BLUE RIDGE GROTTO
Meeting Minutes 4/19/19

Jersey Lily’s; Roanoke, VA

 

 

Attendance:

Susan Burr – Chair

Marian McConnell – Secretary

Mary Sue Socky

Doug Feller

Lynn Ott

Karen Kastning

Keith Goggin

Lauren Appel

Ryan Cecil*

*Guest

 

1.    TRIP REPORTS:

a.    3/16/19- Grotto trip to Rimstone Falls Cave, WV- Trip leader was Mystik Miller of Greenbrier Grotto. On the trip were Doug Feller, Jeff Huffman, Trish Geiger, Bill Walker, Lauren Appel, Brandon Phibbs & Susan Burr. It was a sporting cave trip but the rewards were worth it! It had beautiful formations and rim pools. The most difficult section was the hand-line climb I thought, but there were many other challenging spots along the way.

b.    3/23/19- Boy Scout trip to Porter’s Cave, VA- Trip leaders- Doug Feller, Jeff Huffman & Susan Burr - We safely lead 6 Boy Scout & 2 leaders through the Key Hole, did the loop, came back out through the Key Hole, headed to the Natural Bridge in Grand Ave. Let the boys loose to play around back there using the buddy system. Headed to the formation room. Checked out the pretties, the crickets, which were coving the walls back there & showed them some fossils. Finally we headed to the Slit & then headed back out through what I call the dry waterfall climb. The boys & leaders did great. The boys were eager to explore & did ever little challenging area I pointed out to them.

c.    4/7/19- Island Ford Cave, VA - Trip leaders- Doug Feller, Lauren Appel & Susan Burr - We took my 5 ½ yr. old grandson & his dad, Dustin into their very first wild cave. This was also Lauren’s first time in this cave as well. Braven did terrific!!! He minded & took directions very well. He is very excited to go again sometime. Dustin did great too. We went to the back of the cave & showed them where the cave bear fossils were. Then to the spring. I showed them where the baby salamanders were, then Doug, Lauren & Dustin climbed up into the upper section & Braven & I went meet them where they climbed down. Next we headed to the area where we drop down into the stream. That was the area Braven had a little hesitation but he sat behind me as we slid down. Then we walked the stream passage out.

d.    3/28/19 – Grand Caverns, VA Spring Clean-up with Mary Sue Socky and Jen Suggs.

e.    4/13/19 – Cricket Maze Cave, WV – Lynn Ott visited the cave. There will be an Open House May 18th from 11a-4p; only open to experienced cavers.

f.     Siler’s Cave, WV – is now open after being closed for 10 years. A girl from Baltimore bought the property.  Issues regarding denuding the woods on the trail to the cave; contact Meredith an email. The cave is near Martinsburg, WV.

g.    Greenbrier Poor Farm Cave, WV is tomorrow’s BRG trip. Doug Feller is leading.

h.   May’s trip may be Culverson Creek Cave, WV; details TBA.

i.     Karen attended the Karst Waters Institute event which included awards, including to Wil Orndorff. About 80 people attended.

 

2.    TREASURER’S REPORT (Trish Geiger was out sick but provided info).

Cave Bucks                    31.64

Conservation                110.64

Equipment                   169.65

General                      3460.01

TOTAL                        3771.94

 

3.   COMMITTEES

a.    Newsletter – Thanks to all who contributed to the Carbide Dump.

b.    Membership – No new proposals.

c.    ROCKS – Nothing new.

d.    Safety & Techniques – Nothing new.

 

4.   OLD BUSINESS

a.    BRG BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION CHANGES TO QUORUM – See Mary Sue’s information in last Carbide Dump about numbers of Regular members (BRG & NSS) which is 39. Mary Sue motioned that the quorum be changed to 5 members or 15% under Section 4; votes can also be by email or proxy.  Seconded by Susan Burr; to be included in email and the newsletter and final vote by the May BRG meeting.  Note: 30% would require at least 12 members; 20% would be at least 8 members. This should enable us to get more business done based upon the numbers that usually attend meetings and/or reply to emails.

b.    CAVE AND KARST DAY will be held on Saturday, June 8th; Marian McConnell is coordinating with Christy Brooks of the Science Museum of Western Virginia, Center on the Square. She has to find out from her Marketing Director if they will be charging the usual admission that day; we are doing the event for free.  Let Marian know if you are interested in helping!

c.    Is anyone interested in helping with “OVER THE EDGE” (Rappelling event to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters) on May 18th?  Let Mary Sue know.  Karen asked for information (point of contact) from Mary Sue to forward to the VPI Grotto.

 

 

5.   NEW BUSINESS

a.    CAVESIM (Dave Jackson) is asking for donations to help them travel to Convention this year. Dave was able to quit his job to do CaveSim (education/conservation) full-time.  He sent along a video which we watched which explains what CaveSim is and how donations help. Marian motioned we donate $100, which was eventually changed to $50 (same as last year) to donate to them; Susan Burr seconded the motion and it passed.

b.    TROUT ROCK CAVE is now open for a short time. It was closed for 10 years due to hosting two endangered bat species. Earl Suitor is the point of contact.

c.    June 28-30:  Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) weekend class will be held in Williamsville, VA.  All cavers should take an OCR class to see what is involved in a cave rescue.

 

Program: First 20 minutes of the Thai Cave Rescue video by PBD/NOVA approximately 60 minutes long.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

6.   ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CALENDAR:

 

Apr 20: Virginia Cave Board Meeting in the Virginia School for Deaf and Blind in Staunton (open to the public). Marian is a member but cannot attend that day.

Apr 25-28:  Spring VAR, Camp Powhatan, Draper/Radford, VA.  Hosted by James River Grotto. Pre-registration ends today so sign up and save $10. Next week prices increase to $50.

May 3-5, 2019: PSC Spring Party, Upper Tract, WV (See flyer)

May 17: BRG Meeting at Jersey Lily’s

May 11-18, 2019 – NCRC Weeklong Cordon, IN 

May 18: Over the Edge downtown Roanoke. Volunteer to help the rappellers. 2-day commitment; volunteers get to rappel for free. Benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

June 8 – Cave and Karst Day at Science Museum in Roanoke 10a-4p (RSVP to Marian McConnell)

June 17-21, 2019:  NSS Convention in Cookeville, TN. The 2019 NSS Convention pre-registration discount price of $199 ends on April 20. After that, the registration price goes up to $245.  Get your registration in NOW!

June 21: BRG Meeting at Jersey Lily’s

June 28-30:  Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) weekend class will be held in Williamsville, VA.  All cavers should take an OCR class to see what is involved in a cave rescue.

Oct 7-11, 2019:  NCKMS meeting in Bristol, VA (see flyer)

Nov 3, 2019: 11:30a, VSS Meeting, Natural Bridge State Park, VA