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Post by fuzzybelly on Dec 27, 2013 7:27:02 GMT -9
Hello all, Hey did you know that our very own Northwes is a candidate for Cather of The Month with Groundspeak?
It's the first time an Alaskan cacher has been nominated as far as I know, and he's up against some tough competition.
The only way he stands a chance of winning is if we get out and vote for him. I found the place to vote by going to the groundspeak forum pages in the "Geocaching groups by Region" section and clicking on the "Northwest" area, and finding the thread "Vote for a Northwestern COTM", then three posts down is a link where you can post your vote for Northwes.
I think we've only got till the 30th so lets see how many votes we can get for him by then. I little story of why you think he deserves the COTM award will really help.
Thank you everyone. fuzzy
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Post by TheFirefly on Dec 28, 2013 22:14:37 GMT -9
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Post by fuzzybelly on Dec 29, 2013 5:25:12 GMT -9
Thank you firefly, for the link.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Jan 1, 2014 22:24:36 GMT -9
Just in case anyone was wondering who the winner was... Janizy
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Post by NeverSummer on Jan 2, 2014 10:08:42 GMT -9
We was robbed!
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Mac5115
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 76
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by Mac5115 on Jan 13, 2014 21:13:43 GMT -9
I think that we did our best at promoting and I believe that Wes is still a winner in the end. We had a lot if great comments about him and I am sure he is just as proud as if he had won.
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Post by NeverSummer on Jan 14, 2014 11:05:52 GMT -9
I think that there are a few more folks in our midst that could be candidates as well. And, with some help to put together "cacher resumes", I'd like to nominate some folks.
That, however, I think can wait while we get moving on some BoD-driven initiatives for recognition. That might help all of us with our praise and recognition here, and out to the greater community
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Post by NorthWes on Jan 16, 2014 15:55:29 GMT -9
I sure appreciate all the support you folks drummed up for our very own COTM nomination from Alaska - a first for the 49th State!
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Post by tomanoble on Feb 25, 2014 22:38:18 GMT -9
Just in case you missed it, Blazingpathways was nominated for Cacher of the Month the month after Northwes and lost to the Danish couple who were nominated for the same month.
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 27, 2014 17:36:49 GMT -9
Just in case you missed it, Blazingpathways was nominated for Cacher of the Month the month after Northwes and lost to the Danish couple who were nominated for the same month. Congratulations, Victoria! Unfortunately, I did miss it as I haven't been online as much as usual during the past several weeks and hadn't visited The Geocaching Blog recently. Was there an e-mail or forum post I missed? The Danes really got the word out for their nominee and swamped the comments section. Glad Joel got in there to post about the CACHE program Victoria and cohofive began.
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 27, 2014 17:49:33 GMT -9
Just in case you missed it, Blazingpathways was nominated for Cacher of the Month the month after Northwes and lost to the Danish couple who were nominated for the same month. Congratulations, Victoria! Unfortunately, I did miss it as I haven't been online as much as usual during the past several weeks and hadn't visited The Geocaching Blog recently. Was there an e-mail or forum post I missed? The Danes really got the word out for their nominee and swamped the comments section. Glad Joel got in there to post about the CACHE program Victoria and cohofive began. I was disappointed that I didn't find out about the nomination until about a week to go. Once I heard about it I put out a facebook post, but that was all I could do for promoting the nomination. I don't frequent the blog enough, and I wish Groundspeak would announce it somehow when the nominations are in for the 3 folks to vote on. I'm psyched about recognition and more nominations. I still thing we've got some very strong contenders for COTM for Geocaching.com, and we can certainly keep recognizing cachers and caches here in AK to help create a feeder program!
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 28, 2014 8:54:33 GMT -9
If Facebook becomes the main means of communicating breaking news to the GeocacheAlaska! membership, I and many/perhaps most other GeocacheAlaska! members will progressively become more out of touch. The most recent membership survey (November 2012) provided the following insights: What is your preferred method of receiving GeocacheAlaska! news and information? 92.5% - Direct e-mail 37.5% - Newsletter 22.5% - Website 12.5% - Facebook 10.0% - Forums
How often do you use Facebook? 10% - Constantly 27.5% - Daily 12.5% - Weekly 7.5% - Monthly 27% - Almost Never 15% - I don't have a Facebook account
That's an even 50% of survey respondents who wouldn't have seen a time-sensitive Facebook post (and that's optimistic, assuming account holders have even "friended" or "followed" or whatever the term is, the correct Facebook page.
