In 2000, dues will increase to $20 for regular membership and $15 for students.
MSS Representative's report: Daryl Greaser announced that old issues of Missouri Speleology may be
ordered from the MSS. A full index of back issues, and instructions on ordering, may be found on the
MSS
web site, which is linked to the Chouteau Grotto web site.
Roxie Campbell, Naturalist from the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, requested that copies of the
Grotto's newsletter be made available to participants in the park's wild cave tours. Patti Williamson
will see that extra copies of each month's newsletter make it to the park. Roxie said that Devil's
Ice
Box T-Shirts are available at Burrito's and the Captain's Quarter's at 10th and Walnut.
Officers were nominated for elections at the December meeting:
Chair: Bob Lerch, Mike Morgan
Vice-Chair: Rita Worden, Bob Lerch
Treasurer: Kevin Feltz
Secretary: Joe Hobbs (with Patti Williamson as volunteer replacement during Joe's leave).
After lengthy debate, there was a unanimous decision to include the Grotto meeting's minutes in each
month's newsletter. It was decided to delay any decision about how the Foresight might be affected
until
the Foresight's editor is present.
Rick Walk has donated 15 helmets to the Grotto. Members who wish to borrow these should contact Rick
directly.
Cave Reports: Jeff Williams reported on four members' trip to Piquet cave. Daryl Greaser described a
second trip beyond the old Terminal Siphon in the Devil's Ice Box; participants mapped 501.9 feet of
new
passage on that October 9 trip. Bill Elliott attended the National Cave and Karst Management Symposium
in
Chattanooga, visited Russell Cave National Monument, and encountered a lamprey eel in a cave! Bill
had
photos of Missouri's new troglobitic cave crayfish, which will be officially described for science by
Horton Hobbs. Jennifer Wolff and Jeff Williams attended TAG in early October and did some seriously
vertical caving. Several members spoke about the caves they visited at the fall MVOR. At that event
Jane
Fisher's 85th Birthday was celebrated. This venerable caver was quoted as saying "A body is meant to
be
used!"
Bill Elliott announced that the Midwest Cave Ecology Meeting will take place in St. Louis on February
11
and 12, 2000. Participation and attendance is free, but registration is required; contact Bill
directly
to register.
Bill also announced that the Natural Areas Conference will be held in St. Louis in October 2000. This
is
an international meeting. Bill and David Ashley are putting together a session on caves. Contact Bill
for
information.
