Geowoodstock

[drmo913]

Could Arkansas host a Geowoodstock?
I'm sure we have the support for it.
Which city would be best? Little Rock? Clarksville? Hot Springs? Conway?

Is there an area large enough? Which area has the best caches?

What critera is considered by Groundspeak?

[idratherbehiking]

The events committee began exploring this possibility over a year ago. At that time the main issue was finding enough volunteers to pull off such a large event. This is definitely something we want to continue to work toward.
I have quite a bit of info I gathered back then but I will send out a few emails to see if there is an updated requirements list. Below is the list of requirements for GW12. As you can see there is a lot of work that would need to be done to pull this off and it would take at least a year of planning to do it right.


The following is a list of criteria for site selection for GeoWoodstock in 2012, but this could be added to

We do not expect every bid to answer every single point in a positive
way but the points that include "must" or "mandatory" will not be
compromised. Some points do not have this wording but obviously would be
deal breakers if they could not be met e.g. venue size. We encourage all
who are interested to submit an offer to host this fine event!

1. DESIRE!, to Host the worlds largest Geocaching Event

2. You had to be there!
A. "Feel" of the event must be maintained!
B. Past GW attendance necessary to know what worked and what didn't.
C. Date of event must be the Saturday of either Memorial Day weekend
or July 4th weekend.

3. Local Organization
A. Enthusiasm!
B. Experience with holding events
C. Longevity of group
D. Sufficient volunteers to staff event.

4. Venue availability
A. Size big enough to support expected crowd.
B. Geocache friendly area (e.g. not in a National Park) or this may be the time
C. Local tourism board involvement a plus!
D. Parking! Parking! Parking! (or a well thought out shuttle system)
E. Availability of vendor area to help recoup expenses. Local laws,
sales taxes, etc. must be adhered to!
F. Suitable PA system that can be heard by all attendees within the
main area of the event.

5. Financing
A. Financial integrity a must!
B. Deep pockets not required but helpful.
C. This is not a big money maker but has not lost any money either
D. Event attendance is FREE and must stay that way! ( this is of course unless a is a fee to enter the area , like a state park, or town. )
E. Coins and Pins has always made the coins for all GW, but in 2010 the field is open to any vendor, it will be the hosting orgs choice.
F. Silent or regular auction possibility for funding event.

6. Geocaching
A. High density of well maintained, quality caches a big plus, ( high density not a deal breaker but well maintained caches is )
B. Planned cache runs not mandatory but highly suggested e.g. before or after. GW3
cache runs, historical, 4X4, drive bys for handicapped or for numbers runners were the best so far. Believe it or not this was one of three things that groundspeak officials said was needed for better mingling and fun for attendees , these can be done with just bookmark list, does not have to have a guide

C. GW is a one day event! Early bird meet-n-greets, after events allowed by groundspeak as long as GW is a one day event.

7. Must use the Geowoodstock.com web address maintained by groundspeak and linked to your website for information about the event with updates

8. Everything must be within Groundspeaks guidelines, we do work with them

9. The host organization will and can control the use of the GeoWoodstock ( trade marked ) name on anything, meaning: if a vendor or anyone wishes to make anything with the name for the event. The hosting org receives all the proceeds.

[drmo913]

Thanks for sharing! I would love to help us bring this to Arkansas.

[Jffok]

I have never attended a woodstock event but did attending a planning meeting in Okla. City. Two Okla. area groups and one Texas group were joining together in an attempt to host this in Oklahoma. Their plan was to submit for 2012, 2013 or 2014. I am not sure on any of the final details but know they was a lot involved to be able to host this size event. It would be awesome to see it held close by in Ark. or Oklahoma.

[cfd29]

There is a lot involved and much in advance, I understand from one of the committee members that the locations for 2012 and 2013 are already locked in, so I guess 2014 is the first one not awarded yet, I think that 2012 will be somewhere in the Louisville KY area or on the Indiana side, just from some of the blogs, guess we will know in a little over a month where 2012 will be.

