Minutes of the Chouteau Grotto Meeting

December 1, 1999


The meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M.

27 members were in attendance.

Treasurer's Report: $930.04 in the coffers


Jennifer Wolff and Patti Williamson have been canvassing for
advertisers in the Grotto Newsletter, and so far Missouri Wilderness
and Baltoro Outfitters have signed on, adding $50 to the treasury.


MSS Director's Report: The next MSS meeting will be in Rolla on January
22.


Foresight Editor's Report: There was discussion on what to do with the
minutes, now that they are also published in the Newsletter. It was
decided that the Newsletters will be stapled and published as a
supplement to the Foresight, which will be dedicated mainly to cave
reports and research.


Hunter's Cave Mapping Update: 700 feet of passage, or about 1/10 of the
cave, have been mapped. The next mapping trip is December 4 at 1 P.M.


Election Results for the Year 2000 Officer posts; congratulations to
the new officers!

Bob Lerch, Chairman

Rita Worden, Vice Chairwoman

Kevin Feltz, Treasurer

Joe Hobbs, Secretary


Hail and Farewell

Outgoing Chairman Mike Morgan was given a hearty thanks for two years
of fine leadership. Mike also graciously accepted to inherit Daryl
Greaser's mantle as the Grotto's MSS Representative.


Daryl said his good-byes to the Grotto, as he will be relocating to
Missoula, Montana later in the month. He promised to remain an active
member of the Grotto and to be in e-touch with all of us.


J. Myers attended a Grotto meeting for the first time. We look forward
to seeing him at future meetings.

Brochure

Patti has produced a draft of the Grotto's new brochure; it's almost
ready for publication. Daryl asked that Grotto members with quality
cave photos bring them to the next meeting. Patti will look at them and
choose some for publication in the Grotto brochure.


Upcoming cave trips

There will tentatively be a winter float/caving trip on the Current
River on December 18-19. Contact Rita Worden for details, (660)
849-2156.


Jennifer Wolff and cave friends will ring in the new millennium in Wet
Cave, near Onondaga State Park. Contact Jennifer at rncaver@aol.com for
details.


Party Time!

Jennifer Wolff will host the traditional Llama/Tequila Party on
Saturday, December 4, beginning at 8 P.M. All Grotto members are
invited. You know about tequila, but what is a llama doing at a party?
Contact Jennifer at rncaver@aol.com or 817 1844 for details and
directions.


Rick Walk has invited all Grotto members to the annual Christmas party
at his place on December 11 at 6 P.M. It's a pot luck for veggies,
desserts and finger foods. Rick will supply the main ham dish, and will
show slides of the famous "New Terminal Siphon" trips to the Devil's
Ice Box. Contact Rick at 442-2660 or aneswalk@tranquility.net for
directions.


Notice on the Future of the Grotto Website Please be aware that the
Grotto website will probably be in a period of transition over the next
two months, as the current server may soon be unavailable. All of us
are encouraged to research free or affordable new server homes for the
website, preferably those with large megabyte provisions. Bob Lerch
will look into the favored alternative of nesting with the NSS server.


Resolutions

A motion was made to have the Grotto Secretary keep a running list of
all new resolutions passed at Grotto meetings. This motion was
approved. The resolutions will be numbered sequentially through the
calendar year. See the end of these minutes for the first recorded
motion of 1999.

Good Luck Mark!

Mark McGimsey will be undergoing major surgery in mid-December. It may

mean that Mark will not be caving gain, but he will continue to be an
active participant in the Grotto. Mark's email is batsurveys@aol.com.


Cave Reports

There were several trips to the Lone Hill Onyx Cave. It has been
observed that Boy Scouts and others who frequent this cave often enter
it poorly-equipped. Bill Elliott has done an exit survey on cavers
there, and is quite concerned about safety and conservation in the
cave. Bill asks that all of us who have caved at Lone Hill submit
observations to him (email would be best), so that the MDC can come up
with an appropriate management policy for the cave. The cave will not
be closed, but it might become an easy-permit cave. Bill's email is

elliow@mail.conservation.state.mo.us


Bill Elliott reported on molestation of gray bats at Big Mouth Cave.
Bob Lerch, family and friends caved at Lawson Pit. Rick Walk reported
on gypsum found in the New Terminal Siphon of the Devil's Ice Box. Joe
Hobbs and Julie Blubaugh led a park trip into the Devil's Ice Box on
November 14.


A New Use for Wet Cave Clothing


Jeff Williams was driving back from a trip to Lone Hill Onyx Cave. His
car engine caught on fire. Mayday! Mayday! He pulled over. How to put
out the fire? He reached for his trustworthy wet cave clothes. Problem
solved.


The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 P.M.

There was no program.


Respectfully submitted,

Joe Hobbs

Resolution 1 of 1999

A motion was made and approved to vote on term limits at the January

2000 meeting. The Chair and Vice-Chair would be limited to two
consecutive one-year terms. There would be no term limits for Treasurer
and Secretary.