WHEN:
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
WHERE:
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library - Sylvania Branch N 41 42.908, W 83 42.413
6749 Monroe St.
Sylvania, OH 43560
Phone: 419-882-2089
Fax: 419.882.8993
I am interested in doing this stuff. I have a GPS from backpacking and used it for the past 5 years (180 night in the woods). Want to do the cache stuff - bought two books, read the forums (for a few months last year) went to a few meetings. I purchased a shirt online – and at a meeting I purchased 2 of your coins – but have no idea what I am to use them for… NO ONE at the meetings were at the intro level - there was NO program or lets get started by doing this... There were a few people that I got to lurk into there groups speaking about events that I had no clue as an outsider what they were speaking about. After a hour I left. Went back a few months later and it was the same thing again. I am not a shy person - I have my own business and HAVE to network with people to expand my business every day. I got an email today (first contact in a year from this group to me) to come read this thread - and an hour later I am posting this. It took me 20 posts of reading to find out what SC was an abbreviation for - this it typical - if you know it then you think everyone else knows what you are talking about.
My suggestions - new member - lets get started together - have a date and time to take a GROUP of new members out in the field and show them how this works - have an "Intro Workshop" - show how with you can use the web sites to first find out about where to go to find a cache then how to put this info into your GPS then how to drive to the area TOGETHER then how to walk close to the cache - then some tips on what a cache looks like - then let em go and see what happens. Then drive to a second location and do it again.
At the meetings have someone to talk to the new members or people who stumble into the group - tell then AT MY LOW LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE how this works - what this group is and what this group can do FOR THEM. What are the next steps to learning how this all works is and how to move forward. Contact the new members via email as to what is going on and why they should think of attending and event – not just the m&g – any new person would wonder what dose m&g mean? New members are everything to a group year over year so that as older members move away or interest fades you need the new to learn and bring in more so the cycle continues. You need to develop a program to culture the new member to be contributing members and then later leader of the group or the group in the long term will fade away. I will try to get to the meeting on the 14th since this looks to be the first thing outside of the trash pickup that is not a meet and great (not a m&g) that I have been invited to in over a year!
Hi Jim,
I remember meeting you at one of the Meet & Greets. I kept hoping I'd see your name pop up at some of the local caches. I hope to see you at this meeting. I'd be happy to let you know what the sport (game, hobby, and for some, obsession) is about. I look forward to seeing you again.
Joe
Do to recent lawn mower problems, and having to take so much time off work (I work 2nd shift now) I have to move my status to maybe.
I hate to equivocate, but the job and fingers come first.
(I work 2nd shift now) I have to move my status to maybe.
