BLUE RIDGE
GROTTO
Meeting
Minutes
April 17, 2015 – 7:30p – Vinton Fire Department
Vinton, VA
Attendance:
David Socky –
Chair |
Carl Cornett |
Marian
McConnell – Secretary |
Al Stewart |
Karen Kastening |
Doug Feller |
Susan Burr |
Pat Sims |
Bill Walker |
Stephanie Petri |
Bob Gulden –
Vice Chair |
Courtney
Johnson* |
Dusty Gulden |
Nicole Gulden |
Odin Gulden* |
Michael Rowland
& Family (6) |
|
|
*Guest
1.
INTRODUCTIONS
AND TRIP REPORTS:
a.
3/21/15
– Boar Hole, WV – Susan Burr, Doug Feller, Stephanie Petri, Brian
Williams, Bill Walker, Trish Geiger, Jeff Huffman went
in through Carroll Bassett’s entrance.
Also in the cave were about 25 Boy Scouts who were visiting the cave
with Bill Balfour. (See Carbide Dump).
b.
4/11/15
– Shovel Eater Cave, WV – Stephanie Petri,
John NLN, Adam NLN, Mindy NLN, and 2 Romanians (?) went in and carried a tank
back; 12-13 hour trip. 17 places to rig
ropes.
c.
4/12/15
– Elkhorn Mountain Cave, WV–
Stephanie Petri, John NLN, etc. and 12 other people.
d.
3/10-22/2015
- China Caving 7.2 km of survey - David
Socky, Andrea Futrell, Philp Schuchardt, Sara Fleetwood, Joe Myre, Becka
Lawson, and Erin Lynch. Dave said they did thirteen straight days of
caving. Found 13 new caves and surveyed
8 of them. Feng Dong (Wind Cave) was the
longest at 4.2 km long.
e.
4/9/2015: Unnamed Cave,
VA, 7 hour trip - 570 feet of survey - David Socky, Mark Hodge, and Phil
Lucas. We surveyed the entrance room and
did some survey clean-up in the historic section. The water was too high to go into the further
reaches of the cave.
f.
2/28/15
– Island Ford Cave, VA – Marian
McConnell and Carl Cornett led a group through Roanoke City Parks &
Recreation. Carl slid into a crevice
(near the peep hole where you are supposed to stay “high”) and it took teamwork
and Marian’s webbing and Carl’s perseverance to get him out. One of the participants, “Kyle,” was wearing
a Go-Pro and got video and is making a video about it. (Marian has a copy of the unedited
video.) That passage has now been dubbed “The Bunny Trap” (since Carl is
the “Energizer Bunny.”)
g.
4/5/15
– Island Ford, Cave, VA - Carl
Cornett, Mary Sue Socky, and Marian McConnell took Becky Freemal
of Fox 21/27 News, and her videographer/husband, Curt, in the cave a little way
for Becky’s “Out and About” show. The
show aired on 4/15 just in time for Virginia Cave Week and was well done. They even saw 2 bats.
h.
4/?/15
– 4 caves at Virgin Falls State Park
in Sparta, TN – The Rowland family visited the caves which included Big Laurel
Falls, Sheepshead Cave, and Virgin Falls.
i.
4/4-5/15
– Grand Caverns, VA - Karen Kastening, Mary Sue Socky, Meredith Weberg, Bob Thren, etc.
had about 25 people for the conservation efforts. The young folks hauled gravel and the cavers
cleaned algae off the formations. Three
painted the wood at the entrance and exit.
16 gallons of paint was used.
j.
4/11/15
– Luray Caverns, VA – Marian
McConnell, Meredith Weberg, and members of the Virginia Cave Board were treated
to a tour of the caverns before the meetings.
Spectacular!
k.
April
BRG Trip – No official trip at this time.
l.
May
16 BRG Trip – TBA.
2.
PROGRAM – David
Socky’s photos of his caving trip to China (outstanding!)
3.
TREASURER’S
REPORT
– (David Socky for Mary Sue Socky, Treasurer)
$120
– Petty Cash
$0
– Cave Bucks
$235.36
– Equipment Fund
$160.64
– Conservation Fund
$
3,506.98 – General Fund
$4,022.98
– GRAND TOTAL
4.
COMMITTEES –
a.
Newsletter – Last month
we had a “big Dump.” (LOL) Thanks to all who contributed.
b.
Membership – Nothing
new.
c.
ROCKS – Nothing
new.
d.
Safety &
Techniques
– Pending Marian & Dan to schedule.
e.
Virginia Cave
Board Report
– Marian reported that it was an excellent meeting at Luray. You will get copies of 2 letters from the VCB
to the 2 pipeline companies. Also, still
looking into the possibility of getting Virginia Cave license plates; must have
450 people committed to purchasing them before they will make them. Marian is working on a mock-up (they would
use the Virginia Cave & Karst logo) and send out a poll on Facebook, email,
and the VAR List Serve.
