Skip to Content
Register · Login
About Theme

A Letterboxing Community

Atlas Quest
Search Edit Search

Read Thread: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION

PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Mar 1, 2016 1:48pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I have figured out that PAL day is May 24th, but for AtlasQuest, are state counts still done and announced? I searched and found a lot of excitement around 2008, but I am not clear if this was just a historical event or there is a place to sign up each year. Historical is fine, just want to understand. Thanks in advance.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921233 by Cecilia57
Mar 1, 2016 2:00pm
Thread (disabled) Board
There is a widget you can add to your page that counts the boxes per state each year, for this annual event. You don't have to "sign up" anywhere, just follow the guidelines for planting and listing, and type of box, and your plants will be automatically included in the count.
It was a fun event for several years, but the growing competition between states got out of hand in 2014, questions arose about the numbers, people cried 'foul', and many were left with bad feelings about PAL. As a result, 2015 numbers were WAY DOWN from previous years, as planters looked to other ways to inspire more plants in their states.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921235 by Wise Wanderer
Mar 1, 2016 3:20pm
Thread (disabled) Board
That historical summary is accurate, but needs to go back a year. If you read the stats from the widget, 2013 was the really big year filled with drama, and 2014 dropped to the lowest numbers since it began in 2006. With wind out of the sails, stats for 2015 were never even archived.

Of course, I've always been vocal about my opinion that the focus should be more on quality, not quantity, and PAL promotes the latter.

K
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921240 by Kelsung
Mar 1, 2016 3:50pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Sad to hear, but also very helpful for understanding. I will check out the widget.

In bad years and good, it seems the PAL day's count should still be archived. Many "bad" days in history have benefited from documentation. I have observed various negative aspects/ attitudes/ opinions from the first on AtlasQuest, but as a newbie it is all part of the letterboxing experience!

They certainly are outweighed by the simple enjoyment I've had such as a just week ago, finding a LB beautifully carved but somewhat too close to a dumpster perfume and then the same day a huff'n puff hike to find clever store-bought LBs and a beautiful mountain view! I am so grateful for both. =)

Any additional comments will help my LB education! I won't get anticipatory about PAL day now but I do intend to plant at least a couple in honor of the day. I'll bring another LB "pal" and create my own tradition I guess.
Thanks so much for the comments.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921242 by Cecilia57
Mar 1, 2016 4:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
In bad years and good, it seems the PAL day's count should still be archived.

It's great to see a kindred history spirit amongst us.
History isn't erased--last year's PAL survives, tho in different form:
http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=3475
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921240 by Kelsung
Mar 1, 2016 6:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
With wind out of the sails, stats for 2015 were never even archived.

I just never updated the page. I was hiking the AT then and didn't get home until five months later and never gave PAL Day a second thought at that point. There was no rush for me to jump onto that task.

-- Ryan
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921255 by Green Tortuga
Mar 1, 2016 8:02pm
Thread (disabled) Board
There was no rush for me to jump onto that task.

Is it much of a task or have you got it set up to pretty much automatically produce the page? If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see the results for 2015. I, too, thought its non-appearance was meant as a sign that the powers-that-be wished the whole thing would just go away. I like the out hiking reason much more.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921257 by Wronghat
Mar 1, 2016 9:15pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Is it much of a task or have you got it set up to pretty much automatically produce the page?

It's a task I do manually each year. I don't really have a good way to automate the process. Maybe I'll get it included in the Next Big Update, though. It doesn't really take long--it's just something that's not very interesting or exciting to do and is even more of a hassle when I'm not working on my full-sized computer. =)

-- Ryan
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921245 by Wronghat
Mar 2, 2016 2:59am
Thread (disabled) Board
Would this year-2016- be the 10th Anniversary of PAL Day?
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921263 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 3:32am
Thread (disabled) Board
I thought I read 2015 was.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921265 by SherlockMiles
Mar 2, 2016 5:07am
Thread (disabled) Board
Mn8X hosted one in 2006 and the one for 2007 was listed as the 2nd Annual. Can anyone clear this up?

