BLUE
RIDGE GROTTO
of the
National Speleological Society (NSS)
Meeting
1/20/2023
at
Jersey Lily’s in Roanoke, VA
Attendance:
|
Lauren Appel,
Chair |
Nick
Schmalenberger, Vice |
Mary Sue
Socky, Treasurer |
|
Marian
McConnell, Secretary |
Carl Cornett |
Susan Burr |
|
Trish Geiger |
Doug Feller |
Kevin Johnson |
|
Carrie Doupnik |
Jeff Huffman |
John Pearson* |
|
Kelly Perkins |
Rolland Moore* |
Lisa Graves* |
|
Cyndi
Hutchison |
Karen Kastning |
Lynn Ott (S) |
*Visitor (S)Subscriber
TRIP REPORTS:
LOWMOOR
CAVE, VA – The December trip by Susan Burr was written up in the Carbide
Dump (December issue).
SANTA
CLAUS CAVE, CA – Nick Schmalenberger went caving in various caves such as Santa
Claus Cave (on Christmas Eve) and Clay Cave (on January 2nd). Note:
his family is ok in California (re flooding and storms)
but the South Fork Campground in Sequoia National Park has been flooded and had
roads washed out. As far as he knows, Palmer Cave and Lost Soldier Cave are ok
due to their elevation.
BRG
Christmas/New Year’s Party – Submitted by Mary Sue Socky: Delayed three
weeks due to Covid, the Blue Ridge Grotto Xmas New Year Party was finally held
on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Dave and Mary Sue Socky’s house. From 12-6pm,
cavers showed up, chatted, fed, and tall tales were told. Friends who had passed on were remembered,
and plans were made for cave trips in the New Year. Attending: Marian
McConnell, Lynn Ott, Dave Socky, Mary Sue Socky, Trish Geiger, Cyndi Hutchison,
Doug and Cheryl Feller, Susan and Todd Burr, Lauren Appel, Bob Alderson, Kelly
Perkins, and Joey Fagan. It was good to see everyone! Yes, the weather was sketchy that day, and
several people played it safe and stayed home.
No Worries! Blue Ridge will have
more get togethers in the future.
PORTER’S
CAVE, VA – Tomorrow’s trip (1/21/23) led by Susan and Jeff. Will go through
the Keyhole and the regular route. There will be another group in the cave but we’ll try to keep our distance.
February
Trip – TBA
BUSINESS MEETING:
Treasurer’s Report – Mary Sue Socky):
$ 40.96 Cave
Bucks
$ 1.00 Conservation Fund
$ 104.12 Equipment
Fund
$ 3,936.59 General
Fund
$ 4,082.67 Total
Committees:
Newsletter – Great issue, thanks to all who
submitted! All photos, stories, input are welcome! Mary Sue bought some extra
stamps before the USPS price goes up.
Membership
– We have 47 members and 4 subscribers. Mary Sue will have updated membership
lists and packets at next month’s meeting. Please pay your dues if you have not
already.
ROCKS
– N/A
Safety
& Techniques – N/A
Membership Proposals – None
Old Business:
·
No
host yet for the Spring VAR but they are working on it.
·
The
new BRG officers are on board: Chair –
Lauren Appel; Vice Chair – Nick Schmalenberger; Treasurer – Mary Sue Socky;
Secretary – Marian McConnell
·
BRG
Christmas party (see under Trip Reports above)
·
BRG
Christmas cards – Mary Sue mailed 70 out; 2 cards came back. One was to the landowners
of New Castle Murder Hole; she will check with VPI to see if anyone knows the
status.
New
Business:
·
Tree
removal at Catawba Murder Hole (blocking the talus slope); Marian is working
with Mark Minton to set up a team to take care of this.
·
Donations
to various caving and conservation organizations (we haven’t done this for 2
years). A list was published of donations we made in 2020 in the January 2023 Carbide
Dump (page 9). Susan suggested that a list be compiled by Dave with past
and recommended donations and displayed on the screen at the next meeting so we
can decide on final list to try to keep the process simple.
·
Cave
Land Owner Award – Mary Sue submitted Carroll Bassett
and he was accepted. She has the certificate and she and Marian will get it
framed and get it to him.
·
Land
Owner
Relations – Reminders to keep communication clear, respectful, positive.
Announcements:
·
A
sympathy card for Dusty & Nicole Gulden for the loss of their father, Bob
Gulden; and a get-well card for Charlie Maus were passed around for signatures.
·
You
each get 5 votes for your favorite 2022 Carbide Dump covers for the
annual Convention Salon. You can vote in-person (at the meeting) or online
(email).
·
Pandemic
Caving – if you are sick, don’t go caving! Rules have been posted in the Carbide
Dump.
·
Winter closure for bat caves in West Virginia begins Sept.
1.
·
Winter cave closure for bat caves in Virginia begins Oct. 15
2023 CAVER CALENDAR:
·
Jan 26-29 – Winter Adventure Weekend, Carter Caves State Park,
Olive Hill, KY. See www.winteradventureweekend.com for info on caving, winter
survival, rappelling, kayaking, etc.
·
Feb 17 - BRG meeting @ JL’s
·
Mar 17 – BRG meeting @ JL’s
·
Apr 21 – BRG meeting @ JL’s
·
Apr 21-23 – ER-NCRC Intro to Cave Rescue weekend course, Elkins,
WV; see https://ncrc-er.cave.org/events
·
Apr 22 – VAR Earth Day Restoration sinkhole cleanup @ Apple Farm
near Covington, VA
·
June 19-23 – WVACS Convention Pre-camp, Renick, WV.
Contact Jessica Reep j.reep@aol.com for more info
·
June 26-30, 2023 – NSS Convention, Elkins, WV.
Program: Nick Schmalenberger’s
“Trip to Sierra Mazateca 2022”
Cold beer: 8:10p