An Association?

I think that most "regulars" in these forums and on this site are from the central Maine area, so it's as good a place as any to bring up this subject. Is any one interested in going a step further and setting up an organization such as a Central Maine Geocaching Association? In my internet travels, I've seen many local geocaching organizations - looks like they have a lot of sun - and I'm all for that.

We could have nominal dues, establlish a CMGA logo and/or icon, we could create our own geocoins (although not loggable on geocaching.com), have "bumblebuttons" create a custom pin for our members...

Any discussion/comments?

Here's what I saw that got me thinking about this:

http://web-ling.com/geocaching/ntgalogo.gif

(Oh - and we;d have to have MEETINGS! (Beer & Wings, Wine & Cheese, Coffee & Donuts, even...)

Sounds catchy...

*thinking*

how about an online "today's cacher" type newsletter?

or association only caches...

You mean that rumor IS true!! There ARE two Maines!! :D

I think having an organization would be fantastic, but would be disappointed if it were limited only to Central Maine.

There are a number of active cachers in other parts of the state, both North and South. Would people be willing to consider a Maine organization, in general rather than starting with geographic areas? Perhaps if the organization became too big and unwieldy it could then be split into regions.

Having a single organization might also help to move the cache events around the state - at least that is what seems to have been of interest as discussed at recent events.

I like the idea. But why do we need to have a new name. This was something that I knew would come down the line sooner or later. I knew we would have some success after we put a web site together and did a couple of cache events. Not that it would not have happened without the web site anyway. But that was one of the main reasons what I was trying to emphasize creating the name of the web site to something like Maine Geocachers.org instead of Geocaching Maine.org. This way we could have used the name Maine Geocaching Organization. This way we could have used www.mainegeocaching.org for the web site. But at the time no-one wanted that name. I tried to point out this might happen but I guess I was the only one that was thinking ahead and no one would listen to me. If we do this why not make this web site part of the organization and use the new logo for this web site. We could change the name of the web site to match the name of the organization too.

I am not downing the idea just pointing something out. If this comes to be I don’t think we should make this group just for Central Maine. We would be isolating it to just Central Mainers. So does the mean Beach Comber could not be part of it because she is in southern Maine. Why not make it all of Maine. Dues would be fine as long as it would not be too much. We would have to do the following:

Decide what the dues are for.
Register the group as a non-profit organization.
Decide where the meeting places would be.
How often we would have meeting.
Elect officers.

I like the idea of incorporating it with this website. It could still be it's own thing...but for cachers to check in and update, they would come here.

Ohhh...Ohh...I know it's NOT about the numbers, but how about a Maine Cacher Stat page?

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Originally Posted by Beach Comber

I think having an organization would be fantastic, but would be disappointed if it were limited only to Central Maine.

There are a number of active cachers in other parts of the state, both North and South. Would people be willing to consider a Maine organization, in general rather than starting with geographic areas? Perhaps if the organization became too big and unwieldy it could then be split into regions.

Having a single organization might also help to move the cache events around the state - at least that is what seems to have been of interest as discussed at recent events.

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I'm looking at the idea geographically - as most states have regional geocaching associations. I'd like to have meetings - they need not be more than quarterly - at which we get a regular membership. If people think that members of a statewide group would gather regularly, I'm all for it. I'm just wondering if cachers from "south of Portland or north of Lincoln" would want to travel to a central location repeatedly. And I for one would rather have local meetings than try and spread them out - Portland one time, Lewiston the next, Bangor after that...

Hey - I opened the idea up. Lets keep the discussion going. We basically already have an organization with this web site. (And why couldn't "The Association" simply be called "Geocaching Maine" - geocache being a verb...)

I don't think I would join if it was going to be for Central Maine. I am not in Central Maine. I would like to join though. Why not make the meetings a geocache event. This way it also encourages people to come. Plus you would not have to have it in places in Central Maine all the time. I not saying have the meetings in places like Fort Kent. We could set a limit to how far though. But we could not do them in Bangor all the time. We could do them in between like Lewiston, Bangor area and maybe a little bit further. This would cover the middle of the state and people from Portland would could not attend the meetings that we so far away. They could wait for the closer ones if we were going to do it once a quarter.

