[kbraband]

It looks interesting, but exactly what is it? They need better a better “all-in-one” concise description. Maybe it’s just too early in the morning for me.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by fishcachers:
Well, I found out the next step in the process…. My log was deleted without any explanation….

~mama fishcacher

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I see that the cache has now been archived by admin GrouseTales. To answer your question about the process, when someone posts a request to archive a cache, it sends a message to geocaching.com. They, in turn, send an email notification to the admin or admins responsible for that territory. In this case, that email went to GrouseTales, kbraband, and jvechinski since we are the admins who act on behalf of the WGA. GrouseTales (the lead admin for the WGA) reviewed the cache and the archive request and deciced to archive this cache for now.

[kbraband]

Nice job, Rhonda! Way to show us how it should be done.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cathunter:
I have a great interest in hearing what each candidate seeks by being a member of the board. It is requested that each candidate reply with their own post. Present board members should only post after the new candidates have posted.

Please state what goals you would like the WGA to pursue within the next 6-12 months; and why you feel this is important.

and

What primary issues within the geocaching society do you forsee requiring attention within the next 3 years?

Please state how you believe these issues might be overcome.

[This message has been edited by Cathunter (edited 01-21-2004).]

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Cathunter asked for the new candidates to respond before present board members, but since the election has now started, I thought I’d go ahead and respond.

First, I’d like to start with a list of some of things your Board has accomplished this past year. I wrote this list over in the BOD forum a few days ago, so I’m copying and pasting it here.

– Prepared a presentation for the Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association regional meeting in Janesville
– Spent half a day with the founder and current owners of Rutabaga Paddle Sports in Madison to discuss further involvement with WGA.
– Ongoing discussion with Casanovas Outdoor Adventures to discuss sponsorships.
– Reviewed and discussed handout materials developed by a WGA member for his geocaching clinic at REI.
– Ongoing discussions with Joel Everts from the Chippewa Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau about what geocaching is and how his org could tie in with the WGA to promote tourism, not only in his area but in conjunction with other C&VBs around the state.
– Discussions/fencemending with Steve Johnston of the DNR about the Tunnel of Terror cache and geocaching in general.
– Hours of planning for a geocaching video, which is currently on hold pending decisions from the DNR about park manager involvement in the video.
– Meetings with attorneys in Madison to discuss WGA incorporation, and subsequent email communications to review and begin discussion to revise our bylaws to conform with incorporation guidelines.
– Recruiting a treasurer.
– Obtaining park management permission for our events at Devil’s Lake and Hartman Creek.
– Scouting Hartman Creek.
– Maintaining one of the best regional geocaching organization web sites in the world, if not thee best.
– Continuing to encourage grassroots events such as the geo breakfasts and event caches.

Now regarding goals….

I think our most important goal for the next 6 to 12 months is to establish a workable geocaching policy with the Wisconsin DNR, and then hold up that policy as a model for local parks departments statewide. We should not take for granted that geocaching in Wisconsin will continue if we don’t actively organize to support it. Look at the significant types of outdoor recreation that are done on state property, from hunting to snowmobiling to trapping to fishing, and you see they each have their own non-government organizations supporting and protecting their positions to the state government. Without the WGA, we are simply a bunch of unorganized geeks in the woods — at least that’s how we would likely appear to any state governing or regulating entities. Are hunters acting on their own to interact with authorities? Yes. But do they also form groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the Isaac Walton League? Yes. They know the importance of organizing.

Another important goal for the next 6 to 12 months is to continue to organize fun geocaching events such as the campout and the summer picnic.

Long term, I’d like the WGA to continue to serve as a voice for all geocachers in the state. Representation is one of the main purposes of the WGA and its elected Board of Directors. We now have a strong voice that geocaching.com will listen to when it consider new guidelines for placing caches. We also have a voice with local, county, and state governments (a significant and respected voice, I might add). It’s a classic give-and-take: we geocachers organize and promise to regulate ourselves based on representation by our elected board of directors. In return, the WGA promises to cooperate with parks officials to promote and guide responsible geocaching so a few irresponsible geoachers don’t screw up the sport for the long-term. To make this representation effetive, it’s important that members know they can contact board members to voice their opinions. We need to establish a more systematic way for members to do this, and better methods to keep members informed about board activity and decisions.