5.
MEMBERSHIP
PROPOSALS
– Bill Walker. Bill was voted in
unanimously.
6.
OLD BUSINESS –
a.
Potential
new caves on the Blue Ridge Vineyard Property – Marian will ask about possibly
BRG folks coming May 16 (as the BRG cave trip for the month).
b.
Blacksburg
Cave Rescue – Stephanie gave a report, she is Chair of the equipment
committee. They have been busy writing
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
They got full coverage (funding) for the NCRC (National Cave Rescue
Commission) training and she got her application in.
c.
New
River Cave Fund – Wil Orndorff is the manager.
Per Pat Sims, they are working on the trail up to the cave, along with
another trail for an overlook view too.
$23,000 is still owed on the property; they need another $1,000 donated
this month. They did get a CCV Grant of
>$2,500 to help fix the trail, create a kiosk, fix up parking, etc. A meeting will be held during VAR to set up
work dates. The parking area is very
small – perhaps room for 4 vehicles, right before the railroad tracks. Can still park where we used to but will have
to walk to the trail entrance. Some
discussion about having a kiosk; although it provides educational safety and
conservation information, it “advertises” the cave which potentially could lure
vandals, etc. To gate the cave would be
expensive and quite a project.
d.
Natural
Bridge Caverns conservation project – defer until May meeting when Mary Sue
returns, as she’s in charge.
e.
Spring
VAR is next week; pre-registration closes today. There are already 249 people pre-registered!
7.
NEW BUSINESS –
a.
“Over
the Edge” fund raising event for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program is May
1-2. It’s a 110’ rappel off the Patrick
Henry Hotel. Volunteers must first
attend the Friday night training session, and can rappel themselves if they
wish. Then Saturday it’s all about being
“belay slaves” but for a great cause.
Lots of work afterwards helping to break down all the equipment and
carry it to their vehicles. Very nice folks.
Pat, Stephanie, and Carl planned to participate.
b.
Should
we have a BRG meeting in July, since many will be at the NSS Convention in
Missouri? It was voted unanimously to
CANCEL the July meeting.
c.
If
you want to lead any caving trips during VAR, please contact Sarah Richards.
d.
Rest
in Peace Ray Powers.
e.
The
next Virginia Cave Board meeting is planned for Saturday, June 6, in the
Roanoke area. Marian has tentatively reserved the Catawba Center
for 11a-5p for the planning meeting, lunch, and then the official meeting which
is open to the public. (Waiting to hear back if it has wi-fi
for all the high tech folks with laptops!)
The Center is only about 4 miles from Murder Hole, so VCB members would
be welcome to take a look at it before or after the meetings. Marian asked if any BRG members would be willing
to help provide a pot-luck lunch for the Cave Board – enough for about 15-20
people (+ add BRG members who want to come).
She is willing to buy the “main course.”
Please let Marian know (540) 309-4707 or marian.mcconnell@gmail.com if you are
willing to help.
f.
Cole
Semone’s husband John passed away; a sympathy card
was passed around for signatures.
g.
Marian
gave Dave & Mary Sue their copy of the “Destination Unknown – Josh Gates –
Beale’s Treasure” DVD from Shannon Green.
h.
Marian,
Randy Walker, and Dave Socky had videotaped and photographed Murder Hole for
the “Virginia Voices” project back in 2014.
Randy and Marian were notified that a part of the video would be used in
the final film, but recently learned it’s just a quick shot and one quote. The film will be shown at the Grandin Theater
on Saturday, May 2 at 1:00p for free.
[Marian plans to request permission to use the footage they did NOT use
(99% of it) for the Murder Hole documentary we are working on.]
8.
ANNOUNCEMENTS –
a.
Spring
VAR is April 24-26 at the Caverns at Natural Bridge. 2 vendors!
b.
YTR
May 15-17 hosted by VPI Cave Club at RSS Field Station. $10/person.
Must RSVP.
c.
May
16 – Have been asked by Connie at Dixie Caverns to take 3 family members in to
New Dixie – vertical skills and gear a must. Details to follow.
d.
VAR
Project at Grand Caverns/Fundraiser – October 3 – details to follow.
e.
Murder
Hole books still available from Marian McConnell. NSS members get a discount.
f.
Safety
& Techniques – Let Dan McConnell know if you have any requests or
suggestions for training. Practices
usually held at River Rock Climbing Gym on Wasena, or Catawba Murder Hole.
g.
Tri-Counties*
Forestry & Wildlife Association – Marian has been one of their Board
members in the past, and BRG members have attended some of their
functions. They will be having a meeting
at the Roanoker Restaurant on April 21 from 6-9p; the
speaker is Pete Eshelman of “Roanoke Outside” who
will be talking about outdoor things to do in the Roanoke area. (*Roanoke, Craig, and Botetourt).
ADJOURNMENT: 8:53P