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This was emailed to the BOD and i am putting this communication out for visibility of examples we would like membership to throw at us.
1. FUNDRAISING/PATHTAGS/GEOCOINS. There are a lot of possibilities that can be done with trackables that we as an organization can do to both raise awareness of the WGA and raise funds. I posted something about this in the WGA pathtag forum a few months ago here. Specifically, we can state in three areas (WGA website on its own tab, Facebook website on its own pinned post, and the actual pathtag website) that pathtags/coins are available for purchase to help the WGA raise the needed funds to promote geocaching in Wisconsin. See attached PDF for 16 examples of what other geocaching organizations have done to use pathtags to promote fundraising and organization awareness. Some brief pathtag examples (see attachment for graphics and the full text): – “Arkansas Geocachers Association is promoting this tag as a fund raiser for our organization” – “The sale of these tags helps the Michigan Geocaching Organization raise needed funds to help promote the activity of geocaching state wide.” – “We do not trade tags or fulfill wishlist requests directly as we design, make, and sell our pathtags to fund the cost of our webserver.” (Geocaching Australia) – “This tag is the second in a series of fundraising tags to be made by the Iowa Geocachers Organization.” – “This pathtag is one of five of the fourth annual fundraising pathtags for GeocacheAlaska!…The tags will be available as sets only via direct sales from GeocacheAlaska at…” – “Proceeds from the sale of this tag help to fund the annual GONIL Picnic.” (Geocaching Organization of Northern Illinois) – “This tag is the fifth IGO fundraiser. Thanks to all who purchase this tag to help support our mission.” (Iowa Geocachers Organization) – “These tags will be made available to SLAGA members and anyone else who would like one. SLAGA will NOT be trading this tag. It will be sold to raise funds for SLAGA.” (St. Louis Area Geocaching Association) I suppose if I thought about it I could figure out that the WGA makes a profit on the sale of coins and pathtags (and other merchandise), but I don’t recall it being clearly communicated with a call to help fund the organization. Pathtags (and extagz) cost significantly less than geocoins, so people are potentially more likely to purchase them, and in greater quantities with the right promotion. We could encourage people online to purchase packs of five pathtags (or more) for a discount to drop in caches ($3 each, 10 for $25?). Some other organizations do this. Think of what that could do for promoting the WGA; finding WGA pathtags in caches! If people knew it was for raising funds and promoted/encouraged to drop extras into caches, I bet we could sell a bunch more that way. It’s unlikely most geocoins would get put out in the wild because of their cost, but pathtags or similar could possibly be a great promotional tool when placed in caches for a very reasonable price. It’s all about marketing. 2. COMMITTEES As you undoubtedly know, WGA committees are formed to work with the BOD to expand involvement opportunities for the WGA membership, and to improve programs, events, and services to the Wisconsin geocaching community. Some committees are ongoing, and some are formed for short term specific tasks or goals. One of the ways I got involved with more active participation in the WGA was by being invited by Chris Walker (or was Zuma first?) to serve on a committee, as a non-board member. Maybe non-board members are participating in those committees; I don’t have visibility of it. If it’s not being done, it is a wasted opportunity. There’s something about a title of “committee member” that can motivate people to take ownership and action, not unlike the title of being a board of director’s member. It works. Just like a pro football team needs a practice squad to develop new talent, or a professional baseball team needs a “farm team,” having non-board members serve on committees can be a good first step to expand their involvement, and hopefully take some of the load off of board members. As a reminder, here are the committees I’m referring to (copied from GC4NBQA Meet the WGA #5: WGA Committees, which itself was copied from the bylaws): 1. The campout committee includes all 9 members of the WGA Board of directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The campout committee starts new each February, and dissolves 3 weeks after the annual campout is held. The campout committee has a folder at the WGA website for use in decision making, communication, and task assignment. The campout committee will hold at least one face to face meeting approximately 3 weeks (plus or minus a week) prior to the campout at the location of the campout for final planning, recognizance and cache placement. 2. The picnic committee includes all 9 members of the WGA Board of directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The campout committee starts new each June, and dissolves 3 weeks after the annual picnic is held. The picnic committee has a folder at the WGA website for use in decision making, communication, and task assignment. The picnic committee will hold at least one face to face meeting approximately 3 weeks (plus or minus a week) prior to the picnic at the location of the picnic for final planning, recognizance, and cache placement. 3. The web committee includes 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 6 other members of the WGA. The web committee is a permanent committee of the WGA. The web committee has a folder at the WGA website for use in decision making and discussion with the web master(s). The primary mission of the web committee is to assist the web master(s) and the Board of Directors to maintain and improve the WGA website. 4. The community education committee includes 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The community education committee is a permanent committee of the WGA. The community education committee has a folder at the WGA website for use in decision making, communication, and arranging for community education programs. The primary mission of the committee is to advance awareness and understanding of geocaching within Wisconsin. Part of this mission includes the development and implementation of basic geocaching training programs. 5. The membership committee includes 2-4 members of the Board of Directors and up to 9 other members of the WGA. The membership committee is a permanent committee of the WGA. The membership committee has a folder at the WGA website for use in decision making, communication, and arranging for membership growth and assistance programs. The primary mission of the committee is to advance awareness and understanding of the WGA among Wisconsin geocachers and grow the membership of the WGA. Part of this mission includes the development of regional events to attract new members and the development and implementation of advanced geocaching training programs for new geocachers to help them grow in their enjoyment of the game. New committees are formed as the need arises. Any new committee that is created needs to have a designated expected life expectancy, a well-defined mission, a description of number of members expected to serve on the committee and at least two Board members on the committee. We are hoping that many WGA members will consider volunteering in some capacity, whether just for a day helping out at an event (the annual campout, the annual picnic, pancake breakfast, geocaching 101 event or continuing education event, etc.), or serving on a committee. Anyway, that’s my brainstorming for the evening. Number one on my list of issues in the past has been Facebook usage of the WGA, but I’m tabling that issue since the board historically prefers to keep it as is. I’m hoping the two topics above will lead to helpful discussion with the new board for 2019 and beyond!
