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Newly elected officers take office at the annual fall picnic and serve a 2-year term.

Our current Officers:

President
Name: Michael Smith
Caching Name: cootie_man
Caching Since:March, 2012
Number of Caches: 9,675

In 2012, with my then 9-year-old daughter and a friend, we attempted to find a geocache in the park behind our house. We failed at that attempt. Over 6 years later, I was re-introduced to Geocaching by C3GPS, the father of one of my daughter’s high school friends. I remember finding four that day and ending the excursion with ice cream. At that point, my interest was piqued and after a few more finds and happy hour events, I realized this was becoming a passion of mine. Since then I have hit the ground running, reaching 1,000 finds in just over 10 months and finding caches 450 straight days and counting. When C3GPS is not continuing to mentor me, one will find me caching with wife, Uga_Mom and the muggle child who gave me my cache name as she always says I have cooties. Others also know me for my picture taking (including selfies), uncomfortably long hugs, love of ice cream/frozen custard and being an introvert.

 

Vice President
John Layman2Name: John Layman
Caching Name: vorlon40
Caching Since: 2015
Number of Caches: 6,189

Back in 2014 St. Louis celebrated its 250th birthday by placing more than 250 4’ tall fiberglass cakes decorated by local artists all around the area. Cindy and I traveled around to see all of them, exploring and recording our visits in their app. After that year we were looking for something else to do together to continue our area explorations. I had recently taken a class in this odd thing called geocaching at Trout Lodge using a yellow Garmin eTrex GPS, finding some hole punchers hidden in the area. It was fun so after that cake year, in early 2015, I signed up for a geocaching account using my existing online handle, vorlon40. I found my first cache close to home with a Garmin Nuvi car GPS but quickly switched to using Cindy’s smartphone, since I didn’t have one at that time. I eventually got my own smartphone and a GPS, which helps on the long hikes in the wilderness I like to take. One of my favorite cache adventures was a 5/5 which involve solving a two stage cypher and then hiking a 6.5 mile, two stage multi up the ski slopes of Copper Mountain, CO from 10,000 to 12,000 feet. Since our start we have found almost 4000 caches in about 30 states so far, attending many local and out-of-state events, and adopting several caches in the area. Keep on caching and Savor the Journey.

 

Vice President
Geokid12

Name: Robert Klemme
Caching Name: Geokid12
Caching Since: August 6, 2007
Number of Caches: 10,480

Born & raised in St Louis, I was first introduced to geocaching in 2007 through Boy Scouts when my troop, Troop 821, ran through the Whitecliff Cache Course with our Garmin eTrex Legends. Enthralled by the act of putting coordinates into a GPSr and hunting something down I signed up and bought my own eTrex . I was 12 at the time which is where the 12 in my username comes from. Between being reliant on others for transportation, working towards my Eagle Scout, & schoolwork, it was a slow go and I only reached about 400 before heading off to college in Rolla. Studies kept me busy and I didnt have a single find for 575 days straight between August 2014 & February 2016. After graduating in 2017 with a BS in Computer Engineering & finding work at ShipWorks, I had time to get back into Geocaching especially now that I could drive myself. Also finally got involved socially with SLAGA which really motivated me to get out there and cache! Currently working on a find streak of 400+ days, hopefully will continue until I've exceeded my no find streak. Adventure Awaits!

 

Secretary
Name: Susan Adams
Caching Name: Treasure Isle
Caching Since:July, 2012
Number of Caches: 5191

In the summer of 2012, my family vacationed in Berlin, Germany. My older sister (kusunflower) asked if I’d be interested in looking for a geocache that was within walking distance of our hotel. I was pleased that I actually made the find. We picked up a few other caches on that trip. For the next several years, whenever my sister and I were on vacation together (about once a year) I picked up 2-5 caches. In 2019, about a year after I retired from a busy pediatric practice, the Mystery at the Museum challenge caught my interest. I’ve gradually upped my game each year since then. I love finding birthday caches and I generally search for ones that are nearby, then grab other caches in the area. I started out as a solo cacher, but soon started caching weekly with Team DLADL. After attending some events, I’ve been fortunate to have met a number of people with whom I’ve enjoyed caching both at home and on the road

 

Treasurer
Name: Nan Dabler
Caching Name: nan-d1955
Caching Since: July 6, 2009
Number of Caches: 14,306

