Fall Update From the President
Hello there NoVAGO!!!
I’ve been feeling the fall excitement lately. Planting mums, watching the school’s homecoming parade, watching marching band, having an Oktoberfest brew, car shows, and a hot bowl of chili on a cool night. All these things are making up days and nights of my life lately. But, I’m also thinking about all the wonderful things going on inside the geocaching community. It’s a lot to keep straight, even for me. So I thought I’d sit down and put all the important goings-on in one place.
I encourage you to visit the website and read through the blog. There have recently been several great articles added by some of our members. Here are some other highlights that you don’t want to miss:
Autumn CITOs!
We’ve been doing good deeds around Northern Virginia. So far since September, we’ve assisted the Forest Park High School Student Environmental Association, with a Park ’n Ride cleanup (GCBWRA7). We’ve cleaned up the Mayfield Fort Historic Site in Manassas (GCBWFX6). And, we’ve pulled our kayaks out for the Upper Occoquan River CITO (GCBXDZN).
October CITO opportunities:
- NoVAGO FOTO Floato CITO Fall 26 (GCBXDZE) October 3, 9am-11am, Clifton
- Would you like to host a CITO in your area of Northern Virginia? We can give you the support you need. Just let us know.
NoVAGO20
That’s right. We’ve been bringing the geocaching community together for twenty years. While our official anniversary is next January, we are celebrating right up through then with events and a fun geocaching series. Our kickoff event was a rowdy, museum-style experience on September 13th. The event exhibited our past achievements, while leaving the door open to all the new adventures to come. We even hosted a scouting group to close the loop on our twenty year mission of geocaching education. What a wonderful way to officially start off our new series: NoVAGO20.
The NoVAGO20 series, coordinated in no small part by sedor18, will include cache(s) for each year. And maybe a few extras before it’s all done. Each has a theme related to the tradition of gifting. For example, a first year anniversary gift is traditionally gift of paper, so the first cache would be a letterbox naturally. Maybe you’re an untraditional gift giver and prefer to give daffodils for the tenth anniversary; there will be a cache for that, too! Keep your eyes on facebook for weekly announcement of what’s publishing, so you don’t get left behind.
Photo of the Month Contest:
Did you know we have a photo of the month contest on our website? Every month there is a new theme. You can upload your entry during the first half of the month. Voting happens during the second half of the month. The October theme is “Logbook Legacy”. Find more info on our website.
Pathtag Design Contest
Have a great idea for the 2027 NoVAGO 20th Anniversary pathtag? Your art could be famous. Make sure to send in your submission to pathtag.contest@novago.org. Thanks to MJBinski and Awesnap for acting as co-artistic directors for this project. Entries are due before Halloween, please. More info HERE.
On a somewhat related note, DePhogration has designed a new backing for your Flashtag orders. Let the geocaching world know that you love NoVAGO!
🍂 NoVAGO’s 2026 Fall Picnic and Auction 🍂
Sunday, October 18, 11am-2pm in Arlington
Thank you to the volunteers who’ve already signed up to help out. We still need auction support, so that our coordinator can get a chance to grab a burger and socialize a bit.
Here’s your fall picnic to-do list:
1. Log your will-attend. We need to know how much to buy.
2. Share what you’re bringing to the potluck. So we don’t end up with sixty packs of cookies, please! 😉
3. Bring your auction item.
4. Bring cash.
5. Bring your camera.
6. Bring your good shoes. There will be new caches in the park.
Inside the NoVAGO Boardroom
Ever wonder what actually happens at a NoVAGO board meeting? Our meetings are typically held remotely over Zoom and are open to members by request. We start with introductions and, when needed, give members an opportunity to address the board. From there, we move through announcements and committee reports, followed by the less glamorous — but important — business of keeping the club running.
Our meeting minutes are posted in the members-only forums, so they’re a great way to keep up with what’s happening behind the scenes. And while the meetings can get a little tedious once we get deep into planning and logistics, these are the conversations where we turn ideas into events, projects, and activities for the club.
Over the next few months, we’ll also be looking for volunteers to fill several important roles. By the end of December, we hope to have identified the Cache Awards Committee for next spring’s event, volunteers to audit the Treasurer’s books, and someone to host our annual Thanks event in January. These roles are usually not difficult to fill, but there is always room for fresh talent on the many side projects that keep NoVAGO moving. If you have a little time and energy to spare, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Officer Elections
Last but not least, a very important part of the continued success of NoVAGO over the last twenty years has been the regular change of leadership on the board. When new people join the board, they bring with them a fresh energy and often a diversity of thought. I know I can speak on behalf of all the officers of the board when I say that it has been an honor to be trusted to manage the club for you. If you’ve been with the club for a while and think you might have what it takes to step into one of the roles, please reach out to our Officer Nominations and Elections Committee. Elections are in December, but we want to be able to answer any questions you might have and perhaps let you join a meeting before you decide it is right for you.