October

Geocaching Maine Newsletter
October 2008
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Volume II Issue 10
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I. Geocaching Maine Community Ponders the Past, Fosters the Future
----Side Bar: More Geocaching Lingo
II. What draws you to an event?
III. Upcoming Events
IV. Maine Geocaching News/Media Coverage
V. Hot Topics of the Past Month
VI. Photos of the Past Month
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I. Geocaching Maine Community Ponders the Past, Fosters the Future
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A much needed, healthy discussion about the Newsletter and GeocachingMaine itself
-- It all began when Medawisla asked cachers to comment on the Geocaching Maine Newsletter contents! She was sure people would share their tastes after over 20 voted about the inconsequential Newsletter name! But alas, despite many prompting posts, a mere 12 voted, and fewer posted, with regard to the actual, substance (or subsistence?). When this information was shared, a posting frenzy began to cook up, hurray!
--Turns out there are lots of opinions and ideas waiting to be assembled and contemplated. Everything from the appropriate level of involvement and organization for the Geocaching Maine community to ways to recognize cachers’ milestones. New grub was dug up for Newsletter features! Cachers dove into cupboards, reminding all of us about great forum threads, such as the Articles and Milestones threads.
--Rich discussion is going on, with mention of events, sharing talents, savoring notions about more involvement, with a dash of new ideas for the Newsletter—YUMMY! Hopefully more cachers will add to the pot of stewing ideas on the thread. Contribute ingredients at http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3365. (Desclaimer: this feature contained many opinions of (and food references from) the editor, Medawisla, and not necessarily those held by GeocachingMaine.org community or its Advisory Board.
----Side Bar: More Geocaching Lingo
------Organization? No, currently, GeocachingMaine.org’s “goal is to serve as a forum for communication...to promote the sport of geocaching, an appreciation of the outdoors, and good stewardship of the land and environment."
------Voting: Did you know there is a forum thread for setting up a poll, whereby cachers vote on choices and can also respond by posting on the thread? Try it out at: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...splay.php?f=22
------Milestone: Achieving a goal! What goal? Many cachers track numbers of caches, like 100 caches, or track first-to-find caches or Terrain level 5 caches. Cachers also recognize birthdays. Choose between two forum threads: the Geocaching or Personal Milestones.
------Articles: This thread is a great place to post a story or biography to share with others. Cachers can post replies on Articles just like other threads. Check it out at http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...splay.php?f=49
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II. What draws you to an event?
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Hosts are looking for ways to increase attendance at events
--With attendance at events lower than in past years, event hosts are wondering what draws cachers to events. Hollora started a thread; feel free to join the conversation here: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3375. Shockingly, cachers seem to have lives outside of geocaching! Work and other family events were noted as reasons for low attendance at geocaching events. Gas prices stall some, but more so if the distance is too far, cachers are more likely to spend the time caching instead of traveling.
--Cachers seemed split between short versus all-day events and between weekday versus weekend events. Mixing it up will target more cachers, but attendance is determined by many other factors. Clearly though, cachers enjoy caching before, during, and after events. Caching around or during events makes for great opportunities to group-cache.
--Cachers shared great ideas for improving future events. Agendas could help cachers know which parts of events they may want to try to attend in case they can’t attend it all. Using attributes on the geocaching event page and giving details informs cachers whether the event is a fit for them: what activities will occur; are dogs allowed; what about food? Promoting events before the cache page can be published helps cachers plan ahead; use the GeocachingMaine.org forums. Also discuss prizes, food, carpooling, etc., in the forums.
--Seasoned cachers give a warm welcome to newo-geos (new cachers). Attending events for the first time may feel overwhelming. One way to approach events is to start with the meet-n-greets, which are shorter, and sometimes a smaller crowd. Another way is to attend a portion of a longer event. Even seasoned cachers sometimes can’t attend an entire event.
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III. Upcoming Events
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10/04/08 Trail Work Day & BBQ, Part II: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache...8-db9cffdd647a
10/18/08 Machias Area Meet & Greet: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache...9-346ebe178477
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IV. Maine Geocaching News/Media Coverage
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Maine Podcache: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3418
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V. Hot Topics of the Past Month
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ON THE TRAIL:
ATV caches: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...?t=2832&page=3
Bow Hunting?: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3429
Event Info: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3187
Interesting Experience: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3389
Restrooms / Dumps: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3420 Tread Lightly-2008: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3437
WWFM IV: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3410
TECHNOLOGY:
Delorme Natural, Unique: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3399
Free Garmin Topo Maps: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3424
Instant Cell Notifications: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3242
Maine Stats: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...?t=2328&page=9
New Feature: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...ead.php?t=3416
SWAG AND TRACKABLES:
2008 Geocoin: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...t=3287&page=2m
Fairy Visit: http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum...?t=3008&page=5
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~~~Next Month’s Feature: Great Cache Locations~~~
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--Brought to you by GeocachingMaine.org; editor Medawisla; distributor Attroll; reviewers Geocaching Maine Advisory Board. Questions/Comments welcome.
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--Submit material, tentative event dates, to Medawisla by the 3rd Wednesday of the month.