Looking Back at 2017
Cache of the Month
GoSA Committee Update

Looking back at 2017

In our newsletters this year, we highlighted Spesbona’s caching streak, geocaching weekends, putting a small town on the map, caching adventures, awards and a special geopet. If you missed these stories read them here.

We travelled with Signal to different parts of the world and celebrated Donerstag and Canada Day. We celebrated 3 million active geocaches, 17 years of geocaching and went on an adventure to find the lost treasure of Mary Hyde. Lastly, a BIG event was announced for 2018, the 2018 Jolly Jozi Jol (GC7DAJM).

Geocaching HQ (formally known as Groundspeak, the company that runs geocaching.com) unveiled many new things last year and here is a brief summary of the major news:

The classic app was retired in March with the Geocaching app being the sole Geocaching HQ app going forward.
Jeremy Irish stepped down as president with Bryan Roth taking the helm.
The Misson 9: Tunnel of Light Project Ape cache was resurrected
Logging changes were implemented on the website
The profile page was updated and the dashboard page received a new interface. This included a new events calendar and an owner maintenance reminder.
The new cache icons and DNFs were added to the geocaching map and the solved coordinates of mystery geocaches became visible on the map.
New Virtual geocaches became a reality. 4000 cachers have the opportunity of placing a new virtual cache. See SA’s new virtual caches here.
A basic mystery cache checker was added to the website.

Wow, so many things happened in 2017 and we look forward to seeing what 2018 will hold! May 2018 be filled with many memorable geocaching experiences for you!

Cache of the Month

We received many excellent nominations for the first cache of the month and it was a real challenge to decide on a winner. After much deliberation, we are proud to announce that Electric Monkey, GC7EHTP has been selected as the Cache of the Month for January 2018!

Congratulations to Wh00 for creating an amazing large cache that is stocked with lots of swag for the kids!

Do you know of a cache that is worthy of the title of Cache of the Month? Please nominate it for the GoSA Cache of the Month by emailing the details (name, GC code) as well as a justification as to what makes it so amazing. Please include as much detail as possible even if it does include spoilers to help us make an informed choice for the winner - if possible please include a picture of the cache as well. The nominations we have already received for January will also be eligible for next months' award.

Please send your nominations to .

Souvenirs

Did you get your old year and new year souvenirs by finding caches on the 31st December and 1st January?

Another opportunity for a souvenir is coming your way as Signal continues to celebrate geocaching around the world. Our favourite frog will be visiting Australia to cache like an Australian. As part of the celebration, you can earn the Australia Day 2018 souvenir by hosting or attending an event between Friday, January 26 and Sunday, January 28, 2018. Learn more here.

Check out the South African events for Australia Day that are already published here.

GoSA Committee Update

At the AGM on the 9th of December the following members were elected to the committee for 2017 / 2018:
Chairman - Erik Lear (Fier)
Treasurer - Lucia Rodrigues (LuciaMPR)
Secretary - Chris Booysen (ChrisDen)
Member - Bruce Pantland (BruceTP / Pte Curb)
Member - Graham Thomas (ThomasFamilyZA)
Member - Delbert Botes (Delbadore)
Member - Hennie van Zyl (Henzz)
Member - Marius Kruger (The Huskies)
All the best to the new committee!

At the meeting it was agreed to update the criteria for being a member of the GoSA organisation. If you would like to join as a member you need to confirm that in writing to us. You need to be a registered cacher and must have been active in geocaching in the last 12 months. We do not charge membership fees. We encourage all geocachers in South Africa to become a member of GoSA.

We are always on the lookout for photos from events or cool caches, as well as any fun, interesting, unusual or exciting geocaching stories to share with the geocaching community. If you want to share yours, send it to us by emailing it to our webmasters.

GoSA Grapevine January 2018 - Happy New Year

Looking back at 2017

Cache of the Month

Souvenirs

GoSA Committee Update