|
Post by Taylor on Jan 27, 2007 14:29:56 GMT -5
2007 Spring Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR) Field MeetInformation on the upcoming 2007 Spring Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR) Field Meet is now in the works and will be be announced soon. Hosted by the Buffalo Valley Grotto, the event will be held at the Woodward Cave Campgrounds, located in Woodward, Pennsylvania, Centre County, on the weekend of May 18-20, 2007. The website www.caves.org/region/mar/fieldmeet_spring07.htm will be updated as information becomes available.
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Apr 17, 2007 1:43:20 GMT -5
The time has come again to recruit volunteers to staff the KOR First Aid and Information Tent in two or four hour shifts beginning on Friday afternoon and going thru the weekend. These volunteers will answer questions, and handle things like minor cuts, sunburn, heat exhaustion, and so forth, using our equipment and supplies. Also needed are EMT's, First Responders, and Paramedics with their own gear to be on call as in the past, for more serious situations.
Contact Deb Bledsoe at debcaves(at)yahoo.com if you can take a shift..
Please repost or pass this on to anyone who is not a part of these lists. Thanks in advance for your help! CAVERS ROCK! :-)
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 17, 2007 14:24:56 GMT -5
On line registration using pay pal is now available at www.karstorama.comRegister now, beat the rush and get the cut rate deal!
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Feb 8, 2007 20:59:00 GMT -5
The Greater Cincinnati Grotto invites you to attend the 2007 Karst-O-Rama on June 22, 23 & 24 at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. Karst-O-Rama weekend actually starts off on Thursday night with a welcome party at the shelter. This will be an opportunity to meet new friends and join up with old ones. Cave trip sign up sheets for Friday will also be available. About one third of KOR participants arrive by Thursday night so come early and join the fun. Registration opens Thursday at 11 am and remains open till noon on Saturday. Beginning Friday the kitchen will be open throughout the weekend for breakfast and lunch as well as dinner on Friday. Friday cave trips will begin in the morning or afternoon. Friday night will include a Howdy Party for checking out the crowd and signing up for cave trips on Saturday and Sunday. Then just before you wind down for the day, you can engage in noodle wrestling with people who out caved you during the day. On Saturday morning, cave trips will begin, both guided and self led. Other activities for the day include a photo contest, hayrides, hiking and a climbing contest. If the June temperature becomes unbearable while shopping at the vendor section, the Crooked Creek swimming hole awaits complete with rope swing. The preserve includes several miles of hiking trails both on and off the property. For those that are shopping addicted, the preserve is only a few miles from the city of Berea with its many gift shops and antique malls. As the evening approaches, there will be a banquet under the shelter followed by a caving program. Door prizes will be awarded prior to the program. If you want to stay up till all hours, there will be lots of activity in party camp in addition to the sauna and hot tub. The party will be starting at 9:30. For those with leftover energy, there will be cave trips Sunday morning. Keep an eye on the website www.karstorama.com for future updates. If you have any questions about this yearly caving event, please contact Tammy Otten at chairman@karstorama.com Looking forward to seeing you there to share another great Karst-O-Rama!
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Dec 10, 2006 13:02:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jan 27, 2007 15:06:32 GMT -5
Spring VAR 2007 Updates—General Information—Pre-registration: Deadline April 1, 2007 — dowload the pdf application here - www.varegion.org/frontroyal/var.htmlDogs: They are welcome if on leash and picked up after. Water: Drinking water is available with many spigots located throughout the campground. Bathrooms: There is a small bathhouse at the campground, one side for men and the other for women. Each side has one toilet and one shower. There will be additional porta potties throughout the campground and possibly extra showers hooked up by spring. Food: A nice dinner with vegetarian option will be provided Saturday evening. Pre-registration guarantees a meal. Without pre-registration, you risk not having a meal ticket available. Vendors: Speleo vendors will be present to meet your caving equipment needs and wants. —Schedule of Events—Friday— Registration begins at noon — Cave trips, socialize Saturday— Registration — Many led and self-guided cave trips including: Poor Farm Cave, Billy Clay Pit, Cassell, Tub, Sharps, Roadside Pit, Carpenter Swago and others. A detailed caving list with leaders and times will be posted later. — Conservation project and other activities — Evening meal — Presentation by Tom Tucker on the 'History of Allen's Cave" — Bonfire, music, dancing, socialize Sunday— Front Royal Grotto traditional pancake breakfast — $4.00 — VAR business meeting More details and updates will be posted to the web site www.varegion.org/frontroyal/var.html as they become available.