I was first introduced to geocaching at Camp Tuckaho by Nancy Gelb (walkingstic-stl) when she taught Girl Scouts, including my daughters, about geocaching. It would be another 2 years before I bought a handheld GPS off of Craigslist, and started caching with my daughters. From the moment we found Natalie’s Cache (GC151TK), in July of 2009, I was hooked! It took me 2 1/2 years to reach 500 finds, but once I retired from teaching elementary school, I was able to cache more. I found 2,020 geocaches in 2020, and reached 10,000 finds before the end of the year. In the 11+ years, I’ve helped walkingstic-stl teach geocaching to Girl Scouts and kids at College 4 Kids in the summer. I especially enjoy going on geocaching road trips with friends and attending events. I've made many wonderful SLAGA friends and been on some fabulous adventures with them. I have several geocaching t-shirts and I think the latest one I received says it all: “Geocaching Is My Happy Place”.

 


Past Officers List:

Year in office President Vice President Vice President Treasurer Secretary
2003-2004 Mike Griffin
(Brawny Bear)
Glenn Nash
(*gln)
Richard Sheffold
(RGS)
Jen Guyer
(NYISutter)
Bridget Griffin
(BWAT)
2004-2005 Mike Griffin
(Brawny Bear)
Glenn Nash
(*gln)
Richard Sheffold
(RGS)
Pam Ueltzen
(Tim, Pam & Molly)
Bridget Griffin
(BWAT)
2005-2006 Paul Konopacki
(konpapw)
Tim Ueltzen
(Tim, Pam & Molly)
Jim Greene
(Strider)
Pam Ueltzen
(Tim, Pam & Molly)
Sarah Chisolm
(Crowesfeat 30)
2006-2007 Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)
Dave Leggett
(FlatKatz)
Mike Maryan
(TheMadChef)
Mariel Leggett
(Pika Wants Cake)
Sarah Chisolm
(Crowesfeat 30)
2007-2008 Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)
Mike Maryan
(TheMadChef)
Jack Anderson
(Pandyandy)
Jim Greene
(Strider)
Sarah Chisolm
(Crowesfeat 30)
2008-2009 John Elfrank
(L Frank)
Mark Derr
(Hobbit Taz)
Jeff Weymouth
(JC_Geo)
Jim Greene
(Strider)
Laurie Elfrank
(Denmother)
2009-2010 John Elfrank
(L Frank)
Mike Henthorn
(MikeinMo)
Jim Greene
(Strider)
Yvonne Von Der Ahe
(LadybugSTL)
Bridget Griffin
(BWAT)
2010-2011 John Elfrank
(L Frank)
Mike Henthorn
(MikeinMo)
Jim Greene
(Strider)
Yvonne Von Der Ahe
(LadybugSTL)
Tom Wolpert
(twolpert)
2011-2012 Tom Wolpert
(twolpert)
Mike Henthorn
(mikeinmo)
Nathan Rover
(NateDawgCC)
Jim Nelson
(Quailman2)
Mary Beth Gianoli
(SLBC ladies)
2012-2013 Wendee Scott-Dells
(DellsF4m)
Michael Allison
(sgtmta)
Nathan Rover
(NateDawgCC)
Jim Nelson
(Quailman2)
Kathy Dewitt
(Team_State)
2013-2014 Wendee Scott-Dells
(DeeTalz)
Michael Allison
(sgtmta)
Tony Colter
(Eravau)
Kimberly Balek
(kimberteacher)
Kathy Dewitt
(Team_State)
2014-2015

Kathy DeWitt
(Team_State)

Tony Colter
(Eravau)
Pete Shaw
(Major134)
Wendy Neal
(moonchild1800)
Laura Million
(2_cats)
2015-2016

Kathy DeWitt
(Team_State)

Tony Colter
(Eravau)

Pete Shaw
(Major134)

WendyNeal
(moonchild1800)

Laura Million
(2_cats)

2016-2017

Kathy DeWitt
(Team_State)

Tony Colter
(Eravau)

Bill Lange
(How-D)

Laura McLeod
(Korriaan)

Patricia Hutchison
(spiritwolf922)

2017-2018

Kathy DeWitt
(Team_State)

Tony Colter
(Eravau)

Bill Lange
(How-D)

Laura McLeod
(Korriaan)

Patricia Hutchison
(spiritwolf922)

