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I wish…

The board is really struggling here. There is so much ambiguity as to what was a legitimate vote and what was not. There is a motion on the table so some sort of a vote will be forthcoming, hopefully soon.

Thanks for your patience.

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Correct!

Vote for yourself (once only please). But nominate others only.

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You are correct.

This really comes down to only a few questionable votes. Not to worry, discussions are commencing and decisions are forthcoming. 😀

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@LightningBugs Mum wrote:

@PCFrog wrote:

@GeoPink wrote:

Here is the official WGA Policy as adopted by the board:

• The WGA encourages each geocacher present for the official event photo (traditionally at 5pm) to log a “find” for the Event itself by logging “has attended” on the event webpage……

Just asking for clearification.

During the WGA Geo-Campout 2006 at Peninsula State Park My family and I arrived Friday around 1130am and camped that night. That was a cold wet night. Anyhow, we ended up leaving by 2pm Saturday. Does this mean I should not have logged an “Attended”?

If you checked in and signed the release, then I’m sure you can log an attended. Perhaps that was not always the case in the early days? Being at the meeting and picture is highly recommended but I don’t think it is absolutely mandatory.

Jennifer is correct.

There was a question on this point in our board discussions… I believe the reason they originally had this particular requirement was so that everyone was back in time for some sort of raffle. 😕 We left that wording in knowing full well we were not about to double check logs vs. picture but to encourage everyone to be there for the picture and the meeting that often follows. We love to be able to have a true representation of all the great folks who attend our WGA events.

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The board has been and will be discussing and making a decision very shortly. This has certainly been a learning experience for all involved. We are fortunate to have gotten the bugs out in the COTY voting so that the BoD Elections will continue to run as smoothly as is being reported to the board.

Look for an announcement this weekend or early next week regarding COTY, I’m sure each cache is truly deserving.

(PS I editted the topic title to reflect the current state of the COTY contest. I didn’t want it to look like an announcement of any sort and cause any further confusion.)

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I think every true geocacher’s heart skipped a beat when they heard about “suspicious looking objects hidden around the Boston area attracting Bomb Squads and Law Enforcement; and shutting down highways, bridges and riverways.”

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Past WGA events have allowed temps to be logged though that information has not appeared on the cache page it has been hashed out here on the boards where opinions (and I believe votes?) were taken. It may be looked at again in the future but currently it is allowed at official WGA events.

The board had taken up this discussion a while back and came up with our current official policy of the WGA regarding logging caches at WGA sponsored events.

Here is the official WGA Policy as adopted by the board:

• The WGA encourages each geocacher present for the official event photo (traditionally at 5pm) to log a “find” for the Event itself by logging “has attended” on the event webpage.
• The WGA shall neither require nor forbid anyone from logging temporary caches at any of our official events.
• The WGA will allow geocachers to log a “find” for any cache that geocachers have actually found. Admittedly, we are not able to police those logging caches or verify that geocachers have actually found the caches. We are using the honor system here and will assume that our fine members will not abuse it.
• All geocaches hidden at our events will follow the guidlines as set forth at http://www.geocaching.com for cache placement. However, exceptions will be made for the proximity and the obvious temporary nature of the event hides.

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Wow.

Thanks for the info Brian. I think we would be hard pressed to get 800 plates sold. Heck, I wonder if the Packers sold 800 specialty plates! 😆

Maybe next year…

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Please accept my sympathies.

Take your time answering all the threads in this incredibly popular thread.

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The WGA has always promoted “Handicapped Accessible” geocaches by placing these caches at our events.

At the last Campout, I ensured that the WGA took this one step further and provided Handicapped Parking near both the Event HQ (White Shelter) and the Group Camp. Appreciation was expressed for these efforts by those who found them useful.

The WGA will always continue to do whatever we can to accommodate.

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Whether a WI geocacher is a member of the WGA or not, the WGA represents allWI geocachers. It is an obvious true benefit to being a member as you get to help shape Wisconsin’s Geocaching Future. As is evident in this election, the members are having a real say in what is happening to this organization. The more active members we have, the better.

Education is a key priority, not just for law enforcement, but to all governing authorities of our “playgrounds” — Park and Rec Departments, County Park Commissions, Local Sportsmans Clubs, Private Organizations, City Councils, Town Boards, etc. With the creation of a Community Education committee, one of the first tasks will be to devote time and energy to creating literature that can be sent out or used in presentations to the community.

I think the one thing that surprises many folks when they first meet other geocachers is the wide range of demographics represented. Reading posts written by someone behind a username is completely different than meeting the wide range of individuals already involved. I don’t feel we need to “recruit” or bring in any particular demographic. Through Education, the activity will grow within the ranks of those interested and the WGA will continue to grow in WI.

I learned of geocaching in January of ’03 from an email newsletter “This is True” by Randy Cassingham. I didn’t have the resources to get my first GPSr until October of ’03. I’ve been hunting Tupperware and ammo cans ever since.

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The Ledgeview Caves are wonderful. I had the opportunity to chaperone my daughters 5th and 6th grade class at the caves. We spent an entire day there. First exploring one cave system, then the other. I crawled through more dirt and small caverns than I ever thought possible.

The fantastic thing was that when I was about 10, I had gone into two of those caves with a summer day camp program. The guide told us then that if they were to keep diggin out some of the caverns, they’d find two or three more rooms behind the ones we were in then (20 years ago).

The guide I had twenty years ago was the same guy who took us through last year and sure enough, they dug out those caves and they have since uncovered numerous new rooms, have linked two of the caves, and are still digging. In fact one of the rooms, they just quite digging. They had dug down about thirty feet and could probably go another thirty! If you ever get the chance to get into the caves, do it!

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By its very nature, working successfully with the DNR has been an obvious benefit to geocachers throughout the state.

More specifically, I would like for the WGA to be able to offer our resources to help with Education, CITO and the like. A large organization like the WGA would be able to set up a GPSr Presentation kit with the often asked for GPSr’s to educate the public about geocaching. This could benefit folks from all over WI. As geocaching grows, we will need to be proactive in educating local police and municipalities and the entire state would benefit from any efforts we take in that direction.

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I have done some rearranging in my schedule primarily because my time was stretched thin over too many areas. I’ve given up several things (teaching Lifeguarding and volunteering at the Red Cross) while I’ve taken on other things (new business venture) and I’ve repositioned other things (taken different responsibilities at church and on school board).

I made some hard decisions and was not even sure if I would run for the board again. I have instead made the decision to put this organization at the front as a priority because of how much geocaching has given to me and my family and because of all the fine, fine people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made.

I thoroughly agree that there needs to be a commitment from each board member to put time and energy into this venture. If the work is going to get done, that will be the only way.

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First Place I Check!

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