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This message is being sent to the AZGeocaching.com list server, and to those who have expressed an interest in the formation of the Arizona Geocachers Association. As a result, you may get more than one copy of this message.

The first event that's coming up is this Saturday, September 30, which is National Public Lands Day. There are a number of activities going on around the state (http://www.publiclandsday.org/involved/arizona.cfm). Many of us will be participating in the event at the North Mountain Preserve in Phoenix. If you'd like to join us, please let me know. If you'd like to participate in one of the other events around the state, contact the person listed on the web page for the facility in which you're interested.

Another event coming up in the Phoenix metro area is the Phoenix Summit Challenge (http://www.phoenixsummitchallenge.com/). This is a non-competitive weekend event where participants will hike seven peaks (Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, South Mountain, North Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Shaw Butte, and Papago Park) in Phoenix parks and preserves. As part of the festivities, there will be a weekend-long exhibition called "Adventures Phoenix", held at the REI store in Paradise Valley Mall (12634 N. Paradise Village Pkwy W., Phoenix, AZ 85032, N33 36.062 W111 59.334). The Arizona Geocachers Association (AZGCA) has been invited to host a booth for the weekend. This will be an ideal opportunity to get the word out about the Association and geocaching, and we will need volunteers to staff the booth throughout the weekend. If you are interested in helping please let me know. This is a great way to contribute to getting the Association up and running without committing a huge block of your time.

The Phoenix Summit Challenge and the Adventures Phoenix exhibit are taking place the weekend of November 18th and 19th. Coincidentally, November 18th from 1 to 4 PM is the date we have scheduled for the next AZGCA organizational meeting. So to enable us to cover both events, we have booked a meeting room at the Mesquite Branch of the Phoenix Public Library, 4525 E Paradise Village Pkwy N., Phoenix, AZ 85032, N33 36.308 W111 59.014), less than half a mile from REI. So here's your opportunity to work the booth, help out with the organization, or even do both. Interested? Just let me know.

Work has been continuing on getting the Association going, in spite of the summer doldrums. I hope that by next weekend, we will have the draft of the Association's bylaws on the AZGCA website (http://www.azgca.org). So check there next week. All constructive input is welcome. It's meant to be YOUR Association.