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Thread: Resignation as a Groundspeak Volunteer

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    North Wales
    Posts
    675

    Exclamation Resignation as a Groundspeak Volunteer

    It is with a extremely heavy heart [in fact over the last 24 hours, I've shed many a tear, as I've told people, ad read messages] that of Midnight GMT+1 13th June 2014. I ceased to be a Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer.

    Over the last few months, the gulf between how I work to provide the best support the community needs and deserves. And how Groundspeak expect me to work in a Corporate manner. Has widened to such a extent, that it became irreparable.

    The recent incident, which because I achieved a perfect result means I bow out on Cloud Nine,

    Has show that Groundspeak has lost it's way, it regards to it's customers, who are hobbyists. And now instead requires them to be treated as business customers.

    So it was with a heavy heart, that I found that I could not meet Groundspeak's requirements to comply with a multi page document on accepted behaviour. Which override the needs of the community to comply with Corporate Ethos.

    This issue being deliberately escalated to cause as much trouble for me personally, by a individual I will not name. Made me realise, just how much Groundspeak has lost it's way.

    The company which started off as one Owned and Run by Geocachers, has grown into one so large. That people with specialised skills have had to be brought on board, these people not being Geocachers, but being turned into Geocachers. Means that the true understanding of the Hobby and the people who form it's community, has been lost to a Corporate Ethos. Where the Company comes before the needs of the customer.

    Several months ago, Groundspeak were "requiring" a Cache Owner to post to a Cache Description, That is was "not" to be accessed, by RoW, because the Landowner of the property the RoW ran over, but not the property the cache was located on. Requested so.

    Despite me sending 2 very polite and clear emails to Groundspeak, explaining that the "requirement" was illegal under UK Access Laws. I got the reply back "Groundspeak complies with all reasonable requests by a Landowner", this showed a lack of understanding of Local Law, and a total ignoring of what I had explained.

    To block the "requirement" I was forced to send a strong worded email, pointing out, that if the "requirement" was posted to the Cache Page. It would open the Cache Owner and possibly Groundspeak for requiring it to be posted, to Legal Action under UK Access Laws.

    But despite the fact I had first made two attempts to politely and quietly resolve the issue. Having both being ignored. I became the person at fault.

    From that point forward, I knew that the gulf between what was best for the community, and Groundspeak's now Corporate Ethos was getting ever wider.

    So I spent several months, dreading every direct email off Groundspeak, wondering when they came in, whether that would be the one to remove me as a Volunteer.

    So when the current issue arose, and I did what I had to stop a small community from splintering to pieces. This was not taken into account, despite a offer to request those involved in the dispute, contact Groundspeak directly.

    Instead I was informed that because I had failed to read the multi page document, on expected Reviewer behaviour, and comply. I had 14 days in which to resign or be removed as a Volunteer.

    I chose the immediate option of resigning and set the cut off as Midnight GMT+1 13th June. Because I can no longer Volunteer for a Company, which has so lost it's way, and instead become like any other company in that it has become a Corporate Entity.

    I would like to thank my former colleagues, who are special friends. I have been blessed and privileged to work with you, and watch the team grow.

    Not working with you, will just like no longer being a Volunteer, leave a huge hole in both my life and my heart.

    To the community I can only say that I owe so much gratitude for the last eight years, which have been so special. That now words can adequately express my gratitude to you

    So with tears in my eyes, and a heavy heart, for the final time I sing off with

    Deceangi
    My post is my personal opinion and as such you do not have my permission to quote me outside of these forums!

    Dave
    Brenin Tegeingl
    Formerly known as Mancunian Pyrocacher on GC

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    696

    Default

    Wow, I'm sure things must have been bad to force you to make this decision Dave, so I'll just say thanks for all you've done in the past and wish you well going forward.

    Martym

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Wiltshire
    Posts
    5,520

    Default

    I'm very sorry to hear that, Dave. Many thanks for all the time and effort you've put into caching over the years, and all the best for the future! :cheers:
    ​​Do not go gentle into that good night.
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light. (Dylan Thomas)​


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Chippenham, Wiltshire
    Posts
    2,145

    Default

    Dave I am so sorry to read this because I know how much this meant to you. You have shaped geocaching in the UK over many years by sheer hard work and it was always genuinely a pleasure to work with you. Many thanks for your efforts over such a long period.


