The Allegany State Park Geobash (ASPGB), one of the longest-running mega events in North America, has had a proud legacy of 17 successful years. This event offers dozens of caches and four days of events for attendees to enjoy, while touring beautiful Allegany  State Park just outside of Salamanca, NY. 

However, this year, the diurnal pattern has been disrupted. Groundspeak published another event, GCAQ5K5 In the Year 2025..., before ASPGB XVII had even started! This first time Canadian event, only 133 miles from ASPGB Headquarters, has only 90 will-attends at the time of posting this petition. This unjust decision by Ground speak HQ to support the new event and not the longstanding tradition has unjustly hindered ASPGB XVIII from achieving its rightful Mega status. Despite earnest appeals from the organizers, Groundspeak remains unmoved in their decision. Appeals to the Canadian organizers have been met with rejections and no resolution has been found to date, except ASPGB forging ahead without the coveted Mega status. 
But we are not ready to surrender. ASPGB XVIII deserves to be recognized for its long standing nature and acclaimed reputation within the geocaching community. Groundspeak's stance not only underestimates the merit of ASPGB XVIII, but also tries to undermine an event that has been an essential part of our geocaching tradition. This decision has divided the Canadian geocaching community apart, with the "ASPGB XVIII supporters" on one side and "In the Year 2025 supporters" on the other.

We implore Groundspeak HQ to reconsider this unfair decision ahead of the intended Mega event date on May 17, 2025. Ensure that ASPGB XVIII continues to be an integral part of our enriching community and achieves Mega status in 2025. Sign this petition to pressure Groundspeak into granting the Mega status to the Allegany State Park Geobash XVIII.