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Post by oleruns on Jul 9, 2008 15:32:34 GMT -9
I just had a talk with John at the city. Our GPS coords we submit are useless in the format we are giving them as they use GIS. It'll be easier for us to change than them So if you submit a report use this format: N61.19759 W149.81462 (the one I submitted) that will make it get cleaned up faster. Now we'll be speaking the same language, it should help out a lot.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jul 9, 2008 19:32:04 GMT -9
So, just take our WGS84 decimal minutes and divide by 60? e.g. N61 40.000 becomes N61.66667 (40.60=0.66667)?
Thanks for keeping the dialogue with TrailWatch open!
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Post by oleruns on Jul 9, 2008 20:46:11 GMT -9
Well, I converted it in MapSource or you can do it on your GPS like geo exercise cache or yes, divide by 60 like LBK did, whatever tool works for you at the time.
This is starting to take a twist. I sent the head of ARBRA a nice note thanking them for cleaning our community and parks. I also noted that it was not a small task and that I had come across another camp and listed the coordinates. So tonight I get an email from him telling me that their funds are at an all time low and he would like to talk to me about the problem. Looking at the CC line of the email, are all big shots in this town including the Mayor, assembly persons and many business leaders. Somehow if feel I am getting roped because of my affiliation with many park user groups (Thanks to John filling him in I bet)
Anyway, I’ll give him a call tomorrow. I know its short notice but any feedback or ideas are welcome.
-Ole
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Post by li1gray on Jul 10, 2008 10:23:45 GMT -9
Well I just reported the homless camp over by the new romancing cache on Goose lake and guess now that I converted it I will resubmit it with the coordinates that they can use. Thanks for letting me know. I just updated the Tortuous Slog (GC1A1J5) with the newest link to trail watch too.
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Post by oleruns on Jul 10, 2008 11:42:14 GMT -9
I just went with Ed from ARBRA to that homeless site. We did a lot of talking about the sites that are located around town. I told him that geocachers best roll will be reporting sites. They have no clue on how to use a GPS so we are not on the same page at all.
This is how I would like to start and please feel free to let me know what you think as I don't want to speak for ALL GEOCACHERS
I will host an event here at KCC. APD (Officer in charge of the homeless) and ARBRA will be there I will put the word out to runners as well because it's a common problem for all user groups.
Maybe we can come up some ideas to make the system work faster. Again, the problem is with funding. He told me today that the program is down to $3,000 left for the year. I will post more information on the event page. I still have to workout the date and time but it'll be a weeknight in mid-late August.
Please feel free to let me know what you think or questions (not that I have answers)
Thanks - Ole
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meljo
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 47
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by meljo on Jul 10, 2008 13:16:40 GMT -9
When I get to those caches I will definitely report them. I don't understand with all the money the state has right now and wanting to give us money why the city can't get funding to clean up these camps. I will answer my own question,its priorities and the fact that they don't know what to do with these people. ( What ever happened to that big push last year with all the organizations having a big pow wow about the homeless camps) I for one am more afraid to walk or ride on the trails close to town than I am to be out in Bicentennial PK with the bears.
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mtboy
Silver Cacher
Posts: 139
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Post by mtboy on Jul 10, 2008 18:50:21 GMT -9
What if we sold tundra tim t-shirts? Autographed ones would go for an extra $100. We could probably fund the Iraq war with those babies!
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mtboy
Silver Cacher
Posts: 139
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Post by mtboy on Jul 10, 2008 19:11:03 GMT -9
BREAKING NEWS: Trove Rover, in celebration of her latest caching milestone AND her new house is going to allow up to 20 homeless to LIVE WITH HER! This will eliminate a few of the homeless camps. You are a sweetheart Trove Rover!
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Post by troverover on Jul 10, 2008 19:57:35 GMT -9
Absolutely!! They can live over by my old place...........oh wait......they already do......AND they almost burned it down!! Apparently they like it over there. You said you live in that area mtboy. Maybe you can spare a square of rug? As far as the APD officer "in charge" of homeless camps, that would be Sgt. Denny Allen and I would be happy to talk to him if you'd like. Just let me know.
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Post by oleruns on Jul 11, 2008 16:22:42 GMT -9
Thanks! I just sent him an email that I would setup an event in mid to late August at KCC and I would like to be sure he can be there as it would be pointless if he wasn't. It'll be a good chance for everyone to learn. I think it would be great to let him know you are with the group. FYI- I didn't use geocaching in the email because I would have to explain the game, I like to keep emails short unlike my posts.
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Post by troverover on Jul 11, 2008 18:26:02 GMT -9
I'll make contact with him on this issue, explain geocaching to him and let him know what a great asset he has in the geocaching community. Please keep me in the loop too Ole. I'd very much like to attend. Thanx!