I think that Geocaching Maine is fine just like it is. Why fix it if it aint broke.

You already have a lot going on, the cookouts/cache events, the gatherings for wings n beer, day trips and campouts to name just a few. From past experience the more complicated a group becomes the harder it is to do the things you want with out a lot of red tape. I haven’t had any luck making it to the events in the past year but from all the postings it sounds like there are some excellent people in this group putting in a lot of hours making it (Geocaching Maine) happen.

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Originally Posted by attroll

I don't think I would join if it was going to be for Central Maine. I am not in Central Maine. I would like to join though. Why not make the meetings a geocache event. This way it also encourages people to come. Plus you would not have to have it in places in Central Maine all the time. I not saying have the meetings in places like Fort Kent. We could set a limit to how far though. But we could not do them in Bangor all the time. We could do them in between like Lewiston, Bangor area and maybe a little bit further. This would cover the middle of the state and people from Portland would could not attend the meetings that we so far away. They could wait for the closer ones if we were going to do it once a quarter.

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I'm easy to get along with. I'l go along with about anything. I just think we need a little bit of organization so that we can have a "central committee" planning geocaching events, not "catch-as-catch-can" like they've been done in the past. The pervious events have been excellent, but they were due to a couple of individuals putting out a lot of effort. We can't keep counting on INDIVIDUALS to host events. We all seem to like them, and we all seem to be looking forward to the next one.

I just think that we need to move to the next step - from a web site where a group of cachers drop in once in a while to a formal organization.

ATTROLL - can you make a banner out of the Geocaching Maine logo at the top of the page - sort of like the one in the link in my original nessage - or like the banner I use as my avatar?

WhereRWe?

Don't get me wrong I totally agree with you and after reading your reply. I agree it should not be a cache event. But I still think it should not be isulated to Central Maine.

I designed a little banner real quick. I did this in about 15 minutes so it may not be a very good one. I did not know what you wanted for wording. Let me know what you want and I can change it.

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Originally Posted by attroll

WhereRWe?

Don't get me wrong I totally agree with you and after reading your reply. I agree it should not be a cache event. But I still think it should not be isulated to Central Maine.

I designed a little banner real quick. I did this in about 15 minutes so it may not be a very good one. I did not know what you wanted for wording. Let me know what you want and I can change it.

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As I said, I'm easy to get along with regardless of what RULOST2? tells you.

My only reason for suggesting a "central Maine" organization was that I thought it would be easier to get members to a meeting if it were a fairly regional group.

I like the banners - my only suggestion would be to drop the "organization", and just call the group "Geocaching Maine".

We could still have a Organization and just meet in Central Maine. Just a thought. I have not heard much from anyone else.

I added something to the banner. What do you think? Should I stick with the white background?

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Originally Posted by Pooh and friends

I think that Geocaching Maine is fine just like it is. Why fix it if it aint broke.

You already have a lot going on, the cookouts/cache events, the gatherings for wings n beer, day trips and campouts to name just a few. From past experience the more complicated a group becomes the harder it is to do the things you want with out a lot of red tape. I haven’t had any luck making it to the events in the past year but from all the postings it sounds like there are some excellent people in this group putting in a lot of hours making it (Geocaching Maine) happen.

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I think I have to agree with Pooh and Friends.

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Originally Posted by attroll

I added something to the banner. What do you think? Should I stick with the white background?

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Wow! I like that! Why don't you put it up as a poll question - along with the other examples - and see what people think? My gut feeling is that a lot of people don't follow these threads...

I really like the latest banner effort attroll! I like the title Maine Geocaching Organization better though....seems to make more sense "syntax-wise"! :D

I like the banner...

As far as the assosiation, I have to agree with Pooh. The assosiations seem to help most when there needs to be a lot of organization as far as working with the parks and other local authorities as far as cache placement. I don't think that's a big enough issue that we can't handle as the group we are at the moment, and hope it never comes to the point where we need to take a ranger with us to place caches as it is in some places.

