FTF on Feb 29? YES!!! Come Tell Your Stories Event Cache

Ever wonder what the First-To-Find (FTF) fuss is about? Come and ask those that are FTF addicted.

This is the 7th Annual FTF Feb 29 event. The 6 prior events were:
2019: FTF on Feb 29? No, on Feb 30th (3-2)
2018: FTF on Feb 29? No, on Feb 38th (3/10)
2017: FTF on Feb 29? No, Just FTF Prizes & 2016 Results
2016: FTF on Feb 29. How did this year's experiment do?
2015: FTF on Feb 29 this year? No, it falls on 3/1 AGAIN
2014: FTF on Feb 29 this year? No, it falls on March 1st

RAFFLE - RAFFLE - RAFFLE - RAFFLE

WHY?:
. . Let's celebrate and find a cache on Feb 29, and maybe even an FTF.
. . KCSearcher will have placed at least 90 “KCSearcher’s Feb29 2020…” caches.
. . . . These are all within 55 direct miles of the event.
. . . . These caches will be published on February 29, 2020.
. . . . The first ones will publish shortly after midnight.
. . . . More will publish hourly throughout the day.
. . . . The last one will publish around 1:00 PM, 5 hours before the event.
. . . . These caches will be of mixed types, terrains, and difficulties.
. . . . There will be ONE YELLOW TICKET in each cache.
. . . . Bring it to the event to be entered in the FINDERS RAFFLE (see below for instructions).
. . You don't need to find any that day in order to attend the event.
. . If you do, come and tell stories of your adventures.

Remember, leap day only comes around once every 1,461 days, so come celebrate by caching, attempting to get an FTF, and attending this event that day.

WHERE?:
Fuddruckers, Club House Loft (Upstairs seating. Overflow will be in the general seating downstairs)
Willows Shopping Center
1975 Diamond Blvd # E260
Concord, CA 94520

WHEN?:
6:00 PM – 9:30 PM, Saturday, February 29, 2020. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE UPSTAIRS BEFORE 6:00 PM
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM: Registration & Check-in
. . . Sign the event log
. . . Pickup attendee packet (1 per person) which includes:
. . . . . Event Timeline
. . . . . 1 RED TICKET for REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZES
. . . . . 1 BLUE TICKET for FTF RAFFLE PRIZES
. . . . . REGULAR RAFFLE instructions
. . . . . FTF RAFFLE instructions
. . . . . List of FTF RAFFLE PRIZES
. . . . . KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo Mixer game sheet
. . . . . Discount Coupons
. . . Pickup pre-ordered NAME TAGS / BADGES or fill out a name tag
. . . Pickup pre-ordered CAR WINDOW PLACARD
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Game - KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo Mixer (one entry per person)
. . . There will be at least 2 cachers that qualify for each square
. . . Extra BLUE TICKET(s) for completing the Blackout Bingo sheet:
. . . . . 8 for the 1st person to complete it
. . . . . 4 for the 2nd person to complete it
. . . . . 2 for the 3rd person to complete it
. . . . . 1 for all others completing it
6:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Attendees deliver REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZE donations, earn extra BLUE TICKET(s)
6:45 PM - 6:55 PM: Announcements and Awards
6:55 PM - 7:00 PM: EVENT CACHE TYPE FTF RAFFLE. See EVENT CACHE TYPE FTF RAFFLE instructions below.
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM: REGULAR RAFFLE. See REGULAR RAFFLE instructions below.
8:15 PM - 8:25 PM: FINDERS RAFFLE. See FINDERS RAFFLE instructions below.
8:25 PM - 9:15 PM: FTF RAFFLE. See FTF RAFFLE instructions below.
9:15 PMish – LAST PRIZE will be a nearby FTF for all those that attend
. . . Yes, you must go with the group and sign the log.
. . . Coordinates and Hint will be handed out as you leave the event.
9:30 PM – Event Ends

WHO CAN ATTEND?:
Any current or future Geocacher of any age.
OR, anyone wanting to know more about Geocaching.
OR, anyone wanting to be bored by people talking about Geocaching (my geowidow is in this category).

WHO'S PROVIDING THE FOOD & DRINK?:
Each attendee is responsible for purchasing / bringing their own food and drink.