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Nov 28, 2006 23:07:44 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 9, 2006 9:16:28 GMT -5
May 8-12, 2006 - Black Hills Cave Restoration Camp
Hosted by Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. You are invited to be one of up to 20 volunteers who will be assisting with this conservation project. The goal of the project is to restore the cave's natural condition along the public tour routes. This year's camp will focus on removing lint and dust accumulations at both caves.
We are soliciting help from anyone interested in resource protection and restoration. No previous experience is required. There is no registration fee, and housing will be provided. Two days will be spent working at each cave, with Wednesday as a 'day off' for caving and/or sightseeing.
On Wednesday, Jewel Cave will offer a 4-hour recreational caving trip to the restoration camp volunteers. There may be other caving opportunities before or after the camp, and on evenings throughout the week as well. As an additional treat, Herb and Jan Conn will present a slide show on the first 50+ miles of exploration at Jewel Cave.
To sign up, or for more details, please contact Marc Ohms at 605-745-1182 or Marc_Ohms@nps.gov. The deadline is Friday April 14, 2006, and spots are available on a first come-first served basis.
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 8, 2006 9:34:45 GMT -5
The 2006 NSS Western Regional Meeting will be held over Labor Day weekend, September 2-4. The location is the group facility at Dos Picos County park in Ramona, California. All cavers are invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Western Region. Activities include sea caving, hard rock caving, hiking, rock climbing, and auction with a pig roast and party on Saturday night. For details and registration call Carl at (619) 561-3815 or visit the website www.sdgrotto.org/regional/All auction proceeds go to the NSS Western Region and all donations are tax deductible! For auction questions or suggestions contact: rbhunsaker@aol.com
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jan 27, 2007 14:33:18 GMT -5
Contact Jeff Bray, he may have information regarding YTR. His info can be found in the Members Manual.
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Aug 6, 2007 1:47:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Oct 25, 2006 1:17:49 GMT -5
Call for Articles—Annual Conservation Issue NSS News Help produce a thorough NSS overview of worldwide conservation research, projects, and cave/karst outreach awareness efforts. Youth speleo-conservation activities will receive special emphasis in this issue. - Submit articles, protection concerns, editorials, updates, cave/karst conservation activities, conservation opportunities, and appreciation for individuals or groups to werks@zianet.com - Send conservation pieces from one paragraph to several pages. Please do not exceed 2500 words (or a 15,000 character and space count). Submit photos as slides, prints, or e-files. Check the NSS News Submission Guidelines and Style Sheet available on the NSS Web site www.caves.org/pub/nssnews/ - Deadline is December 31, 2006. Send submissions by e-mail before the end of the year. (Nothing is accepted after the final submission date of January 15, 2007.) - Jim Werker and Val Hildreth-Werker serve as editors for the annual conservation issue of the NSS News. Please give them notice that you plan to submit. Send an e-mail now. werks@zianet.com Please reprint, resend, or re-post this message for caver audiences. Thanks for helping get the word out! Jim C. Werker and Val Hildreth-Werker NSS Conservation Co-Chairs PO Box 207 Cuna Cueva Hwy 27 Hillsboro, New Mexico 88042-0207 Voice: 505.895.5050 E-mail: werks@zianet.com
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Sept 19, 2006 2:28:15 GMT -5
SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS New Cave Discovered In Parks In August, four researchers affiliated with the Cave Research Foundation discovered a significant new cave within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks that has been named Ursa Minor for the Little Dipper constellation. The cave features large passages and rooms – many of which are more than 50 feet wide – and beautiful cave formations. These include long and graceful cave curtains, fragile soda straws up to six feet in length, and large areas of multicolored flowstones. Crystals in the flowstone produce brilliant sparkles across the cave’s floors and walls. Ursa Minor has a cave lake that may be as much as 100 feet across and vertical drops that must be traversed using ropes. Ancient animal skeletons were found in the cave, including one that resembles a bear – influencing the naming of the cave. Cave-adapted invertebrates that may be new or rare species have also been seen. Three of the 27 new species recently discovered in parks’ caves