Meeting notes: July 14, 2001
Notes from Georgia Geocachers Association meeting of July 14, 2001, with thanks to Erik, Carol and George for their contributions. Please send any comments, additions or corrections to (gpsfun) and I will handle the necessary editing.
First, it was very encouraging to see several new faces at this second meeting of our group. Included in the new faces were some who have their first GPS on order, others who are interested in finding out more about geocaching, some novice geocachers who are rapidly racking up logged visits, as well as experienced journeymen in our one year-old sport.
1. We decided that we wanted to have an organized association, but without the overhead associated with incorporation.
2. We have a name: GGA, as in Georgia Geocachers Association.
The vote tally was:
NGGA - 9
NGAGA - 4
AAGA - 0
GGA - 75
GAGA - 11
SGA - 28
AGA - 6
STASH - 2
MAGE - 0
SETS - 17
HUNT - 0
3. Some discussion about Louisiana allowing geocaching in their state parks. George (Locache) has a contact person there and will gather more information.
4. SC - unknown if South Carolina parks allow geocaching. Brad (gpsfun) was told by the assistant superintendent at one park that they were not participating in geocaching, but no documented statement or letter was provided. There are many caches in SC parks; has anyone heard of caches being removed or of requests to cache owners to remove same?
5. NC - North Carolina parks do not allow it.
6. Wendy McNaughton will ask her husband to set up another meeting for us with Larry Blankenship of the Ga. Parks. The consensus was that having an organization (GGA) gives us much more clout in talking with authorities. We would have even more clout if our group were registered with the state of Georgia.
7. Discussion of having part of the annual GGA membership dues go to purchase each member membership in the "Friends of Ga. Park Assn." Dues for that are $35/yr., allow not only free parking in all State Parks but also free admittance to all exhibits to all in the party with the member. This would also enhance our clout in dealing with the Parks authority. We'd get not only the yellow parking pass but also an ID card.
8. Some discussion of degrees of membership in GGA - individual vs. family vs. couple. (Some couples in attendance would not want to pay double dues)
9. Next meeting date set for August 11th.
10. Location tentatively planned to be Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder. Other locations discussed were Pickett's Mill State Park, Nickajack Park in Cobb County, and Sweetwater Park west of Atlanta. Both Locache and Wendy McNaughton were going to check into using Ft. Yargo State Park, hopefully involving a Ranger in the meeting.
11. Some interesting discussion of Cornfield mazes. (see cornfieldmaze.com). There is a corn field maze near Brevard NC in which the farmer may hide a cache. (coordinates provided to the farmer by Charlie and Cindy (Navistar)) There is also a maze at Cagle's Dairy in Canton.
12. Those present were told they'd be added to the mailing list and that they'd get a synopsis of the meeting, as would those who attended last time.
13. Locache initiated a $1 contribution from all present to help offset the $24 rental of the pavilion.
14. Meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.
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