the federation

For other enhancements we hope to add: An offical camping area for those wishing to camp so pre and post woodstock get togethers are possible we have been checking about local travel services. local volunteers to help with transportation around town where needed the wagon trains should offer something for everyone kind of cache tours another idea we are kicking around is a number of record attempts possible before the event so the event can be a celebration type event. One thing we would definetly like to see and this is an invitation to the following people should we recieve it . We would like to see as many of the admins as possible, as many of the top 10 as possible, and as many of the Groundspeak staff as possible. more ideas to come. we don't want to give everything away. I think our goal would be to top 400 cachers since we have held Florida events which have cleared 125 people. Also the event would be at least 2 days or possible 2 events the Campout event and then WoodStock 3. Also I am sure that we could set up each of the wagon trains as an event unto themselves with a special one time cache for the participants of theose events. we are looking foward to hearing from JoGPS on his decision. Thanks Jo for considering us for this oppurtunity. the federation President NEFGA

Hmmmmmm. I guess this is the reason why I stay out of the forums as much as I do. Here we have a perfectly legitmate offer to JoGps about "His"event and another thread detoriates into another off topic pushing match. We moved this thread to a New Thread for the sole purpose of inviting other groups to state their case for why they should be allowed the privelege to stage GeoWoodstock3. Yet still no one steps up to the plate with a legitamate offer other than NEFGA. Yet we keep hearing come here,go there, pass it around. Yet no one wants to take responsibility for it. Perhaps this is a statement on caching today. Everybody wants something, give us this feature, gives us that feature and yet when an open invitation is extended to host an event with the scope and cost of Geowoodstock no one seems willing to step up and pay the price. Perhaps the same is true at GC.com if everyone was willing to step up and pay the price perhaps some of things we ask for would be forthcoming. I think one of the things that has been lost sight of here is that this event belongs to one man primarily and I imagine he is sitting at home thinking why should I move it out of Nashville at all. I will give you one reason Joe why it should come to Florida. Because the cachers in Florida have one common belief above all others. We dedicate ourselves to the hunt. We squabble about this is a good cache or that is bad cache, some are number ho's others are not. but the one thing I believe that you will find within our communtiy of cachers is this,once we make a commitment to do something come hell or highwater it will be done. Much has been said about centralized location, cost, scenery even the freindliness of the people in the area. I can assure you of one thing I have worked with cachers from all over Florida. I have attended events from Tampa to Nashville and I can assure you there is no better area to hold GeoWoodstock. Some towns maybe more central, some may have beter camping, some may have mountain views, some may have cooler tempratures, all are valid arguments. But one thing that no other area can say is that they have the potentail to be able to post a new world record. No one other than Nashville has the shear density and variety of caches that Jacksonville has to offer. Now I have laid down the challenge if there is a group or organization out there who can top that then show us, The time has come to quit say coming here come there, stand up and show us all why Joe should consider your area for the unoffical National Convention of Geocachers.

Confratulations Dave

just by way of clarification the Greg Smith listed in the first post is not the same Greg Smith from Florida who is a memeber of the federation.