appear to inhabit Ursa Minor. It is clear that several of the larger passages continue and the actual length of the cave remains unknown at this time. “We are all very excited about the discovery of this beautiful new cave,” said park cave specialist Joe Despain. “It will add to our knowledge of the parks, park wildlife, and park features. Knowing that the cave exists will help us manage the area around the cave with its protection in mind. It is a fine new addition to the many wonderful caves in the two parks.” Park staff believe that the cave resources of the two parks are so significant that they alone would justify their inclusion within the National Park System. In keeping with park policies, such caves are closed to recreational visits pending evaluation and scientific study. Park cave management staff are conducting a series of trips with subject matter experts to create an accurate and detailed map of the cave, inventory its features, conduct a biological inventory, photo document cave features and formations and gate the cave entrance to protect it. The new cave was found as part of an on-going park-approved project managed by the Cave Research Foundation that conducts searches for new caves and cave passages. While Sequoia National Park is the nation’s second oldest park and was created in 1890, the discovery of significant caves in the rugged mountains of the parks today challenges park managers ability to properly balance protection and management for known park features and newly discovered park resources. More Information... Contact Information Name: Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Specialist home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=4768
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jul 15, 2006 13:40:06 GMT -5
While browsing for information on the James G. Mitchell Award I found that the Agenda for the Summer 2006 Board of Governors Meeting held August 7 and 11, 2006 in Bellingham, Washington is online: www.caves.org/nss-business/reports/aug06/agenda.html You guys are slipping, you usually have this info posted before anyone thinks of looking. ;D Stop caving and get back to work!
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jun 21, 2006 22:40:36 GMT -5
A note from Ann B. to cave photographers. Hi Cave Photographers, In case you forgot, the 2006 NSS convention in almost upon us, and its time to make prints for the annual NSS print salon, if you have not already made them. If you do not intend to enter, kindly forward this message to a cave photographer who might be interested. I'd also welcome its posting to any caver discussion lists - regional or grotto. DEADLINES The deadline for the mail-in entries is July 28, 2006. Send entries to: Jim Borden 2032 NE Katsura Street, Issaquah, WA 98029 (Please note that the zip code was incorrectly printed in the February NSS News.) If you cannot meet the deadline of 28 July, please let me know prior to the 25th and we may be able to come to an arrangement. If you are bringing your prints to convention (or sending them with a reliable caver), they must be delivered to me on Sunday, August 6th, 2006 between 10 am and noon at the NSS Convention Print Salon exhibition area. PRINT SALON WEB PAGEAlex Sproul has created a great web page for the print salon. It has three parts. The first to come up is a page about entering the salon, including rules, fees, releases, categories, etc. Then at the bottom of the first page are buttons to the 2nd and 3rd parts - Criteria and Recent Winners. Criteria gives all the details about how points are awarded by the judges who evaluate the prints. This could help you decide which prints to enter. Recent Winners shows images of most of the prints that won medals and ribbons last year. Click on the small images to get bigger ones, and get inspired! The link is www.caves.org/committee/salons/Print.shtmlNEW RULEPlease note that the maximum number of prints that any photographer may enter is now TEN, of which no more than eight may be in the digital category. This is because there was a sharp increase in the number of photographers and prints entered at Huntsville, and even though more display stands were built at the last minute, the display of prints was overcrowded. I have observed that, generally, photographers who enter a lot of prints, especially if they are similar, do not garner as many awards as those who enter a few good ones - possibly because they compete with each other and often split the judges' votes. TRY ENTERING OTHER CATEGORIESIf you are a digital photographer, why not try your luck in the other categories? You can make a B&W print from any of your digital color images. If you have an image you shot on color film (print or slides) and can get it printed non-digitally, you should enter the "Photographic Color Print" category. However, to qualify for this category, the image may not at any time be a digital