The statistics could shift if more people joined Facebook since the survey was taken.
I don't currently have a Facebook account, nor would I create one to receive GeocacheAlaska! notifications since I don't currently have other needs for an account.
I know the Comm Comm has roughed out a Comm Plan that includes multi-social media and direct e-mail, so I think the bases are covered. The plan just needs to be implemented.
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 28, 2014 9:04:17 GMT -9
I'm psyched about recognition and more nominations. I still thing we've got some very strong contenders for COTM for Geocaching.com, and we can certainly keep recognizing cachers and caches here in AK to help create a feeder program! Now that we've gotten a taste of what we're up against with cachers from areas with greater population density, I recommend subsequent nominations be planned with a full-blown interview of the nominee that leads to a nomination that includes a comprehensive vitae of the Nominee. This Nomination should be coordinated with a full-court press applied by the Comm Comm to get the word out, and get it out repeatedly. The last round of "voting" had only about 200 posts, and GeocacheAlaska!'s membership is bigger than that. Until Groundspeak comes up with a more equitable way for "winners" (all nominees are winners) to be selected (Alaskans apparently don't stand a chance going up against nominees from more populous areas), GeocacheAlaska! is going to have to work hard to get the word out and get its membership to engage in the process.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Feb 28, 2014 9:24:22 GMT -9
Agree. Groundspeak need to more clearly define how they pick the winner as well. It says it's not about the quantity, but the comments provided. That said, there was a whole lot of "me too" comments on the winner that beat out Wes, while Wes and the other guy got a lot of lengthy comments. So, it does appear that quantity plays a big role. The whole thing is rather subjective and we don't know if there is a guy sitting there at the Pad reading every comment and putting a tick mark on a yellow legal pad under one of the 3 names or what.
I don't think GCAK has enough reach to put up a quantity fight with the likes of what I see on the COTM blog. Our little list of 300 email accounts and 100 FB followers isn't enough to make a dent against some of those localities.
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 28, 2014 9:49:41 GMT -9
If Facebook becomes the main means of communicating breaking news to the GeocacheAlaska! membership, I and many/perhaps most other GeocacheAlaska! members will progressively become more out of touch. The most recent membership survey (November 2012) provided the following insights: What is your preferred method of receiving GeocacheAlaska! news and information? 92.5% - Direct e-mail 37.5% - Newsletter 22.5% - Website 12.5% - Facebook 10.0% - Forums
How often do you use Facebook? 10% - Constantly 27.5% - Daily 12.5% - Weekly 7.5% - Monthly 27% - Almost Never 15% - I don't have a Facebook account
That's an even 50% of survey respondents who wouldn't have seen a time-sensitive Facebook post (and that's optimistic, assuming account holders have even "friended" or "followed" or whatever the term is, the correct Facebook page.
The statistics could shift if more people joined Facebook since the survey was taken.
I don't currently have a Facebook account, nor would I create one to receive GeocacheAlaska! notifications since I don't currently have other needs for an account.
I know the Comm Comm has roughed out a Comm Plan that includes multi-social media and direct e-mail, so I think the bases are covered. The plan just needs to be implemented. I agree, Mike. I'd rather be able to send out notices via email and other fronts as well--not just FaceSpace. I'm going to move the rest of the relevant response and information out of this thread, and over to the Communication Committee board at this link: Communication Committee info If you would like to join the Communication Committee, please get in touch with SSO JOAT.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Feb 28, 2014 9:57:12 GMT -9
Mike has opted out of committee assignments, but he is still on the forums as an administrator. As always, we welcome his input when he's able to drop by and provide it.
We have the ability for direct mail. It is not complicated, but a message must be developed and proofed. When the type is set and ready to go, I'll feed it into an email from an appropriate club account and populate it with email addresses from our current member roster.
There are some email format requirements under the CANSPAM act that we must comply with and we do not share our member's email addresses. So we have to keep a tight reign on who gets to play with our email outboxes.
