joespaz

Otay, you asked for edit suggestions to make your mission clearer - try this... START CACHE TITLE: F.A.M.E. 2010 Prepare to CITO - A Geocaching Event LONG DESCRIPTION: A geocaching event to discuss, promote and plan for CITO (Cache In Trash Out) When: 6PM - 8PM Where: Follow your GPS Who: All Geocachers and friends are welcome Why: To promote CITO in the game of Geocaching CITO is the geocacher's personal practice of collecting trash while on their cache hunts as well as geocachers collaborating in groups to clean up a specific area during a CITO Event. Let's get together to learn more about how CITO benefits each of us as well as our communities, and highlight the good things it does for our game and the environment. If you have an idea that would help promote CITO and could be incorporated into the activities/games for this event please email [joespaz at his email address]. CITO Kit Contest A CITO Kit is a small container which contains a trash bag and a plastic glove. Geocachers carry CITO kits so that they are ready at the moment of need to clean up debris found along the trail. Whoever brings the most prepared CITO Kits will win a prize! CITO Kits should be labeled with instructions and CITO Logo NOTE: This is a geocaching event open to all. Participation in CITO activities/games is NOT required for an "attended" log, just bring your smiling faces, and have fun hanging out. END Comment - Your request that participants bring "C.I.T.O. Kits should be labeled with instructions and C.I.T.O. Logo" will just about guarantee zero participation! Few folks have logo labels and such lying around. My suggestion - make kit building part of the event where attendees are given film cans, bags, gloves and labels (does anyone really need instructions? ) and they assemble kits. Everyone gets a couple to take home for their geo-pack and to put in caches. Thank you for the AWESOME suggestions. I will try this exactly as you have posted and see if it works!

Here is the reason I didn't list it as a "C.I.T.O. Event" http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...&hl=joespaz

I have an idea! Host a CITO event. I would love to attend a traditional C.I.T.O. Event. I don't have the energy to try and plan one in that fashion. If someone else wants to plan one for that day in my area, then I would be willing to cancel my event.

"Pay It Forward" is one of my all time favorite movies. I love the idea that has been started in this thread. I think it is really great of all of you to share your coins with some of us that can't get our own. My brother has already gifted me with some coins for me to own, but they are so much fun I would love to have another! Thanks for your consideration!

Please give me some suggestions to make the page LESS vague. I need help!

I like the Puzzle Event idea. Maybe next month I will make the "F.A.M.E. Puzzle Event." We can get together as usual and work on local puzzles as a team. Of course I won't list it as a puzzle cache, but it still sounds like fun!

F.A.M.E. (Fremont Area Meet and Eat) is an idea that I had when I first started Geocaching 6 years ago. I really enjoyed getting together with local cachers at the BADGES events and wanted to see more events like that. In an effort to have a little variety I thought having a theme for each event would be a good idea. Since I have been back here are the events I have hosted so far: "F.A.M.E. TravelBug Photo Shoot" "HappyBirthdayJoeSpazIsBack" "F.A.M.E. Untraditional C.I.T.O. Event" These events are basically just the regular "pizza get together" as my local reviewer said. I can't see the harm in trying to make them a little interesting by having a theme. I tried to edit the page in a way that would make it clear that this is NOT a official "C.I.T.O. Event." What I am looking for is people to give me ideas on how to make the page clearer so that anyone who reads it will understand. I have never been to an event where they list all the details of every raffle/drawing/ or contest they will have. I don't think it is normal to include that much detail is it? Of course some people may not care about C.I.T.O at all. I tried to let them know that they are welcome to attend anyways by including a note at the bottom of the cache page. Then again some people may choose not to come even then, and I wouldn't be offended. I am just trying to plan an event where those of us that want to get together can, and we have a cool idea that we might want to focus on. Please add some suggestions on how to make the page clearer, more appealing, etc. Thanks!

I am trying to think of ways for people to C.I.T.O. before the event, maybe from Friday 6pm - Sunday 6pm, and turn it in to a contest. I was looking for people in the area to help me with ideas. Another contest I wanted to have was the "C.I.T.O. Kit" making contest. I was hoping by encouraging people to bring their kits to the event that we would get more people helping to make this activity more accessible to more Geocachers. I want people to C.I.T.O in response to this event, but I can't really "require" it. So I am open to suggestions on how to encourage it.

