[Walkingadventure]

Even before my nomination, I was on the forums at least 3 times a day (5:00 a.m., lunchtime and after dinner)…sometime lurking, sometimes adding Useless Drivel.

I try hard to keep up with the latest goings-on and it also gives me good ideas to put on the Facebook page.

Concerning the discussions/questions for us all, it’s important to read over everything, consider the options and then respond. I’ve met a bunch of people at events and out in the field but there are a whole bunch more that I haven’t talked to yet so it’s a great spot to share my feelings and thoughts on these good questions.

My favorite so far was the Pie question. Glad there was a light hearted one out there.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Before geocaching discovering, I’ve liked to spend my time being active and if possible doing that outside. I’ve always liked playing sports whether basketball, soccer, Ultimate or anything else that involved being on a team, running around and having fun.

Since late Spring, I’ve taken up running again and have competed in a few area 5K (3.1 mile) races with some friends. When it warms up again, I’m considering training for a Half marathon.

For the previous 10 yrs my main hobby had been working with my church’s youth group as a volunteer leader. With them we went on several short-time mission trips and always seemed to take every Sunday (at least) and a sizable chunk of my yearly vacation. What I got out of that was definitely more than I gave.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Having a full time store open would take such a dedicated group of volunteeers, that I don’t think that is feasible now. In the future..who knows?

We’ve done a pretty good job of bringing merchandise to events in the past so I’d like to see us continue to refreshen the ‘brand” and keep marketing our stuff.

Come the Holiday season, maybe we could set up the virtual store or focus on having WGA members host events where the BOD can bring out the trailer so we can buy in person and avoid the mailing and service fees.

Being a part of the geocoin committee for 2012 and 2013, I’ve seen just a little of what it takes to makes such a venture work. Full time just doesn’t work right now.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

I’d like to see not only the BOD have a good relationship with the Law Enforcement agencies in the area but see if when there are events in the area, see what we could do to have a L.E.O. stop by and interact with us to see that we aren’t scary terroroists.

The brochure that was created years ago was a great idea towards working together. This subject would be a great idea for a subcommittee to look for WGA members that would be interested in helping to keep a strong, local relationship with the police. The BOD aren’t the only voices for geocaching in the state.

Every interaction I have had with Law Enforcement has gone very well when I took time to explain my actions.

CITOs are high profile events that could be a great place to offer up a visit by the L.E.O. to show the good we do.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Quality of Hides:

There are so many more hides now than when we first started. Back then, everyone was new and exciting for us. GPS receivers weren;t quite as good as they are now which made things a little dicey on coords. These days many caches are placed with cell phones and at times those too can have some shakey coords but concering cache placement, the satellite maps have helped a lot.

There’s many more players in the game and the creativity that’s out there can be pretty impressive.

I think there’s a natural ebb and flow to the game as people learn more about creating hides and gain experience, trying to improve the caches they place.

I like to try and give feedback on caches that have been placed by newer cachers, letting them know what I’ve found that works well and not so well but leaving it up to them on how they want to hide their caches since they are a reflection of the CO and the caches are theirs to do with as they wish.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Using the new Geocaching.com LIVE API that Team Black Cat has added to the site is a good update to making the COTM easier to search out and use.

Breaking up the COTM as couple of years ago helped make it more user friendly and I think sharing the news about it on the forums/website and the WGA Facebook page should be a good way to keep it “out in front” of people.

I’m a fan of the COTM program and hope to see it conitued in the future.

I try and vote when possible (haven’t always foudn caches that have been nominated). I think CO’s appreciate the recognition and people like seeing that there is a special cache out there.

I’ve nominated several caches for COTM and even had one of mine nominated but didn’t win.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

I like the update. Voting for COTM is now much easier. Thanks for all the hard work TBC

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Thanks for the posts and to those of you that have emailed me your adventure stories.

With just a couple of weeks left, I’m sending out the call for LCG stories and pictures from 2012.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

I’m up for it!

Missed out on the trip a couple of yrs ago.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

When WiHI, RunNSearch and I were out in Waukesha yesterday we laughed about the”Friendly Miswesterners” HP had talked about.

I hadn’t folded down my glittens and everyone was waving.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

I am a big fan of pie and for years I have hidden this fact from casual acquantinces- only close family members are aware of this.

Pecan pie (whether called by the Pea-Con name or the more Hoosier version of Pa-kahn) is my absolute favorite. Othershave been enjoyed but none to the degree if this type.

I am a firm believer that pies should be desserts therefore Pot Pies are not really pies since they are full of meat and just a sad attempt to confuse those who were excited at the possibility of “pie” for dinner, only to find out it was really just a beef stew with a hat.

Pizza pie won’t really be discussed- no one really calls it that since the 1950s (back when times were more confusing, we are much mor enlightened these days).

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

That was cool. I only saw the last 10 minutes of their segment, though.

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

Glittens are what works best for me. Hate fumbling w/ gloves and mittens are warmer but I couldn’t use them.

Fingerless gloves that have a mitten cover that folds over fingers to keep you warm in between signing logs

Following the signals from space.

[Walkingadventure]

I’m going to join in with the others and say Education!

Being a broad topic, you can’t go wrong.

Education (in my order of importance) with the communities. After first starting playing the game in “Stealth” mode, I now think it’s better for geocching if we let others know what we are doing. Clueing them into might lead them to still think we are weird but better than making them think we are dangerous.

This plays into working/educating local authorities on our sport to guarantee we can continue to play this outdoors adventure game without losing out on parks, forests, etc due to the misinterpretation on what we are doing.

Lastly, we need to offer guidance to new players on etiquette so they don’t find themselves in awkward predicaments (police situations, perceived damage to property,etc.). The better everyone understands geocaching, the better off we all will be while we are out playing.

Following the signals from space.

[Author]

Posts