I’d also like to see the Board become a more active and stronger group. We have been relying on forum postings and email to get our work done this past year. That can be very efficient, but it also runs the risk of having members feel isolated and not part of the main business activity. Ironically, I think WE ALL feel that way on the board. I’d like to come up with ways we can meet more often, but that is difficult because of the miles involved. Maybe we can meet one day in advance of the campout and the picnic, as well as having special meetings.

[kbraband]

And by the way, Cathunter, nominations for the WGA board are still open.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cathunter:

I was at first not so understanding of the need for a board, and thought that the Chicago group had the better idea by stating- “What we are not…
We are not a governing body of Geocaching
We are not a group that has regular monthly meetings with officers, etc.
We are not a group that requires dues or any subscriptions”

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I had to chuckle when I read this quote from the Chicago group, because they obviously — let’s call it borrowed — it from the WGA’s original web site. Those were the words we originally used to describe ourselves when this organization was formed. At that time, that was the direction most of us wanted to go, or at least I thought so, because I’m the one who wrote that description of the WGA. Since then other board members and WGA general members have pointed out the need for the WGA to evolve into something more. We were being looked at as a voice for Wisconsin geocachers in dealings with state and local parks officials, as well as with the owners of geocaching.com. As a result, we have evolved as an organization to be more than merely a social group. We now work to promote responsible geocaching to help ensure that this sport is not outlawed by uninformed parks managers and elected officials. Oh yeah, we have fun too.

[This message has been edited by kbraband (edited 01-23-2004).]

[kbraband]

I don’t know anything about TurboTax, but I’ve been thinking of checking it out this year instead of using a tax preparer. Question: I keep all my financials in Quicken. Will TurboTax import this information to make tax prep easy, or at least easier?

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by houseofbrew:
This cache is one of the best views we’ve had this winter. You get an incredible view of lake michigan from here, and right now, as cold as it is, makes it more beautiful. You’ll even be able to walk partially onto a frozen lake michigan. Spectacular! We found this cache because it popped up “white” on our first page, and we had to get that page back to “grey”.

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OK, I give up. What cache is it?

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by Thraxman:
Of course, I’m not on your list.

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Don’t feel bad, Joe.

[kbraband]

I sent the following email to all the board candidates and to the current board yesterday. However, one of the emails bounced back to me. I’m not sure who it was to (I don’t recognize the email address) so I’m posting the message here to ensure that all candidates see it:

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To all board candidates and current board members:
Please reserve the evening of Feb. 15 for a WGA Board meeting. We will welcome newly-elected board members and say thank you to the outging members. We will also vote on reorganizing the officers and discuss direction and planning for the coming year. Location is yet to be determined.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by WISearchers:
July, 2004

N18 15.000 W77 30.000

See you all there!

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Hey, I just figured out where that is. Cool (runnings)!

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by houseofbrew:
Anyone have a nice big list of WI geocacher usernames? Until I get the script that automatically finds WI cachers and adds them to the database, I’ve been digging through logs and adding people in by hand.

Thanks!

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Yup: http://wi-geocaching.com/membership/list.php?sort=created

[kbraband]

Welcome, Bec. I don’t have a dog, but I know that many Wisconsin geocachers who hide caches list whether or not dogs are permitted at the location, so you may want to read the cache description carefully to see what it says there. Welcome to geocaching, and especially to the WGA. We hope to see you at an upcoming breakfast or caching event.

[kbraband]

I’m not the best one to give advice on that one because I could not find the first waypoint either. But I heard the coordinates were written on the wall.

[kbraband]

We’ve moved quite a few of the buggers, including one called “Stinky” that predates the official Travel Bugs. We started him on his way before there was such a category. Read about his adventures here: http://www.rocketink.com/wheresstinky.htm

[Author]

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