2018-2019

Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)

Carolyn Jaycox
(WyckedAnn)

Bill Lange
(How-D)

Jan Salvaggio
(JanS03)

Patricia Hutchison
(spiritwolf922)

2019-2020

Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)

Carolyn Jaycox
(WyckedAnn)

Michael Smith
(cootie_man)

Jan Salvaggio
(JanS03)

Melissa Pierce
(SociButte)

2020-2021

Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)

Robert Klemme
(Geokid12)

Michael Smith
(cootie_man)

Nan Dabler
(Nan-d1955)

Melissa Pierce
(SociButte)

2021-2022

Steve Bromley
(javapgmr)

Robert Klemme
(Geokid12)

John Layman
(vorlon40)

Nan Dabler
(Nan-d1955)

Melissa Pierce
(SociButte)

2022-2023

Michael Smith
(cootie_man)

Robert Klemme
(Geokid12)

John Layman
(vorlon40)

Nan Dabler
(Nan-d1955)

Melissa Pierce
(SociButte)



According to the SLAGA by laws, the officers can appoint individuals to assist in managing the business of SLAGA:

 

SLAGA  Journalist
Name: Terri Nealon
Caching Name: TerriBikes+
Caching Since:July 2012
Number of Caches: 7,500

It was Fall of 2008. I was a retired Geological Engineer who then was teaching music and dance at a grade/middle school. My daughter was away at college and my son was headed there after his very busy senior high school year. My house was feeling 'lonely' already, and walking the dog at Castlewood was my only other distraction from the changes going on rapidly towards this next chapter of life. While on the trails, I'd often passed young dirt bikers, and wondered if I too could get out on the trails in a different sort of 'freeing' way, even at age 47 and after a 35 year hiatus from bike riding. So on a whim, I purchased a hybrid bike and started to ride.
Fast forward a few years, since 'dirt' trails were taking a toll on my body and bike, I looked up local bike groups and researched different paved trails instead. On one trail description, it mentioned that there were also several 'geocaches' along the route. What in the world was a geocache? After looking it up, I wondered to myself why with a geo-background, being an outdoor lover, and a bike rider again, had I never heard of this activity. Sure enough on my next Grant's trail group ride, I saw a couple with a handheld unit of some kind step in and out of the woods. When I got home, I looked up this 'new' activity on the website and found an icon very near where I saw the couple on the trail. That's when I decided this was something I wanted to try.
Fast forward again to 2023, I'm now completely retired, on my second adult bike and third dog, and have long since found my first geocache in 2012. I've been a member of SLAGA for nearly as long and to date have found over 7500 geocaches. I've cached in 10 countries and all 50 of the United States. I've provided several minor volunteer duties with SLAGA through the years, but now am the appointed 'roving reporter'/journalist for the website. Cache on my friends, because I want to write about it!

 

Web Master
team_state_headshot
Name: David DeWitt
Caching Name: Team_State
Caching Since: April 2010
Number of Caches: 7,446

My brother and his wonderful wife (2out4fun) told me about caching. I thought it sounded kind of fun, but who to take on this adventure with me and what name should I use. I finally talked a bowling buddy and next door neighbor in to walking a few blocks to go search a local canon. After we found that Team_State was born.

 

St. Louis County Parks Liaison
Name: Laura McLeod
Caching Name: StormRider22
Caching Since: November 25, 2013
Number of Caches: 6,146

I had heard a little bit about geocaching, but had never had a chance to participate until Nov 2013 when I asked RobCyn if I could join them on a caching excursion. It was freezing cold, I was bundled up like an Eskimo and when I found my first cache I was immediately hooked. I am a St. Louis County Park Ranger, so I also managed to figure out how to make work and play mesh – I became the St. Louis County Geocache Liaison. Basically, it means I get to cache while working. And I have also taught other park rangers around the country about geocaching at the Park Ranger Institute in North Carolina. Cache on!!

 

Resident Reviewer
team_state_headshot
Name: John Elfrank
Caching Name: L Frank
Caching Since: March 2007
Number of Caches: 19,180

John has been involved with MOGA since 2008 and was Event Director for MOGA 2010 and MOGA '11. He was a director with MOGA Events Inc. from the start and until it ended in 2017. Also an ex-President of SLAGA, he is a valuable asset to the SLAGA board, not only as MOGA Director but as an advisor as well.