Minutes of the Chouteau Grotto Meeting
September 6, 2000

The meeting was called to order, Rita Worden presiding, at 7:09 P.M.

20 members (and a couple of friends) attended. New faces included Jo Schaper (who is also Vice-President of the Missouri Cave and Karst Conservancy), Jessie Bebb, and Missouri Life journalist Shawn McLaughlin.

Treasurer's Report: $1201.16 in the coffers.

MSS Director's Report: The MSS meeting will be on September 23 in Rolla, in conjunction with the MCKC meeting. Our MSS representative Mike Morgan will not be able to attend this one, but Dave Webster will go in his place.

Foresight Editor's Report: We have a new Foresight Editor. Hoorah Patti Williamson!! Daryl Greaser is completing the 1999 issues and will send them electronically for Patti to print. Patti has started the first two quarters of the 2000 Foresights. Please get your cave reports to Patti by September 27 for inclusion in these issues. Patti is also producing a Reunion Guidebook which will be issued at the Reunion as a supplement to the Foresight. Daryl's history of the Grotto will appear in the guidebook. Patti will also produce a special newsletter for the Reunion and she needs your up-to-date cave reports for that ASAP.

Reunion Planning: Much of the evening's discussion dealt with the nitty-gritty of getting the Reunion details finalized. We are almost there... A good time will be had by all! Columbia residents, don't forget to bring a covered dish (it was determined that foil on a six pack does not count as a covered dish).

Amy Shields Thesis Project: Amy is doing a Master's thesis in Geography on a cave topic, and would like to interview you about some of your perspectives on caves and caving. If you would help her out by agreeing to an interview, please let Amy know; email amy@amyshields.com

Cave Reports: Ben Miller did an NSS restoration trip to Mammoth Cave, taking down the old Echo River walkway. He met Jeff Williams at the Indiana Cave Capers and they did 3 caves together, and a vertical pit called Gory Hole (or was that Glory Hole?). Ben went on to visit a cave near Springfield, also Cave Mountain Cave and Fitton Cave, Ozark Adventure Pit, Eye of the Needle, and back home to Spring Cave. Amy Shields recapped the trip she did with Patti Williamson and others to the Meramec Park area, including Green Cave and Lone Hill Onyx Cave (where a glow in the dark frisbee was flying). Mike Morgan took a Boy Scout troop to Lone Hill, and reported on recent vandalism there with yellow spray paint. Jo Schaper related an extraordinary account of five hapless vandals who broke into the Cathedral Cave at Onondaga State Park just 45 minutes before a tour was to begin. The park guide locked them inside and fetched law enforcement. These dopes are now in trouble. Rita, Grace, and Orin Worden and Bob and Andy Lerch visited Fitton Cave, and Rita talked about her visit to Grand Gulf State Park (featuring a collapsed cave system). There was consensus there should be no caving there if rain is in the forecast.

Upcoming Cave Trips: Ben Miller wants to lead a Meramec area cave trip from September 15-17. Please contact Ben if you are interested. Jo Schaper wants all of us to know that we can contact her to get any detailed information on caves in this region.

MS "Columbia Cavers" charity: Jeff William, Orin Worden, and Bob and Andy Lerch are pedalling 800 miles on bikes as the "Columbia Cavers" to raise contributions to fight multiple sclerosis. If you are willing to pledge, please contact one of these generous guys.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 P.M.

There was no program.

Respectfully submitted,

Joe Hobbs, Secretary






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