BigDoggie

This is no laughing matter. It used to be that a showing of liability was required to be awarded damages, but no more. In this "age of entitlement", juries believe that if someone is hurt, someone should pay. Anyone who doubts that need look no further than the jury of morons who awarded MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to the woman who put a cup of hot coffee between her legs and then sloshed the coffee out on her galakachonga. "Like, duh, you mean coffee is supposed to be HOT?!?!" This should also be a concern for people who form, and especially who are officers of, local geocaching clubs. The more activities a club engages in, the more opportunities there are for someone to get sued. And, since the club doesn't exist as a legal entity, that liability passes through to the officers and members. Consider a few scenarios: 1. The club holds a meeting: rents a pavilion at a public park, charges no admission, passes the hat to cover expenses, invites members/others to speak on geocaching topics. This seems like a low risk activity. 2. The club holds a Geocaching Competition Event with entry fee, rules, prizes, etc. During the competition, a child (or adult) steps in a hole and breaks a leg, or is hit by a passing car, or etc. A lawsuit is a good possibility. 3. The club takes no position on the safety or legality of local caches. Since the club did not place the caches, has no connection with them, and did not publicize locations, it is unlikely that any liability for the cache could attach to the club. 4. The club appoints itself as the local "cache police" and begins to publically comment on the safety and legality of some local caches. E-mails the placer. Posts information on their local discussion board. Later, someone is hurt at a cache that was dangerous but that the club had missed. A plaintiff's attorney could argue that, by their actions, the club had assumed an obligation to check ALL local caches and to warn of danger. For businesses and homeowners, the protection against liability has always been LIABILITY INSURANCE. For a small, non-profit club, though, this could easily end up being a budget breaker. Club members and club officers need to think about things like this. Your entire net worth is potentially on the line: home, car, savings, 401k, everything. (I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. Just a layman's thoughts.) . ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

quote:Originally posted by ApK:I find it amusing that neither respondant to that comment took issue with the reference to child abusers or corrupt politicians. ApK And we find it amusing that, despite your denials, you obviously ARE comparing geocachers to killers, rapists, thieves, child abusers and corrupt politicians. There, now are you happy?

quote:Originally posted by ApK: Every killer, rapist, thief, child abuser and corrupt politician wants that too. Think about your reasons for wanting that. ApK Comparing a geocacher who hides a cache behind the wrong bush to killers and rapists... This is just laughable.

quote:Originally posted by Team StitchesOnQuilts: So, if I see an illegally placed cache, you want me to call that group of people? (I assume you mean the police department.) Shannah Not at all. I want you to MYOB. Well, not quite. If you feel that a cache is inappropriate, by all means drop the hider a note. If s/he agrees, fine. If not, then you should MYOB.

Jesus, people, lighten up. This was a question, to be answered YES or NO. SOme people answered YES, some answered NO. It isn't necessary to make disparaging remarks about people who voted the other way. Opinions are like ***holes: everybody has at least one.

My opinion is just that: MY opinion. Had it been someone else's opinion, I would have said that, too. I do not advocate the destruction of private or public property of any sort, the despoiling of wilderness areas, or any thing of the sort. I am simply stating that it is not our job to police the woods. Too many people have their noses deep into other people's business. If you don't like a cache, don't seek it.

Illegal, schmelegal. If "illegal" means placed without the explicit approval of the land owner or manager, then probably one-third of the caches out there would meet your criteria. Society has chosen a group of people whose job it is to detect and respond to "illegal activity". Most of us are not members of that group. [This message was edited by BigDoggie on August 26, 2002 at 02:44 PM.]

We are going to visit one of the Georgia mazes soon. I'll take the GPS and see what opportunities turn up. I still like the idea of a micro-cache in a hollowed out ear or corn... ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Absolutely not. We are geocachers, not plain clothes police. If you don't feel that you can safely seek a cache, don't seek it. It is that simple. [This message was edited by BigDoggie on August 26, 2002 at 02:45 PM.]

I don't know... the mazes last for months, and even short term caches have been posted before and then archived after a few days. It would be cool, though... ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Did it work inside the maze? Or did the corn interfere with the readings like trees can? ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

