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Bethany

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The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I chose to accept the nomination because it was an honor that a fellow member thought I was worthy of such a position.  I look at all of the candidates on the ballot and think to myself the very question you posed: what do I offer to the board?  As I reflect on literally all of these questions you asked, it all comes down to one thing: I want to learn. I’m someone who is young and has the time to commit to the organization.  It’s just me (no kids, pets….yet, etc.), so it’s very easy for me to pick up and head off somewhere.  I’m someone who is energetic, open-minded, and can look at both the bigger picture and the small details.  I want to make the organization better for BOD members, WGA members, and cachers across the state.  I’m someone who gets along with a wide range of people.  Through my job as a teacher, my fourteen years as a counselor at Badger Girls State, and involvement in the American Legion Auxiliary, I work with a wide range of people that have a wide range of experiences and beliefs.  If I can keep the peace and lead there, that would help immensely if given the opportunity to serve on the board.

I would want to grow WGA membership the same way that I was encouraged to, which is by reaching out to other cachers.  When I first started caching, I did it by myself because that’s all I knew.  I didn’t know anyone else who geocached near me and I certainly didn’t want to mistake a muggle for a cacher! When I moved to Watertown, I found out one of my colleagues cached and together, we have been attending more and more events with the hopes of maybe hosting an event of our own in the future.  Through attending events, I have met some amazing people who I am excited to go on future ‘cache-ventures’ with.  Networking is everything.  Just the other day, I had someone send me a message on geocaching.com and we had a nice chat about a favorite West Bend cache (Face Darth Vader!!).  Being able to do that with other cachers would make more people feel included. I remember going to my second ever event in Waukesha, the CLUE event.  The first thing I noticed when I got to the shelter was that everybody knew each other.  How is that? Very quickly, people came over and introduced themselves and we bonded over shared caching experiences (and they then proceeded to wipe the floor with us in the game, but that’s another story) and it was like we had always been a part of the group.  Since then, we have been able to connect with those cachers on other outings and it’s been so wonderful!

As I’ve said in other forum posts, I’m not one to rock the boat until I’ve had the chance to listen.  I think it’s important to go into new commitments with an open mind.  There are a lot of great things that the board has done in the past and I think things can only continue to grow in positive ways.  I think having less experience than others gives me the opportunity to provide a fresh set of eyes to the things we do.  I genuinely like to ask the question why (seriously, my grandma got me a book called ‘How Come?’ when I was in first grade because I would ask that question all the time…I know that was thirty years ago, but you get my point) because I’m a curious person.  How can we make what we do better?  If you would like to call it my agenda, then so be it.

In the words of Lin Manuel Miranda, I’m ‘young, scrappy, and hungry and I’m not throwing away my shot.”  It would be a fantastic opportunity to serve on the board of directors.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

To date, I have been to one WGA event which was the Film Festival Event in 2019 and it was about an hour (give or take because my friend and I cached our way to the event) for me.

To be honest, events had been something I tended to shy away from because I didn’t know a lot of other cachers (which goes against the whole point of attending, I know…).  I didn’t really know what event caches even were when I first started playing the game. I’m not proud of my number of WGA event caches, but in the spirit of full disclosure, I will provide it. What this does allow for is opportunity.  I’m running for the board because I want to learn.  Just because I have a lower number doesn’t mean that I haven’t seen things that I think can work for the WGA.  Perhaps an outsider’s perspective could be beneficial.

I have attended several smaller events in my area hosted by some fantastic cachers in my area, several of whom are currently running for the board as well.  Attending events, whether hosted by the WGA or not, have allowed that human element to the game for me.  I look forward to taking that connectedness, sharing it with other and perhaps newer cachers, and keeping that train moving.  I wish I had known about events (or at least about how fun they can be) sooner!  I can’t change the past, but I can change what I do.

If elected, and even as a cacher in general, I commit to making those events a more regular part of my caching diet.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I think there are some great resources in place already for communication.  The WGA Facebook place is a great starting place to communicate with a wide audience. Additional pages like the Lonely Cache Game page allow for communication specifically geared towards that part of the game.

Safe events still encourage that face to face communication, however the individual comfort of members may deter them from attending. Perhaps there can be some sort of local challenges that members can participate in and then post their results either on a social media platform (as those who find lonely caches do) or on the WGA website.  There could be additional games within the game (similar to the #youvebeenducked game) just to encourage some good natured fun and the ability to promote that.

Anything that we can do to encourage connection and communication will keep the human element of the game alive which I think is the goal of this question. This might require some creativity, but I have full faith and confidence that it can be achieved!

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

Ahhh, an internet troll, lovely!! It seems that there is nowhere one can go to avoid such individuals.

