Welcome to the new website for the Texas Geocaching Association (TXGA). We hope that you enjoy your visit with us and decide to become a member. The TXGA is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to promote geocaching within the state of Texas.

Before you browse through the website, I would like for you to be aware of some of the reasons we are calling this the "new" Texas Geocaching Association.

First this is the "new" TXGA because YOU are a part of it. It can only exist if you participate. We intend to be a positive voice for promoting geocaching throughout Texas and we can only do that with your support and active participation.

Already, the "new" TXGA has been working for you. Recently the San Antonio Municipal Parks banned geocaching and strongly requested that all 599 caches be removed. Within less than one week after this announcement, Cort Ferguson (TXGA South Region Representative, Tank&Spaz) contacted city officials. Through emails and phone calls, he convinced them to rescind the order. They have agreed to continue to allow geocaching as long as the caches are placed with a permit. The TXGA has successfully used a similar process with our state parks system. Thank you, Cort.

The TXGA doesn't plan to just be reactive and step in when we have problems. We intend to approach officials first and create a positive relationship that will allow us to enjoy caching in Texas for years to come.

Throughout the upcoming months, we will be introducing various programs for you to become more involved, but we encourage you to join us now and help us take off. Bottom line, the TXGA is not just a few people; it is all of the geocachers in Texas pulling together.

MEMBERSHIP -- How we are doing it now

Besides a brand new look, we want to make you aware of the new qualifications for becoming a Texas Geocaching member.

Everyone must sign up again to become a Texas Geocaching Member. It doesn't matter if you have signed up before or even if you are on the board of directors, everyone has to re-join the Texas Geocaching Association. This will enable us to organize the membership into a stronger, more cohesive organization.

Unlike the "old" Texas Geocaching Association, we will be requiring annual membership dues. WAIT, don't rush to judge.  As a non-profit organization, we will have regular financial reports available to all members (as required by law).  Each member who is interested will be able to know where the money is going.

"Where is the money going?" OR "Just what am I paying for?"

Legitimate questions and here is our answer:

As with any large organization, there are always operating costs such as paying for this website.

Although a portion of your annual dues will go the maintenance and support of this website, there are still tangible benefits (SWAG) for each paid, registered member. With each paid registration, a TXGA member will receive both a TXGA geocoin and a TXGA pathtag along with a membership card. They will also be officially registered to vote in all upcoming elections. (And we will have elections.)

We are also working on securing Member Benefits. At present, pathtags.com has told us that any registered TXGA member can receive an optional Metallic finish for free. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has indicated that they want to give TXGA members a discount on an Annual Park Pass, but as with most bureaucracies we are still trying to get this worked out. There are also ongoing discussions for discounts at sporting goods and outdoors stores, etc.  The stronger and larger our membership becomes…. the more likely that companies will be willing to offer us these types of benefits.

If you would like, go ahead and click on the Members tab at the top of the page and start registering your TXGA membership.

2012 TEXAS CHALLENGE

We will still be having the Texas Challenge; however, the state organization intends to take a much more active role in assisting the regional hosts. This will allow for a smoother and more consistent event year after year. The next Texas Challenge is going to be held in March 2012 at Lake Ray Roberts. On that evening we will also be having our annual organization meeting and elections.

The website for the 2012 Texas Challenge is already online and open for you to register. Just click on the tab at the top of this page.

AND FINALLY…

The content of this website is for Texas geocachers and should come from Texas geocachers.

We want to encourage all Texas Geocaching members to feel free to submit news, articles and pictures. We want this website to be for all Texas geocachers and their friends.

Thank you for stopping by and again, Welcome to the "new" Texas Geocaching Association.