rogheff]

I think if you’re part of the planning process for a WGA event, then you’re probably going to be at the event. I have to agree with the previous posters in that geocaching is for fun. There should be no mandatory attendance. Does my WGA paycheck cover this LOL???

I’ve been involved in caching long enough to attend 2 events that were nearby and am planning on hosting 2 events this spring/ summer. Long-distance events need to be planned far enough in advance to give folks fair warning on dates. Last years events happened to fall during camping trips with my Scouts.

[Cheesehead Dave]

Zuma took my answer! 😉

Attendance at the two big events should be close to mandatory. Attendance at local events should be encouraged, but with events happening seemingly every other weekend, there’s no way someone should be expected to try to get to every one.

But as was stated above, someone on the BOD is probably the sort of person who attends events regularly anyway, so there’s little point in developing any sort of a mandate.

[GrouseTales]

I concur with Cheesehead Dave.

I really enjoy attending events organized by other people, however, I work most weekends and find it hard to attend :(. Now if I can only get the organizers to check my calendar first 🙂

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

Ok.. I’m with the rest of ya, since I apparently an too slow to answer here. LOL

The WGA events should be close to mandatory and I strongly encourage getting out to other events. I don’t work every weekend, but it seems that the ones I DO work.. the WGA puts an event on.

The other issue that needs to be reviewed is putting them over a holiday of some sorts. I am a single cacher, my family or what little I have of one here (Mom and Hubby) are not into it. It is difficult to attend an event when family decisions to vacation over holidays pull me away. I know I am a rare exception, since many of you probably bring your families with, but I would hope consideration could be made. If not.. I guess I would have to live with that, but I believe that the WGA would put Family first.

[LightningBugs Mum]

@Trudy & the beast wrote:

Should members of the Board also be expected to attend at least some of the local events for the same reason?

Sure! There is no mandate about what events must be attended or how many. But a board member should be active in the geocaching community and that would include going to a few local events. I can’t believe anyone running would not want to go to events anyway. But I think the people who vote for us should be able to expect to meet us at the occasional event.

There – short and sweet.

[GeoPink]

The WGA sponsors 2 events per year and members of the Board of Directors are encouraged to attend these to get to know their constituents. Should members of the Board also be expected to attend at least some of the local events for the same reason?

I think its great to see the Board members active in local events. Requirement or Expectation? No. The job of the board is not to socialize. The job of the board is to take care of the business of the WGA.

[AuntieNae]

Should members of the Board also be expected to attend at least some of the local events for the same reason?

My feeling is that it should be an expectation. WGA Board members are representing the geocachers of Wisconsin. Participating in the local events gets you out there in the field meeting the geocachers! Every event, no .. some events, yes.

I can tell you it really meant a great deal to me to have WGA Board members, even the veteran geocachers come to our first event.

Can I say thanks to Trudy & the Beast for taking some newbies under their wing at the Waukesha event last weekend? It really was appreciated and I know it made their day.

AuntieNae
AuntieNae

[NSLP1]

I think that WGA event and local event participation should be encouraged. While I have not attended any WGA event because of other family events planned then. So I can easily where participation should not be manditory.

I have attended several local, and not so local events. Also, not sure what mileage range constitutes local. There are not many events have been hosted much less than an hour drive from us. Yes, I know, we could host our own, and we may do that yet.

Though we went to the Port Washington Harvest of caches 2005, a Western WI lunch bunch meeting in Eau Claire (mentioned in my meet the candidated bio) as well as some of the more local ones (Fort Atkinson area) and have held some Paperless Training events (and plan on hosting some more)

[The Tapps]

The answer is a BOD member should try if not make it to the Only 2 events. I have been at both events since I started Geocaching and enjoyed all of them. I have been to many other events in Wisconsin and others out of state. We have held events and know all the work that goes into them. No one is pushed or shoved to attend a event and it should be so! BOD member or not! I have enjoyed the events and will continue to do so. It’s just great to meet other Geocahers we don’t know yet.

Brian / The Tapps

[Whats Next]

We attended our first WGA event at High Cliff State Park in May of 03. Last summer’s picnic was our first WGA event we missed since. WGA events are highlights of the year that we eagerly await the announcements of as soon as we leave the current one! We’ve usually made it to several other events throughout the year as well, with this past year being a little more sparse.

[Author]

Posts