Alderman giving cachers a bad name.

[marc_54140]

From what I have read about this alderman, I do not believe I would be interesting in meeting him.

[LDove]

I just sent an e-mail to the reporter in this article and I hope everyone else will too. Sounds more to me like the bar patrons are having a good laugh at our expense. 👿

Miata if you are going to flower them with kindness, let me know… it will be worth a trip to Appleton to bring ’em a few flats. 😆

[K0rpl]

Good Morning fellow Geocachers:

Ihave already spoke with the Appleton Post Crescent, The Director of the Appleton Park and Rec department, and will be posting the results here tonight after work. So far both have been positive transactions. Stay tuned for the “Real News”

Justin
K0RPL
920-471-8008

[greyhounder]

Just remember to be careful in any communication with others on this incident. They are upset and looking to place blame. And many of us are upset and it’s very easy to become defensive. Obviously these people are pretty uninformed as to what geocaching is. Continue to spread the word positively.

I like the idea of a meet and greet. I also like the idea of donating flowers. I really like the idea of taking some of these people out geocaching!

I’m sure you already knew this — sometimes I’m so obnoxious…

Bec

[cacheseekers]

I look to reading your report K0rpl, I’m starting to get the feeling that the Alderman might not be the one having issues with cachers, but the reporter angling their story that way in order to make ‘news’.

Another reason why I dislike Media just as much as politians for the most part 😉

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

I too have sent an e-mail to the reporter. I wrote about the issues of pulling flowers up and that it states specifically that aches are NOT to be buried and that I don’t feel these were cachers damaging the park. this alderman needs to “Get a life”.

I also stated to the reporter that there doesn’t seem to be an issue with how this park is treated in the winter, having literally TONS of snow plowed and packed into the trees.

I have contacted the greenhouse and offered a donation for towards the flowers and I told the reporter that I would like that KNOWN!!!

I don’t read newspapers for the very reason that there is hardly anything good in some of the birdcage liners. I want something GOOD published!!!

😡 One fluffed Fu!!

[Buy_The_Tie]

Please….

Sit down…

Take a deep breath….

Relax…..

Pound out all sorts of messages and e-mails, but instead of sending them, save them and read them tomorrow. If you still feel that way, then send them.

If our response is too strong, we will be perceived as a fringe nut-case group (which we’re not… right?).

I believe we are now *on* their radar screen, there is probably no need at this point to pile on.

[Eclecticpeople]

@Buy_The_Tie wrote:

Pound out all sorts of messages and e-mails, but instead of sending them, save them and read them tomorrow. If you still feel that way, then send them.

I agree. I wrote one last night that was scathing. If I would have went by impulse (and after hearing about the second article) it would have been sent. Instead I sat down and sorted out what I think amounted to a well thought out, non-accusatory (OK, maybe a little accusatory) response and sent it. I feel good about the email I sent, and I don’t think I could have said that had I sent the venomous one yesterday. Not that it wouldn’t have been true, but the angel on my shoulder prevailed today. LOL

[Crazy Buzzard]

I wanted to let everyone know that I spoke with Bill Lecker, the Director of the Appleton Park and Rec Department, this morning regarding the cache I had placed at Union Springs Park and the events of the past few days. He informed me that he had been down to Union Springs Park for a first hand look at the site and that he did not see damage to the extent that the paper was leading its readers to believe there was. He went on to say that he felt the first article was inaccurate and the issue was being “sensationalized” and that the statement written in the article by the author about the park being trashed by geocachers was “over the edge.”

Mr. Lecker is well aware that caches are located throughout the parks in the city of Appleton. When I asked if the events of the last couple days would have a bearing on the caches that have already been placed or those that may be hidden there in the future he replied, that at this time as long as people abide by the established rules for hiding a cache and the areas surrounding them are not damaged he would not view the use of the parks for geocaching any differently than someone using the park for a picnic. In the future if an issue is made about geocaching in the parks he said he would share the information from our discussion with others, including Walter Kalata, so they better understand what geocaching is all about.

[cacheseekers]

Interesting, that papers website is hosted by USA Today. That really surprises me, I wonder if USA Today manages/owns/hosts a lot of local news sites.

Anyways, I really have this gut feeling that things are being blown out of proportian by this reporter. I just wonder why…

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

Mine was a not a rant and rave e-mail…. just stated the facts… my frustrations I left to post here ROFLAMO

[Ray]

I had sent the reporter a link to this thread when it was only a page and a half long. My note suggested that he read the thread. I sent him my real name, phone and e-mail address. He hasn’t responded to me, I wonder if he has read the thread? ❓

[Timberline Echoes]

We were visiting friends and relatives in the Appleton area for the past few days. The first thing my step-dad showed us was the first article. The thought has crossed my mind to let someone know in the area that we dropped money in the area, gas, food, even stayed in a motel one night on the way so we could do a little extra caching before visiting. Wonder if they realize the positive financial impact geocaching does for the area?
Timberline Echoes

[K0rpl]

Greetings Fellow Geocachers:

As promised earlier in the day, here is the full report regarding the conversations that I had with various elected officials, Park and Recreation Director, and the Cache Owner. This is going to be long, so Please bear with me.