5 years ago I wanted to hold a "C.I.T.O. Event" but not in the conventional way. Most people thought at the time that "C.I.T.O. Events" were meeting at a location and working together to clean the area up. So they wouldn't let me list it as a "C.I.T.O. Event." That is why I listed this one as a regular event instead. Maybe ideas have changed and people are more willing to try Nontraditional things and still call them C.I.T.O. events?

I am being told that the information for the event I want to have is unclear. My reviewer says even though I have listed this as a regular event some people may come expecting a C.I.T.O. Event icon and get upset when they don't get one. My question is what suggestions do you think I should make to make the event and its intent clearer? Below is the information as I listed it on the cache page: CACHE TITLE: F.A.M.E. 2010 Untraditional C.I.T.O. Themed Event LONG DESCRIPTION: C.I.T.O. (Cache In Trash Out) THEMED EVENT When: 6PM - 8PM Where: Follow your GPS Who: All Geocachers and friends are welcome Why: To promote C.I.T.O. in the game of Geocaching This is a philosophy that many more of us should consider participating. This event is being help to highlight the good things it does for our game and the environment. If you have an idea that would help promote C.I.T.O. and could be incorporated into the activities/games for this event event please let us know. Contest: "C.I.T.O. Kit Contest" Whoever brings the most prepared C.I.T.O. Kits will win a prize. C.I.T.O. Kit should contain a garbage bag and a glove C.I.T.O. Kits should be labeled with instructions and C.I.T.O. Logo NOTE: Participation in C.I.T.O. activities/games is NOT required for an "attended" log, just bring your smiling faces, and have fun hanging out. The games/activities will be separate.

Anybody have an opinion about what this kind of growth does for the quality of the game?

Whatever mess insued would be half the fun!! So maybe making it a race isn't the best idea. There could be a smaller race for a set number of teams on one day, and then have other days where it was more casual. Or maybe get a big 11 passenger 4x4 van and see how fast it can be done in 24 hours? A roof rack could easily hold several gas cans for refueling. 1 person to drive, 2 people to navigate, prep the cachers refuel the van, hand out water, snacks and 2 shifts of 4 people to find and place a sticker on the log books? Honestly, This is not a slight to VK and friends but actually following in their spirit... heck.. they would be good as some of the 11! I'd consider being up for that. Is this route BIG RIG friendly? Maybe I could use my church bus, all the windows double as exits!

WARNING: If you plan to hike the route on foot over the 4 days, make sure you sleep UNDER one of the power poles each night. p.s. Sorry about the cancer you get 1 year later.

I'd be willing to be a volunteer at one of the water stations on one of the days.

I don't see "Add to Watchlist" on trackable pages anymore?

After talking with the CO it is quite clear that he and I had a big misunderstanding. This thread was not started so that people could try to attack the CO. It was meant to get a variety of opinions on the clarity of the note, and weather or note it indicated that I had "revisited" the cache on the date I was posting this note (which was 2/16/10 if you want to know). As it turns out when the CO said the note was unrelated and random he was talking about my previous note on the cache page. Then in a conversation with another cacher friend of mine, my friend insisted that some people might think the above note referred to my visit in 2004, and therefore I should edit it further. I was quite clear that the note was good as is, so I posted it here to get other opinions. If I have learned anything from this experience it is that I should stop assuming things as it seems to just cause more tension and bad feelings. I'll let you all decide if this applies to you to. Thanks for all the input, I, the CO, and my friend all think the above note is quite clear and quite appropriate, and most of you agree.

How about drilling a very small hole, placing and eye bolt, using rubber washers on each side, surrounded by metal washers. You should be able to tighten it as much as needed. Then you have something to put a hook or carabiner on.

That is an interesting point of view, perfect for another thread.