WHO'S PROVIDING THE FREE NAME TAGS / BADGES?:
Fritz (a.k.a. ByeTheWay) will create a very nice name badge for you.
To request a name badge, Click Here and send Ken (KCSearcher) an email with your
. . Geocaching Name,
. . Real Name, and
. . City of Residence
for each person attending either alone or in a group (limit 2 Name Tags per Real Name). Ken will track the order here and will make sure it gets forwarded to Fritz.
All orders after Noon on 2/26/2020 WILL NOT get processed.
Examples: (FYI, Fritz had nothing to do with the hand written red Geowidow. That was Mr. KCSearcher's addition to Mrs. KCSearcher's badge)

WHO'S PROVIDING THE FREE CAR WINDOW PLACARDS?:
Ken (a.k.a. KCSearcher) will create a very nice placard for you to hang on your car's visor.
NOTE, you must post a "Will Attend" log to have one made!!!
To request a car window placard, Click Here and send Ken (KCSearcher) an email with your
. . Geocaching Name,
. . Real Name,
. . Email Address,
. . Mobile Phone #, and
. . Emergency Contact Phone #,
for each vehicle (limit 2 per Geocaching Name). Ken will track the order here.
All orders after Noon on 2/26/2020 WILL NOT get processed.
Example:

WHAT ABOUT Trackables?:
Yes, bring them. Place them. Discovery them. Retrieve them.
There will be a large container for all to share. There will be a "Place" and "Retrieve" log also.
BE SURE to record your Geocaching Name and Tracking Code for each one you Place and/or Retrieve.
I don't want any to go missing as a result of my event. Hate when that happens.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR RAFFLE PRIZES?:
1. Every person posting a route image from their home to the event will be entered into the EVENT CACHE TYPE FTF RAFFLE.
See EVENT CACHE TYPE FTF RAFFLE instructions below.

2. Every person that attends will be given one REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZE (RED TICKET).
See REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZES section below for a list of some of those prizes.
See also REGULAR RAFFLE instructions below.

3. Every person that possess at least one YELLOW TICKET from one of “KCSearcher’s Feb29 2020…” caches can be entered into the FINDERS RAFFLE.
See FINDERS RAFFLE instructions below.
NOTE: A Geocaching Name can win only one FINDERS RAFFLE prize.

4. Every person that attends will be given one FTF RAFFLE PRIZE (BLUE TICKET) for a chance to win one of the 29+ Pre-Publication Caches.
See the FTF RAFFLE PRIZES - NEW CACHES FOR PRE-PUBLICATION FTF RUNS section below for a complete list of those caches.
See also FTF RAFFLE instructions below.
NOTE: A Geocaching Name can win only one pre-publication FTF prize.

5. For each donated quality raffle prize, you get at least one more BLUE TICKET for one of the pre-publication FTF caches. See the "quality REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZE" definition below.

6. The more BLUE TICKETS you have, the better your odds of winning an FTF RAFFLE PRIZE. The BLUE TICKETS will be given out based on the following:
. . 1 ticket per person when registering
. . 5 tickets for each reviewer approved pre-publication FTF cache
. . 5 tickets for each 1/2 day Trip/Excursion you guide
. . 3 tickets for each 2-hour Training/Orientation session you hold
. . 8 tickets for the 1st person to complete KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo
. . 4 tickets for the 2nd person to complete KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo
. . 2 tickets for the 3rd person to complete KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo
. . 1 ticket for all others completing KCSearcher's Blackout Bingo
. . 1 ticket per person for each donated quality REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZE which is generally defined as:
. . . * 1 regular or 1 large camoed container with log ready to hide
. . . * 3 small camoed containers with log ready to hide
. . . * 5 micro or 5 nano containers with log ready to hide
. . . * pack of 20 logs (any size) ready to place in a container
. . . * an unregistered (a.k.a. unactivated) trackable
. . . * a Tool Of The Trade (TOTT)
. . . * a Gift Certificate valued at least $10
. . . * an article of apparel, geocaching themed
. . . * a geocaching related publication
. . . * any other geocaching item valued at $10 or more

7. NOTES:
7a: If you would like to purchase REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZES, Click Here and checkout shop.geocaching.com.
7b: To document what you are donating, post a note with a description and/or photo of the prizes. Click Here to see an example note.

EVENT CACHE TYPE FTF RAFFLE instructions:
Post a route image from your home to the event to be eligible for a drawing to claim an FTF on the event itself giving you an FTF on an EVENT TYPE cache.
Please include your geocaching name and distance on the image label. Click Here to see an example route.
There will be 5 names drawn to co-FTF this event. Check out the table below or Click Here to see the Gallery for those that have already posted their routes.
Deadline to post your route is 8:00 AM on the day of the event!!!

