About TrinityCam...

Why TrinityCam?

To Provide:
• Information about Trinity County a unique part of California's rich history and it's future, it's people, places and valued way of life.
• Webcam images to showcase the Scenic Beauty of Trinity County and the Northstate.
• Photographs organized by subject, to illustrate what life is like here.
• A source for News & Information for people that live out-of-area, and those of us lucky enough to be living here. Our FOREST FIRE reports are read around the world during large local fires providing information not available anywhere else.
• Links to multiple sources of information on our pages so you are not limited to to just one source if possible.
• Promote Business, Tourism and Recreation to strengthen Trinity County's economy.
• The promotion of All of the Arts for Trinity County.
• Information about Disaster Preparedness and Homeland Security.
• Contact information for Local, State and Federal Government.
• Information about participation in local government issues and elections.
• Unique content and pages to provide usefull information and challenge the imagination.
• Online presence for groups and agencies that may not have websites, or help you find them..
• A place for Community Information to make life a little better for all, and bring the many small comunities together in cyberspace.
• A place for the Webmaster to put some things he wants to share.
• Information about Amateur Radio and the vital role it plays in Emergency Communications in Trinity County and our nation.
• Broadcast Radio/TV and Scanner Radio reception information.
• New ways to serve those that frequent this site regularly and those that make that one important first visit in search of information useful.
• Supporting and providing "Relocation Information" pages to invite people to come here and find their "dreams".
• Finally, nobody else has or is actively placing information, Tourism Calendar and Photos of "Life in Trinity" on the internet consistantly. Placement of content about all of Trinity County to promote the growth of our economy, Tourism, Business, Improved Government, Quality of Life, etc. and diligently updating it,several hours a day.
• REVIEW THE TOPICS ON THE MAIN INDEX!

• From 1999 to 2008...NOBODY...NOT the local county government, NOT the Chambers of Commerce, not NGOs provide this essential information.

• Financial Support for the Project:
  • In 2005 the HAYFORK Chamber and Trinity County Chamber made cash donations to help with the overhead of the suite of websites .Thank You! Your recognition and financial help is greatly appreciated.
  • In 2006 the HAYFORK Chamber again made a helpful donation...Thank You for your help, the monitary gift was used on projects that benefit your community.

  • However, the other 98% of the expenses are provided by the webmaster. At some point if the websites can not support themselves by advertising revenue and or donations the online presence will be in serious jeopardy.
  NOTE: This does not include several websites and pages with content that is linked to TrinityCam and promoted for their contributions to the informational data base about Trinity County. TrinityCam has tried to not duplicate their efforts, but point them out to you. Our policy is to link all Trinity County websites that meet our posted standards.

  If you find this website useful, please recommend it to others. Your support is appreciated. Consider joining TrinityCamFans Yahoo Group on Homepage Index, consider advertising with us, or utilize our low cost> Web Design Services. Most of all contact the Webmaster and share your thoughts.

  

  Olson Stoneware's 175yr old brick building and Trinity Lake through the trees.

  The Past...

  • 1993...From the pages of an HTML how-to book.... the first efforts were on AOL- Webpages about: Trinity County, some photos and information. Mostly pictures of Weaverville, Joss House, Museum, Spiral Staircases and our Red Brick Buildings. Listings about County Government and some of the local businesses in hope that it would bring vacationers and new residents.

    The Webmaster's Hobby of collecting and operating WW2 Military Radios- Aircraft, Navy and Army; Amateur Radio; Radio contact with the MIR Space Station, Satellites and Shortwave; Online presence for A Small Burglar Alarm and Electronic Installation Business in San Francisco Bay Area and Trinity County. A small travelog from the edge of Kaneohe Bay, Oahu Hawaii to Imperial Rome 2000 years too late... all were found on the initial effort.

  • 1994...From 2300 miles away in Hawaii , the SF Bay Area and Weaverville itself, the site construction continued...and the personal informational project goes forward....

    The original AOL effort was expanded and became : The Trinity INFO Pages (1993-2000), with a few civic listings, pictures of Weaverville, lake and forest. Some some pages built to showcase businesses and organizations that did not have websites, or even e-mail. Atleast their contact information was online, even if many never knew...I felt that both the organizations themselves and public could benefit from these listings.and the economy would grow. There was never any charge for these listings and information pages, most in Trinity were unaware of their existance.. or had no clue what the consequences were to be.

  • 1999... The first TrinityCam scenic webcam came online.to give the world a window to see our scenic beauty and focus attention on the content of the associated informational pages constructed in Weaverville about all of Trinity County. A monochrome video camera with telephoto lens captured the drama of the clouds on snowcapped winter days and the majesty of the mountains North of Weaverville.
  • 2001...The "Big Plan" starts to come together..construction starts of a larger informational website, richly visual with webcams, photos, video, audio to bring information about scenic Trinity County to both it's residents, world-wide viewers and those near and far that might wish to visit, retire, reside or establish a business here. A Color television camera was installed with a wider view of the Countryside.
    