Fyi… getting close to the end of the month. Thank you to the one person who nominated a cache or two. Get your nominations in as soon as you can.
Thank you… ill be planning on attending again. We had a blast.
Should a prize be awarded similar to POTM?
Ok I want all members to re think for COTM changing back to 1 cache per the entire state. It’s rare to have all areas select or nominate even 1 cache. This last November, not a single cache was nominated. When I oringally joined the WGA, I tried to search out and find the COTM caches even if that meant I had to drive 200 miles. I am again resurrecting the debate and feel 1 per month is enough.
Ftp on Humpday… good morning thread stealers
I want to thank you for bringing this to the attention of the WGA. We have discussed these situations and feedback from the membership on this topic is definitely something we want. This would have been a great topic in the suggestion box. As the BOD organized the first Kidz Club, I think it was a great success.
I had a discussion with my children about this topic after the picnic. My 2 children spent quite a bit of time at the kidz table, helping other younger children and adults alike, both of them said the closest they saw any alcohol may have been 10 ft or so, but those individuals held their beverage secure and did not leave them unattended so a minor may have picked them up.
I thought the BOD did a great job supervising the event and I am sure if a minor picking up a beverage situation arose, it would have been addressed. Most likely offline with the childs parents. Responsibility and safety is a concern we all take seriously and helping our youth stride in the right direction is why we made progress in starting the Kidz Club.
Geocaching events are family friendly, which means there may be fireworks, alcohol, knives, and food, all of which are not allowed to be placed inside a geocache. Unfortunately, events are held at locations like beer gardens, sports bars, and even picnics. These are all locations alcohol is allowed in WI. The Kidz Club is not meant to be a babysitting club though, so each parent still has to stay responsible for their own children.
To summarize, as a BOD member we have discussed the situation. Can we restrict others from bringing alcohol into a place its accepted, no. Unless we make the events private, no. Do we want to gain members who are strolling parks, yes.
I havent been here in a long while it seems.
WGA Name: Sevencards
First name: Dan
GC.com name: Sevencards
BOD
Back on track cotm. I am in favor of changing it back to 1 cotm and 1 series of the month for the entire state. Adding a cotyear which can only be chosen from the cotm and series winners. This is wi-geocaching… i prefer not dividing the state to create 5 or 6 winners each month. I use to enjoy searching out the winners and travelling to them but when there are 5 different each month it became much more difficult to incorporate them all. 1 winner helps to actually put competition back into cotm. Quality caches will keep getting better by creating higher standards of competition.
Most of the events seem to be an annual date and as long as I have advance notice I should be able to attend the 75% required. There is incentive by a fellow geocacher to attend events that are near breweries as well. I believe the BOD knows in advance when the events will be scheduled and where, therefore that should help my planning.
I am limited on space but if it can sit outdoors I may have a location. But I do not have a vehicle to pull the trailer at this time.
Just over 2 years ago I adapt to a job change. Since then there have been many management changes, I feel I have adapted very well in these scenarios. I feel if we cant adapt to change then we are looking to fail. Sometimes change is for the better, sometimes for the worst but if you can survive prosper by what you have learned through the change.
I have been a gc member since: 02/18/2009, and sometime in 2009 I found the WGA. I have at this time attended 75 events. I didn’t sort through to see how many were WGA sponsored, but most of them were run by WGA members at some point. My first event was the Waukesha Winter Jamboree and I have seen how time has changed temp caches to permanent caching.
A strength I have is working together as a team member to complete projects on time. I put the team preferences before my own in order to achieve the best results. I don’t have a problem speaking up when need to be heard with the best intentions for team efficiency. But if the team agrees to go a different route than my opinion, its understanding and my feelings are not insulted. Compromise.
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