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Written by Kathy DeWitt

Published: March 30 2013

Last Updated: March 30 2013

Hits: 1086

SLAGA Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: March 5, 2013

Present: Jim Greene, Michael Allison, Kathy DeWitt, Dave DeWitt, John Elfrank, Laurie Elfrank, Jim Nelson, Nate Rover, Wendee Scott-Dells, Rich Sheffold,

Treasurer’s report and minutes were accepted as presented. 

Old Business

·         Website: The brainstorming meeting went very well.  Lots of ideas.   Geostl.com is now transferred to SLAGA and our P.O. Box.   Web domain is paid for another year.   April 19^th the Blue Host will be due.   SLAGA board voted to renew.  Passed.

·         3/14/13 PI day: Jim Greene reported that everything is good to go.  

·         Earth Day Weekend: All the cache pages will look similar.  Wendee has created a template for all the event host to use.   Would like to see if we can link them all together. Wendee showed us the draft of the CITO shirts.  SLAGA would purchase all the shirts and get reimbursed.

·         Spring Picnic: Michael Allison will host the event.   The date is May 5^th, and will be held at Tower Grove Park.   Michael will publish the event.   More caches will be placed around the park.

·         Summer Picnic:  Kev and Tiff will host in Herculaneum. Cost is $25.   The park will provide 2 tents that are 10 X 20 with 4 picnic tables.   Cachers to bring tables and chairs.  Make sure the cache page indicates that this is a very low key event.  

·         Fall Picnic:  Dave DeWitt to look into a possible location  

·         Inventory:    John purchased some extra tables and put them in the trailer.  Dave showed the options on camping chairs. The board voted to purchasing 4 camping chairs to be placed in the trailer.  Wendee will purchase the chairs.

·         Q & A: April 11-Deer Run Branch.   Michael will do a session in May at St Louis City Library.  Nate will do a June session in Belleville.

·         Geocaching 101:  Queeny Park has classes in their summer calendar but, not on the house calendar. 

April 13^th GPS

May 4^th Geocaching 101

September 21 GPS

Oct 19 Geocaching 101  

New Business

·         Welcome membership packets:  Dues are for helping the group offset the cost of food, website, etc.  People become premium member to support the organization.

·         Newsletter: There are caches from 2008 with no finds. There are approximately 30 of them within 250 miles.   Newsletter info need to be  e-mailed to  Wendee by Friday March 8,

·         Meeting:   The next meeting will be at St. Louis Bread Company in Webster Groves on April 2^nd.   The start time will be at 6:00PM.  We will evaluate how this location works for everyone.

Meeting Adjourned

The next meeting will be April 2^nd at 6 PM.   If you want to attend, please contact one of the officers as seating is limited.

Details

Written by Kathy DeWitt

Published: February 08 2013

Last Updated: March 30 2013

Hits: 1060

SLAGA Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: February 5, 2013

Present: Jim Greene, Michael Allison, Kathy DeWitt, Dave DeWitt, John Elfrank, Laurie Elfrank, Jim Nelson, Sarah Chisholm, Nate Rover, Wendee Scott-Dells, Rich Sheffold, Glenn Nash and JoAnn Nash

Minutes were accepted as presented.

Treasurers report and minutes were accepted as presented. 

Old Business

·         SLAGA pot luck:   There were 191 people that signed the log.   We put out 2 of the SLAGA 10 year coins on the auction table.  These went for more than we were selling them for.  John suggested having a contest on the best dish (side, main dish).  Hopefully this would get more people to make something instead of going and buying something.   Several people paid their dues.   It would be nice to have some way at the events for people to pay their dues by credit card.

·         Website: Wendee put a call out for help in the January newsletter.  She had 13 people say they want to help.   Some technical and some non-technical.  They are having their first meeting February 9.   They will meet for lunch.   Wendee has reserved a room at the library for 4 hours (1-5).  They are planning on breaking into 2 groups (technical and non-technical)

·         3/14/13 PI day:  Sarah showed a picture of the event coin.   They have been ordered and SLAGA has paid for them.   The cost per coin is approximately $7.00 Informal lunch at PI, this restaurant is very busy and will want to turn tables around.   Dinner at Kirkwood Station from 3-8.  Will do a pie auction.   Bring a pie and you will take a pie home.  John and Wendee will work the pie auction.   Will also have a table to sell the coins and for the log book.   Kathy will work that table

·         Earth Day Weekend: Would like to do multiple CITO events this weekend.  Would have team captains to organize each event.   Looking into purchasing CITO shirt for the event.  Possibly doing generic CITO shirts so, we can use at other CITO events.   Shirt give-away for biggest and/or weirdest piece of trash.  Ethan (Forest Ghost) will do some research on shirts.