Just by way of clarification I spoke in general terms with JoGps while at GeoWoodstock2 about the possiblities of moving the event to another location. One of the issuses that Joe Presented to me was that the original purpose of Woodstock was a gathering of the top 10 cachers in the country. At GeoWoodstock the idea of a" noble pursuit" is that the event is designed to be " all about the numbers." So as you hear the people from NEFGA using that as a selling point we feel like we are only carrying on a tradition that was already started. We in no way want to hijack anything from the creators of GeoWoodstock, we are only responding to an invitation from JoGps and his group to volunteer to host the next event. I think what might be perceived as our organization trying to hijack this event is simply our enthusisasm for what we believe we can offer the cachers from around the country and the world. It amazes me that other organizations have not stepped up to the plate and asked to hold the event. We understand it is a very large undertaking and I am sure quite an expensive undertaking to assume the responsibilty for such an event. Yet we feel that Northeast Florida has so much to offer the caching community that we are willing to accept that cost and dedicate the effort it will take to carry on the fine tradition that has been handed down. I totally understand the point of Florida not being centrally located and that could be an issue, but as others of my organization have pointed out air fare into Jacksonville is quite reasonable. It may well be that some would not want to drive to Jacksonville just to cache yet we have many people who come here to visit our many attractions throughout the State and make a week of caching as well. So I don't believe travel would be that big of an issue. Some may have to fly rather than drive and I am sure that arrangements can be made on our end to assist those who come without transportation or for those that have other areas of need. We have such a vast variety of oppurtunites for recreation both caching and otherwise to offer here we just feel that our area is an outstanding choice of venues for GeoWoodstock3. As far as the date goes I spoke with JoGps about this issue as well while we were at Woodstock and as far as I can go with that is this. JoGps and the top cachers in the World established GeoWoodstock, they started this tradition,if they wanted to change where and when it will be held it is certainly in their right to do so. If we are honored enough to be allowed to host next year's event our commitment to them will be to follow their requests as far as the date of the event. I sincerly agree with Corps of Discovery that we need to keep this debate friendly and above board. I certainly don't want to see this as so many other threads in these forums do just turn into a flame war. I would encorage any of the other Organizations who are interested please step up and present your reasons for why you should hold GeoWoodstock3. Myself and the other cachers from NEFGA look forward to hearing from you all. The Federation President Northeast Florida Geocaching Assoc.

Crow T Robot goes quitely about his business with very little praise or adoration. Thanks Crow for a job well done. Approval time today on a cache 2 minutes from my computer to listing.

I too am working on getting on the agenda for Florida State Level P arks and Recareation Assoc. in January 2005

I just wanted to pass on a word of congratulations guys. I had a team that attempted that feat in Jacksonville and though I believe the density is there to do it our planning and other factors worked against us and we fell woefully short. There is definetly alot of logistics that goes into an adventure like that but it isalso an experience that I will treasure for some time. Just the teamwork and experience of working together is a great memory. I hope to try for that record at least one more time since you all didn't put it totally out of reach. Again congratulations and fine job.

I agree with Markwell on this one it would be great to be able to show a chain of possession as well as the actual routing. I once had a bug that was trying to reach a certain location by christmas for a little girl. the bug was woefully far from home. So a few cachers along the route were able to set up a person to person hand-off and we got the bug to the little girl on Christmas Eve. Fom Central Florida to North Carolina in 2 days and one happy little girl. the mileage probably wasn't correct but she was happy to see her bug.

If you come to Jax to cache it opens a whole different area of styles: Jacksnoville style will get micros in playground or wal-mart animal rides or various statues. stressmaster style will get you very well camoflauged micros. they maybe grab and go or they may turn into 2 hr ordeals. federation style micros are going to put you in highly visible exposed to the public and ususally compromising situations. yes there are a ton of micros in Jacksonville but they are not all grab and go.

first offI want to congratulate everyone on the records. they say and from experience I can say the first 100 are the hardest. after that you learn the ropes of routing and laying out where and what you like to hunt and you start to get the numbers up. as far as have you made it, if you are enjoying what you doing then you have made it. the federation

Georgia Style- under pine needles Florida Style -under palmettos l North Carolina Style- under the root ball of a fallen tree and here is one you won't hear unless you get to Florida Jacksonville Style coined by Doc Dean up the Butt of Some Inanimate Animal

oooooh I want one,Just trying to figue out how to get to nebraska from florida.

I beleive as I was doing a few of the caches on the poker run that I heard Mustard Devil snicker when I mentioned the golf ball thingee, but I could be mistaken That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I was Geology girl at both of those finds and she is quite the cache it was a pleasure meeting here and the other caches from NC. thanks for bringing that accomplishment to everyone's attention.