This is what I was told in an email by the CO: "As it currently stands it is just a random note, not a find and has no bearing in anything. would you like me to post random notes to your caches? I could post things like: I was in fremont today or the sky is blue. you just don t say that you did anything with or related to the actual cache." Also I was told that because I mention my previous visit first, some people might think the whole log is about my previous visit, or about my day in the area. That's why I added the words "TODAY'S VISIT:" but it has been suggested that i change that to "TODAY'S VISIT HERE:"

Last time I visited this cache was April 27, 2004. It had been on an all night trip around the bay area to gather TB's to take to an event I was hosting. Boy how things have changed in this game. This time I spent the whole day, over 12 hours, just visiting caches in the Tri-Valley area. I wanted to find as many TB's as possible to take to the F.A.M .E. "Travel Bug Photo Shoot." (visit link) TODAY'S VISIT: I parked behind the local businesses as it was quite busy around here today. I took the relaxing walk down the trail listening to the water as it ran by below me. There were a few muggles on the trail, so I slowed down to time my arrival just right. Once I was a GZ making the grab wasn't as easy as I had hoped. I guess since my last visit was almost 6 years ago and the fact that I was in the dark that time prevented me from remembering clearly where the cache was. I only found one of the TB's that were listed in the inventory of the cache. "Primary Response" (visit link) I will take the TB to the event and see if we can find someone to help it achieve its goal. I have been told by two people now that this note is not clear. That it doesn't show that I actually visited the cache again. "you just don t say that you did anything with or related to the actual cache." Is there something wrong with my English? I thought think I am making quite clear that I visited the cache today. I added the words "TODAY'S VISIT" at 9:09pm, thinking that would clarify the situation...is that enough?

I have been doing a lot of "bug hunting" in the last few days. As far as I can tell none of the bugs are getting their miles calculated. I wonder if this is a problem due to the update Groundspeak did recently?

Flip it over and use the backside, that's usually still virgin.

Maybe you could place the condom in a small paper envelope. A sticker could be placed on the outside explaining its uses. I have seen bandages in caches before, their packaging doesn't seem to hold up. Placing these in a cheap mini ziplock bag would help preserve them. These are available in bulk online for a couple pennies. How would you package the whole kit? Maybe a pencil bag?

Hmm.... as I commented in my earlier thread, I do not believe that it is the cache owner's job to keep track of other peoples' property in their caches. But since you get annoyed when a cache shows a trackable that turns out to be missing, you gave me an idea: I should automatically mark any trackable left in my caches as missing whether it is or not. That way, you won't be disappointed, right? And since we have all heard how easy it is to re-activate such a trackable, it will be no problem for the person who finds it to reactivate it. An extra bonus is that I won't have to endure whiny logs about missing trackables. Of course, to be fair, I would put a notice on the cache page that any trackables left in the cache will be marked as missing. Doing it without warning would be rude. I don't see any down-side to my idea! Does anybody else see a problem for cache owners who don't want to have to keep track of other peoples' belongings in their caches? I agree with you, I can't see a downside to your idea. I was thinking about your warning on the cache page, you might want to word it like this. ATTENTION: Trackables left in this cache will be marked as missing by the cache owner. This will NOT affect the trackable, as once it is found it can still be logged by anyone who finds it. I think instead of getting "whiny" logs about missing trackables, you would get positive sounding logs from all the people that were surprised and excited to find trackables they weren't expecting. I know I would rather get something unexpected, then be disappointed when I can't find something I thought was there. Unfortunately, you will probably still get emails from trackable owners complaining about your policy. I don't even think this would affect how often the trackable gets moved. It might a little because people that like moving trackables might not make "re-visits," but it sounds like that wouldn't bother you at all. I guess the only downside is that it creates extra work for you. By the way...I wonder what you think of the new wording of my note, is it less offensive and bossy? Hi, I am JoeSpaz and I was looking for Travel Bugs and Geocoins to move along today. It seemed that the trackable(s) listed below were missing from the cache that they are listed in. TBXXX (visit link) GCYYY (visit link) Just to let you know, if you wish there is an easy way to mark the trackable as missing. Just go to http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?p...page&id=152 and follow the instructions. I'm trying to let people know how to mark trackables as missing so that cachers won't be disappointed when they go to find trackables and there aren't any. If you got this email before, I'm sorry. I wasn't keeping track of the emails I sent but now I am. Thanks, JoeSpaz

I used my best judgement. I did not check them myself (except a few). I used logs stating they were missing, notes of muggled caches, date of last movement, etc. This was not an exact science. It was up to the cache owner and the trackable owner to make the final decision. I will not be send any further notes to them as I don't want to be annoying.