file. So if you have a lab make the print, make sure the lab never scans the image. ART GALLERYIn Bellingham we will have a real art gallery in which to display the prints. I am told it is a beautiful space with excellent lighting, so don't miss this opportunity to show off your work - and it would look good on your resume. The print salon will officially open on the Tuesday of the convention, by noon. HELP WANTEDIf you get to convention early and are not doing the geology field trips, why not swing by the print salon and give me a hand getting the prints hung? I also need help on Tuesday morning when the low-scoring prints come down and the accepted ones are re-arranged. You will get credit on Thursday night and maybe in the NSS News. Good Luck, and see you in Bellingham! Ann Bosted
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jun 21, 2006 22:07:24 GMT -5
Bob Gulden's Long & Deep Cave Lists has a new address though the old address still seems to work on occasion. Here is the url: www.caverbob.com/home.htm
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 23, 2006 7:57:59 GMT -5
Here is a website offering tips for beginning cartography, including helpful programs on survey training, sketching for beginners, and creation of cave maps. A few of the offerings require powerpoint programs to access. www.cavecartography.com
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 10, 2006 21:33:55 GMT -5
I apologize in advance for touching upon this issue again. I have had a difficult time swallowing the obviously punitive nature of the original report. Let me see if I've got this straight..... Tom decides what he reports to the NSS Board, and I (and Tom) regret that a private report was inadvertently made public. Even if Tom Rea had inadvertently published a private report, it still would not explain why Harrison sent the OVP false information. This has proved to be a false statement. Is Harrison responsible for reporting correct data when acting in the position of an IT Subcommittee Chairman or is that not necessary for committee reports? Committee chairmen are responsible for reporting to officers on activities three times a year. The NSS of course is interested in the performance of its discussion board. In addition, I felt it was important to report that many of our former moderators had expressed an interest in participating in forum management once again, and that the forum had grown to the point where we needed their help. Fair enough, this information should be reported as committee activities to the OVP, except Harrison reported this: The number of post NSS moderators have made on the NSS forum would be relevant information to the committee report, for example; out of the 9,604 post on the NSS forum, the moderators have made 2,156 of the total posts; broken down as follows: Wayne Harrison-574 Cheryl Jones-264 Martha Mills-140 Phil Winkler-303 Scott McCrea-302 Barbara Am Ende-399 Tim White-51 Glen Mills-123 In contrast to what was insinuated however, not a single one of her posts have been removed, for they did not violate the Terms of Service. Ah yes, old school tactical warfare, lie about someone and fault them if they complain. Harrison not only insinuated that she had not posted on the forum, but reported to Tom Rea that all of the former moderators were posting with the exception of her. As Administrator of the forum, I would expect Harrison to have greater access to the information regarding number of user posts than others would. After making this statement in his subcommittee report, Harrison went on to use each of his posts on U.S. Cavers forum to advance his personal agenda of NSS forum promotion. (Something he also does on the Colorado caves forum.) Then under the guise of confusion, he questioned the origins of this forum, and when given what appeared to be a sincere response by a moderator, Harrison responded with outdated URL's in one final parting shot attempt to further discredit this forum. Did I miss anything? Frankly, from my seat, the moderators of this forum were overly generous allowing Harrison to express his ideas, something he has not done with participants he has been in disagreement with on the NSS forum. Yet he still used each post he made on this forum as another opportunity to malign this forum, while insisting he liked this forum in the same breath. Now I'm done. <goes back to neutral corner>
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Mar 2, 2006 1:02:12 GMT -5
Forrest Wilson, Rick Blackburn and Meredith Johnson are also former moderators. By looking at the members list on cavechat.org I see Meredith and Forrest have only made one post each and Rick hasn't made any. Sharon has made six. The NSS Discussion Board Subcommittee Report gives the appearance of being less than correct. It makes me wonder if other information in the OVP Report is following the same guidelines for accuracy of information? Exactly.