    Actual TrinityCam 2001 Fire image and Hayfork Valley from HWY 3

  • August 2001.."TheWeaverville Fire".activated TrinityCam's Emergency Information Plan, a plan to bring information to viewers. Because Trinity County has no local Radio or TV stations. A crawler moved words across the bottom of the screen with latest information on the fire updated at real time, the reports were chronicled on another page, with updates, by date and time. There are currently crawlers for Severe Weather Warnings and other emergencies.

    The TrinityCam Webmaster's Ham Radio links to CDF, USFS, and Red Cross, were activated and became "Trinity Control" during most of the Weaverville and Hyampom fires. The Scanner tracked other services, Information was relayed by dedicated members of Trinity's Amateur Radio Community who worked day and night. Some shaddowed CDF getting closer to the fire than anticipated, others provided shelter communications or mobile relays.

    TrinityCam itself was turned a few degrees West and the flames of fire itself were now in view. Instead of the usual few hundred visits a day, the number of visits climbed into the thousands daily. E-mail from concerned families across the nation and the world along with even the first of a few " TrinityCamFans". All were releived to see that information from ABC and CNN saying the town was gone..was not true.Today, TrinityCam is found as a link on some Radio, Televison station and informational websites in Northern California.

    Although the Webmaster's vehicles were loaded inbetween updates for evacuation, coverage was continious. Weaverville survived, sadly some homes lost, but no lives lost. Our local heros, and more than a thoasand others from near and far saved our Town. The local, regional and national attention and recognition for TrinityCam provided quite a learning experience, but worse yet...encouragement..TrinityCam is now regulary visited by viewers from around the world and within Trinity County. Pilots even look at the webcam to check the skies, while still others click on the image for hourly weather data or just to renew their special feeling about past or future time spent in the area through the pages of the Website..

    

    Coffee Creek North of Trinity Lake and Ruth Lake in Southern Trinity

  • 2002...The plan goes forward several hours a day..taking new ideas and refinements with it. It takes alot of time to maintain the existing sites, let alone to build at the rate that pages are produced at TrinityCam. There are also several associated websites focusing on areas like The Trinity Lake Area, Fishing in Trinity, Weaverville, and others under construction to bring more attention to Trinity and the Northstate.
  • 2003... The "expanded" TrinityCam website is still being constructed online currently to let the search engines find it while it is under construction. Thoasands of hits to these pages have already brought information to visitors from around the world. Plans are being formulated to sell advertising, and web-services on these websites at low rates, reflecting the economic realities of Trinity and reflecting value and viewership of this unique website. As soon as a simple way to keep the related administrative and bookeeping costs down is devised, advertising will be accepted.
  • The Trinity County Chamber of Commerce has had a web presence for years. Local Trinity County Government reserected (9/2002) The County of Trinity Website provide information in their specific areas. TrinityCam links all sources of information along with it's own original content about Trinity County, and links to even more websites with information on similar topics.
  • The major difference that sets TrinityCam INFOsite apart is that it serves multiple purposes; It has the ability to respond immediately if appropriate to provide information, even creating new index sections as required. There literally is a place for everyone on TrinityCam, by submitting information properly, your website or business information may be listed. The webmaster often adds websites as discovered. Advertising opportunities at reasonable cost are also present, with associated marketing, but largely unused because the business and goverment community has no clue.
  • The concept of TrinityCam is much like the "Field of Dreams".. the theory is... build it and they will come.. the result is that some will visit Trinity online and in person and still others will actually move here to pursue their "dreams"... This website will try to promote the dreams and the reality of Trinity County.
  • TrinityCam's focus is on all of Trinity County. It' unique combination of links, cross-linked pages and growing content allows the visitor to have the opportunity to find more information in one place at one time. The presence of directories, guides and modestly priced advertising to raise awareness of goods and services hopefully will be benefical to all. Often public service advertisements are displayed at no charge for appropriate time periods, or semi-permanently
  • 2004- TrinityCam provided an expanded Trinity County Tourism and Events Calendar this year to provide internet viewers a large comprehensive source of Tourism and Community Events so vacations could be planned including Trinity County this year, with the traditional sources of information having failed to provide it, because of management, communications and funding problems.
  • Additional Websites- Provide local content, information and cross-linking of content and website ports. Search Engine placement of important content, draws visitors into ALL websites, and offers LINKS to other important Trinity Websites that reinforce the value of visiting, Touring, Relocating and Exporing Trinity County, California!

