BLUE RIDGE GROTTO
MEETING MINUTES
September 17, 2010
1. Attendance:
Susan
Burr |
Al
Stewart |
Pat
Sims |
Doug
Feller |
Marian
McConnell |
Dave
Socky |
Carl
Cornett |
Aaron
Moses |
Haley
Pope |
Jennifer
Perdue |
Mary
Sue Socky |
John
Merkwan* |
Stephanie
Petrie* |
David
Ratliff* |
Chris
Frietag* |
Jessica
Jones* |
|
|
*Guests
2. Trip Reports:
Rehoboth
Church Cave, VA – On August 21, Doug Feller, Pat Sims, Haley Pope, Jessica
Jones, Stephanie Petrie, David Ratliff, Chris Frietag, and Susan Burr had a
great trip with mud, a snapping turtle, frogs, crayfish, salamanders, and bats.
Gannett
Peak Ice Caves, ID – On August 19 – September 2, Dave Socky, Carl Cornett,
Steve, Bob, and Greg went on a summit trip in Idaho – this was also the program
for the evening (photos).
Cass
Cave, WV – On August 21, Aaron Moses and a team of 4 moved the rope and
added a bolt to the climb they did last time.
Another team surveyed 730’ of canyon passage, and another lead was
surveyed 250’ in a straight line with a 180° bend for
another 250’.
[Secret Cave, WV] – Aaron caved in
miles of borehole for about 20 hours.
[Secret Dig, WV] – On September 3
Aaron worked on a dig and they made about 6’ of progress, then 18’ of progress
and felt wind and saw a bat fly by.
Red
Lick Pit, WV – On September 4 Aaron and others did a classic WV multi-drop
cave and surveyed the new Red Lick Pit at 86’.
Memorial
Day Cave, WV – On September 11, Aaron and others finished surveying the
Flying Dutchman Dome at 303’; the 2nd highest in WV.
Dixie
Caverns, VA – On September 15, Mary Sue Socky did conservation for 4 hours;
the wedding party pool area is now much cleaner. She plans to return next
weekend to work on the magic mirror pool area.
She hauled out a bag of stuff, including black fabric from the Haunted
Cave and about $2 in coins.
Mystic
Caverns, AR – On September 2, Dan and Marian McConnell visited the 2
commercial caves near Harrison, Arkansas.
Starnes
Cave, VA – The BRG trip will meet at HROM at 9am. There may be some rope and ladder options for
a 35’ drop. The cave is open; please sign in the guest register.
Catawba
Murder Hole, VA – Please RSVP to Marian; and meet at the McConnell’s house
by 9am.
James
Cave, VA – The October trip will be on Sunday, October 17 and led by Dave
Socky. Meet at HROM at 9:30a.
3. Program of the Day: Gannett Peak, ID photos by Dave Socky, Carl
Cornett, etc. Also, the Merit Award Cave
Ballad, “Why, Why, Whitenose?” by Marian McConnell.
4. Newsletter:
Thanks to all who contributed to the September issue of the Carbide Dump. Two of the Dump covers placed at the NSS convention this year – one won Best
of Show (Aaron’s) and one won Honorable Mention (Dave’s). Mary Sue has extra copies of past issues if
anyone is interested.
5. Minutes:
Approved from last month.
6. Treasurer’s Report:
Petty Cash - $139.00
General Fund - $6,459.58
Conservation Fund - $266.59
Equipment Fund - $224.12
Cave Bucks - $127.30
Checkbook Balance - $7,077.59
7.
Membership: Todd Martin paid his dues.
8. ROCKS:
We
have information from someone living near Routes 419, 220 and Avenham who has a
cave to check out.
An
article in the September 16 Roanoke Times
discusses a sinkhole which “ruined plans for Microsoft to put a research plant
nearby” due to karst and sinkholes.
9. CONSERVATION:
Mary Sue did conservation in Dixie Caverns; also rescued a ring-necked
snake.
10. WAYS & MEANS: Nothing.
11. SAFETY & TECHNIQUES – Dan will be working
with the newbies who come to the Murder Hole trip. There is also a vertical practice at the
Socky’s house on Sunday, September 19 at 10a.
12. MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS: Stephanie Petrie and Jessica Jones submitted
their letters for consideration of membership in BRG; Susan Burr read the
letters as their sponsors. Carl moved we
accept the proposals, Pat second the motion; they will be tabled until the
October meeting.
13. NEW BUSINESS:
Alan Staton has not been able to go
caving due to working 12-hour shifts and his brother having surgery.
Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy leased
a cave in Virginia which had been long closed; not sure what cave this is. Was supposed to have been announced at OTR
but no one has heard.
Suggested designs for the 2010 BRG
Christmas card are now being accepted and will be reviewed at the October
meeting.
The 2010 BRG Christmas Party will be
held at the Socky’s on Saturday, December 18, after the caving trip. Details TBA.
In May 2009, BRG agreed not to have
any official caving trips due to the voluntary WNS Moratorium. Now that the State has lifted the moratorium,
we need to decide what our “policy” is.
Mary Sue will write up something for review. We still need to decontaminate our gear,
respect closed caves, etc.
14. ADJOURNMENT:
8:50p
Minutes
by Marian McConnell