[GeoPink]

@Team Deejay wrote:

Actually, he can’t (unless we can convince him to move here with us!) COTM is members only.

Actually, you are incorrect. COTM is for both Members and Friends. Feel free to Nominate! I will cast my vote for it, as I agree; it is certainly a beautiful place!

[GeoPink]

Wish I could have been there… but duty called… Easter at the in-laws. Thanks for the CITO and the great work with the MPRD.

[GeoPink]

Glad to finally get you posting! 🙂 I’m usually a lurker for quite a while, too before I jump into new things. We’re glad you’re willing to help us out!

[GeoPink]

@bnb wrote:

In my opinion, then, the Board needs to specifically define where the committee has authority. Perhaps it should be within a certain budget or some other limiting factor. If the committees must bring every decision to the Board for a vote there is less of an advantage in having a committee structure.

I foresee this as something that we will probably deal more with at our September meeting once we’ve given this time to work a little. We will be doing more with budgeting then, and I could see that being one of the “limiting factors”. For now, I guess, it falls on the heads of the board members on the committee and/or the co-chairs to bring any issues up with the board if needed.

@bnb wrote:

For example, does the Campout Committee have the authority to determine the fee schedule (t-shirts, camping, pancake breakfast) or does that go to the Board? Can the Education Committee spend money on literature without Board approval? Can the Picnic Committee authorize a Lake Superior cruise for the committee members to determine the practicality of a WGA picnic on Madeline Island? 😀

My personal opinion would be yes, unless there are major changes; yes, within reason; and if it helps to get people to volunteer for the picnic committee, why not? 😀

You are correct, in pointing out that there are no clear definitions of areas of responsibility, etc. But this is all part of the growing we are doing.

Again, just my thoughts…

[GeoPink]

@bnb wrote:

*I think it would be worthwhile to see a list of each committee’s membership – both Board and members-at-large – once finalized.

Can Do.

@bnb wrote:

*Is it the intent, most specifically for the picnic and campout, that the committee completely runs the event or will the entire Board be as available as possible?

It is the intent that the committee run the event. Board members outside of the committee that would like to participate are welcome to help out.

[GeoPink]

I would gather that the board would not want to decide which pancake mix to serve at the breakfast or the brand of water we give away at the picnic.

I would also guess that the board would want to have a say in the CommEd Committee purchasing 30 GPSr units for members and groups to use.

So the answer is that these committees do have decision making authority, within reason.

[GeoPink]

I’ve printed copies of the DNR Notification Form as a reference and will bring them along.

anything else?

[GeoPink]

As I said earlier, each section of adopted highway has its own “game plan” laid out by the WI DOT. From my understanding they have made every effort to put safety first in asking folks to clean up their highways. I would imagine that if one area is extremely steep that they would not want folks climbing around on it anyway. Although geocachers are much more likely to “go where no one has gone before”, we will have to stick with what they tell us. Unfortunately, we’ll have to trust them on this point as I’m not privy to the details until we choose the section.

However, if we choose the section, and later decide that this really isn’t where we want to be, it would not be a huge deal to switch to another area. Apparently they are switching groups in and out of adoptions all the time.

Thanks for bringing this up, Miata. It always helps to have the local perspective.

[GeoPink]

Time to visit the SE Region Forum and/or the NE Region Forum to cast your “ballot” as to what Highway Segment we will Adopt!

Vote Now!

[GeoPink]

This should get good…

I wrote to the Board of Supervisors Recreation Committee Chair…

Supervisor Johnson,

I am writing to you as chair of the Brown County Education and Recreation Committee in regards to Brown County’s newly proposed, but not yet enacted policy in regards to geocaching in Brown County Parks. If you are unfamiliar with the sport of geocaching, please visit http://www.geocaching.com for some background information.

I am an elected member of the Wisconsin Geocaching Association Board of Directors and recently we’ve been informed by our membership about some disturbing developments in Brown County in regards to the future of our sport. My understanding is that currently under consideration is a proposal that would levy a $5 annual fee on any geocache placed in any of the Brown County Parks. To be frank, this is absurd.

Geocachers often travel large distances in order to find concentrations of geocaches. Brown County is one such area. Geocachers plan events to bring in geocachers from across the state into new places. Brown County has been host to several of these gatherings. Geocachers spend money and support businesses in the places they geocache. Brown County is one of the many places my family and I have personally spent money on geocaching trips. And finally, geocachers give back to the parks, forests, and lands on which we geocache. We practice CITO (Cache In, Trash Out), removing trash and junk from the parks while searching for our “treasures”. We host CITO events, where we spend an entire morning, afternoon, or both cleaning up parks that we’ve found to be in need. And now most recently, we are working with the Adopt – A – Highway program to help keep our roadways clean.

All of this is in jeopardy for Brown County. There have been several examples of governments trying to “tax” geocaches and not one has worked in their favor. Dane County and the Michigan DNR are two examples. Michigan is re-evaluating their policy and very few geocachers place caches anywhere in Dane County (county owned land or otherwise). Already, NE Wisconsin geocachers are looking unfavorably at Brown County. An example being in choosing our NE WI Adopt-A-Highway segment — odds are that in light of this proposed policy, the membership will not vote adopt one of several prime locations in Brown County.

What this comes down to is that several places, namely some counties in Northern WI and the Eau Claire Area have come to the exact opposite realization, that geocaching is a great way to bring tourist dollars into a community. I would hope that Brown County would take a good look at the real benefits that geocaching has brought to your area. I would hope that Brown County would wish for us to continue to support your economy by continuing to patronize your businesses and help beautify your parks. I would hope that Brown County would rethink this policy and do whats right for the people of NE Wisconsin.

Jeff Rahmlow
Wisconsin Geocaching Association
Board of Directors, VP

[GeoPink]

Great! Now we’ve got someone to bring the fruit salad! 🙄 😆

Thanks for volunteering!

[GeoPink]

Also looking at short segments…

There are two very short segments available on 41 in Outagamie county…

US 41 between College and Wisconsin Ave.

We could adopt both the Northbound (listed at .55 miles) AND Southbound Lanes (listed at .36 miles). We’d get signs on both sides of the highway and kill two birds with one stone as long as we’re there.

Thoughts?

[GeoPink]

That would be…

05-043-75 : I-43 Mason St to Baird Creek Rd. Northbound
05-043-77 : I-43 Baird Creek Rd to 54/57/University Northbound
05-041-63 : Lombardi Avenue to Mason St. Northbound
05-041-64 : Lombardi Avenue to Mason St. Southbound

Those are great choices!

Any other thoughts on these or others to suggest?

[GeoPink]

OK, below is the page that lists the opening in Brown County on 41 and I43. The lines marked with “X” are not yet open but probably will be yet this year.

Something to keep in mind is that much of the work (as far as what needs to happen at the location we end up choosing) is already done by the DOT. The DOT pushes safety all the way from a video we will need to watch prior to the operation to a workplan that we will need to follow. The workplan has all the information for the locations we choose and will detail everything from where we start, to where to park, to what signage and other safety issues may be present in that particular stretch of highway.

We will need to put our three top choices on the application so feel free to make several suggestions from the list posted below or suggest another area.

[GeoPink]

Shoot. I don’t know Randy. Maybe I’ll poke my nose in there again if I have a few minutes….

I would plan on printing out a handfull of those GeocacherU Brochures as a handout for the committee. Take some time to explain the basics of geocaching. Then just flaunt our policy we worked out with the DNR and push for a simple notification. I am planning on being there, so please just let me know what you would like me to do or where you need my help.

[Author]

Posts