    2005

    • TrinityCam INFOsite- Covers the whole of Trinity County! Business Guide from Coffee Creek to Mad River, from Willow Creek to the Shasta County line and beyond. TrinityCam continues to share content with the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce Website on a temporary basis until some management position and planning is resumed within that organization.
    • WeavervilleCam- Provides Weaverville with changing content including pictures, links to various other sites, Promotion of Historical District Webcam, Pictures of the Historic Buildings, Goldrush History Links,The Arts and other original content. The Mobile-Cam feature catches many interesting Weaverville Activities.
    • Trinity Lake Area Recreation and Business Guide- This website provides a quasi-Chamber of Commerce Resource and Promotion. Thousands visit each day to find activities, resources, business and Recreation Guides to help them decide where to go around Trinity Lake, Lewiston, Coffee Creek and environs.
    • Hayfork Valley- This new site is to promote The Hayfork Area and Southern Trinity. New Content is being created, with shared content from TrinityCam Group. The website sections will promote community, Toursism, Business Guides and Area Growth. The Hayfork Chamber of Commerce provides valuable assistance and information.
    • Fish Trinity Website- Expansion of content, more pictures, maps and information will compliment the existing website that covers all of Trinity's Lakes, Rivers and Mountain Streams. More fishing pictures will be added to the project in the future.
    • A new long-term project was started, TRINGUIDE, a different look, and premium content project utilizing links to the "old" and compendiums of other pages to provide a website that can provide a wide variety of content designed to "outlive" the other Traditional existing Websites..
    • The www.trinitycounty.info- website offers links to all of Trinity Counties informational websites.

    • ALL OF THESE WEBSITES offer Coordinated ADVERTISING, one banner ad can be seen simultaneously on 1, 2, or more websites for very reasonable rates, with packages that include links to Business Guides, links to special "simple pages" that can feature services, special events, traditional advertising, etc. with special links. Traditional advertising of all types are availiable. The TrintyCam INFOsite Group and the Northstate Group Web Design / Trinity Web Design provides good value at low cost. The more you spend, the lower the cost.
  • FIRE COVERAGE and Other Public Service Features- TrintyCam INFOsite provides "Real Time" Fire coverage, Local Information on Important Community Issues(Hospital Alternatives, Healthcare, Elections, etc).

    Some of the most popular pages are the DUMP PAGE, with information about days, hours and info about our SOLID WASTE ISSUES, Weather, Trinity Highway Webcams, UFOs, Nighlife, FREE Business Directory, and many more features!

  

  2006 TrinityCam Fire Coverage....20,000 visitors a day to the fire page alone...

  2006-
  • Content and updating of existing websites and pages continues 2.5- 4.0 hrs a day, 6,000 hours since 1999.

  • I have created New calendar with user-update functions have been created for Hayfork Area, this will provide a listing of Hayfork and some nearby area events, without the burden of having pages from outside the area confusing vistors.

    I also created a similar calendar for The Trinity County Arts Council, for listing art related events. This should improve communication between groups and provide a place with moderator for Trinity Events to be listed for the Arts through the TC Arts Council (I am their volunteer webmaster foo).

  • The Trinity County Chamber continues to be under funded, and without professional paid leadership. Pat Zugg and Jeannie Andreissen lead the volunteer organization, with the help of a handful of volunteer office staff.

    The much needed proposed TC CofC website updates and navigational improvements, along with support of various TC Chamber programs has never materialized. The Trinitycam caretaking of the website scheduled to end in June of 2006 was extended to August, then to December. The disappointing lack of management with organized staff, and budget to support them, has not allowed the TC Chamber to function at the level deserved by this unique county.

    The board of supervisors clearly has no clue what is necessary to promote the existing and new business, provide a consistant level of planning, and operate a website. The lead and regular volunteers are to be commmended for their efforts.

  • Trinitycam and the other affiliated websites have been supported by a single local business, and the volunteer efforts of the volunteer webmaster, Greg Greenwood. This support will eventually come to an end, as the business that supported them can nolonger afford to obsorb their negative cash flow, and the website projects. No interest has been shown by the county NGOs, civic groups or business community to support the TrinityCam or other website projects, with the exception of a contribution made by the Trinity County and the Hayfork Chamber of Commerce previously.

    Greg Greenwood, has reached out through the internet websites and pages he provides to invite the entire world to our county. He certainly has made personally some increase in Trinity County Occupancy Tax collected by motels, resorts, campgrounds and vacation rentals. He has requested from the Trinity County Tax Collector, Linda Hymas, in writing, e-mail, and in person visit to the public office a list of registered TOT tax payers. NO REPLY HAS BEEN RECEIVED EVER...(note: 2006-7 requests: 4 e-mail, letters-2, in-person visits with note left 2) . The Trinity County Auditor has been VERY COOPERATIVE providing the actual collection amounts promptly. They are displayed at this location: http://www.northstate.org/tourism/tctot1.html

  The Present

  

  August 2007 Car Show In The Park and Our Colors in 4th of July Parade

  2007-
  • Content and updating of existing websites and pages continues 3.0- 5.0 hrs a day, 7,000 hours since 1999.

  • Planning continues to keep the "TrinityCam" and other projects alive, likely at reduced levels. The needed support by the Trinity Business Community has never materialized, and was not ever a requirement of the webmaster's personal information project to go forward. The lack of public support within the business community can be easily traced to the fact that there is little use or recognition of the importance of the internet by the Trinity business community itself.