Much like dealing with sensitive issues with my students, I would first message the finder individually.  I would kindly remind the finder that the find log is supposed to be a thank you to the cache owner and about your experience finding the cache.  I would remind the finder that the focus of the log is the cache, and not members of the organization.  I would ask if there was a conversation I could have with the finder.  Additionally, I would ask that the log be changed to reflect a renewed focus on the experience.  I always give the original writer (since I usually deal with plagiarism issues) the opportunity to change because perhaps it was a heat of the moment emotional type outburst.

If things weren’t to change, much like if a student were not to fess up to their mistakes, I would move up the chain of command which could potentially result in a removed log.

 

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I’m not going to lie, I read Take 5 and zoned everything out because I got super excited and decided that it was going to be by answer no matter what!

A Take 5 is a combination of well, five different delicious things.  Each individual element, like the board members, work together to create something wonderful! Each element of a Take 5 brings something different to the treat: saltiness, sweetness, texture.  These are all of the skills, and the personalities, the board members bring to the table. That milk chocolate keeps everything held together, like the business the board conducts.  Not every Take 5 is of a uniform shape much like every board member has different skills that will change the overall shape of the candy.  Does it still work and is it still tasty? Absolutely!  A Take 5 allows for the individual elements to sing harmoniously together (too bad it wasn’t a Take 9 because then this metaphor would be PERFECT!!)!!

You’ve got me on the metaphor train and it’s going to be hard to get me to leave! Now I’ll have Take 5 on my mind all day!

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

As a hopeful new member to the board, my first job is to listen.  I want to make sure I get to know the people I would be serving with.  Each individual has different tenets of the organization that are important to him or her and it is important that those values are heard and recognized. My second job is to ask questions.  There are a lot of ‘wonders’ or ‘what if’s’ that I think about and it is comes from a place of genuine inquiry.

With other organizations I have been a part of and other boards I serve on, one of the things we start the new session with is a values chart.  This can be done individually or as a group.  What are the primary objectives, the secondary objectives, and the things that are nice but not necessary.  We are currently working to move Badger Girls State to a virtual platform this summer for a variety of different reasons.  Identifying those key objectives allows us as a board to hone in on where efforts need to be focused.  Yes, everything seems important because it is a program that is very near and dear to our hearts, but what can we potentially live without for a year.  Did everyone walk out of that committee meeting happy? No.  Did everyone get to share what was important to them? Yes.

I believe that starting out with values establishes a mutual respect amongst board members and allows conversations to be productive and mission focused. At the end of the day, the WGA is about what we do for the members and not our own personal advancement.  I would love the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors because I love the game and I want to give that same enjoyable experience to other cachers.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I love the WGA State Park Series!  I’ve been slowly working on adding to my number of caches in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed exploring parts of the state I would not have otherwise gone to (that is the geocaching way, is it not?)!  I’m hopeful that I can add many more to my find list in 2021.  So selfishly, I want to get the initial series first!  But in all seriousness, I think the conversation is always worthwhile.  Especially since there will be new members to the board, fresh perspectives and ideas are valuable and are all done with the improvement of the game in mind.  Can the State Park Series be expanded?  I can absolutely see that happening!

I also really enjoy series of caches along the Ice Age Trail and Glacial Drumlin Trails.  I would love to see this expanded and see the potential for related challenge caches.  The cache game in Wisconsin is nothing but a slate of opportunity and the possibilities are truly endless.  State Natural Areas, County Parks, roadside attractions!  I’m excited just thinking about it!

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

Going back to my original candidate statement, I think that CITO is one of those tenets of the game.  It’s a practice akin to bringing a pen and a ‘cache first aid’ kit along on your adventures.  Bringing back events would increase general importance to membership in addition to giving newer caches a souvenir.

Events also make different elements of the game fun and something that can be done with other people.  My distance runners at the middle school look forward every year to the ‘Garbage Run’ where their team has to bring back garbage of varying colors.  Points are awarded, by coach’s discretion of course, to the team with the most intriguing/entertaining item and general fun has had by all.

I think that as long as CITO events are being hosted, it doesn’t matter who does the hosting.  The WGA should have a pulse on where the events are taking place, because as was said previously, local hosts would have an idea on the needs of specific communities.  I see the WGA’s role as a support role; how can the organization support different areas of the state with CITO events and if there are resources needed, the WGA has the man power to help.

 

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I am very thankful that geocaching is largely an outdoor activity!  It certainly gave me something productive to do during the spring and summer months when so many other things were unable to happen.

Any breath of normalcy is welcome so long as the CDC guidelines are met.  With a board of nine, it is relatively easy to achieve the appropriate social distance to conduct business efficiently.  The Badger Girls State executive board had a combination in-person/virtual meeting in the fall that people could attend in the mode of their choosing so I’ve seen it work.