This is cornfield maze time, and there are there are three Cornfield Mazes in Georgia. The Cagle's Dairy maze near Canton, another in the Chattanooga/Lookout Mtn area, and the third in middle Georgia, near Barnesville. Check it out: www.cornfieldmaze.com/ Think of the ways that a Cornfield Maze can be combined with GPSR's... ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Cornfield Mazes This is the time of the year for for Cornfield Mazes! Not sure what a Cornfield Maze is? Check it out: www.cornfieldmaze.com/ Almost every state has a few, and some have a lot! Now, if you add GPSR's to the mix, some interesting opportunities present themselves: Using a GPSR's "trail" to create a maze map. Hiding a micro-cache in the maze. (Hollowed-out ear of corn?) Having a local club meeting at/near a maze as a fun family activity before/after a meeting. What can you come up with? ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Bump! Meeting is this Saturday! The snakes are ready, are you? ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Snakebites are rare and, unless you are miles from your car and cellphone, rarely the cause of serious problems. More likely problems. Mosquitos the size of sparrows... hungry sparrows. Ticks... the Carolinas are right on the edge of Lyme Disease territory. And poison ivy, which can truly ruin your day. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Alright, NOW is is time for the rash promises! We have confirmed that the "snake lady" WILL be back for the August meeting, with a VERY interesting presentation on local snakes. She will be bringing a number of live snakes for her "show and tell." Saturday, August 10. Be there! ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

The Georgia Geocachers Association August, 2002, meeting will be held on Saturday, August 10, from 3:00 PM till 5:00 PM. Last summer, we had one meeting that broke all attendance records for the Georgia Geocachers Association. The main draw for this meeting was the famous "Snake Lady" from the Georgia Herpetological Society and her "friends", various common Georgia snakes. In addition to being interesting, the presentation helped us to understand some of the snakes that we might encounter during our geocaching adventures. Not making any rash promises here, but there is a good chance that a snake or two might make an appearance at the August 2002 meeting... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=29061 ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Check this out This is a good deal on an interesting product... a battery powered wireless gadget that lets you know when someone opens your curbside mailbox. Other uses come to mind... like activating a spy cam watching a cache box from a nearby tree or bush. Regular $30, special sale price $5 pick up at local Radio Shack store To see this item, go to this page http://www.radioshack.com/Coupons/Coupons.asp Look for the item "Sight and Sound Wireless Alert Mail Guard System" Below the description, you'll see links to the product information page and to display and print the coupon. Valid only through Saturday July 13! ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

This is a great thing you are doing! Thanks! ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

The meeting is this coming Saturday! Hope to see everyone there. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

We're glad we could help. Be sure to stop by one of our meetings if you are in the Atlanta area. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

The Georgia Geocachers Association June, 2002, meeting will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2002, from 3:00 PM till 5:00 PM. In recognition of the SECOND ANNIVERSARY of the oldest cache in Georgia, "Beaver Cache" by Jim Gooch (placed 6/3/2000 and still an active cache), http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=29 And in recognition of the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of the June, 2001 meeting which led to the formation of the Georgia Geocachers Association (archived, you must be logged in), http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=2329 The Georgia Geocachers Association is proud to announce the JUNE ANNIVERSARY MEEING of the GGA on Saturday, June 8, 2002, from, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, at a park in Cobb County. This is a family-oriented event for everyone interested in geocaching in the State of Georgia. Visitors are welcome. In one recent month, we had 17 first-time visitors... let’s see if we can beat that in June! We will be meeting in the picnic shelter at the coordinates listed. If you have a folding patio chair or camp chair, please bring it, as seating is a bit limited. Bring your friends! Bring your neighbors! Bring your wife and kids! Bring your girlfriend! Bring your dog! Tell everyone you know! Send e-mails! Hire a skywriter plane! You get the idea... See you there! http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=21219 ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

Georgia Geocachers Assn meeting, Saturday, May 4, 2002 Mark your calendar for the next Georgia Geocachers Assn meeting, Saturday, May 4, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, at a park in Cobb County. Check the Event Cache for details and location, and "watch" the Event Cache for the agenda posting. Two items of note: Breaking with our tradition of holding meetings on the second Saturday of the month, and because of possible conflicts with Mother's Day trips and activities on our usual weekend, this meeting will be held on May 4th, which is the FIRST SATURDAY in May. May 4 is also the day after the second anniversary of the creation of the first Geocache! And, with the May meeting, we will resume our summer meeting schedule, with the meeting to be held from 3:00 PM till 5:00 PM. This is a family-oriented event for everyone interested in geocaching in the State of Georgia. Visitors and kids are welcome. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

To see several specialty "tools" for tick removal, go to this page: http://www.scs-mall.com/store/ and look for the link "Tick Removers and Snake Bite Tools" under "FIRST AID SUPLLIES". They are actually quite inexpensive, some under $5.00. I'll bet some of the larger sporting goods stores carry the same items. If not, this mail order house would be happy to ship to you. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org

The Event Cache has been updated with the Agenda for our Arril 13 meeting: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=16670 It isn't looking good for the weather tomorrow. www.weather.com says 60% chance of rain at meeting-time. But... we meet hold our meeting, rain or shine. We have a nice pavilion, not far from the parking area. Also, remember that we are always looking for door prize items relating to outdoor recreation. If you have something that you don't need and you think that your fellow geocachers would like, please bring it along. ================================= Interested in Geocaching in the state of Georgia? Visit the Georgia Geocachers Association at http://www.ggaonline.org