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 28, 2014 10:04:52 GMT -9
Agree. Groundspeak need to more clearly define how they pick the winner as well. It says it's not about the quantity, but the comments provided. That said, there was a whole lot of "me too" comments on the winner that beat out Wes, while Wes and the other guy got a lot of lengthy comments. So, it does appear that quantity plays a big role. The whole thing is rather subjective and we don't know if there is a guy sitting there at the Pad reading every comment and putting a tick mark on a yellow legal pad under one of the 3 names or what. I don't think GCAK has enough reach to put up a quantity fight with the likes of what I see on the COTM blog. Our little list of 300 email accounts and 100 FB followers isn't enough to make a dent against some of those localities. I'm not sure how they weigh COTM comments either. It seems like they try to make it look like it is weighted for qualitative input, but the last two COTM votes that I've paid attention to seem to use quantitative data over qualitative weight. We'd be hard up to count on the 300 email addresses and 100 facebook members to actually follow the link, and then contribute a comment via the odd and imposing comment process they use on their blog. We have to overcome the reluctance of our membership to provide contact information other than their existing Geocaching.com username to provde a comment; it takes willingness and commitment to vote in the way Groundspeak requires.
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 28, 2014 10:58:31 GMT -9
If you would like to join the Communication Committee, please get in touch with SSO JOAT. I posted as a GeocacheAlaska! Sourdough Member who did not get the word regarding something that needed a time-sensitive response. I shared the survey statistics to show that I don't think I'm out of line suggesting that direct e-mail is the most effective and most desired means of communication. MyFace, Tweeter, and Twister all have their uses for some folks and can be integrated into a comprehensive communications plan. However, I think there is still a basic need for good old-fashioned e-mail which can be accessed 24/7 whereas social media are blocked by many employer enterprise systems during the work week. Per a process Scott A. outlined back in December, once the copy is written for one social media outline, it is straightforward to get it spread across the other communication outlets GeocacheAlaska! has at its disposal with minimal rewrite (other then the required condensing for a Tweet). The Comm Comm Chair just needs to be kept in the loop to push the buttons and pull the levers for a multi-social media and e-mail broadcast. There were at least two Board Members who knew about Victoria's nomination when the polls were open, yet the word didn't get fully broadcast for some reason. I would have liked to have the opportunity to provide qualitative input in the Geocaching Blog, but missed it.
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 28, 2014 11:15:12 GMT -9
If you would like to join the Communication Committee, please get in touch with SSO JOAT. I posted as a GeocacheAlaska! Sourdough Member who did not get the word regarding something that needed a time-sensitive response. I shared the survey statistics to show that I don't think I'm out of line suggesting that direct e-mail is the most effective and most desired means of communication. Sorry that I didn't make it a clear break from my direct response to you, Mike. What I meant by the quoted statement above is that any other reader of this thread can get in touch to join the Committee if they want to provide input on how we send out communications. Again, I agree. I think that email inboxes are the best place to put our announcements, news, etc. The others are simple integrations, but not the best or most liked way to get info from the Organization. That much is clear on many, many fronts--not just for our organization! Facebook, Twitter, etc are all supporting locations for the main outreach items, IMO. Now that Scott has cleared up how to send emails to the entire membership, we can hopefully see more use of that email process. I would have sent out a notice about COTM to membership via email if I had known what I know now. For Wes' nomination, I don't remember how much emailing went on to remind people to vote--I'd have to dig in the archives of my email inbox to see. The nomination for blazingpathways wasn't as effectively announced--the person who nominated Wes posted to our facebook group very early on, and that lit the fire and made it visible much sooner than for blazingpathways. So, if ANY of us nominate someone for COTM and it makes it to the blog, they need to let membership know ASAP some way or another. I just happened to see the blog and blazingpathways a handful of days before the voting period ended. I didn;t know how to spread the word beyond what I tried on my own to do. Hey, at least I tried, right?
