Info Needed From Cache Clubs/organizations

[+Sparky-Watts]

I've been kicking around the idea of starting a Geocaching Organization for my local area, and need some help from those of you who have already done so.

 

What I need:

• Anyone that can supply me with bylaws of their group/organization
  
• URLs to other groups/organizations websites
  
• Problems you've encountered in forming your group
  

Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to email me with your information.

[Keystone]

Moving this topic over to "Organized Geocaching."

 

Sparky, thanks for your interest! Local geocaching groups are a great resource for working with land managers, helping fellow geocachers, and HAVING FUN.

 

Some tips to get you started:

 

First and foremost, visit Great Plains Geocaching, which has a link right on their home page where they offer to assist people who are interested in forming local groups.

 

I found the link to Great Plains Geocaching by clicking on Kansas in the dropdown list of states at the top right of the main Geocaching.com homepage. To find other sites, you can look at the "state page" for other nearby states in the same way. As just one example of a thriving local group in your part of the country, when you go to the Missouri page you'll be linked to the St. Louis Area Geocaching Association (SLAGA), which in turn will link you to the Missouri Geocachers Organization (MoGEO).

 

One of the first and best state geocaching organizations is the Georgia Geocachers Association (GGA), which has a section of their "Resources" area devoted to helping others form geocaching organizations, including sample documents. Another very active association, which has just recently put the finishing touches on their bylaws and non-profit status, is the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO). The moderators in the Organized Geocaching forum are mtn-man from the GGA and umc from MiGO.

 

Lots of local organizations get their start as Yahoo! discussion groups, which later graduate to full-blown websites once there's enough "critical mass." For some examples, see the links I posted to State and Local Geocaching Groups in the Northeast Region.

 

Finally, here in the Organized Geocaching forum, you'll find This Topic listing all sorts of geocaching organizations' websites.

 

Good luck, and feel free to post here with further questions.

[+Sparky-Watts]

Thanks a bunch! I just didn't look down far enough when I opened the topic to find this forum. I tried to reach the Great Plains website yesterday, but kept getting error messages. I'm sure that was related in some way to the blizzard we had and power outages in the area. You've given me a couple of days of good reading, and I truly appreciate that! I'll keep you posted as to my progress!

 

I've been in contact with several cachers from my local area, and have received quite a few positive replies, so I feel confident that we'll get something up and running after the Holidays pass.

 

Thanks again!

[+GatoRx]

Here's a link to the NEFGA's webpage, home of the Northeast Florida Geocacher's Association. I'm not sure if all of the info you're looking for is on there or not, but let me know if you have any questions - I'll help out with what I can.

[+Sparky-Watts]

Thanks, GatorX!

[Footstompers]

Greetings from Montana.

 

Just recently got into GeoCaching, my co-workers even bought me a Garmin Etrex Venture. Haven't much opporutnity yet to search for much, but we started a local organization in Northwest Libby, Montana called Big Sky Cachers.

 

We hope we can bring more people to our area as we are hurting for visitors

The area is gorgious and we plan on getting out a BUNCH of caches out in our area this coming spring, so if you've ever wanted a reason to cruise through Montana, you have one now.

 

Looking forward to meeting fellow cachers.

 

Travel well.

 

Jason

[umc]

Visit our MiGO forums and ask there or send an email to steering@mi-geocaching.org

 

All of your questions can be answered there or any of the local groups sites.

[+Sparky-Watts]

Greetings from Montana.

 

Just recently got into GeoCaching, my co-workers even bought me a Garmin Etrex Venture.<snip>

<snip>

The area is gorgious and we plan on getting out a BUNCH of caches out in our area this coming spring, so if you've ever wanted a reason to cruise through Montana, you have one now.

 

Looking forward to meeting fellow cachers.

 

Travel well.

 

Jason

Dang, why don't I have co-workers like that? Well, I guess my wife is my only co-worker since my dad passed on, and yeah, I guess she did buy my Legend for me.....

 

 

Actually, my wife and I are planning a trip up that way in the next year or two. Hoping to end up in Alaska on a cruise, but driving from Kansas to Washington state, not sure of what route to take yet. Always wanted to see Montana.

[Footstompers]

Come up our way, there is enough trails and such around here to keep you busy for awhile. Nice to meet new people coming through.

 

Hopefully we will have some more caches placed in some nice areas before your trip, the GREAT thing about GeoCaching is normally you wouldn't know where to go for a little site seeing; but with GeoCaching, you discover everyones secrets wonders and beautiful views.

 

Can't wait to get some in this coming year.

 

[Footstompers]

If you have a wife that stands behind you, that is all that matters ya?

 

I'm hoping to drag my wife out with me and get her interested too.

 

-Footstompers

[+robert]

Keystone,

 

I'm upset with you that you didn't list the Maryland Geocaching Society.

 

 

Sparky:

We've got info about hiding caches, etc., which were implemented in order to facilitate cache hiding in areas with approval.

[Footstompers]

Maryland, wow. Long way from where I'm at. How's the caching there?

[+robert]

Maryland, wow. Long way from where I'm at. How's the caching there?

It's great We have a really tight-knit group of people here who place some nice caches. Our meetings and picnics are usually pretty heavily populated so a lot of us know each other. We've had the honor of having cachers drive down from as far away as Rochester NY and Connecticut to attend our picnics. Not to say we're perfect, but we try pretty hard to place good caches and to be as friendly and helpful to anyone that needs it.

 

If you ever get a chance to come to Maryland, let me know, I'll show you around.

[Footstompers]

Thanks for the invite. Sounds like you have too much fun there. We hope we can start a few events here ourselves in Montana. Always wanted to visit the eastside, so I may take you up on your offer one day.

 

[Jamethiel]

HI Footstompers,

Missoula has a pretty active community and we always welcome new folks at our events. We've got a holiday one coming up. If you go to the main GC page and select Montana you can see it. Look us up if you ever drop south for a visit. MOOG is open to anyone in Montana, not just Missoulians. But I warn ya, we are all opinionated and fun!

We have a link to MOOG posted on our cache pages (jennifer&dean).

-Jennifer

[+Sparky-Watts]

Thanks for the information. This has drifted way off topic, so I'm gonna beat the mods to the punch and close it. Thanks again to all who have offered help, I greatly appreciate it!