·         Spring Picnic: Michael did some research and found that Tower Grove Park has a pavilion that will be large enough to accommodate us.   The cost is $90 for the day.  He will check to see the availability.   He will be hosting the event.  Michael will start a data base of all parks that have pavilions large enough for our group.

·         Fall Picnic:  Mad Chef would be willing to host/cook for the event.  He would also be able to get the food at cost.   Possible locations would be Greensfelder Park or Sioux Passage Park    

·         Inventory:    Inventory of the trailer was completed after the pot luck.   It was brought up that we might need to look into purchasing more tables.   John will do some checking on tables and it was approved for him to purchase 4 tables.   Also was brought up we might need to purchase some camping chairs.   Dave DeWitt to do some research and report back at the March meeting

·         Q & A: Nate reported that the Belleville library has a room that holds 40 people.  There is a $25 deposit and $10 usage fee if you are non-profit.   Checked Nicholas Community Center and its $18 per hour.   Michael to check some on the Missouri side.   Wendee will check with Deer Run in O’Fallon.   It was approved that Nate and Michael could book the meeting places if the cost is $15 or under.  They will coordinate with each other. 

·         Geocaching 101:  Queeny Park has classes on their schedule.   Wendee will call Eric to confirm that we are the ones that are supposed to be teaching the class

April 13^th GPS

May 4^th Geocaching 101

September 21 GPS

Oct 19 Geocaching 101  

New Business

·         Basecamp Collaboration: They have been using a trial of this for the website group.   They are finding that it is very use full.   Everyone in the group will see all the conversations.   Would use for events or project (website, CITO’s).   The cost is $20 per month.  Once the new website has been rolled out, there should not be a need for this any longer.  Approved for 6 month.  At that time, will revisit and see if we need to extend.        

·         Howell Island: Hike on 2-16-13.   Wendee wants to use the hot dogs that are left over from the New Year’s Day event.   It was approved. The purchase of buns and water was also approved.   Wendee will purchase the buns and water.

·         Park Palooza at the Arch:  Wants us to set up a table on June 8^th.  Would put out temporary caches and then show people how to find them.   Wendee has agreed to set up the table. 

·         Geocaching at SIUE:   Wendee will be teaching a class on Feb 10.   She asked for the use of the GPS’s.  Strider will get them to her.

·         First aid/CPR/Wilderness first aid class:  Wendee to find out more information before we can really move forward.  

·         Welcome membership packets:  tabled till next meeting

·         Newsletter:  If you have anything to add, e-mail Wendee by Friday February 8,

Meeting Adjourned

The next meeting will be March 5^th at 7 PM.   If you want to attend, please contact one of the officers as seating is limited.

Details

Written by Kathy DeWitt

Published: January 31 2013

Last Updated: January 31 2013

Hits: 1123

SLAGA Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: January 9, 2013

Present: Jim Greene, Michael Allison, Kathy DeWitt, Dave DeWitt, John Elfrank, Laurie Elfrank, Jim Nelson, Sarah Chisholm, Nate Rover, Wendee Scott-Dells, Rich Sheffold

Minutes were accepted as presented.

Treasurers report and minutes were accepted as presented. 

Old Business

·         Business cards: Tabled at November meeting until web design is finalized.

·         Web site:  Will be asking for volunteers in the newsletter. 

·         1-1-2013: New Year’s Day events went very well.   Good turnout for breakfast and the hike.   Everyone enjoyed Tony’s event after the hike for some hot food and drinks.  

·         12/12/12: Was a very successful event.   Toy and food drive went over extremely well.   Sold out of the event coins. 

·         SLAGA pot luck:  Rich reported that we have about 75 people signed up to date.  Mustachio and meat are the only main dishes.  Still need volunteers.   Rich will purchase gift cards for bingo (3-$20 gift cards and for the travel bug race ($25, $20 and $15).   Door prizes are in the trailer.   Envelopes will be printed for persons paying SLAGA dues at the pot luck.  We have extra milestone awards for 100 and 500.  Wendee will get the milestone awards ordered.   Nate will put a sticky on the names tags of all milestone recipients so we can tell them to stick around for the awards.  Will put 2 of the SLAGA 10 year coins on the auction table.

·         Newsletter:  Newsletter will be going out this week.  Would like to use a service to track the e-mailed newsletter.   This would let us know how many people are opening the e-mail and when they open it.  The cost for this is estimated to be $10 to $15 per month.