In order for either method to work, we need to keep in touch with as many of each other as possible, especially those who would not pay attention to these forums or an assosiation, and educate them when we have the opportunity.

Here is another neat logo I was playing with. What is does when it is posted on a site is shows the stats of the web site. Each time the stats change the logo changes to match the stats. When another new post is posted or a new member signs on the stats in the logo change.


http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

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Originally Posted by attroll

Here is another neat logo I was playing with. What is does when it is posted on a site is shows the stats of the web site. Each time the stats change the logo changes to match the stats. When another new post is posted or a new member signs on the stats in the logo change.


http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

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I had to change this type of graphic with the data. If I left it the way it was it would have put to much of a load on the server. I fixed it so that it only updates every 15 minutes.

Can it link back to this site?

:) Hey folks,finally back in Maine after a 3 week or so hiatus to South and North Carolina visiting my sister who is being hospitalized and is improving everyday now. I tend to agree with Pooh and some of the others about having a Central Maine organization. Do we really need such organization? I think the numbers are not really there to be begin with,heck we would all be officers and not have any members....lol. I think the core group of Maine cachers we have are the best and we are quite active in this forum and try and keep each other informed as to what is going on. I just love the last banner that you made Rick. I think even once an hour or even once a day would be plenty to update the stats on the banner don't you think? There was mention of having an event in the Central Maine area and I think that we all forget that the Geochicks have been having an annual event in Augusta these past 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new and old friends there despite the rain. They have done an excellent job hosting that event.There has also been another event at Agamenticus, the CITO event each year that I havent been able to attend but know some of the northerners have made.So all in all, even without a a so-called organization there seems to be organization amongst this membership just as it stands. Well just my 2 cents!!!! Hope to see my old buds out caching soon...... Haffy

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Originally Posted by brdad

Can it link back to this site?

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I think the only way it can be done is manually. Because you are pulling the save graphic from the following link:
http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

You would have to set that up where ever you put it on the web page or in the message you posted when you post. Like in this message right below.

What this is actually suppose to do is the server every 15 minutes updates the graphic and puts the correct information in it. Or it depends on how often I set it to update. As of right now I can not get it to work correctly. I contacted my server guy and asked him why it is not updating. I am waiting for a reply now.

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

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Originally Posted by Haffy6

:) Hey folks,finally back in Maine after a 3 week or so hiatus to South and North Carolina visiting my sister who is being hospitalized and is improving everyday now. I tend to agree with Pooh and some of the others about having a Central Maine organization. Do we really need such organization? I think the numbers are not really there to be begin with,heck we would all be officers and not have any members....lol. I think the core group of Maine cachers we have are the best and we are quite active in this forum and try and keep each other informed as to what is going on. I just love the last banner that you made Rick. I think even once an hour or even once a day would be plenty to update the stats on the banner don't you think? There was mention of having an event in the Central Maine area and I think that we all forget that the Geochicks have been having an annual event in Augusta these past 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new and old friends there despite the rain. They have done an excellent job hosting that event.There has also been another event at Agamenticus, the CITO event each year that I havent been able to attend but know some of the northerners have made.So all in all, even without a a so-called organization there seems to be organization amongst this membership just as it stands. Well just my 2 cents!!!! Hope to see my old buds out caching soon...... Haffy

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I don't think ANYONE has forgotten the great - and quite wet this year - events the Geochicks held in Augusta. But jeeze, Haffy! Those were MONTHS ago! :D

I would love to see our Maine Geocachers get organized and become a organization. But as someone else has meantioned. We are a very small group right now. Once we become larger then maybe we can look into it. Maybe we should wait a little longer and see what we get for turn outs at events and on this web site and go from there.



http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

Did someone say beer & wings? :D

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Originally Posted by pjpreb

Did someone say beer & wings? :D

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The wife and I have been talking about putting together something like a Beer and Wings event here in the Lewiston Auburn area this winter. But we can not do it until after the Xmas. Then the weather plays a big factor in it. The other factor for us is that this is the middle of snowmobile season so it would have to be a Sunday for us.