[cfd29]

I know someone is taking the banner, I would like for all us Arkansas people to try to get together sometime during Geowoodstock so we can take a picture of all of us while there. We are on a tight schedule and having to leave early Sun morning so we won't be there for your event, but would sure like for all of us to get together for just a few min on Saturday

[Coon&Bud]

Louisville would be great I have a sister who lives there and a Niece. Coon&Bud

[cfd29]

It is close to Louisville!! Sellersburg IN, just 9 miles north of Louisville, yay, here we come, May 26, 2012

[topkitty98]

I wonder why it's in May? That seems early.

[cfd29]

All the Geowoodstocks have been held on Memorial Day weekend, except for the last two that were held over the July 4th weekend because they were held further north and the weather was still OK for that time of year, since next year it is back to the central US, it goes back to the original Memorial Day date.

[Spice]

Could Arkansas host a Geowoodstock?
I'm sure we have the support for it.
Which city would be best? Little Rock? Clarksville? Hot Springs? Conway?

Is there an area large enough? Which area has the best caches?

What critera is considered by Groundspeak?

I think Arkansas could host GeoWoodstock and would be a great state to host it. In my opinion I think that there is only one thing listed in the criteria that has to be overcome to cause it to happen.


D. Sufficient volunteers to staff event.

To be honest there would be plenty of enthusiasm for GeoWoodstock to be in Arkansas, but there would have to be volunteers to work. My experience in the past in every organization I have been involved in there is a group of people who are always willing to help and get things done while there are others who are always saying the way things need to be done. ArkGeo is no different. People would have to not just talk about hosting it and saying how they think it should be done they would have to volunteer to work.

How can ArkGeo began to really work toward hosting GeoWoodstock? I think that all of the members need to start by volunteering for a committee and then not only be on the committee, but be active. I have to confess as a member of ArkGeo and as past president I have been guilty of not stepping up and doing all the things I should have done, but remember this is for FUN. Life and family comes first, so there are times that some could not help. That's why we need to grow our membership to have a larger group to work on committees and then when someone can't help maybe someone else can.

How do we grow our membership? This has been the timeless question for the board in the past. Each and everyone of us can still geocache without being a member of ArkGeo. ArkGeo in the past has worked to promote geocaching in Arkansas and worked with various agencies (Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish, etc.). There is a need for ArkGeo in Arkansas even if we all don't realize it. Without ArkGeo geocaches might have been banned in Arkansas State Parks. ArkGeo is not just a place to talk about it, but do it.

I challenge myself and everyone else to volunteer to do what you can for ArkGeo and help out with committees and events, then maybe we can start working to host GeoWoodstock in Arkansas.

[drmo913]

I think Arkansas could host GeoWoodstock and would be a great state to host it. In my opinion I think that there is only one thing listed in the criteria that has to be overcome to cause it to happen...
...How can ArkGeo began to really work toward hosting GeoWoodstock? I think that all of the members need to start by volunteering for a committee and then not only be on the committee, but be active. I have to confess as a member of ArkGeo and as past president I have been guilty of not stepping up and doing all the things I should have done, but remember this is for FUN. Life and family comes first, so there are times that some could not help. That's why we need to grow our membership to have a larger group to work on committees and then when someone can't help maybe someone else can.


I'd be more than willing to help on any committee. I signed up at the State Meeting, but I left the committee desired blank because I'll serve wherever there's a need. I was approached by a couple of people about working on their committees, but I've not heard from them since.

What needs to be done?

[kcackler]

Morgan - You were placed on the Membership Relations Committee. You should see the committee forum at the bottom of the forum listing (http://arkgeocaching.org/forumdisplay.php?20-Membership-Relations-Committee)

[drmo913]

Morgan - You were placed on the Membership Relations Committee. You should see the committee forum at the bottom of the forum listing (http://arkgeocaching.org/forumdisplay.php?20-Membership-Relations-Committee)

Hurrah! I wish I would have been notified, but I'll take late over never. Thanks!