    2008

    • Content and updating of existing websites, calendars and pages continues at 1.0 to 2.0 hours a day by the volunteer webmaster, Greg Greenwood. Reduced hours due to health issues, not enthusiasm!.
    • The FOREST FIRE EMERGENCY found the TRINITY COUNTY FOREST FIRE INFOpage with more than 850,000 page views from June 23rd, to September 2nd, while the skies of Trinity were dark with smoke, ironically displayed on our WEBCAM...and fire photos.
    • Photo coverage of the usual events, 4th of July Parade, Autumn in the Alps, WeavervilleCam, Farmer's Market, Healing Arts Faire, Salmon Festival, Auto Show in the Park, and many other events.
    • An information page related to the necessity to raise $$$$$$$$ to keep the project on the internet was established. SEE THE "FUNDING TRINITYCAM PROJECT PAGE" HERE.
    • TOURISM CALENDAR , BUSINESS DIRECTORY, PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION and TOURISM WEBSITE LINKS were added to the Forest Fire Page... in hope of stimulating business after the fire danger had passed
    • Health Related links were posted due to the HEALTH EMERGENCY for AIR QUALITY issues in the skies of Trinity.
    • The Amateur Radio Community (HAM RADIO) information was also integrated into the EMERGENCY INFORMATION posted on TrinityCam.
    • More info soon!

  • The "new calendars" with user-update functions have been created for Hayfork Area, Trinity Arts Council, etc. These will serve specific purposes and encourage their use.

  • The Trinity County Chamber continues to be under funded, under staffed, under directed without paid professional leadership. The TC Board of supervisors continues to ignore the damage that is done to the "future of tourism" in this county by lack of their participation. Certainly without having a paid professional Director, lack of organized published policies, a structured volunteer organization and a managed sufficient budget it will be hard for Trinity County to compete for the recreational dollar. Pat Zugg and Jeannie Andreissen lead the dedicated volunteers and officers of TC CofC. With the help of a handful of dedicated local volunteers the phones and office are manned. Their efforts are laudable, but the TC chamber's efforts in the area of the internet are dismal. Trinitycam's efforts to improve this situation have fallen on deaf ears for years. The TrinityCam Information Project continues to support the common goals of expanding tourism and other goals in spite of lack of their recognition or support.

    Greg Greenwood continues to minimally caretake the TC CofC website. In march 2007 the chamber website was restored to it's 2004 configuration with the expiration of the extended demonstration period. In 2008, many of the internal links to TrinityCam Internet Information Project pages were removed, so they would not be DEAD LINKS if the project leaves the internet. They were replaced with links to some TRINGUIDE pages.

  • Trinitycam, FishTrinity, TrinityCounty.info, Hayfork Valley, TrinityLake.info/org and the other affiliated websites have been supported by a single person, the volunteer webmaster. This financial support has come to an end, as the business that supported the project can nolonger afford to obsorb their negative cash flow, and the website projects.

    No interest has been shown by the local county NGOs, etc. or the business community in general to support the website project. This likely is due to the lack of public knowledge of what the project is, and what it has done. It has never had a single newspaper article or any other media attention about what it does for the entire county since 1999. (Exception: Forest Fire Coverage promoted on radio.../TV nationwide).

    The "Field of Dreams type Website" was built, continues to expand and is working... The volunteer webmaster is trying to find a way to keep it going. Your help would be appreciated.

  • Stay Tuned...More info soon!

  FOREST FIRE COVERAGE- Again we had a bad year in 2006 with forest fires, burning for weeks....that eventually burned into eachother, in the forest blackening over 100,000 acres.

  Then in 2008, the 6,000 bolts of lightning caused FIRE EMERGENCY in June of 2008. The entire Northstate, had fires burning for months...The skies heavy with smoke, evacuations, and public safety emergencies destroyed what little was left of our Tourism business for 2008.

  Greg Greenwood provided the 7/24 coverage and log at TRINITY COUNTY FOREST FIRE PAGE with daily fire information postings reported daily. As outside help arrived, LINKS & TELEPHONE #s were posted to help people around the world to find out critical information. SOME INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE...

  Reports from the FEDERAL/STATE Fire management were posted (separately saved on our servers, since the government servers were crashing under tremendous demand) and linked with valuable information often not availiable elsewhere... PHOTOS and MAPS were also posted/linked. The FIRE pages received about 22,000 hits average per day! in 2006, and peaked at 40,000 a day in 2008.

  

  Trinity Lake's Recreational Opportunities and the Forest itself Await You...

  The Future...

  2008 and beyond...
  • Many logical expansions...and several new features... after more content is uploaded and refined...more attention to refining the "look" of the website ....for now trying to build the growing informational content is the most important goal.... new ways will be found to attractively display information .....Stay Tuned!
  • The new feature PERSONAL TRINITYCAM DESKTOP- was created. This small page has links to all the best features and has image of the webcam.

