BLUE RIDGE
GROTTO
MINUTES – March 18, 2011
Vinton Fire Department; Vinton, VA
Attendance:
David
Socky |
Mary
Sue Socky - VP |
Susan
Burr |
Marian
McConnell – Sec |
Alan
Staton |
Trish
Geiger - Treasurer |
Pat
Sims – President |
Aaron
Moses |
Stephanie
Petrie |
Al
Stewart |
Tom
Tracy* |
Carl
Alls |
Jennifer
Perdue |
Cyndi
Hutchinson |
|
1. TRIP REPORTS –
David Socky and team surveyed Gap Cave on February 26; spent about
10-1/2 hours and surveyed about 200’.
David Socky, Phil Lucas, and Nevin Davis went in Wishing
Well Cave (VA) on March 13th.
The entrance to the cave is a 40’ pit that Phil opened with a backhoe
and is entered via a vertical ladder. So
far it’s about 4 miles of surveyed virgin shitty cave – muddy, low, small. Later they found walking passage in another
lead with beautiful formations and soda straws.
The BRG trip to Paxton’s (WV) on February 19 was a great trip; went around in
circles, through a small tube, and everyone said “I hope it’s not raining”
(referring to the movie Sanctum). David Socky led the group and they saw parts
of Paxtons they had never seen before.
Alan Staton, Doug Feller, Susan Burr,
led a group of 7 Boy Scouts and 1 Leader into Porter’s (VA) on March 12th. Some of the kids were rather large and 3 kids
got stuck in the keyhole. Then Susan got
wedged in the keyhole helping one of the boys get out. There was also a big splash in the stream –
Doug Feller was the culprit!
Mary Sue Socky went in Fountain Cave (VA) on March 4th
and did some digging. She and Carol used
some lavender incense to look for air movement and found some; also a possible
artifact or rodent-gnawed antler. Jim
McConkey made voice connection to T159 Cave
which was the original entrance to Fountain Cave. One bat was found in Fountain with WNS. Rick Reynolds and Wil Orndorff of the DCR plan
to go talk with the owners and address their concerns with WNS and their cave.
Aaron Moses and friends went into Shoveleater cave on February 26; surveyed about
200’.
Aaron Moses and friends went into Culverson Creek cave on March 5; including death
siphon. The water was so high if you
fell in you’d be gone. Also went to
McLaughlin’s and the Psychosump was open.
Aaron Moses and friends went into Memorial Day cave on March 12.
Mary Sue Socky, Nick Socky, and Daniel
Bishop went to Dixie Caverns on
March 11.
The March 19th BRG trip
will be to Lipps entrance to Organ Cave (WV) – meet at 8:30 at HROM. Will take the Lipps
stream to the sump – Doug Feller will be the leader.
There will be a cleanup at Grand Caverns April 22-24; basically to move gravel, and play, dig, and
repair formations in Fountain. See Mary Sue for more information.
Various caves were suggested for the
April 16th BRG Trip: Dead Doe, Honnaker (WV), or Maxwellton.
2. PROGRAM:
“Hypothermia” by Alan Staton.
Cool, Man!
3. TREASURER’S REPORT:
Petty Cash 139.00
General 5,378.21
Conservation 266.59
Equipment 246.12
Cave Bucks 138.30
Grand Total $6,168.22
4. NEWSLETTER:
Thanks for all the photos, artwork, and articles.
5. MEMBERSHIP:
Nothing new. A get well card was
circulated for Tony Preston who recently had heart surgery.
6. ROCKS:
Nothing new.
7. SAFETY & TECHNIQUES: Let Dan McConnell know about any training
needs/suggestions. Practices can be held
at Catawba Murder Hole.
8. MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS: Nichols Socky and Elliot George were unable
to be present at the meeting – they both had to take engineering tests. It was verified by the Bylaws that they did
not have to be present, so Susan motioned and Cyndi seconded that they be voted
upon and both were voted in unanimously:
Nicholas as a Regular member and
Elliot as an Associate member.
9. OLD BUSINESS:
a.
Sanctum: Members of BRG went to
view the movie “Sanctum” on February 20th. The movie was quite disappointing – everyone
killed everyone else! The best part was
critiquing the “reality” of the movie and saying “yeah, right!” when something
ridiculous happened.
10. NEW BUSINESS:
a.
BRG Covers – Everyone voted for their top 5 covers* (The winning covers were February,
July/August, October, June, April, and May).
b. Dixie
Caverns – Mary Sue found out when she was there last Friday from Connie
that Julie has been laid off due to budget constraints. Hopefully business will pick up this summer
and she can be brought back.
b.
“Roanoke Outside” organization added us to their website. Mary Sue suggested we change what they have
on their site to focus on cave conservation and safety – she will write up a
draft new statement for the officers to review and comment on. We can also add their link on our website for
folks interested in hiking and other outdoor activities.
c.
Mary Sue updated the Rescue call-down list – let her know if there are
any changes. If you don’t want to be
called out for a rescue, then don’t put your name on the list. Two recent rescues were discussed; the one in
Stay High and the one that was
originally called out for Miller’s Cove.
Suggestions are needed to streamline communication and coordination; e.g.
between Grottos and local rescue/police offices.
d.
David Socky reported on the Virginia Cave Board meeting. The Board was legislated into existence by
law and it would take an act of legislation to decommission it; so the Board is
safe for now. Thanks to all who wrote
letters of support.
e.
Possible relocation of NSS National Office from Huntsville, AL to:
Huntsville, AL
– Cahaba Shrine Temple or University Office Park
Mammoth Cave,
KY – Indian Cave, Cedar Hill, or I-65 Interchange at Cave City Exit
Bowling Green,
KY – Lost River Cave
The NSS wants your input on where to relocate!
f.
Wil Orndoff will be presenting on WNS at the
Tri-County Forestry & Wildlife meeting on Monday, April 11th at
6p at the Roanoke Moose Lodge.
$10/person includes full dinner. Please
RSVP to Marian McConnell or Cole Semones. WNS is in its 3rd year in Virginia
and has resulted in a decrease of 75-95% of pips and little browns. Also, 42 million bats/year are killed by windfarms.
g.
NSS reopens John Guilday Cave
Preserve (Hamilton & New Trout are open). Trout
Cave remains closed.
h.
Spring VAR will be April 29 – May 1.
i. Spring MAR in PA will be May 13-15
i. 2011 NSS Convention will be in Glenwood
Springs, CO.
11. Adjournment at 8:55p.