[Geysers] OFVC Logbook -- Please Read

[Mary Beth Schwarz]

     Twenty-seven geyser gazers are on the "list" in the current OF log book
for summer 2010 as far as I know.  This "list" (which includes people such
as Jim Scheirer, Barbara Lasseter, Vicki Whitledge, Ralph Taylor, Steve
Eide, etc) is composed of people who visit the park frequently and have
bothered to enter data in the past or have given us sheets of paper with
their data to be inserted.

     The Visitor Center does put a "VR" next to times from people who are
not on the list for writing in the book.

     If you are not able to enter your data directly into the log book, you
could put it on paper with the date and eruption times and your signature
(and e-mail address in case there are problems reading the times).  Then you
would need to give the paper to one of the gazers in the park who do write
in the book or give it to me and I will try to get the data into the log
book.  I have a limited time each day in the park but certainly all the info
is important.  Please do not e-mail times to me since I have no printer and
cannot take time to write all the data 2-3 times.  People who turn in data
on papers for insertion into the log book often get on "the list."

     ___David Monteith made an important point.  WE are the ones who want
all the eruption data written into the log for ourselves as well as the
historic record, so WE need to collect data and see that it gets to the log
book___.

     I have never witnessed anyone being denied access to look at the OF log
book.  Sometimes it is not available for various reasons such as when Old
Faithful is erupting and the Ranger prefers to write the data directly in so
it is not forgotten in the rush of visitors after the eruption.  Any visitor
is usually allowed to look at the book (that would include all of you).

     There are some features for which we usually do not enter data
including Old Tardy, Tardy, Spasmodic, Anemone, Pump, etc.  If you have a
question, please ask when you are in the park.  You could also look at the
log books that are posted on the GOSA website to see examples from past
years.

     In some years there is too much data for the log pages, but that has
not been a problem recently.

     Mary Beth Schwarz

On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 12:20 AM, <caros at xmission.com> wrote:

> This is really odd. We've never been told no when we've asked to see the
> log, although some rangers do ask that you don't just walk up to it if it's
> on the little side desk where it usually sits. Again, my objection is having
> gazers who actually know what they're talking about but aren't on "the list"
> have their reports qualified by the term "visitor report." This may be my
> own ego talking, but I feel this term casts the report in a suspicious
> light, like they're saying, "Yeah, take *this* one with a big grain of salt"
> and I find this objectionable. 20+ years up there ought to be worth
> something even if our circumstances don't permit our family to stay there
> for big chunks of the summer. I've taken to radioing or just passing along
> times to people who can disseminate them and maybe get them into the log
> without the qualification.
>
> I think Lynn's loss is everyone's loss and the quality of info of her own,
> esp from Lower, and that of others that she helped to transcribe has
> deteriorated severely with this lack of renewal. I can't believe with the
> economy they turned away a *volunteer* who has a long history with the park
> and was so diligent at data collection and recording. Everyone needs to run
> over to Twitter and follow the link to the grant the Coca-Cola company is
> offering to one lucky park --- even with record highs for visitors,
> Yellowstone is trailing the pack. Volunteers get so little in return for all
> their work but if economics are affecting even the little they get, maybe
> $100K would help. (OK, just bypass Twitter; the link is
> http://www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks)
> Karen Webb
>
>
> Quoting inezaustin at aol.com:
>
>  I think we would all like clarification on this.  I, for decades,  entered
>> times for obscure geysers.  Then about ten years ago I was  pretty much told
>> to take a hike.  Consequently I stopped.  In the  last two years when I have
>> requested to see the log I was told no.   So as far as I am concerned the
>> powers that be and I have split the  sheets.  If we are once again going to
>> help out with times, I want  to know that the battle to get into the VC and
>> do it is worth the  effort.  There will be no second chances again as far as
>> I am  concerned. Inez
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ken Reeves <kreeves5 at cox.net>
>> To: Geyser Observation Reports <geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu>
>> Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2010 7:40 am
>> Subject: Re: [Geysers] OFVC Logbook -- Please Read
>>
>>
>> Dave,
>>
>> Can you please provide what should or should not be turned in, how  we get
>> it into the logbook, which geysers should we turn in, etc.  especially for
>> those of us who are fairly new or don't get up there  very frequently.
>>
>> A few years ago, I turned in my observations of some of the lesser
>>  geysers, I believe it was Solitaire Geyser, but was told by the  ranger at
>> the visitor center, that "we do not record data for that  geyser", and it
>> kind of left me with a bad taste on spending the  time to gather the data.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Ken Reeves
>>
>> David Monteith wrote:
>>
>>> ....  To be successful,
>>> geyser gazers need to share information.  The logbook provides a
>>> centralized place for us to put that information.  I'm being very
>>> selfish here.  I want to know what is going on.  The logbook provides
>>> the details that don't get onto the list serve.  I doesn't matter if the
>>> NPS wants the information or scientists of park visitors.  What matters
>>> is that we, the geyser gazer community, want the information.  So please
>>> take the time to get your data into the logbook.  Your efforts will be
>>> greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>>  _______________________________________________
>> Geysers mailing list
>> Geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu
>> 
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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