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 28, 2014 11:25:07 GMT -9
Mike has opted out of committee assignments, but he is still on the forums as an administrator. As always, we welcome his input when he's able to drop by and provide it. Again, this was directed toward all readers of the thread--not meant to be a direct response to Mike. I'm fully aware of his level of involvement thanks to my participation on the BoD. As far as CAN-SPAM is considered, the use of MailChimp would compeltely meet all requirements. There is an opt-out button, and an opt-in button for all readers of the email--direct contact or forwarded. Also, the email lists can be locked so that only an administrator can edit the list. Other users can access the email system--so long as they have the login info--and can send messages as needed. That can be a position filled by the Webmaster, but also supported by committee members where possible. Slam dunk, IMO
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Post by NeverSummer on Feb 28, 2014 11:55:51 GMT -9
Let me try to use a quote from what I said to get this thread back on track:
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 28, 2014 12:48:14 GMT -9
Let me try to use a quote from what I said to get this thread back on track: I hear you Joel! However, before another nomination is submitted (pershaps someone can be nominated a second time after a period of time?), I think a good approach would be to queue up a series of nominees, build complete geo-resumes, and have a comprehensive communication plan. NorthWes was nominated by someone Outside of Alaska and they georesume she provided was woefully incomplete. I wrote a comprehensive resume for Wes, posted it in these Forums, posted it in the Geocaching Blog, gave it to Cathy to publish in the newsletter, and e-mailed it using the GeocacheAlaska! mailing list and the e-mail function of these forums, reaching at least seven hundred different people. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of those people engaged enough to post a comment in the Geocaching Blog whereas the Puerto Ricans flooded the comments sections (as did the Danes on the next cycle). Why the differences in communities? I don't know. But, it is something to consider as folks prepare to submit additional Alaskan candidates so the most can be made of the opportunity. Who do I recommend queuing up next? For starters and further development... Scott Aleckson/SSO JOAT: For creating the tools to build a sense of community within Alaska through the Website, these Forums, Facebook, Twitter, Hobo CITO and other means. He is also world-renown for his puzzles in the Puzzle Capital of Alaska and the annual Kenai Peninsula Picnic that attacts cachers from all over. Scott has also been instrumental in the past ten pathtag and two geocoin designs, the GeocacheAlaska! nametag design, and the Kenai Peninsula Picnic salmon tag. He is currently leading the effort for the 2014 pathtags and (perhaps) geocoin and agitating to create a premium geocoin produced in conjunction with the Anchorage Centennial celebration. Scott also is deeply engaged in geocacher education and has authored and presented several PowerPoint presentations, written many newsletter articles on a variety of topics, and taught several "how to" classes through the Community College. Tony Roof/Firemanak: For creating a sense of geo-community in Interior Alaska. Tony has hosted the Interior Eduvent satellite at a variety of locations around Fairbanks and hosted "how to" events in his own home. He coordinated a team of instructors to teach geocaching through the UAF extension and to the local hiking club. He created a "Those Who Cache in the Banks" pathtag as a local fundraiser and esprit de corps builder. Tony also organized booths to promote geocaching at Fairbanks Community Events and worked with other local cachers to obtain permission for geocache placement on Eielson AFB lands that are accessible to the public. Currently, Tony is working with the United States Park Service to create a cache series associated with Alaska's National Parks. Other possibilities include davidaknz and berryseekers3 in Juneau for cache placement, CITO, and cruise ship cacher outreach through events. Berryseekers3 works for the Alaska Brewing Company, so her caches are always stocked with very cool related swag and her CITO events have feature one of ABC's trucks to haul away the refuse (I understand the afterparties are a blast, too!). I'd have to dig a bit further to flesh out their georesumes. Hopefully, the above gets people thinking. We've seen that it takes a community to grow a COTM. What sayeth the rest of the Alaska caching community???
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 1, 2014 8:24:53 GMT -9
If you would like to join the Communication Committee, please get in touch with SSO JOAT. However, I think there is still a basic need for good old-fashioned e-mail which can be accessed 24/7 quote] I can't believe you just said that LBK "old-fashioned e-mail". Good one, had me LOL. Are you trying to get me more active with e-mail communication or something?
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 1, 2014 8:26:13 GMT -9
Did my quote wrong, sorry, been a while. Old-fashioned e-mail. Classic
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 1, 2014 8:32:27 GMT -9
I would suggest getting a resume created first for LBK first. I think he would be our next best local cacher choice for COTM. Creator of GeoAK!, BOD member, secretary, vise Pres., local reviewer, advocacy work, incredible caches, nation wide geocaching educator......what else?
Ideally I would say to let the waters settle a bit in the COTM nominations from Alaska for just a short while, while resumes are created, then make a nomination in a few months.
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Post by akgh519 on Mar 1, 2014 19:06:30 GMT -9
I concur with Fuzzy.... LBK should be nominated....
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Post by NorthWes on Mar 13, 2014 8:32:17 GMT -9
I would suggest getting a resume created first for LBK first. I think he would be our next best local cacher choice for COTM. Creator of GeoAK!, BOD member, secretary, vise Pres., local reviewer, advocacy work, incredible caches, nation wide geocaching educator......what else? Ideally I would say to let the waters settle a bit in the COTM nominations from Alaska for just a short while, while resumes are created, then make a nomination in a few months. Fuzzy, you've picked possibly the single most likely person who's both an Alaskan AND someone who would be recognized by geocachers from outside of our state. Would you persist in developing the bones of his resume? We can flesh it out further at committee level and move forward from there later this mosquito season (summer).
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