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Post by Forum Admin on Jul 11, 2008 19:20:24 GMT -9
If I don't get a job soon I may be homeless so keep me in the loop too
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Post by hixfromthestix on Jul 11, 2008 19:52:48 GMT -9
Or we could resort to putting bacon grease around the sites and letting the bears clean it up there seems to be an abundance of both this year. JUST JOKING GUYS. If there's anyway I can help let me know.
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meljo
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 47
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by meljo on Jul 11, 2008 20:09:40 GMT -9
I hope I am in town when you have the meeting. I sure wish we could get some solution to this problem which would be good for the homeless and the trail users. Ignoring the problem is not the answer as we have seen with the 2 fires. ( I do think Trover Rover taking some in is a good start) just kidding, TR.
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powmia
Silver Cacher
Caches Found/Hidden xxxx/x
Posts: 208
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Post by powmia on Jul 11, 2008 20:31:46 GMT -9
If I don't get a job soon I may be homeless so keep me in the loop too Maybe you could have my old job. Since I retired, May 2007, the postion has remained vacant.
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Post by oleruns on Jul 12, 2008 9:26:00 GMT -9
When you send in a trailwatch report could you send me the coords. I would like to map the camps for the event. Even if you don't wan't to fill out a report still send me the coords for the map. PLEASE DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER - If you give coords from where you can see it, that's good enough in my book. Or say east 100 feet from coords and I'll move it on the map. I would like to make this graphic show what we can do in a short time!
If you see a log on one of your caches about a homeless camp we could use, let me know. I think we can make short work of this - Ole
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Post by oleruns on Jul 15, 2008 13:42:19 GMT -9
If anyone has an old GPS to donate to ARBRA for use in cleaning up the Homeless camps, please bring it tonight. They are a 501 C.3. non-profit. I took that guy out to find that homeless site and he knew then that GPS was the way to go. We should have the August event nailed down here pretty soon. Thanks a million - Ole
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Post by oleruns on Jul 15, 2008 16:47:33 GMT -9
This is another group that helps with the homeless cleanup Anyway, they are having a golf tournament and we are invited for $150 a head. I don't golf much but NorthWes does ;D It's a great cause and maybe there are geo-golfers out there who want to form a team or a company that would sponsor geocachers? I can see Malcore out the night before marking the holes so he can know the yardage to the hole. ;D Here is the info: 5th Annual Morning Delight Golf Tournament To support The Anchorage Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association Anchorage Golf Course Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:30am Shotgun start $150.00 per person or $500 per foursome, includes green fees, cart and food. Outdoor awards banquet at the Sourdough Mining Company BBQ Dinner Door prizes by various food service vendors & restaurants Five Star Sponsor $1,250 Two Foursomes and Two Hole Sponsorships Three Star Sponsor $650 One Foursome and One Hole Sponsorship Hole Sponsorship $250
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Post by Cozimoto on Jul 16, 2008 7:47:42 GMT -9
I'm definitely a "geo-golfer" (I post plenty of DNF's on the golf course too) if there are any other's interested in forming a GAK team for this tournament? As it stands right now that's the day I come in from work but I can most likely get a vacation day approved.
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Post by NorthWes on Jul 16, 2008 13:08:21 GMT -9
Geez - faced with the choice between Golf or Geocaching, I'd go to work (I mean, that's what reality has been this summer). I haven't had a chance to cache but a moment or two this pseudo-summer, it seems, but I certainly haven't played any golf in years now. Geocaching is much less expensive than golf, less rule-bound, and far less likely to result in challenges to maintaining my studied cool calm demeanor (really...).
Oleruns' effort to map the homeless camps (doesn't that sound oxymoronic - map the homeless...) is deserving of every bit of support we can give it. If we can help build a volume of reports that indicates the size of the challenge out there, at some point someone in government will have to notice. Hopefully it occurs before the fallout from the camps' presence causes further harm to the environment, or results in harm to persons.
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stoweak
Bronze Cacher
Mr. & Mrs.
Posts: 90
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Post by stoweak on Jul 22, 2008 21:44:11 GMT -9
for oleruns there is a homeless camp just North of 'Dirty Shoes' (W61 13.525, N149 46.820), within 100 ft. also, there is some bedding near 'Toy Box' (N61 13.839, W149 47.395), just to the South and there was quite a bit of bedding, etc. around the former 'His Dog Spot' before it was disabled/archived. there was quite a set up out by 'University Park', but in looking at the logs, it seems that it may have been cleaned up after LBK reporting it. It seems that there were a few more areas that I quickly backed out of this last stay in Anchorage. I will send to you as I remember.
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Post by oleruns on Jul 23, 2008 8:07:16 GMT -9
Thanks, I will add that to the map! I'll post the map tomorrow night and people can let me know what to add to the map. Thanks - Ole
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