I have attended several geocaching events since the pandemic started.  The event hosts made sure to specify the COVID protocols on the cache description page even going so far as to serve food that was individually packaged and providing readily accessible hand sanitizer.  I attended the events that I did because I felt that the event hosts cared about running the event safely for everyone.  If that level of care and respect goes into how the board conducts their business, I see no reason why things can’t be run in person.

I commit to the safety protocols every day in the classroom and would do the same if elected to WGA Board.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I echo chevyole’s sentiment about the promotion of the WGA to cachers.  For the first few years of my caching career, I didn’t even know about the WGA.  It wasn’t until I started attending events (which is scary, particularly if you cache solo like I do sometimes) that I learned about who we are as an organization and all of the things that we do, the games within the game. Events made caching less of a solo activity (which don’t get me wrong, I do plenty of and there’s nothing wrong with that) and more of a community. I think of the Snowbuster event I attended recently.  I walked in to a room of mostly strangers and walked out with people who wanted to include me on caching adventures, who wanted to introduce me to their caching friends.  It was awesome and made me a part of something. That’s what I want to continue to promote if elected to the board and also just as a cacher moving forward.

Social media is where I first heard about geocaching all those years ago and I still think that is the best way to promote and attract a wider audience.  Personally, I post more of my geocaching fun on Instagram. That’s not to say I don’t use Facebook, but that is another avenue to engage with Wisconsin cachers, particularly those that are digital natives.  I follow other cachers and cache-related hashtags and see what geocaching adventures exists around the world (#geocachingadventures, look it up, it’s good stuff!).

Social media would, as I’ve said previously, allow for a more human element to the game and the ability to put names to faces.  I could easily see expanding things that we already do as an organization.  Various social media challenges (like the Cache Advance GeoChallenge of the Month or a Caching Bingo Challenge) would increase participation and encourage page followers to engage with content as well.  These would of course add an additional element to things we already do like the Photo of the Month and Lonely Cache Game.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

The ability to work with and create a community, not just within the board, but within the membership is crucial.  For the past fourteen years, I have volunteered as a counselor at Badger Girls State, a civics workshop for high school juniors.  In that one week, it is my responsibility to create a family among 54 young ladies from a variety of different backgrounds.  Like teaching, my function is less  of the ‘sage on the stage’ and more ‘the guide on the side’ which is a skillset that will help me as a member of the board of directors if elected.

Creativity and open mindedness are also valuable skills.  Maintaining the core values but considering ways to continue to stay relevant require balance.  If the pandemic has taught me anything, especially as a teacher, it’s how to keep the things I think are super important and considering how to adjust those in an environment that is constantly changing based on a variety of different circumstances.  I can think on my feet as I have this entire school year and I can also take a step back to see the entire picture and consider how all of the pieces fit within it.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

Personally, I am someone who uses Facebook and Instagram to consume most of my content.  I feel like I am able to interact with other cachers on those platforms and it is something I check daily.  I am a member of the Lonely Cache Game page and see updates from members regularly.

Social media is so ubiquitous and I think the WGA can appeal to a wider and younger audience if a strong presence there was maintained.  Facebook is very user friendly whatever technological device you have in front of you. I think Instagram is an untapped resource that the WGA could harness to promote the fun of the game!

 

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

I really enjoy caches that are part of something bigger.  The WGA State Park Series, for example, encourages me to travel and see parts of the state I have never been to.  I’ve been working slowly on these caches and hope to do more as time permits! As much as I do love a good ammo can in the woods, I do enjoy a good multi and puzzle cache, particularly those that are well thought out and creative.

I’ve also tried to accomplish some personal milestones as well.  I’m on the brink of filling my first Fizzy grid and I’ve really enjoyed pursuing some Jasmer caches as well!  I appreciate the work that goes into maintaining something for twenty years!!

 

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

[BFredericks88]

Running for the board had never really crossed my mind until I had been nominated by a fellow member (whoever that was, thank you!).  I had convinced myself that because I didn’t have thousands of finds, I wasn’t qualified.  As I mentioned in my candidate introduction, it’s the relationships I’ve made geocaching that encouraged me to accept the nomination.

Being a member of the board will allow me to grow as a cacher and as a person.  I’m relatively soft spoken by nature, someone who listens first before contributing.  I’ve been super thankful to have other amazing cachers want to work with me and show me the ropes.  I went into teaching because I wanted to be the teacher my teacher was to me.  The same is true for pursuing a position on the board of directors.

I’m willing to learn.  I think I bring a fresh perspective that won’t change things for change’s sake, but for the benefit and growth of the organization.  Tradition is important.  Maintaining the tenets of who we are is essential.  Showing those values to new cachers will do nothing but enhance the game and ensure its legacy moving forward.

The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors

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