I would be interested in posting the 10th Anniversary PAL Day Event since I have been unable to reach the original organizer.

Thank you...
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921263 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 5:22am
Thread (disabled) Board
The link in wrong hat's reply listed 2015 as the 10th anniversary.

I think it's great that you're willing to get it listed and regenerate positive participation! Life won't calm down for us until June, but we will try and join in this year.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921267 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 5:40am
Thread (disabled) Board
Great! and Thank you ~
I am planning to plant on that day. I try to each year, and have gotten something planted almost every year since 2009. I decided a while back to identify those plants in the title of the box, and I see I have fallen away recently. Iowa has never has a chance of being close to the top of the list ~ usually our total plant count is 4 or 5 ~ but on that day, it's fun to know you're part of an invisible movement in the invisible hobby.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921275 by Maude
Mar 2, 2016 6:14am
Thread (disabled) Board
If we stick to the pal (friend) concept of PAL day we should be in good shape, I would think.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921263 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 7:18am
Thread (disabled) Board
According to PAL Historical statistics - this year is indeed the 10th anniversary.

International Plant-a-Letterbox Day started in the spring of 2006.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921279 by mudflinginfools
Mar 2, 2016 10:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
An event has been created for this year. Join in everyone!
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921279 by mudflinginfools
Mar 2, 2016 11:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
According to PAL Historical statistics - this year is indeed the 10th anniversary.

I get 11th. 2006 1st 2007 2nd 2008 3rd 2009 4th 2010 5th 2011 6th 2012 7th 2013 8th
2014 9th 2015 10th 2016 11th.

But I am a history major.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921295 by Wronghat
Mar 2, 2016 11:18am
Thread (disabled) Board
I get 11th. . . . . . . . But I am a history major.

Yep, the 11th event of PAL, but 10 years since the 1st one!!

But I was a math major. 😉
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921297 by Wise Wanderer
Mar 2, 2016 11:24am
Thread (disabled) Board
lol..,ayuh well, it is listed as the 10th Anniversary so whatever we call it..sign up, pick, plant and post. Come on..you know you want to!
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921297 by Wise Wanderer
Mar 2, 2016 11:28am
Thread (disabled) Board
11th event, 10th anniversary of the 1st event. Your birth day is the day you were born, and are 0 years-old. When you celebrate your birthday, it is the anniversary of the original, thus when you turn 50 years-old, you call it your 50th birthday, but it is actually the 51st time you were alive on that date.

So call it the 11th annual PAL day, or the 10th anniversary of PAL day. Both are correct.

K
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921298 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 11:30am
Thread (disabled) Board
Let's get her done, have fun, enjoy the spirit of our hobby/obsession and just have a great PAL day.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921300 by Daytrippers 54
Mar 2, 2016 11:42am
Thread (disabled) Board
Absolutely!! Hope to see you on the list, Daytrippers 54. :)
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921302 by Teacup
Mar 2, 2016 11:49am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm new to this, and was wondering if the carve has to be yours?
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921304 by StampingIsMyForte
Mar 2, 2016 12:14pm
Thread (disabled) Board
No, it does not. You can list yourself as the owner, and the carver is listed, too.
Re: PAL Plant a Letterbox QUESTION
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #921259 by Green Tortuga
Mar 2, 2016 11:38pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Maybe I'll get it included in the Next Big Update

It'll be in the Next Big Update. I actually tweaked the code on the live site so instead of running the queries on "this year", it's now running them on "this year - 1" fooling the code into thinking it's still 2015 and displaying the 2015 numbers. Kind of an ugly hack, but it'll be overwritten in the next Big Update.

That's also why the countdown display isn't showing anymore--it thinks PAL Day "this year" has already happened.

But in any case, it'll all get sorted out correctly after that Next Big Update.

-- Ryan