This is an email we received on our yahoo group:


Hello CVCachers!

Columbus Ga. now has a connection with Newport News Va. I wanted to share with all of you, what I encountered just the other day, with our Parks and Recs. department in Newport News.

We are a multi-city area and geocaching is becoming a huge part of our area. Parks and Recs. within these cities are taking notice to a growing sport. Newport News has decided to build a partnership with the geocaching community,they have been working with us now, for a couple years. This year, they are starting to use the use, of park stickers on caches,to monitor the amount of caches in the parks,in their city.

While sitting in the office at Parks and Rec.,discussing the proposed policy,they shared with me, that they are working and talking with groups outside our area. I was pleased when they started talking about my hometown,of Columbus,Ga. They have been talking with your Parks and Rec. about the policies and partnership you have created in your area.They have also been in touch, with Parks and Rec.,in other states.

I just wanted to share with all of you,the impact, that you have with Parks and Rec. Your partnership with them,your policies, and your positive impact on your community,is now being shared with groups outside your state.

Keep up the good work in your area,you are creating a great name for your group and your city. Please know,that the decisions you now make in your area,just might effect areas outside your state as well.

Great Job CVCachers!

Cheryl
(tomcatatgod)


This was my response:

What interesting news. Cheryl (Mrs. Tomcat) called me the other day to tell me about this. I confirmed that the HR park & recs department in Virginia is indeed talking with Cammy and Dana of Columbus Parks & Rec. Both ladies are very proud of the relationship built between the cachers and the community. I also learned that Parks & recs departments country wide talk and share information with each other. A lot is being discussed about geocaching so it is important that we nurture and maintain a good relationship with our parks department and city. We need to remember that even what we do at a local level can affect geocaching has a whole. We need to keep in mind that this is a world wide sport.

We are very fortunate to have a well established organization of geocachers at the state level - GGA. We need to refer to them whenever we are faced with a group or organization that wants to get involved with geocaching. They may already have or know of policies that are in place. If a policy is not in place then they can work on developing a policy working through or with the local cacher when needed. We can create and maintain relationships with our local parks, organizations and government but I feel it is important that we share what we are doing with other cachers in our state for a couple of reasons. One, we can share some helpful hints and ideas of what works and what doesn't. Second, we may find that a policy may already be established. Remember the saying "united we stand divided we fall."

I really think that the more people get into geocaching and start looking for areas to hold events they will encounter local, state and national groups that want to get involved in geocaching. When you do please don't go on your own to establish the relationship. Bring the information back to the group. Then we can work together to find out if a relationship already exist or if we need to take it to the state level for help.

I am very proud of the cachers in our area. You are responsible, respectful and try to maintain a high quality of geocaching in our area.

Thank your for your participation and support!
Theresa
TGBear

Saying "Well Done!!" doesn't even come close.

So, I'll just say that I am very, very proud of y'all!

Great job! Columbus is certainly admirably progressive when it comes to it's parks authorities embracing geocaching. Excellent!


~erik~