GGA DEC 2020: Holiday Get-Together & Hoopla

It is once again that time of year. The holiday season is upon us, and this event finds us squarely in the middle of it. This year, more than most in recent history, the joys of this time of year can hopefully diminish, if for even a day, the woes this year has burdoned us with.

So, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Mawlid el-Nabi, the Solstice, Zarathosht Diso, Rohatsu, or perhaps another not listed that you follow in your life, please come and join us. This gathering is to allow for some real time face to face social (ly distanced) interactions allowing us to put faces to those GeoNicks for the new folks and for those of us that have met before, we can swap larger and larger GeoFibs. (Honest, I WAS THIS CLOSE to finding that cache first!)

We will begin the evnt at 12:00pm and continue through at least 2:00pm on the 12th of December.

The scheduled items are as follows:

• Opening Remarks
• Thanking the outgoing Steering Commity members
• Introduction of the incoming Steering Commity members
• Quick rundown for Jan and Feb GGA event status
• Game time (Dirty Geo White Elephant gift game --- 100% Optional)

There is NO requirement of bringing a gift or participate in the game to attend the event. It is only required for those that wish to participate in the exchange/game.

THE GIFTS:
1. This gift theme is geocaching or hiking.
2. The gift should be valued as close to $15.00 as is reasonable.
3. The gift should be something someone would actually want or use. It should be in new condition.
4. The gift should be wrapped or in an envelope before arriving to the party. Gift bags are OK only if sealed.
5. Gift certificates are not OK!
6. No geocoins or travel bugs for the game Please!
7. Please do not mark the gifts as to whom they are from.
8. For GeoTeams, you will need separate gifts if you wish to participate as individuals.

THE GAME:
1. Each guest who wishes to participate must contribute a gift. Everyone sits or stands in roughly a circle around the pile of gifts.
2. Slips of paper equal to the number of gifts with clearly written numbers. Each participating guest draws a number and holds onto that slip of paper.
3. On the first turn, the guest with paper slip #1 chooses a gift, opens it, and all admire it.
4. On the second turn, the guest with paper slip #2 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's) or choosing a wrapped one. If #2 steals #1's gift, then #1 must open a wrapped gift.
5. On the third turn, the guest with paper slip #3 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's or #2's) or choosing a wrapped one.

The game continues based on the following:
1. If a gift is stolen from you, you can steal a gift (within limits, described below), or open a wrapped one.
2. The turn proceeds until a wrapped gift is chosen.
3. You cannot steal from the person who just stole from you..
4. The third "owner" of a gift gets to keep it. A gift is out of play once it has been stolen 2 times.
5. "Owners" of "live" gifts must keep them visible and hold them up when requested.
6. This continues until all gifts are opened.. Usually, guests are encouraged to perpetuate the gift stealing as long as there are "live" gifts, but no one is obligated to do this.
7. Finally, the person who picked first gets to choose from all the presents and swap gifts to end the game, or keep whatever he or she has already received.

 

This event is located inside the boundries of Hard Labor State Park. As such, there is an Access/Parking fee. If you have a current annual pass, you are covered.

GGA DEC 2020: I want you to cut me a shrubbery!!!

Geocaching has a lot to do with the outdoors, be they Urban, Suburban, or SERIOUSLY out there. Being good stewards of the locations we visit whilst we are on the hunt helps keep  not only the lands in good shape, but helps with the way our hobby is viewed by others. While one of the biggest contributions any of us can make is picking up litter wherever we may find it, that action is rarely seen by others. One of the most powerful ways we as GeoCacachers have to show others that we are going above and beyond to make a diffrence is to participate in CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) events. These not only get more people involved in a specific area, but are documented, and often are done in very public places.

 The partnership between the Georgia State Parks and the GGA is by no means a new thing. The mutual support has been inspiring and beneficial for both parties. One of the primary ways we can help out the parks that we visit is to host CITO events. Normally these events revolve around litter cleanup.

 This month, Hard Labor Creek has provided us with something else. While not unheard of in the past, it is something far more obvious to people using the park. 

 For those of you that wish to join in the activity, we will be pruning and removing bushes along the lake. This will involve Cutting, Stacking and Loading brush. The park has promised to provide some of the tools, but have suggested that people bring work gloves and any pruning shears they might have available. 

 So, to recap:

• We will be Pruning/Removing shrubbery

• Gloves are highly recommended

• Your own Pruning Tools are welcome

• Yes, this is a Grail quest item

This event is located inside the boundries of Hard Labor State Park. As such, there is an Access/Parking fee. If you have a current annual pass, you are covered.