·         3/14/13 PI day:  Informal lunch at PI and dinner at Kirkwood Station from like 3-7.   At 8PM there would be a cover charge.   Possible doing a pie auction.   Bring a pie and you will take a pie home.  Sarah is working a coin for the event.   We approved ordering 125 coins and SLAGA will cover the cost of the coins.

·         Geocaching 101: Greensfelder is an option.   Jim Strider to check with Mary or Dennis.

·         Spring/Fall Picnic: Sundays are all that is left if we don’t book early.   We need to find and book a location and then find someone to host the event.  Jim Strider to check with Mary to see which parks can hold 150 people.  Jim will also check with Kirkwood Park.

·         Supplies:  Wendee and Kathy will do the inventory after the winter pot luck    

·         Quorum:    Michael presented a change to the by-laws Article III –Board of Directors to read three fifths majority.  Currently two thirds.   Motion by Wendee to accept the new quorum as presented.  Second by Nate.  Voted and passed.  This will take affect with the next Board of Directors.

·         Elections: Michael presented a change to the by-laws Article III-Board of Directors Section 5 Elections to read “Board of Directors members are elected by organization members before the end of August.”   And “Voting will be closed August 31” Currently reads “Board of Directors members are elected by organization members before the annual SLAGA Fall Picnic”.   And   “Voting will be closed one week prior to the Fall Picnic.”   Motion by Wendee to accept new voting dates.  Seconded by Michael.   Voted and passed.   This will take affect with the next Board of Directors.

New Business

·         Tom:   SLAGA officers would like to purchase a chair for Tom for his service as president last year.  John mentioned they have purchased the chairs from Dicks Sporting Goods in years past.  Had the embroidery done in St. Peters area.  Asked John if he would be will to take care or this for us.   We approved the expense of getting the chair.       

·         Forest Park: Forest Park has asked to borrow our GPS.  They will pay for any damages.  This was approved and Jim Strider will contact them

The next meeting will be Feb 5^th at 7 PM.   If you want to attend, please contact one of the officers as seating is limited.

Details

Written by Kathy DeWitt

Published: January 04 2013

Last Updated: January 04 2013

Hits: 1107

SLAGA Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: December 3, 2012

Present: Jim Greene, Michael Allison, Kathy DeWitt, Dave DeWitt, John Elfrank, Laurie Elfrank, Jim Nelson, Sarah Chisholm

Treasures report and minutes were accepted as presented.

Old Business

· Business cards: Tabled at November meeting until web design is finalized.

· Web site: Tabled fill first of the year.

· 12/12/12: Sarah brought in the 12/12/12 event coin for us to view. Everything is all ready to go. She is expecting a good crowd. The restaurant said the room can hold 200 plus people. Will be accepting food items and toys for tots. Will be giving door prize tickets for each item donated

· SLAGA pot luck: Waiting on info from Charlotte. Looks like from the Geocaching web page everything is coming together.  

· 3/14/13 PI day: Sarah is still looking for a location for this. Tossed around some possible options.  

· Geocaching 101: Eric to talk to Wendee next week about Creve Coeur Lake as a possible location. Jim will talk to Mary to see what is available.  

· Fall Picnic: Tabled till January  

· Milestone Coins stock pile: Tabled till January

· Supplies: Wendee and Kathy have not had a chance to inventory the supplies as of yet.

· Q&A  Tabled till January

· Quorum: Tabled till January do to we didn’t have a quorum at the meeting.

· Newsletter: Tabled till January.

New Business

· 1-1-2013: Tony Colter is having an event and Wendee asked if SLAGA would pay for hot dogs/buns for the event. Kathy would be able to get hot dogs at a reasonable price. Approved with an e-mail vote from Wendee.

· Pavilion/Shelters: It was mentioned that we might have to start planning on paying for the shelters that we use at the St. Louis County Parks. We had someone who worked at the park that would reserve them for us but, has since retired. This will also include our Winter Pot Luck at the shelter at Jefferson Barracks which is costly.

The next meeting will be Jan 9^th at 7 PM. If you want to attend, please contact one of the officers.

Details

Written by Kathy DeWitt

Published: January 04 2013

Last Updated: January 04 2013

Hits: 1003

SLAGA Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: November 7, 2012

Many thanks to Wendee for taking care of the minutes for this meeting.

Present: Wendee Scott-Dells, Nate Rover, Michael Allison, Jim Nelson, Jim Greene Sarah Chisholm, Elonka Dunin.

Treasurer’s Reports:       Jim delivered Treasurer’s Report and all presented was accepted.