  • The webmaster has been building a fallback project, in case the TRINITYCAM INTERNET INFORMATION PROJECT leaves the internet. TrinGuide- Many of the features of TrintityCam and other websites will be present in this website that may be able to be funded into the future as a commercial replacement for TrinityCam and the other websites when the project goes unfunded.
  • Some of the content you can expect to see..
    • More webcams- (Contact TrinityCam if you would like to co-sponsor a Webcam)
    • More Trinity organizations brought online through TrinityCam Info pages. These simple TrinityCam INFOpages bring the ability to contact organizations from anywhere in the world, and most importantly to FIND them, and help them grow!
    • TrinityCam E-Commerce for Trinity County- do what I can to bring the county online, and utilize internet information systems locally! TrinityCam is more well known outside the county, and that has been the goal all along. Now in order to focus on the success and encourage internet use inside the county the Webmaster will be seeking forums in local service clubs and organizations of all types.
    • An "Internet Access" page, lists our county's limited public internet resources, so those that need to check e-mail while fishing, or vacationing, will do it here. County Government moves slowly forward to improve cellular telephone and wide-band internet access.
    • A page with information about ACCESS to RECREATION & FISHING has been created, to encourage and assist visits buy handicapped folks and their friends.
    • "Hike and Bike" is a new section that is growing, trying to find useful information online to lure folks to our County.
    • Long overdue, has been a BOATING page, showing all of Trinity Lakes, and recreational opportunities along with SAFETY information is now online.
    • The RELOCATION page has been expanded to help the local chambers of Commerce , even more, the content is aimed at attracting new residents, business and visitors DIRECTLY.
    • Continued emphasis on Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Communications, especially post 9-11, with lots of links in the HOMELAND SECURITY section, and checklists for your planning.
    • Transportation Information of all kinds has been expanded so you can utilize what there is. The county of Trinity has finally brought their limited bus schedule online..
    • Expanded Entertainment Sections- Movies, Local Performance, TV and More. Links to websites that promote ALL of the arts.
    • NEWS NEWS NEWS has listings of BLOGS, FORUMS and even "How to" do it yourself.
    • The Trinity ACTIVITY page has more reasons to check the daily updates and banners..PROMOTIONAL items, Calendars, Arts, History, etc. Growth of new events and continuing support for many existing events is hard to sustain.
    • Continued "Kool Kontent" to encourage Kids to study and learn on their visits.
    • FISH TRINITY dot com has been placed on the Trinity County Chamber Weblink to the FISHING REPORTS with tailored coverage, listings and promotion of our fine rivers and lakes. It is hoped that attention to these areas will help the local communities economy grow.
    • EXPANDED PHOTO GALLERY..More Photos... People... Places and yes, even Fish! Still very few contributions. The only place that organized lists of photos exist to visually and virtually promote our senic county.
    • Expanded use of Yahoo Groups, Blogs, and other technologies is envisioned.
    • An expanded Free E-Mail Newsletter by subscription, with information about TrinityCam and some community events. So far various groups have declined to participate in linking to this proposed project.
    • Still little interest in any sort of INTERNET MARKETING, discounting, bundling, cross promoting, etc.to encourage improved "off-season" traffic. $4.00plus per gallon gasoline will require new creativity to bring new and even "return" visitors to Trinity.
    • Perhaps some special discounts for TrinityCam viewers on specific goods, services or accomodations..will eventually catch on.
    • A Web Magazine awaits for viewer contributions...The Forest Web Magazine there never has been any interest, and if none materializes, it will be deleted in the future.
    • Increased news coverage linked to the "NEWS" button under the TrinityCam Webcam image. Newspapers, Television, "News Junkie" and more!
    • A WEAVERVILLE WEBCAM may be on the way at last, I am just trying to figure out how to pay for it...when permission is formalized. If you are interested in a WEBCAM at your residence or business to promote Trinity County,please contact the webmaster.
    • Utilization of BLOGS, FORUMS, etc. will turn up too, with several new ones this year...under development.
    • Linking to YouTube pages is encouraged, to VISUALLY present our county in ways previously not availiable.
    • Even "Euro Dollars" are coming our way... Field interviews with foreign visitors that speak english, have had some sobering results... Webmaster Greenwood, spoke to a couple last year that visited our county as a result of viewing TrinityCam, and additionally mentioned that their "Travel Club" had several members discuss TrinityCam at a recent meeting.... Greg disclosed that he was TrinityCam's Father, and that he greatly appreciated their report. This ofcourse resulted in less lamenting at 2:00AM, when online calendars were being updated, articles posted, pages updated. As you can imagine this was quite a shock, he knew such folks were visiting and e-mailing him, but to actually run into them in the local museum...quite a shock!
    • Continual support of the arts, for years by providing websites for Highland Art Center, Trinity Players, etc. and recently taking over the Trinity County Arts Council website and building one for the new Main Street Gallery has opened new options for Trinity's Artists.
    • Many new "Professionals" hired in our county did use TrinityCam when deciding to come to Trinity...(Verified).
    • You would be amazed who and where "TrinityCam" is Viewed....and used to make decisions that directly effect life, business, tourism and community activities....but perhaps you would not be amazed by now....