    Caching since 2001
    Founder member of GAGB (2003)
    Committee (2003-2013)
    Chair of GAGB (2010-2012)
    Negotiator of 18 Landowner Agreements
    GAGB Friend

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    The Mendips, Somerset
    Posts
    2,781

    Default

    Dave

    As I have said elsewhere, I am very sorry to hear this news and I know that sentiment has been shared by many others in the posts I have read in some of the Facebook groups.

    I would like to thank you for your hard work and contributions to geocaching in the UK over the last 8 years as a reviewer and as a supporter of GAGB since it was first formed in 2003.

    I don't think I will ever get used to called you Mancunian Pyrocacher though … you have been ‘Deci’ to so many of us for so long.

    Jen
    GAGB member since 2005
    GAGB Committee member 2010 to 2016 (Chair 2012 to 2015)
    UK Mega Event Chairman 2009 (Weston-super-Mare)


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    38

    Default

    I'm extremely saddened to see you go as a reviewer, Dave, as I've always seen you as a cornerstone of UK caching. I too thank you for all the hard work you've put into the hobby and wish you all the best for the future.

    Geoff

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Shropshire
    Posts
    1,094

    Default

    Thank you for all your hard work over the years, Dave. I know it can't have been an easy decision for you.

    Look forward to seeing you out and about.

    I agree with Jen though - Mancunian Pyrocacher just doesn't roll as easily off the tongue as Deci!
    GAGB Member since 2009
    UK Mega West Mids Committee - Treasurer 2011 - 2013
    GAGB Committee - Treasurer 2016 -

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mancunian View Post
    Several months ago, Groundspeak were "requiring" a Cache Owner to post to a Cache Description, That is was "not" to be accessed, by RoW, because the Landowner of the property the RoW ran over, but not the property the cache was located on. Requested so.

    Despite me sending 2 very polite and clear emails to Groundspeak, explaining that the "requirement" was illegal under UK Access Laws. I got the reply back "Groundspeak complies with all reasonable requests by a Landowner", this showed a lack of understanding of Local Law, and a total ignoring of what I had explained.

    To block the "requirement" I was forced to send a strong worded email, pointing out, that if the "requirement" was posted to the Cache Page. It would open the Cache Owner and possibly Groundspeak for requiring it to be posted, to Legal Action under UK Access Laws.

    Deceangi
    I am sorry but please explain this issue clearly I do not understand what is being required?

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    North Wales
    Posts
    675

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by crofter56 View Post
    I am sorry but please explain this issue clearly I do not understand what is being required?

    Cache A was on Landowner i's land
    Cache B was on Landowner ii's land

    Cache A was on a RoW.

    The Landowner i requested that the cache was removed. That was not the issue, and was perfectly acceptable.

    However the RoW runs from the Road to Landowner ii's property.

    Landowner A made a request to Groundspeak, that a message was put on Cache B's page stating

    That the RoW was not to be used to access the cache location. This was then passed by Groundspeak to the person who owned both A & B as a requirement.

    Groundspeak would not accept the advice I gave them twice, that this was a illegal act, under UK Access Laws. And it took a third email, which pointed out that the Cache Owner in complying and themselves in requiring the message, risked prosecution under UK Access Laws, before the requirement for the message to be put on the Cache Page B was withdrawn.

    It is interesting to note, that Landowner i, has built a brick pillar on the actual start of the RoW, with a clear intent to dissuade people from using it. This is visible on Google Street View

    Yet despite my fighting to protect both the Cache Owner and Groundspeak from making a Illegal Act,I was the person at fault. Something Groundspeak have as of yet failed to admit that they were at fault, by placing the requirement on the CO, and by failing to listen to advice given to them, by a Local Volunteer.

    As to how I found out about the whole issue? It was publicly posted on Facebook before I took the action of contacting Groundspeak to inform them, that the requirement to post the illegal message to the cache page.

    There is more, which forms a extremely nasty part of the whole incident, but one which I'll not post here.

    All the above is documented, some on Facebook, some in emails. So I fully back my statement.

    To make it clear, it is a illegal act under UK Access Laws, to Block or Discourage the Legal Accessing of a Right of Way- RoW. And that is what Groundspeak was attempting to do, on behalf of the Landowner.

    The Landowner can not stop nor discourage any Geocacher, from traversing along the RoW, to access Cache B from the start of the RoW at the road. Neither can Groundspeak, but that is what they were attempting to do.

    The above action was taken under my Deceangi Account, whilst active as a Groundspeak Volunteer.

    Dave
    Mancunian Pyrocacher
    My post is my personal opinion and as such you do not have my permission to quote me outside of these forums!

    Dave
    Brenin Tegeingl
    Formerly known as Mancunian Pyrocacher on GC

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