Secretary’s Report:         Minutes from the October meeting were accepted as read.

Committee / Special Events Reports

Ø  Geocaching 101 (Queeny Park)

o   Wendee reported on the turn out at Geocaching 101.

o   Queeny Park has asked to relocate this event to another venue.  No agreement has been made.

o   Jim Greene will check with his STL CO Park contact to determine if there is another venue we can use for future training activities.

Ø  12/12/12 / Christmas Party

o   Sarah reported that the plans are coming together well for the event.  The venue has been set.

o   A toy drive and food drive will be taking place at the event. 

o   Sarah will need seed cache and tickets for door prizes.

Ø  SLAGA Potluck and Cabin Fever 2013

o   Date has been set.  Will wait to hear more from Charlotte regarding event details.

Ø  3/14/13 / PI Day

o   Sarah introduced another event for SLAGA to participate at. 

o   Venue to be determined.

o   Considering coins for the event; will need funding to prepay for coins.

Old Business

Ø  Tabled Quorum Topic

o   Discussed the need for amending the by-laws for the 2014 board to have a 3-member quorum, rather than a 4-member quorum.

o   Michael Allison volunteered to write a proposal for the amended by-law and present at the December meeting.

Ø  Newsletter

o   Wendee proposed the concept of paying for a Newsletter service.  Service will provide statistics and feedback on viewership. 

o   Wendee will research and share findings at the December meeting.

Ø  Business Cards

o   Jim received quotes on business cards.  Quotes were a bit higher than expected.

o   Discussion regarding design took place to consider designing a business card that complements the future web site design.

o   Subject tabled until web site design is finalized.

Ø  Q & A

o   Wendee asked Michael Allison and Nate Rover to begin plans for 2013 Q & A events to get the events on the calendar.

o   Suggestions for 2014 are Feb / Mar / Apr  in St. Charles / Cliff Cave / Illinois, respectively.

Ø  Web Site Steering Committee Formation

o   After the holidays, the plans for the new web site will start taking place.  SLAGA members will be asked to give input, ideas, and feedback for the new site.

o   After ideas are received and brainstorming concludes, volunteers will be selected to manage Design, Function, Content, and Architecture.

Ø  Duplicate Membership Audit

o   Nate Rover verified that this not an error in the database.  The report indicating duplicate membership was an error in the query. 

Ø  SLAGA Trailer Inventory

o   Wendee will get together with Kathy DeWitt to set up a time to go to Festus and take inventory of the trailer before the end of the 2012 calendar year.

New Business

Ø  STL County Parks

o   STL Co Park, Queeny Park, has asked us to find a new venue for this training course. 

o   As mentioned in Committees & Special Events reports, Jim Greene will contact his STL CO Park contact and determine if support and a new venue can be found within the STL CO Parks.

Ø  Girl Scouts / Boy Scouts Geocaching Training Requests

o   Many groups have been contacting the SLAGA members to request special training courses in Geocaching.

o   The board agreed that we could train the leaders and provide them with materials to train their individual scouts.

Ø  SLSAGA Asset Locator Document

o   A document will be created on the GOOGLE DRIVE to manage locating SLAGA’s assets of higher value.  Currently, the assets are divided amongst board members.

Ø  Billing for Blue Host.com

o   Jim informed us that the bill for BlueHost.com was coming due at the amount of $13.99.

Ø  Meetup.com

o   Elonka purposed mirroring events from the SLAGA / Geocaching.com pages to a Meetup site organized for Geocaching.

o   Nate suggested scaling back to just Geoc aching 101 events on Meetup.com, rather than the potlucks and special events.

o   Cost of Meetup.com is $144 / year.

Ø  T-shirt Sales

o   Elonka requested that the SLAGA events have cash and carry t-shirt sales.

o   Nate voiced concern about ordering, risks.

o   Michael suggested heavier advertising on Cafe Press.

Ø  Fall Picnic

o   Discussion took place about considering the board having the responsibility for locking in the day and location of the Fall Picnic. 

o   SLAGA members interested in hosting the fall picnic would only have to be tasked with event details and logistics on the day of.

Ø  Milestone Coins Stock Pile

o   Wendee discussed the concern about the stock pile of personalized milestone coins in her possession.

o   She proposed to the group that the members be contacted and arrangements be made to deliver the coin.

Ø  Brian DeLay, HealthyFamz Magazine Article

o   HealthyFamz Magazine has contacted SLAGA to provide two articles on Geocaching.  Articles are due before end of 2012 Calendar year.

The next meeting will be DEC 3RD at 7 PM.