    • More suprises...Stay tuned...
    Amateur Radio in our Community

    

    Greg Greenwood at June 2007 Ham Radio Emergency Exercise in Lowden Park

    The volunteer Webmaster's photo was added to coinside with his efforts to raise community awareness of the TRINITYCAM INTERNET INFORMATION PROJECT & WEBSITES and generate funding to keep the project alive. After 8 years of funding it 97% himself, that is nolonger possible.

    He has had a very low profile personally related to this amazing project, and prefers it that way. But he realizes that only he can try and extend the life of this vital engine.... it is about the present and future of Trinity County's Tourism, Business and Communities, not him...

    Comment and IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT from the Volunteer Webmaster

    INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRINITYCAM INTERNET INFORMATION PROJECT - YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED!

    

    Greg Greenwood
    TrinityCam volunteer webmaster
    E-MAIL ME
    Northstate Web Design
    Advertising Information

    Greetings!

    This announcement is about the future of the "TrinityCam Information Project", all of its websites, web pages, free INFOpages, Tourism and Event Calendar, Free Business Directory, FOREST FIRE COVERAGE, Public Safety Resource Page, over 4,000 files and a zillion webpages that are positioned in great positions in ALL WEB SEARCH ENGINES for several years now!

    In 1999 when I could not get the traditional NGOS, chamber of commerces, etc. to seriously understand the importance of providing a major presence on the information highway to the future of the Trinity County economy I decided to learn how to build websites, become an expert on the internet and do it myself. IT IS NOW 7,000 HOURS + LATER....

    This is why I started the "TrinityCam Internet Information Project" the internet engine that now "virtually" fuels the entire Trinity County Economy on the internet. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY TRUE STATEMENT. It is also very unusual....one person contributes about $20,000 worth of professional web design services a year (860hrs x $20hr=$17,000 a year) as part of 7,000 hours activity since 1999 and has personally paid for 97% of the expenses needed to present the information to the internet.

    One man's quest becomes reality......Read on...it gets even more amazing...!

    In the past, I have used my limited personal funds to pay the annual costs that go to services directly related to keeping the TrinityCam Internet Information Project literally on the internet.

    Unfortunately, last year I had to borrow the money to pay the basic web project related expenses to keep it going because of some family health and personal issues. The irony is that my project is the principle source of zillions of internet search engine returns. Several websites are targeted to the entire county fueling the economy, especially the growth of TOT funds from the people I invite and provide free listings of the places to go in Trinity on the internet. Ironically, I do not share in the TOT funds that are generated to keep the project able to do that very deed!

    It is my hope to find a way to continue financially supporting the project until advertising or donations can rise to a level to sustain the project. As all my original pre-marketing indicated, the TrinityCam project would likely NEVER MAKE A PROFIT COMMERCIALLY, but should slowly attract advertisers at the low cost rates provided, and that expenses would be eventually met. With some media attention and education about the project enough advertising revenue should be generated to keep the project alive.

    So far, my providing FREE BUSINESS DIRECTORY listings, the TOURISM and EVENT CALENDAR, and many other features SHARED BY 8 OF MY TARGETED WEBSITES (all interlinked to give everyone maximum exposure) and ZILLIONS of web pages has resulted in an ironic situation.....

    The "TrinityCam Project" is doing a great job of promoting the entire county...FOR FREE...and continuing as the "Encyclopedia of Trinity County"....but it does not have enough advertising revenue to sustain itself. I believe that is mostly due to the fact that in-county business people and service groups have no clue that the TrinityCam Project exists. The people of Trinity seem to support projects that may perhaps be less important to their own economic interests.

    I am now doing something very hard for me, I am going public....to help make sure the project might survive at this critical time......most people have no idea what or who the project is or associate it with me (that part was intentional). This project was never about me....but now for a few weeks it will have to be I guess.... It is truely about the "virtual" future of Trinity County, and attracting tourists, business opportunities, improving life for present and future citizens.

    O.K.... Much like the little man in the "WIZZARD OF OZ"...I confess to being the one "behind the curtain" responsible for designing and implementing this proven internet achievement benefitting an entire county in many ways for 8 years, and more than 7,000 hours. I plead "guilty" to trying to manipulate the economy of Trinity County in a POSITIVE WAY. Obviously I do this because I continue to see the results...

    Ironically, if the project leaves the internet due to lack of funding...it will be a NEGATIVE IMPACT caused by the loss of thousands of files, pictures and pages..all supporting TRINITY COUNTY!.

    However, I view myself more like the guy that built the BASEBALL FIELD in the Corn Field...in "FIELD OF DREAMS" movie.... I built it, people (tourists, new residents,etc) are coming, spending money here, and going home to return again or send their friends. They are coming here to live and follow their dreams in this "special place".

