Holiday event with a *voluntary* donation request

[+3MudDogs]

Our local geocaching organization (Geocachers Exploring Oregon: see GEOregon.com) is holding the typical holiday geocaching event in our area. When posting the event, we included a request for attendees to bring a donation for the local food bank "if you are able." We thought we were doing a good thing and supporting our community.

 

Unfortunately, our local reviewer would not publish the event due to this voluntary request. Apparently, it violates the "Caches that Solicit" cache listing guideline.

 

Solicitations are off-limits. For example, caches perceived to be posted for religious, political, charitable or social agendas are not permitted. Geocaching is supposed to be a light, fun activity, not a platform for an agenda.

 

What do you think? Does this type of request represent "a platform for an agenda"? Or is it an appropriate part of a "light, fun activity" that supports the mission and goals of geocaching?

 

Thanks for your input.

[+Chrysalides]

After pointing out the obligatory "our opinions do not matter, it is your reviewer you need to convince", I have to agree with your reviewer's interpretation of the guidelines, even if the cause is a totally worthy one.

[+tozainamboku]

Unfortunately the way the no solicitation guidelines are written I doubt any reviewer would make an exception for your event. Your option is to not mention the donation on the cache page but put it out by word-of-mouth or posting on a local geoaching site. You can also host your own webpage and include a simple link for more information on the cache page. Finally you might contact Groundspeak directly to get an exception. They may decide as a privately held company to support you in your effort or they may decide that if they allow your solicitation then soon every event will ask for one and they will be swamped with having to review each charity to see which they will approve.

[+wimseyguy]

The guidelines are pretty clear on solicitations. But keep in mind that the guidelines are for the geocaching.com listing. There's nothing preventing you from quietly putting that donation basket in the corner of the room at the event, and mentioning it via local forum or email groups.

[+DanOCan]

Yeah, every charity that comes to my door is also asking for a voluntary donation, it doesn't change the fact that it is soliciting, regardless of how worthy I perceive their cause to be.