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Originally Posted by attroll

The wife and I have been talking about putting together something like a Beer and Wings event here in the Lewiston Auburn area this winter. But we can not do it until after the Xmas. Then the weather plays a big factor in it. The other factor for us is that this is the middle of snowmobile season so it would have to be a Sunday for us.

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OK - then set a date!
:D

I will talk to the wife when she comes home tonight from work and see if we can come up with a date and a place where it can be held and post it as soon as we come up with something.

I have been following the thread since it started. I am willing to help an association form if that's the direction everyone wants to head. There are a lot of cachers in this immediate area who come on to the website and sign up only never to be heard from again. An actual sit down and chat face to face may be worse. I'd like to think it wouldn't. There is definitly a "core group" who would be there for most every meeting or get together or whatever you would call it. And a much larger group who would rarely if ever show up. Those of you who know me personally know that I'd be there come hell or high water. I will be willing to assist in organizing some kind of e-mailing to people to see if there is any interest in an association. That way the cart won't be in front of the horse. As usual these are just my opinions. And Rick as usual you've made a really neat banner/counter. I like it with the contour lines on it. Good job! :D Beer and wings......mmmmmmmm! I'll see you there.

I think I have this working now. It should update ever 15 to 20 minutes. Providing of course that there is a change in the stats.

For those that want to us this in there signatures on other sites or where ever. You can cut and paste the coded listed below into most messages posted in forums on web sites. It will not work if the forums do not support images in their messages.

PHP Code:

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[url="http://www.geocachingmaine.org/"][img]http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg[/img][/url] 


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http://www.geocachingmaine.org/signatures/signature.jpg

I might have some connections when trying to find a location in the L/A area for a winter event. Give me a date and I'll be happy to check availability.

I live in Litchfield which is only 8 miles from L/A. So I could work with your friends on this. As for a date. It is hard to make a commitment. We have so much going on. It would have to be sometime after Xmas. I am not going to commit to this date yet for several reasons. I need to make sure that the super bowl cache event is not going to be held again in Brunswick. I do not want to interfere with their event. But I was thinking maybe somewhere around the 9th of January.

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Originally Posted by attroll

I live in Litchfield which is only 8 miles from L/A. So I could work with your friends on this. As for a date. It is hard to make a commitment. We have so much going on. It would have to be sometime after Xmas. I am not going to commit to this date yet for several reasons. I need to make sure that the super bowl cache event is not going to be held again in Brunswick. I do not want to interfere with their event. But I was thinking maybe somewhere around the 9th of January.

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If you have any influence with them - and if they do plan on having another Super Bowl event - see if you can get them to make it on a Saturday instead of Super Bowl Sunday. A lot of people are probably like me - they entertain that day and it is very awkward to try and get a cache event in also - especially if you have to travel a ways...

THANKS! :D

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Originally Posted by WhereRWe?

I don't think ANYONE has forgotten the great - and quite wet this year - events the Geochicks held in Augusta. But jeeze, Haffy! Those were MONTHS ago! :D

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We thought that everyone would like a little... rain to go with the caching!

I think that if we set up an event in the next 3-4 months, it would be a good time to discuss this "association thing". If we decide to go with it, it's a great time to pin people down as to participation. I wouldn't be much good at helping for a Lewiston/Auburn event, but I'll volunteer RULOST2? for an event in the Waterville/Skowhegan area (just kidding - she'd kick my butt...)

I make a motion we table this until the next event - except for discussion, of course. (We bureaucrats love parlimentary procedure...)

And I move that we make Bruce the official parlimentarian. Anyone second that motion?.....LOL

you betcha!

I just wanted to chime in for no apparent reason. :D

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Originally Posted by Mainiac1957

I just wanted to chime in for no apparent reason. :D

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Then we'll appoint you as the guy who always attends meetings just to complain. We call them "ankle biters".

:D