Okay, I started it, now I am offering an olive branch to put it to
rest (Re: Help me out with this). I meant absolutely no harm in e-
mailing the Fox 6 meteorologist to just tell him about the 4H
project. That was my whole intent. He was very interested in that
the 4H angle and asked if he could come over, interview the kids
about how 4H does a similar thing to geocaching, but a whole lot
cheaper. I'm here to tell ya, he spent a lot of time talking about
4H and that the fact that it still exists. He was astounded at our
really big project--and it isn't letterboxing. It's dairy cattle.
That was strange to him, because I work for a suburban club and we
can't keep cattle in our back yards. It's sort of a rent-a-cow deal
whereby the kids go to a farm, work with the animals and take them to
the fair. Last year, a total of THIRTY-ONE cows were taken. Can you
imagine the work for that leader? I only have to worry about camo
tape and a little box! The truth of the matter is that no matter how
much we promote projects, families are busy and I only have three
kids signed up for Letterboxing. On the little feature, family
members including dads showed up so we looked like a meeting is
supposed to. I had hoped to tape the feature and use it at our next
project push (Fall) to get kids interested. Last year, I had
stamping 'stuff', boxes, etc., and some of our pictures to show, but
I didn't get much interest, hence the 3 kids only.

Of course, when the piece was aired, it was edited up the wazoo and
4H was barely mentioned.

I was so surprised with the unhappiness I caused in the other site
that I erased myself from the group. So when I got to fretting over
it, I couldn't go back in and respond to the post. This is the only
site I had left in my groups, so I came in here to vent, not to cause
big trouble and hard feelings. I rarely go into either site, (just to
see if there is a gathering now and then), so I hadn't read anything
about non-publicity issues. I had read all the directions, picked up
from a gathering that kids showed up and had a good time, made sure
my kids knew how to be discreet when searching and putting back in
good order, etc.

I always think I have to teach everyone about things that I like to
do. It just isn't the same to me if I'm enjoying wonderful
experiences and not sharing them. I went on a hiking vacation last
October, for example. I became totally hooked, bought all kinds of
hiking things one probably doesn't need, I try talking colleagues
into doing laps at work, drag my husband out at the crack of dawn for
a quidk 5 miles--well, you get the picture. He also letterboxes with
me because he is a patient person and I need a body guard when the
spots are remote.

A lot of my friends think I'm nuts and won't walk a foot, let alone a
mile to either hike or find a box. So everyone's boxes are safe from
them, let me assure you! And the kids, too. They are so busy with
other things, that we go out twice a school year--that's it.

As for my 15 minutes of fame, the mini-feature wasn't shocking, it
wasn't breaking news, it wasn't what people are watching these days.
Too many prefer the sad auditions on American Idol. And of course,
that was the day that Anna Nicole Smith died. My story ended in a
flash. That one will go on and on and on. Our poor children see that
stuff on TV constantly, unless families get away from the tube. (And
hike. And letterbox).

So again, PEACE. There is too much angst in the world and my
intention wasn't to create more.