REGULAR RAFFLE instructions (RED TICKET):
NOTE: This year, the REGULAR RAFFLE numbers will NOT BE CALLED OUT. You will have assigned times between 6:45 PM and 8:15 PM to come to the REGULAR RAFFLE prize area to choose a prize.
Before the REGULAR RAFFLE begins at 7:00 PM, check your RED TICKET number (last 3 digits) and compare it to the REGULAR RAFFLE number list (in you attendee packet) to determine what time you can go to the REGULAR RAFFLE prize area.
. . . * When it’s your assigned time, go to the REGULAR RAFFLE prize area.
. . . * Surrender your ticket to the REGULAR raffle prize coordinator.
. . . * Quickly choose your prize and return to your seat.

REGULAR RAFFLE PRIZES:

FTF RAFFLE instructions (BLUE TICKET):
Before the FTF RAFFLE begins at 8:25 PM, decide on your top 5 choices of FTF RAFFLE PRIZES and write down by PRIZE #s. You will need this if your BLUE TICKET number (last 3 digits) is called.

NOTE: A Geocaching Name can win only one pre-publication FTF prize.

Starting at 8:25 PM, a BLUE TICKET number (last 3 digits) will be called every minute and written on the white board.
If your BLUE TICKET number (last 3 digits) is called, go to the FTF RAFFLE prize area, present your ticket, and give the FTF raffle prize coordinator your geocaching name.
. . . * Next, tell them up to 5 PRIZE # choices you want (see above).
. . . * If one of the PRIZE #’s are available, you will be given one envelope containing the cache details.
. . . * If none of your choices are available, one will be selected for you.
. . . . . * (You have the option to accept it or not.)
. . . * Return to your seat.

FTF RAFFLE PRIZES - NEW CACHES FOR PRE-PUBLICATION FTF RUNS:

Click here to interactively explore the relative locations of the PRE-PUBLICATION FTF CACHES. Again, these are only the Approximate Locations, NOT THE ACTUAL COORDINATES. This should give you an idea of the general area where they are located.

FOR POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AT THE EVENT:
I LOVED this!!! See Sarah Murphy's geocaching.com profile page for her clever and creatively written The Geocaching Junkie "The 10 Types of Geocacher".
Of the 10 counts against me, here’s how I plead:
On count #1, Guilty - of course, except that I share as many as practical. When a potentially disagreeable and tense situation threatens to erupt over who gets to claim the FTF, consider verbal de-escalation techniques. Really, no aggression is necessary or called for!!!
On count #2, Guilty - love stats no matter how meaningless.
On count #3, Guilty - mostly when an FTF is involved.
On count #4, Not Guilty - what's a map? what's a compass?
On count #5, Guilty - only of a misdemeanor.
On count #6, Guilty - again, only of a misdemeanor. My Caching Karma is above 2.0, what's yours?
On count #7, Guilty - I only committed this offense 3 times (and it was exhausting). There will be people at this event the will have committed multiple felonies.
On count #8, Not Guilty - Break the rules? Me?!?!?!
On count #9, Guilty - Have done this a few times.
On count #10, WAY Not Guilty - However, my geowidow IS GUILTY, especially the “…looking tired and bored” part.

Here are my TOP 20 FAVORITE FTFs (POST a note with your FAVORITES):

And of course: KCSearcher's Feb29 Experiment RESULTS See KCSearcher's Feb29 2012 #01 Experiment cache page for details.

Please feel free to add your favorite links when you post your log.

RESULTS based on logs posted thru 3/4/2016 (FTF validation trips completed):

Cachers getting more than 1 FTF in the series on 2/29 (count - who):
7 - Shark Z
6 - GeoTabG (at an event in Walnut Creek we attended, he told me “It’s like eating potato chips. You can’t stop with just one“
4 - Dalphin
4 - BIG BEAR.
4 - Blackknight9
4 - Storyhaven
2 - Budzdunwerkin
2 - LewisClan77
2 - lindyfind
2 - skwirlqueen (but she offered to rectifiy the situation with her log on “KCSearcher's Feb29 2016 #B12 Experiment” )
2 - Virgojams
2 - where2next?

Cachers exemplifying the sharing spirit:
1 - whtabtbob, AF6PU, RV CREW, CShare, hydnsekr on “KCSearcher's Feb29 2016 #A08 Experiment”

Hypothesis observations have been put forward (and I think they have a point after seeing 12 cachers find more than 1):
dkata's log
alveragiro's log

Looking forward to seeing you there!!!