Questions for Candidates – Park Benches

[Ray]

There have been several proponents of donating park benches to the parks that provide space for our events. These would be with the inscription “Donated by The Wisconsin Geocaching Association.” What is your feel.ing on this initiative?

[K0rpl]

This is also a great Idea. If the people using the benches don’t know what Geocaching is, this would give them some info on a dedicated group of Wisconsin cachers, and they could do research online, and through this find out what the WGA is all about.

Justin

[Cheesehead Dave]

I think that the “advertising” value of something like this would be low because of the small number of potential eyeballs looking at it. I like the idea of coming up with a way to thank the parks where we hold out events, but an official thank you letter would probably be just as effective as a “WGA was here!” bench.

[rogheff]

Do you read all the “donated by” plaques on benches, trees, etc? I seldom do. I wouldn’t do this for the purpose of public relations.

However, donating a bench to a park is a wonderful idea. Perhaps a geocache could be built into the bench…….hhhhhmmmmm.

[GrouseTales]

I really like the idea of park benches, not as a way to spread the word about the WGA, but as a service to parks.

The parks that allow geocaching are our friends. I think we should be making visible efforts to payback the parks for the enjoyment we get. I think that service project, benches or otherwise, would be a great way to open dialog with park managers, and show we are responsible users.

I think the current board all agreed that park benches were a good idea, but we dropped the ball when it comes to following through with it. I think this is a good example of an idea that could be advanced by help of the membership. When we need help with a project, rather then sitting on our hands, we should be organizing groups of members that can help out. I bet we have many members who would be itching to help with such a project.

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

I’m all for it!! The thing is lets DO IT instead of talking about it!!

I, like other candidates state, donating trees, plaques, benches, tables, whatever…. is a great way to promote the WGA and the sport of caching. If we have a donation we wouild like to present, ask the place to be donated to, what they would like.

I do realize there are specs on the benches that parks, etc have, so donating supplies and or/time to build them is an option too. I’m handy with a wrenches or a hammer…. especially on my computer!! (my computer issue resolver when my Guru says there ‘s no help for Da Fu LOL)

[LightningBugs Mum]

Ah, I see a thread was started about my pet issue and I completely missed it.

I brought this bench thing up in my bio thread as something I wanted to do. I would love to have something that would incorporate a small geocache. I think it could be listed by the WGA, then adopted out to a local for maintenance. Or maybe some of the parks themselves would want to take ownership. That’s something that would need to be worked out.

Sure, each park will be different in what they want. Some will be happy to take any bench we want to donate, some will have specific specs that would need to be followed, and some might not want a bench at all. It may not always work out for us at every event, but we should approach them with the offer and give it a good try at least.

And yes, I do read those plaques. They don’t cost a great wad of money so I don’t see any reason not to do it.

[GeoPink]

There have been several proponents of donating park benches to the parks that provide space for our events. These would be with the inscription “Donated by The Wisconsin Geocaching Association.” What is your feel.ing on this initiative?

This could be a nice gesture as a way to give back to the parks. I guess (in a rare moment for me) I don’t fall on one side of the fence or the other on this one. The only major negative I could see would be potential cost. The major positive I could see would be increased exposure of the WGA name.

[zuma]

Regarding the bench issue:

Ideas are like fruit, on the vine. When an idea whithers on the vine for several years without implementation, one wonders why. Did the idea wither on the vine because it was just not that sweet in the first place, or was left unused because no one was ambitious enough to go out and pick it?

I wonder how valuable park rangers would think a bench is, since they can get all the tax supported benchs they need anyway. I personally think a greater service to parks would be CITO events. CITO events have the further advantage of requiring a little bit of effort from a lot of WGA members. Whereas the bench idea would require a lot of effort from just a few people, and a strong champion to push it forward. If we want to build a stronger WGA community, a CITO event serves that goal, while the bench idea does little to build community.

If we did decide this was a useful idea, it should be turned over to a newly formed “Service Committee,” a committee made up of 2-3 board members and several other WGA at large members. The Service Committee could then work out the details of design, location, etc.

zuma

[NSLP1]

I think the bench idea is a good one, if done properly. I do periodically read the plaques on benches in parks, and I read some of the “bricks” from donors for other things. I agree that it shouldn’t be done as a promotion of the WGA, but as a thank you and as a way to support the various park systems. I’m sure many are aware of some section in a park they frequent that would be a good place for bench to rest at.

[AuntieNae]

Speaking from the Parks & Recreation perspective, in some cases there might be other needs of a park besides benches that would be appreciated. Would it upset WGA members if a location that hosts an event rather would ask that monies be donated towards an tree to be planted during Arbor Day for example?

I do see it as a win-win if WGA would contribute back to the areas we are using in hosting the large group events that we do.

AuntieNae
Renee

[The Tapps]

I see so many worry on funds , is it ok with a bench and then maintenance. Just place a small rock with a copper or steel plaque with a coating with the date of the event and donated money from the WGA. Then place it at a trail head. Rock-plaque not much and then donate funds so the park can do with it as they wish!! WIN WIN! Name of WGA out there and what they did for the park at no maintenance and I do read the plaques my self. Just another thought. The Tapps

[Whats Next]

If we want to thank the parks we’re using, some sort of service should be considered. Perhaps we plan a CITO area during the camp-out, picnic, or whatever event we hold, but it seems to me that an appropriate thank you would be something that the park has asked for or needs. If there’s a need to leave some physical mark with WGA on at the park, perhaps we might consider some sort of service project (ala Boy Scout Eagle Projects) that would serve some need. I think park leadership and Friends of …. Park would be able to work with us on ideas.

Truthfully though….

I’m really against the bench just because it would have a little micro stuck to it! 😆

[rogheff]

Well, since you mentioned Boy Scouts, I’ll speak up. I really like the idea of a CITO or other service project at the location of WGA events. Make it part of the event.

When we go camping with the Scouts, we try to do a service project of some sort. At the very least, we leave the grounds free of any man-made debris by patrolling the camp area just prior to leaving.

Perhaps a novel approach would be to contact the park ranger well in advance of the event and ask them what they’d like to see. I would guess that a fair number of rangers would like some sort of maintenance project done. Parks get money for purchases, but are generally under-staffed.

I do like the idea of giving something back.[/b]

[The Tapps]

Hello again, Should we put park benches with WGA in a park we held a event? That was the Question? The Tapps

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