nwogeo.org

We don't know if this is covered somewhere at this site, but we had an interesting conversation with some geo-friends over the weekend about how far our group reaches into and beyond Northwest Ohio.

We know anyone from any state or country is allowed to join us here at nwogeo.org. But how far do our events and opinions reach?

For instance, if someone in Wapakoneta has an issue with a cache, is that generally out of our purview? Or if someone wishes to have a NWOGEO sponsored event in Norwalk, is that too far for us?

Are we set on basically a collection of counties, mileage from the center of Toledo, or the areas in-between other geo-groups?

Anybody outside of the zip code of Schlotzky's is questionable.

The Maumee Schlotzky's, or any Schlotzky's?

Schlotzky's in Gainesville, GA

I don't know if it is defined. Let's look at what we have done in the past.
Findlay M&E
Defiance M&E
Spring Fling - Findlay Area
Smores - Port Clinton

I think the main thing is we don't want to step on another group's toes. At the same time I believe the forum is open to discussion.

A sponsored event, humm and what would "sponsorship entail". Putting on an event is quite a task. Just because "Joe and Jane cacher" think a picnic at "favorite park" is a good idea, I don't think NWOGEO wants to sign up to make it happen.

If you want to have a picnic in your back yard and call it an event you can do that. You don't need a sponsor do you?

cheechgang wrote:Schlotzky's in Gainesville, GA

Didn't know they had one, hope it isn't too late to redux our vacation plans.

Pie Irons and Smores is a BBD/pibteach event, not a NWOGEO event.

BlackBrownDog wrote:Pie Irons and Smores is a BBD/pibteach event, not a NWOGEO event.

OOPS

lemme see...nw border williams and indiana border...that's a gimme.. [;)]

ne border...hmmm far e border of erie county?

sw border...southern border mercer or auglaise?

se border - southern border of wyandot or crawford?

dunno-good question - steering committee prob knows...

SuchaNana wrote:lemme see...nw border williams and indiana border...that's a gimme.. [;)]

ne border...hmmm far e border of erie county?

sw border...southern border mercer or auglaise?

se border - southern border of wyandot or crawford?

dunno-good question - steering committee prob knows...

At one time maybe yes to the southern borders but there are new groups that started in those areas.

This topic has been discussed here several times here in the past.

I think the earliest was way back in 2004, when TreamSoaring asked the question here in the forums, "How far south and east is NWOGEO?".
Forums/viewtopic/p=100.html#100

In that forum thread I posted some map images of NW Ohio that are no longer available and BlackBrownDog found a good article at Wikipedia that has some good information including a couple of maps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Ohio
While the article has no citations or sources, the information presented seems logical. It shows 25 counties in NW Ohio.

The 1990 US Census Bureau map on that page shows NW Ohio with more counties than the State of Ohio defines in this map:
http://13e69210f681c6aaccd58f3236e68ba3 ... on_map.gif

In our Steering Committee Forums, I posted this some time ago when we discussing the center of NW Ohio:

GizmoGuy411 wrote:According to the 2000 Census, here is how they breakdown regions in Ohio:



And NW Ohio:


(24 counties)

Looking on the map, the center looks like it would be just into Hancock County, and further east than Mc Comb.

However, "U.S Geological Survey define the geographic center of an area as "…that point on which the surface of the area would balance if it were a plane of uniform thickness,…" This point of balance is the area's center of gravity"

Therefore, Since Ohio extends out into Lake Erie, this would shift the NWO Center some what north and east, possibly even in Seneca County.

Other maps, such as those defining the Area Code 419/567 make NW Ohio even larger encompassing 32 Ohio counties.

Given all the discussion so far, I think I like the comment from Good Dog the most:

GoodDog wrote:I guess I don't look at NWO the same way. I don't think of it as geographical boundaries as far as our organization is concerned. To me NwoGeo is just a name inspired by the area that most of us hunt in.That area is vague to me. It helps define us, but isn't us. If someone in Kentucky wants to be part of the group, that's fine.

Similarly on our Geocaching.com profile we say, "The Northwest Ohio Geocachers are an informal group of geocachers in the Northwest section of Ohio. While most of our members are located around the Toledo, Defiance, Findlay, and Southeastern Michigan areas, we actually have no real boundaries for membership."

On the other hand, if we even form a non-profit organization, we have to come up with some kind of borders.

That does a good job explaining the official boundaries of Northwest Ohio, but most of those counties to the east would be part of the North Central Ohio Geocachers.

Wow, there's abunch of those counties we haven't even found a seingle cache in.

Just because those are "official boundaries", I'm not sure they are NWOGEO boundaries or if NWOGEO needs defined boundaries.

I belong to two Indiana 4WD organizations and they have no problems with Buckeyes. Why should NWOGEO limit itself. I think we already have Michigan members.

just heard about an NCOG event...that explains about the eastern end...

glad we're part of a big happy geo-family...

looking forward now to meeting the "cuzzins" at the family reunion
aka MWGB !!!