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Dec 10, 2006 12:10:24 GMT -5
NSS Website designer needed!
We need a volunteer with the graphic design talent and time to lead a vital project to update and improve the NSS Web site, the \"front door\" to the NSS, our image to the world. This is a great opportunity to make a real and very visual impact within the Society.
We would like to develop a new look, general template, and efficient structure for the NSS Web site. We need a creative caver with experience in Web design (the look, feel, and style of a site) to join the NSS IT Committee. We have talented and competent committee members experienced in the background nuts and bolts who will help make the visual design and concepts happen.
The designer would be responsible for creating the general template, overall format, style elements which individual pages would conform to, and the general organizational structure of the Web site. He/she would not be responsible for creating or maintaining individual committee Web pages and other pages on the Web site. I hope the designer would then stay on the IT Committee to assist the various Web page masters in adopting the new format, monitoring development and conformity, and assisting with future design features.
If you are interested in taking on this extremely important job for the NSS, and have the time to commit to the project, please contact Cheryl Jones, NSS Operations Vice President, ovp@caves.org Include links to Web sites you have developed, and your experience.
(Please circulate this notice widely among cavers)
-- Alex Sproul, NSS 8086RL/FE 5715 Lee-Jackson Hwy, Greenville VA 24440
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Sept 11, 2006 15:07:07 GMT -5
Nominations for 2007 NSS Awards (see list below) are due by November 15, 2006 On this web page, www.caves.org/committee/award/ you can review the criteria for all awards, see who has won in the past, see where to submit your nomination letters, or read suggestions on how to write a good nomination. THE WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE HONORARY MEMBER AWARD LEW BICKING AWARD VICTOR A. SCHMIDT CONSERVATION AWARD SCIENCE AWARD SPELEAN ARTS AND LETTERS AWARD CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY PETER M. HAUER SPELEAN HISTORY AWARD JAMES G. MITCHELL AWARD NCA BEST PAPER ON A SHOW CAVE AWARD CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION Link to award category page: www.caves.org/committee/award/awards.htm (Please circulate widely in the caver community)
|
|
|
Post by Taylor on Jul 15, 2006 13:56:57 GMT -5
From the Convention 2006 BOG Meeting Agenda nssmembersforum.proboards28.com/index.cgi?board=Announcements&action=display&thread=1152988806&page=1there are two interesting motions in re to the Limited Membership category. ----------------------------------- (13) Limited Member Rea moves: Bylaw I B (14) is amended to add the following sentence: "As of the close of business on August 11, 2006, no more Limited memberships will be sold. Existing Limited Members on August 11, 2006, will be grand fathered until their membership is dropped for any reason including non-payment." Since Limited Members receive no effective communication from the NSS, each limited member on the rolls as of August 11, 2006, will be notified of this provision by e-mail or U.S. mail as appropriate. (14) Limited Member Jones moves: Bylaw I B.14 is amended to read:Bylaw I B.14 Limited members are at least seventeen years of age. These members do not receive publications, except as stated <<and may not serve on the Board of Governors or as committee chairmen >> ; but otherwise have all the privileges of Regular members. Discussion: Note: Several thoughts on why this makes sense: --Holding office should be a benefit reserved for full members of the Society. --The Society should be managed by full members -- members who receive the publications, and are committed enough to the Society to be a full member (Regular, Family Regular, Sustaining, or Life member). Associate members are not allowed to vote or serve on the Board of Governors or as committee chairmen. --Someone who cannot afford full membership will not likely have the money to attend Conventions and Board meetings, or contribute the resources, travel and phone expenses, etc, generally necessary to effectively manage a committee. --------------------------------------------
|
|