I will talk with Karen Pendleton, but I propose that we run the butterfly maze (see the old posts) on Sunday morning August 20th. Now, I'm not sure if the 'course' should just be the fastest in, or the fastest to the center and back, or even throw in a few markers. Again, I'll have to talk with Karen. But, for now, mark your calendars. I' guessing we'll try to get started around 10 or so.

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), August 02, 2000

Answers

I think it should be an actual course, with a start, several controls, and a finish.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), August 02, 2000.

I'm looking forward to this event -- the first ever O' race in a corn maze. A course with a few markers would probably be most fun.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), August 02, 2000.

Do we want to impose a speed limit (make this a walking race, no running)? Just concern about not destroying the maze. Or are we restricting this to the OK "select group" of experienced and environmentally-conscious (or unconscious) members?

Regardless, thanks Fritz for coordinating this (the O'maize-ing Maze event?). Mook better not miss the event of the year! Press release to the LJW?

-- mean gene (gmw@ukans.edu), August 02, 2000.

I don't see why there would be a problem with running in the maze. Running wouldn't mean between the stalks, but along the maze corridors, wouldn't it? I suppose that walking types might also be tempted to cut through the corn, but that would simply be against the rules. Right?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), August 02, 2000.

Sent to Karen Pendleton:

Hi.

I've taken you up on the offer to have a mini orienteering meet in your maze. As before, you can look at our discussion page. I don't think the turn out will be very large. Depends on if the 8 to 10 local people get others to attend.

I was wondering if you have a map with all the various markers on it, and what each marker says. Normally in an orienteering meet, the participants look for orange and white bags at each point they are to go to, and verify their presence at that point by marking a card they carry with a punch unique to each location. In the case of the maze, if it's like last year, I was thinking it would be less effort to have people just remember something off of each of the information markers you already have out in the maze.

Also, as you will read, questions have come up as to a speed limit. We are a trustworthy lot, but if you would like us to have fun at a slower pace, I'm sure we can accomodate.

Oh, and Gene (Wee) wondered about a press release. I think it might be fun to call the local NRP station and see if they would be interested in covering this. Any thoughts from you on either?

Lastly, do you have t-shirts this year? I'd like to give a t-shirt to the winner.

I'll be posting this to the discussion page, you can respond there, if you wish.

Thanks, Frederick Menninger

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), August 03, 2000.

Again, for those who want a preview, the maze can be seen at

http://www.pendletons.com/butterflymaze.html

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), August 03, 2000.

Karen Pendleton replied:

August 20th sounds great, any idea on time? We have a map that everyone who goes through the maze receives. We can mark the tents, butterfly garden, tower and misting tent on them. It is fairly easy to get through the maze and just go to those locations, but I'm guessing you may want to make the trek a little more difficult and have other locations they must find. I would like for you to come out and see what you think needs to be done. A jogging pace is fine in the maze, but a full run could be a negative for the corn. The corn is holding up well, but we want to keep the damage to a minimum. I think the press release would be a fantastic idea. I've found that most media pick up a release and use it, if it comes from the non-profit group, not the business. Maybe we can get together and go over details soon. Also, what is the site of the discussion group, I didn't mark it, and would like to see what folks are saying.

Thanks, Karen Pendleton Pendleton's Country Market

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), August 04, 2000.

This will be fun. Last year Mary and I did the turtle maze -- it was interesting. They had a decent map and it really felt like an orienteering excercise (without the running). The map reading was relatively intense.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), August 04, 2000.

Reply to Gene's press release:

Gene,

Looks great! Might want to include the possum trot and ok web page addresses.

OK is http://www.geocities.com/okansas.geo PTOC is http://member.aol.com/PTOClub/home.html

Phone number is *3*64-2354

May want to allow earlier time for instructions. Entry fee will be $10.

Also, I'm thinking of having a beginner's course -- only one or two points, but I don't know that you need to include that.

>From: Gene Wee >Reply-To: gmw@ukans.edu >To: fpmenninger@hotmail.com >Subject: Press Release >Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 21:45:51 -0500 > >Fritz, >Attached is the draft for the press release. I was home, making a new outdoor iguana cage, so I didn't get to open email until late. I'm rusty on news releases, so feel free to make all the changes you want, send it back, then I'll get them off (federal >mail and email). > >I've also reprinted the release here, in case the attachment didn't come through. > >ttyl, >Gene > > Orienteer Kansas > 2223 Westchester Rd, Lawrence, KS 66049 > > > Information Release >Date of release: Aug 8, 2000 > >Orienteer Kansans to run maize maze Aug 20 > > > Like rats in a maze, on Sunday, Aug 20, an orienteering event will be held at the Butterfly Maize Maze at the Pendleton Country Market. Starting at 10 AM. OK club members, which includes several former national orienteering champs, will race each other >much like any other orienteering meet - using a map to navigate the course. The novelty of this course will be to locate markers along the maize paths. > The Butterfly Wishes Corn/Soybean Maze, an 8-acre maze cut from corn and soybeans, was designed by Lawrence crop artist, Stan Herd. This is the second maze in two years that Herd has created on the Pendleton farm, just east of Lawrence. > Club member Fritz Menninger, from Holton, KS contacted Karen Pendleton about the possibility of doing an orienteering race. The racers will be required to go no faster than a race walk to prevent any damage to the crops. Club members have competed in >events all over the U.S. and Europe. For Midwesterners, the orienteering season is usually in the fall and winter when the runners can go through the woods without being impeded by poison ivy, crawling insects and leaves still on tree branches. The Aug >20 is a fun event to kick off the new O'season. > For more information about this special event, contact Fritz Menninger at 785-264-2354. > - 30 - > > >release sent by: Gene Wee, secretary for Orienteer Kansas, phone (in Lawrence - W: 864-2419, H: 841-3587) ><< Aug20Omaizemazerelease.doc >>

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.