what to do?

[el-jefe]

We need to figure out how we are going to cope with the vandalizm as well as the theft. I want some ideas thrown around and then we can post a poll and have a vote. Post ideas on how we should proceed and then ill put together the poll and we can make a decision.

[dg]

well, its too bad but theres not too much you can do about vandalism...

remember that course in Colorado that lost nearly all their baskets?

maybe one thing we can do is put up a sign or two from the city stating that the police regularly patrols the park

[Tomwin]

Hide some tracking devices in the poles and if one comes up missing call CTU and have Jack Bower go recover the missing basket by any means necessary.

[sturmgeist]

lo-jack in the baskets eh?

[dg]

one day it might be cheap enough to put a gps tracking device on just about anything of value

[el-jefe]

We can't do anything about theft or vandalism but we can be prepared when it happens. I want to try and recover all the strokesavers we can find. I am willing to pay to have the bertrand specials to be refinished in whatever choice powder coat color wanted if whoever with a strokesaver will trade it in.
Also we need to check all baskets and make sure they cannot be lifted out of their sleeves. 9's lock bracket was rusted through and was no longer attached to the pole. If they can, we need to get a bolt through it so wrenches would be needed to take it and it wouldn't be a victim of opportunity. I don't know if this was dgers or not, I hope not.

[sturmgeist]

The best locking device I've seen is a thick bolt with a hole for a padlock drilled through one end. The bolt goes through a hole in the sleeve, through the pole hole, and sticks out far enough for the lock on the other end. Much better and simpler than a welded on bracket. Makes the pole itself the weak point, but I imagine we could fill them full of sand or something else that would deter someone chopping through.

[sturmgeist]

You guys have said that the owner of the Vortex has been happy to let us hold our meetings there in the past right? Has anyone thought about the idea of a benefit show out there with some local bands? Get the Vortex and a couple of bands like Sour Mash and the Molly McGuires on board, set up a portable basket or two to introduce newbies to the basics. We could do a couple of little competitions/games with some cheap plastic packages - say an aviar, cobra and valkyrie - as prizes to get a couple of people started. We could print up flyers and advertise any other way thats feasible for us. Just an idea.
::edit::
Sorry, put this idea in the wrong "idea" thread...