    The joy I have received by having provided so much to people I will never meet, and seeing what one person can do if motivated... has been the only reward I have ever seriously sought. However, it is time for those benefiting from it to be informed about it, and to help fund it if they value it.

    The reason for this announcement and my coming out of the shadows is that your support in the form of advertising purchases, donations and creative funding ideas is needed. This project promotes ALL of Trinity County from Coffee Creek to Mad River, from Burnt Ranch to Lewiston and beyond.

    It will not take everyone's support, but it will require quite a few to keep it going ....IT ALSO HAS TO START HAPPENING SOON!

    In other counties and communities it is their strong economies that spawn engines of commerce like this..... The very business, civic and private groups that benefit pay the costs. IF THEY DO NOT PAY THE COSTS, THEIR INFORMATION DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE INTERNET!... This is by the sale of LINKS, various size banners, or other advertising programs.

    Frankly, I always knew that I could not rely on being commercially funded by the very weak economy I am trying to help build and expand....My market research said it would never happen in Trinity County anyway...however, it is time for the general public to be given the opportunity to decide it they want the continued promotion that brings in dollars to the county or not!

    Through the sucess of growing visitors to the the project I have been able to present a more accurate vision of our resources and the potential of our economy to the outside world. Our way of life, even pictures our many events, the 4th of July parade, Fireworks and our beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers and much more are easily found on the internet.

    I have never sought a share of the very TOT TAX FUNDS that I am a major generator of, but things have changed now. I communicated to the Trinity County Board of Supervisors at the budget hearings the details of the project and it's sucess for the county economy. This was in the hope that they could make funds availiable to me (some of the very funds I generate).

    I sought only a few thousand dollars to keep the very engine of commmerce that does so much for so many to keep going!. My websites/pages are the major source of internet exposure in Trinity County and provider of links to information related to tourism, business and community in Trinity County today. I provide free webpages to many civic and other groups to get their message out and attract members.

    There is an irony to the value of FREE services.. they appear to have little value monitarily..

    The Supervisors were very genrous in their acknowledgement of the value of the project. I had afterall personally contacted each of them to be sure through the years. However, with all the many worthy projects seeking TOT funds, the supervisors declined to seriously consider the damage to the economy through the potential loss of this group of websites that promotes the county's economy.

    The supervisors cited that how could they provide funds to an individual,etc., that many others would come forward looking for funds too...Not much of a reasoned reply and clearly this was politically incorrect.. just providing a service that everyone needs, that nobody wants to pay for or participate in FOR FREE..

    I have supported and provide PR for things like the Trinity HOSPITAL District, generate TOURISM, stimulate our communities with the FREE INFOpages that benefit many groups with free webpages. YOU CAN SEE MANY OF THINGS LISTED ON THE "About TrinityCam" section of the MAIN INDEX of TrinityCam.com website.

    Oh, lets not forget the FOREST FIRE COVERAGE... in 2001, 2006 and 2008 major fires were threatening our populated areas of this county... I used my special skills in emergency radio communications, also having worked as a deputy sheriff and police officer, I know alot about public safety and was able to communicate it to my fellow residents and the outside world. 20,000 hits plus to the fire page alone EACH DAY during the fire. To some folks this was their first contact with "TrinityCam"...but I assure you...they took advantage of the other information on the pages later, to visit, recreate, fish, enjoy the outdoors, travel along our rivers, float on out lakes, stay in our motels, campgrounds or just travel through planning their future visit...either VIRTUALLY or in person.

    LETS NOT FORGET "THE TRINITYCAM" ITSELF, the color webcam in the invironmental enclosure high on a mast in my backyard pointed North at MONUMENT PEAK... snow in the winter, Autumn Colors in the Alps...even the terror of forest fire smoke in the sky...all through the webcam..

    Like a LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER, from time to time I carefully climb the ladder to remove snow and ice, or some insects trying to set up housekeeping... ZILLIONS OF VISITORS VIEW THE WEBCAM EVERYDAY and explore the pages... It has been a beacon to people sitting in offices they can not stand, trapped in lives they need to escape from...I have met some of the escapees...they are my friends and neighbors now....

    Back in 1999 and still today, no NGO is capable or shown serious interest in stepping up to the plate and help in substancial way to enable this project to continue. I am in constant communication with the handful of key people that are actually doing something about our economy. Their encouragement is amoungst the things that keep me going.

    Some statistics...
    I have provided personally over 7,000 hours of web work in 8+ years...if I were paid under the current prevailing wage for proprietary web design contracts ($30hr), or even only $20 hr ....that would be $17,000.00 a year! I show this dollar amount only to show "value" ...and to show you I AM DOING MY PART...and the past 7 years of RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES... many folks tell me frequently that doing what I do is "worthless" because it has not shown a demonstrated profit for TrinityCam (me)... Probably this is my fault, I was too busy building, updating, and designing pages and websites to "beat people up to advertise",etc. That hardly fits into what you have already read.