Just to add my 2 cents, it was certainly a pleasure to travel to Nashville for Woodstock. Joe missed one record the least amount of sleep in 3 days for an event I think the team from Florida only managed to get about 10 hrs in 3days with cachhing ti 4 or 5 in the morning each day we didn't have much time to sleep on the hard ground. Ican't really add much to what has already been posted good food, good friends old and new and grat caches. I constantly hear Nashville slammed as Cacheville due to the number of Micros there. But if you anyone wants truly difficult multi style caches they have that too. I ahd the Prilege of completing 3 of my top 10 caches while in Nashville. My salute goes out to the owners of The Homeless Bathtub, Too Many Secrets, and Your Voice is Your Pasword. Had we not taken time to do those caches I am sure we could have added another 50 or 60 caches to our total for the weekend. Thanks to all those who made this possible. Just one thing that might add to the flavor of the event is if you all could secure an offical GeoWoodstock camping area so we could fellowship before and after the event. Sort of a post event event. In the words of a famous cacher"Welcome to Woodstock where it Is all about the numbers" thanks the federation

My response to dnf's is situational, on my very difficult hides i email if the finder asks for help. If they are new cachers and I know it is a difficult hide I will email them all other caches I wait to hear from the finder to see if they want help. That is usually the situation that I hear from them before I get to email them.

okay can anyone top a magellan merigreen dropped of the top of my truck at 60mph and still ticking 2 years later. Also it looks like magellan is releasing a new line of tough style gpses called the explorists series. For a short review check outmagellan

After talking with the Parks Director with Jacksonville Parks we realized that there was a serious break down in communication here. According to Mr Baughman when the issuse of Liability for our activities was raised GC.Com balked and said they were only a listing service and any issuses of that nature would have to be discussed with the local caching organization. Luckily we have a strong organization here in Jacksonville representing Geocaching so we were able to make an argument that satisfied Mr Baughman. The problem I see is what is happening with other areas who don't have groups or organizations to represent them in such land management issuse? I am proposing to all Florida cachers that we begin to have a discussion in regards to organizing in a more formal matter for the purposes of being a voice for all cachers in Florida in these matters. I have started a thread on Floridacaching.com in the land Management section in regards to our plight with Jax Parks . I will be starting a thread tommorrow about possibly organing a statewide group for those who would like to submit input please come and join floridacaching.com and let your voice be heard.

I have been working on a 2 day event rpg. Is loosely based on the military term Defcon 5. The object of the game is to search out various codes and locations to return the country to defcon 5. I would establish caxchers in teams and then through a series of micros and online password protected files cachers would have to return us to defcon 5. Any thoughts or suggestions. If anyone would like to discuss this off thread email me through my profile. the federation

The thing I am most proud of is that I embarassed a cacher so bad with one of my Urban Micro caches he felt the need to name a cache after me. The Federation Must Pay (gcgx5d) by paintfiction. I did and so has everyone else who has done this cache in return for my deviousness. I guess the next thing would be that same cache started a whole new style of cacheing in our area it is called "Jacksonville Style". Actually Paintfiction's revenge cache is actually hidden Jacksonville Style.

If you are caching in the NEFGA area we have a opt=in contact list at our web site WWW.NEFGA.COM where you can register and make your cell number or email available to all. Hopefully that will be a future component of Floridacaching.com as well. Also thanks go out for the comment about the caching community here we are a tight knit group of people but we always have open arms for more to join. as far as Renegade Knight goes not meeting many cachers I think I have met cachers from all 4 corners of Florida, cachers from other areas as well. Canada the farthest North, then Pa. NY, Tenn, Ga.,Wisc. the list goes on. more cachers than I have hides and that is currently at 140 .

Since my town and my name have both been presented in this thread I will keep my response short. I had lunch with Lil Otter while she was here and I had a great time doing a few caches with her and talking about the current state of caching in our area. I value her opinion as a prolific cacher and yet I appreciate the comments of Sissy and Cr. as well. Lil Otter does have some valuable points but she misses some points as well. Granted all of our caches don't take you to the historic, the truly sightseeing type caches yet there are many that do. Most of the caches that are here now do fall within the scope of The High Intensity Urban Impact type caches. The impression that most people have when they run into the securityguard is that no permission was granted, well that is not always the case but simply part of the hide. Security and store owners are very much aware of some of our placements. To us micros have become a way of seeing how we can make the typical difficult to find. Are there lame caches in Jacksonville sure, just as I am sure there are lame caches everywhere but caching to us is more than just the finds. Caching to us has become more about the community we are building than about pumping up numbers. Greg Smith President NEFGA

new record coming soon

stop by and visit us at nefga.com and we will see what we can do about an event. we haven't planned our summer schedule yet but if we have some idea about your travel plans maybe we can work something out. the federation