BLUE RIDGE GROTTO
February
17, 2012 – Meeting Minutes
Vinton
Fire Department – 7:30 pm
Attendance:
Pat Sims, Chair |
Mary Sue Socky, Vice Chair |
Trish Geiger, Treasurer |
Marian McConnell, Secretary |
Susan Burr |
Joseph Caldwell |
Cyndi Hutchison |
Carl Cornett |
Hannah Doss* |
Randy Michael |
Doug Feller |
Al Stewart |
Dave Socky |
Chris Heptinstall |
Carl Alls |
*Guest
1.
Trip Reports:
1/28/12
– Dave Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bob Alderson, Derek Bristol went to Gap Cave, WV. Bolt climb to check high lead. Surveyed around 250’ in
Nightmare Nest. 17 hour trip; out
at 4:30 am.
2/12/12
– Dave Socky, Nikki Fox, Chris Coates went to Maxwellton, WV. Checked leads from
past survey. Surveyed
290’. 13.5-hour
trip; out by 1:00 am. It was 13°
when they came out, and 8° at the WVACS Field Station. This has prompted Dave to move the annual
McClung’s trip from February to May.
2/6/12
– Carl Cornett and Marian McConnell took Roanoke
Times photographer, Sam Dean, into the Daylight Cave of Catawba Murder Hole, VA for an article
about the book Marian is writing about the cave. They found a large dead snapping turtle; but
apparently it was there during the BRG Christmas party last December. The article was on the front page on 2/7/12
and Marian has gotten about 50 helpful responses – stories and old photographs
about the cave.
2/11/12
– Susan Burr lead a trip into Island
Ford Cave, VA on 2/11/12. On the
trip were Pat Sims, Carl Cornett, Ivy Lidstone,
Claire Privitera, Katie Griffin, Hailey Doss, Hannah
Doss, Donna Doss, and Andy McGee. Claire,
Katie, Donna, and Andy were first-time cavers.
Hannah’s birthday was the next day so Susan surprised her with a Hostess
cupcake and candle and they sang Happy Birthday to her in the back of the cave. Hailey Doss is the Senior Roanoke College
Outdoor Club person; Susan is taking her college group caving with the help of
Doug and Stephanie. Her family (mother
and sister) and boyfriend from England wanted to go caving as well so Susan
agreed to take them on a beginner trip.
Katie is a Drug Rep where Susan works who hears Susan talking about
caving and wanted to try it. Claire is a
friend of Carl’s from the local YMCA.
They went in the typical way and let whoever lead
to wherever. Susan showed them the place
in the back she calls the baby salamander nursery; they saw several
babies. The came out the stream passage
but stayed high and dry. Did see quite a few bats towards the entrance. They cleaned up at the entrance and restocked
the kiosk.
2/18/12
– Susan is leading a trip for 10 people to Porters,
VA for the Roanoke College Outdoor Club; is
hoping to bring in new members for BRG.
Doug and Stephanie will be helping.
They have been caving before with VPI and have their own helmets.
3/17/12
– March’s trip will be led by Mary Sue Socky to Haynes and Windy Mouth. Fred Grady is the owner so we have open
access. Haynes is dusty, dry, saltpeter;
can be vertical. (Note: Mary Sue has conflicting plans, will be out of town (oops! We need
to find a different trip leader, or reschedule this trip for June 16 when Mary
Sue will be available.)
2.
Program of the Day: Karst Topography: A Unique and Fragile Environment, by Dr. Al
Ogden (won best in show at 2011 NSS Convention).
3.
Treasurer’s Report:
Petty Cash - $100.00
General - $3,953.91
Conservation - $266.59
Equipment - $216.36
Cave Bucks - $153.30
Balance - $4,690.16
All checks were mailed out for this year’s donations.
4.
Committees –
a)
Newsletter –
Great issue, 6 pages. Keep the photos,
artwork, and articles coming!
b)
Membership –
Currently at 54. Mary Sue handed out
updated membership lists and cave rescue call-out lists. Al Stewart stepped down from the rescue list,
but Carl Cornett has been added.
c)
ROCKS –
Ridgewalking at Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock has been postponed until
warmer weather.
d)
Safety & Techniques
– Let Dan McConnell know of specific training needs. Thanks to all who came out and helped during
the recent rescue in Norman; and those who were on standby.
5.
Membership Proposals – Tom Tracy sends his
apologies; he was unable to make it to the meeting tonight but plans to submit his
membership letter soon.
6.
Old Business –
a)
Annual Donations
– All checks have been sent out.
b)
Wikipedia Plan to
Publish Cave Coordinates – This issue appears to have died.
7.
New Business –
a)
There was a cave
rescue in Maryland – near Independence, MD (not Independence, VA). Write-ups are available; the kid was
extricated with the help of an air hammer after being trapped about 5 hours.
b)
BRG Waivers –
Discussion about BRG waivers and when/how to use them. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have their own
waivers. Other groups (such as
colleges/schools) may have their own as well.
There is nothing in the Bylaws dictating the use of waivers. Tabled until next month’s meeting – everyone to
think about what defines a pick-up trip, when BRG waivers should/should not be
used, and we need to make sure our current Waivers are legal. Pat will check with an NSS lawyer, Ted
Keyes. Pat motioned, Dave seconded, and
the majority voted to do this. For now,
use BRG waivers for non-members as we have been.
c)
Movie being made
at Poor Farm Cave, WV in Greenbrier,
based on a book.
8.
Announcements –
a)
OCR (Orientation
to Cave Rescue) being held March 30 – April 1 in Harrisonburg with a Mock
Rescue at Grand Fountain Cave on the Grand
Caverns property.
b)
Spring VAR will
be held April 27-29 near Poor Farm Cave, WV at the Williamsburg Fairgrounds.
Hosted by Tri-State Grotto.
c)
SERA Cave
Carnival at Estill Fork, AL May 2-6.
d)
NSS Convention in
Lewisburg, WV June 25-29.
e)
VPI Banquet
2/18/12 for $35/person; dinner at 6:30p.
f)
June 16 – 2nd
Annual Grand Caverns Heritage Day with evening cave event.
g)
Dan Casey also
has a blog about the Murder Hole article from the 2/7/12 Roanoke Times article.
h)
Spring VAR
registration information is in the “Carbide Dump.”
i)
Death toll of bats
due to WNS is about 5.5 million.
j)
Doug Feller –
gave Marian some old slides of Murder Hole, also found an old map of Crossroads
Cave from 1957 by Dean Abbott and friends, and an “honorary caveman
certificate” from 1957. Dean lived next
to Doug and Doug never realized he was a caver.
9.
Adjournment – about 8:45p.