    You do the math...7 x $17,000 (value of labor) = $119.000 in 7 years going on 8. With good results that continue to get better. NOT BAD FOR A "FREE" SERVICE. Many have speculated what my big "master plan" is and how I am somehow profiting secretly already!

    Well....if you can find that wealth, lets split it and fund the web project! What I have received so far is not monitary... I have invested in an entire county's future, without any expectation of return. I have contributed thousands of dollars of my own funds to cover growing operating expenses through 8 plus years too. Most people spend more money each year on their personal hobbies.

    Now you know where most of the search engine return links I generate every day on Google, Live, Ask, MSM, etc. come from.... TrinityCam is alot more famous around the world than within the county, but it has slowly become a tool of local residents as they understand it's function and enjoy it's features and information. "TrinityCam" is a combination of multiple websites targeting various parts of the county, and TrinityCam the "encyclopedia" of Trinity County.

    It is not a happy accident that there are so many link returns in the top 10, 20 , 30 out of hundreds of thoasands of returns at the search engines...It takes alot of work and Web Design skill... Remember TRINITY is a very common name , The Trinity River is in Texas too and Weaverville is also in North Carolina. Ruth Lake is in Canada and Florida...You get the idea, my goal is to bring people and their wallets to OUR economy.

    ALSO REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS SELECT NORTHSTATE WEB DESIGN (me) to do your internet web design work. The reality is there is not much of that sort of work, in this county...but happily, a bit more is turning up each month.

    I actually met a nice couple from Germany on the steps of the local museum, who came to Weaverville BECAUSE THEY VIEWED TRINITYCAM!.... Imagine that...intellectually I know it was happening... but to have actually met these folks and heard it myself was a real thrill. It gave me new energy to update web pages in the middle of the night and continue to work on all parts of the project.

    The FREE TrinityCam Business Guide has sought out and listed every business in all parts of the county for many years... It provides a much "healthier" accurate view of our economy and county than the similar business guide at the TC Chamber of Commerce, that displays it's members only (as it should).

    The TRINITY COUNTY TOURISM and EVENT Calendar is generated by the TrinityCam Project and is shared with all the Chambers of Commerce, and major websites. (note: the direct link to the calendar was REMOVED from the Trinity County Chamber website and they were given a FREE "online calendar" that is the same used by many groups. This was done so they could provide a calendar, since they do nothing to support my efforts online. TrinityCam continues to support our common goals.)

    It is that very "encyclopedic" content, updated all the time that has brought thousands of visitors to my websites each week. AGAIN....NOBODY ELSE IS providing this unique group of services and information.

    ...There is no "profit in it", but there is a great deal of value, the future of several thousand folks that are my neighbors, and people that have yet to come. With $4.00 a gallon gasoline... and the failure of the Federal Government to fund large amounts of funding to this county...economic growth is needed more than ever!

    The TrinityCam project provides free hosting/webpage for Hayfork Chamber of Commerce, Weaverville Chamber and also "caretakes" the Trinity County Chamber website. Many FREE TrinityCam INFO PAGES are provided to many groups county-wide.

    Finally, unrelated to the existance of the TrinityCam Project I have supplied FREE web services for the websites for Highland Art Center, Trinity Players, Weaverville Street Rodders, and many many more. I have provided FREE web services to Trinity County Arts Council and Main Street Gallery in the past (ended 10/2008), Trinity County Amateur Radio Club and TC ARES (emergency communications group), and many more! These are just things I do for my personal enjoyment, and because the groups have no money in their budgets for web services.

    Finally, remember, the project includes... TrinityCam.com, FishTrinity.com, TrinityLake.org/info, HayforkValley.com, TrinityCounty.info, WeavervilleCam, and other targeted pages like the Weaverville Art Cruise, Weaverville Revitalization, and many others.

    Thanks for your attention and interest, if you can help, and believe in the project please contact me at THIS SECURITY E-MAIL FORM PAGE. I am considering building a "DONATION" page in addition to the ADVERTISE WITH US page on TrinityCam if it is appropriate.

    Remember Zillions of visitors view the webpages...your advertisement will be seen! ...4,000 files, zillions of pages, websites, great search engine positions that benefit an entire county... If it is not supported....and the necessary bills paid....it could leave the internet forever.

    In a few months, my photo will be removed from this page and I will fade back into the shadows with the "Wizzard of OZ and the BaseBall Players in the cornfield".... The photo is just there to make me a more "public person" and identifiable for a while as I actively promote the project and seek funding from all of Trinity County.

    -Greg Greenwood
    Volunteer Webmaster
    TrinityCam's Father!
    E-MAIL ME
    Northstate Web Design
    Advertising Information
    

    

    Fishing on the Trinity River near Junction City and Rafting near Big Bar

    E-MAIL TrinityCam with your comments.

    LEGAL NOTICES

    Your TrinityCam CHRISTMAS CARD 2003

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    Last Updated:November 6, 2008

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