BLUE RIDGE GROTTO
Meeting Minutes – August 17, 2012
Vinton Fire Department – Vinton, VA – 7:30p
|
Pat
Sims – Chairman |
Mary
Sue Socky – Vice |
Al
Stewart |
|
Carl
Cornett |
Trish
Geiger – Treasurer |
Marian
McConnell – Secty |
|
Stephanie
Petri |
Susan
Burr |
|
1.
Trip Reports –
a.
On
August 1st, Mary Sue Socky went to the entrance of Island Ford Cave (VA) to restock the
kiosk. Did not see any of the orange
spray paint from when Marian and Jane took the Girl Scouts.
b.
On
August 4th, Mary Sue Socky went to Fountain Cave (VA) – workers in the Biggers
Dig have unearthed a reddish-brown formation with dogtooth spar on it. It’s about 5’ tall so far.
c.
On
July 21st the BRG trip was to Organ
Cave (WV) – see the article in the Carbide
Dump.
d.
Nick
Socky has offered to lead a trip this coming Sunday or Monday.
e.
August
25-26th –
Fountain Cave (VA) (September Grand
Weekend) – might be the last time Fountain is open in 2012. Contact Carol Tiderman at ctider@ymail.com.
f.
September
15th – Susan Burr is setting up a trip to Breathing Cave (VA). Please
contact her if you are interested.
g.
September
– No BRG meeting, trip, or newsletter.
2.
Program
– No program due to technical issues and group consensus.
3.
Treasurer’s
Report –
Petty Cash - $110.00
General - $3,666.21
Conservation -
$266.59
Equipment - $225.36
Cave Bucks - $159.30
Balance - $4,427.46
4.
Committees:
a.
Newsletter
– Thanks to all who contributed to the August newsletter. No newsletter in September.
b.
Membership
– Nothing new.
c.
ROCKS
– Possible leads on Blackburn’s property (McConnells’
new neighbors near Catawba Murder Hole in Botetourt County); Sharon Monday’s
property; and Botetourt County on Haymakertown Road
(entrance in the shape of Abraham Lincoln’s profile).
d.
Safety
& Techniques – Let Dan McConnell know of any special needs, ideas for
training.
5.
Old
Business –
a.
Celebrate
Catawba on August 11th – Mary Sue and Marian manned the BRG tent and
gave out cave conservation and bat (including WNS) info to about 116
people. Very successful outreach.
b.
River
Rock Climbing Gym – see website for more information.
c.
BRG
group mailings, potential members list – Mary Sue and Dave Socky have had email
problems with Cox; somehow had been labeled as spammers. This has been fixed now so hopefully the
emails are getting to everyone.
6.
New
Business –
a.
New
window decal design – Helene Ferguson (Barry’s wife) will have a few designs
available for sale – male and female SRT rope climbers.
b.
Next
BRG meeting will be in October, with nominations for new officers.
c.
Pat
shared information about an organization planning to do a night vision shooting
event in a Kentucky cave – has relayed concerns to NSS.
7.
Announcements,
Mail Bag, etc. –
a.
New
NSS website is great – check it out at www.caves.org.
b.
New
WNS Decontamination prototcols – hot water (122 F)
for 15 minutes will kill WNS spores.
c.
Breathing
Cave (VA) access policy – do not park in old area; use old trail or part of the
road. New homeowners are upset about
trespassers. Use new parking, trail only
or cave will be closed.
d.
Fall
VAR dates have been changed to September 21-23.
This is a very busy weekend (Whitesides, Perkins Cave, etc.). See info sheets on pre-registration.
e.
Perkins
Cave – special trip on September 22nd. See flyer.
f.
Phil
Lucas’ new book, Caves and Karst of the
Water Sinks Area, is out; not sure if he has any copies left ($66). Marian will bring a copy to the next meeting
– beautiful book with lots of stories and pictures. This includes Helictite
Cave.
8.
Adjournment
at 8pm.