This morning at aproximately 8:30AM, I spoke with Crazzy Buzzard the owner of the cache. Herein called the Cace Owner.

We spoke in great depth, as me being the last to find this cache, I felt it important for me to get involved, as I was the one to experience the “Muggling” of the cache that had happened in the past week. He and I met on all of our comments being the same. We both want the best for the Geocaching Community, and we both could see where this was going with the press.

Following my conversation with the cache owner, I left a message for Mr., William Lecker, The Director of the Appleton Park and Recreation Department, Herein called the Park and Recreation Director. He told me that he had also spoke with Crazy Buzzard. He said in no way, has any geocacher caused any damage at any park in the Appleton Park Department. He also said, that our using the park for geocaching is perfectly legal, and encouraged. He also stated that us using the park for geocaching, is the same as a group of people having a picnic, or playing soccer or frisbee golf. He said that in no way, will geocachers not be allowed in the Appleton parks based on the press’s reporting, unless damage starts to happen. Which I assured him it would not. He is a very nice person, and seems like he has a head on his shoulders, unlike some people. I asked him about possibly hiding some more geocaches in the parks, and then taking some of the alderman, and any other elected officials on a Geocaching Day, to see what it is all about, and see that Geocachers are not causing the damage. He was perfectly fine with this, Granted me permission to use the parks, and “Wished me Good Luck when Dealing with the Appleton Post Crescent”

I next spoke with Steve Wideman one of the ediotrs/writers for the Appleton Post Crescent, Herein called the “Paper”. He said that he did not know alot about the sport, so I again explained the hobby/sport to him, to which he was very receptible. I asked him, it I could get a few Appleton Area Geocachers toghether, Could we take him, and some of the other writers out on a Geocaching day. He said, that he would be very interested in that, and Would have a Photograpy team come out as well to photo the Geocahcers, and the Things that they do. I mentioned the Cache In Trash Out, and He had never heard of it. I told him That I have on more than one occasion carried out more than one garbage bag full. To that he was very happy, and congratulated me, and other Geocachers. He had told me that as of 9:00am this morning that they had received more than 110 email messages from other Geocachers. He told me that this was too many to respond to, and I can agree with that.

What I now ask you fellow geocahcers, is, would Some of you be interested in doing a caching day, with some elected officals, and Members of the press to get some good publicity for our hobby/sport. Due to the fact that the paper, and the Park and Rec. dept cannot be bothered with this amount of response, from now On I will be the point of contact for this. I will setup the Caching Day, and Speak with all member involved.

If you are interested in this, Please contact me at

[email protected]
or better yet, phone me at 920-471-8008 at anytime, so as I can explain this to you with more detail.

The reason that the Mr. Walter Kalata witnessed this, is that he lives in one of the apartments above the Mulldunes bar, which is adjacent to the park. He planted the flowers on his own time, and According to the Park and Rec Director, was unaware of any written agreement allowing him to plant them there.

I feel it is our best intrest as a group of people united for one goal, to see this to the end.

So far everyone that I have spoke to has been very receptive, and interested in learnign more about our Hobby. Please consider my request and respond, if you are willing to help me get some better publicity for our hobby.

I contacted Memorial Florist in Appleton Wisconsin, and spoke with Bob Aykens on of the owners and offered to pay 100% for the flowers that they planted, but he said that that was not necessary. He also stated that one other “Geocachers” had contacted them as well. I am now assuming this to be “Cache Bopping Bunny Fu Fu”. I thank you very much for this
Anne, and would love to include you in this if you wish.

I am sorry that this message was so long, but feel it is very important to just let it go to the wayside and be forgotten.

Once again, please contact me at 920-471-8008, and please use me as the single point of contact so that we do not flood the media, or the City.

Thank you very Much
Justin Korpal
WI-Geocaching.com Member K0RPL
Geocaching.com Member K0RPL

[cacheseekers]

Justin,

I’m glad to see the responses that you’ve gotten. That’s great news! The description of the notes you found in the cache location really makes me wonder if it’s our friendly Alderman Mr. Walter Kalata that might have been playing ‘mind games’ with you when you were searching for it.

Hopefully we’ll see a better article out of the news paper in the future 😉

[Author]

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