I would like to introduce our local Geocaching organization, NEFGA. To do this, I prepared a set of informal questions to get a feel for who our members are and what our organization is. These members include the first president of NEFGA, Chris, aka GatoRx; Dave, aka IceCream Man, our treasurer; secretary Carolyn, aka Caraloopy; Duanne, aka nolefan9399, first vice president of NEFGA; one of the more adept comics of the group, Larry, aka StressMaster; and Crow T Robot.

Fed: Chris, you have been here since the beginning. Can you tell us a little bit about the history of NEFGA?
Chris: The idea of a geocaching organization in the Northeast Florida area had been tossed around for a while, with the first serious thoughts springing up during the first part of 2003. The concept really started coming together at the area's first CITO event in April 2003, The Greater Jacksonville Trash Out. That led to Rootsdigger's posting and organizing the organization meeting for the north Florida area in June '03, which became the first NEFGA event. The group's officers weren't elected at the time - we just volunteered to serve until an official election could take place. The first few months got quite rocky, but everything held together, and we were able to get the foundation of NEFGA set.

Fed: So, where exactly did the name NEFGA come from?
Chris: The name NEFGA came about through a simple vote at the first meeting. Several people had submitted ideas for names, and we let everyone at the meeting vote for the one they liked best. In the end, the Northeast Florida Geocachers Association was the clear winner. The running joke that comes up every once in a while was the (other) option...to use the name 'Northeast Florida Association of Geocachers.' Sounds nice, but the acronym would probably have raised a few eyebrows.
Larry: Nine Energetic Floridians Geocaching Anonymously.

Fed: Let’s talk about what NEFGA has done for the community. Chris, what have you seen since the group started?
Chris: Outside of geocaching, I'd like to think that we've helped out the communities where NEFGA members live. Two of our annual events were started before NEFGA but have been continued by the group. As I said before, the idea of the group was really set in motion at the area's first CITO event, and we've since continued that tradition. Our last CITO was at Westside Regional Park, Jacksonville's largest city-run park, and we amazed even the park staff working that day. It took three trips with a utility truck's bed loaded down with all the trash bags and assorted stuff that NEFGA members hauled out of the woods to get it all to the dumpster, and the dumpster was literally overflowing by the time we got everything to it. We also hold a Toys for Tots drive early each December, and NEFGA members have always been generous with their giving. The firemen at the station where last year's organizer dropped off the toys we collected were shocked at the amount of donations that we'd all brought.

Fed: Crow, what’s your perspective on this subject?
Crow: NEFGA has helped to galvanize the local geocaching community and has enabled them to take on and complete tasks and activities that would have been otherwise impossible. They put on regular events, including CITO, that have introduced a large number of people to geocaching and exhibited all the best that geocachers can do to help land managers and park officials.

Fed: How did your hear about NEFGA?
Carolyn: I started caching in January of this year and was very warmly welcomed via email by several local cachers. I attended my first event in June and was finally able to put some faces to all the funny names! There was no way I wasn’t joining after the great time I had at the event and seeing what a wonderful group I was being encouraged to become a part of.
Dave: I received an email (from Dave-N-Michelle, who was in charge of membership) inviting me to join for the bargain price of four postage stamps. I mean, who could turn down a bargain like that?
Crow: I first became aware of NEFGA when a group of people were trying to create a template for a statewide geocaching website. Even though they wanted NEFGA to concentrate on NE Florida, they invited everyone to join and they created quite a few regional forums so everyone could be part of the group. I joined in order to "keep my finger on the pulse" of geocaching happenings throughout the state and to give me an effective way of communicating with as many people as possible in a single setting.
Larry: I was tricked into going to an event.
Duanne: A good friend of mine was speaking of (starting) a group for a while and we just never got around to it (too many caches to go get instead of making an organization). Well, now his vision is a reality …

Fed: I am curious to know what kind of impact NEFGA has had on each cacher. What has NEFGA meant to the sport of geocaching in our area and to you personally?
Carolyn: NEFGA has served to create a real community of cachers and friends, to promote caching, welcoming new participants warmly and generally spreading the word about the sport. Personally for me, the friends I have made and having a great time at the NEFGA events I have attended have greatly enhanced my enjoyment of geocaching.
Chris: NEFGA has played a large part in expanding geocaching in the area to what it is today. There have been several instances of veteran NEFGA members helping out new cachers, explaining different ideas, and helping the new people get their feet on the ground and out caching; it's also led to some interesting caches that never would have been placed if it weren't for the relationships built through NEFGA, like The Federation Must Pay!!! On a personal level, it all goes back to the people of NEFGA. The folks who come out to events are some of the friendliest, nicest people on the planet.
Larry: NEFGA has caused a rash of sleepless nights for many local Floridians dreaming of MEFF (Most Esteemed First Finder) and Impossible Camouflage.
Dave: NEFGA has helped foster the sense of community our members feel. By offering a vehicle for and aid in sponsoring events, it has helped encourage getting together for fellowship, mentoring and competition. For me, it has been a wonderful help in making friends. … In a short amount of time we have made a lot of good friends.

Fed: What is the one key thing that makes NEFGA what it is?
Chris: Easy - it’s the people. NEFGA wouldn't be anything like it is today if it weren't for all the members; we all work together, cache together, and have fun together. NEFGA members help each other out, in both caching and non-caching matters.

Fed: What issues has NEFGA handled that most exemplifies its concerns?
Chris: Our issues with the Jacksonville Parks Department are probably a good choice. Something happened that drastically and suddenly altered our caching ways in the area, and NEFGA members quickly and efficiently organized themselves and did what was necessary to resolve the issue. [Editor’s note: Jacksonville Parks Department banned geocaches in city parks and NEFGA officers stepped up to mediate between cachers and park officials, resulting in a reversal of the ban.] They kept caching going in the area, and did it in a positive reasonable manner.
Larry: Proctology!

Fed: Don’t even ask; you really don’t want to know. Just come to Jacksonville, and you will learn.