March Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Chouteau Grotto Meeting
Wednesday, March 6, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM, with Jessie Bebb presiding in Rita's absence.

There were 27 members present.

Treasurer's Report: There are $1366.09 in the coffers.

Old Business

The following motions were voted on and approved unanimously:

1. Dues should be paid in January or February for the calendar year. A new member may join at any time of year, and his/her dues fee would be prorated to reflect the months "missed."

2. Students may pay the fees on a "semester plan." There would be a $7.50 dues fee for the first semester period of January/February through August, and a $7.50 fee for the second semester period September through January/February.

Cave Reports:

Mike Morgan and company found a pit in Shannon County, but lacked caving gear. Three of the five caves they visited that day seemed to be known, and the others are possibly new.

Dave Gustafson reported on the MU Geography of Caves class trip to the Devil's Icebox on February 13, when some 500 Indiana bats were noted near the entrance.

Ben Miller, Roger Brown, Rita Worden, Orin Worden and Ben Miller went to Stone County, Arkansas, visiting Ennis Cave near the White River. This is a 6-7 mile cave system. They saw a room with active 90 foot waterfall. After about eight hours of caving they settled into a cozy cabin near the cave. Next day Ben, Roger and Orin went to Janus Pit, the deepest in Arkansas.

Joe Dom, Keri Renfroe and Ben Miller did a survey trip to Tumbling Cave in the Three Creeks Conservation Area. It was a re-survey, because there is a nasty passage that goes several hundred feet that has not been mapped. It may connect with Sink Cave on top of the hill. Nick Bezzeredies, a grad student at MU, and Ben went about 250 feet into passage, got wet and cold, but they kept pushing, finding frogs and salamanders, then bats, before the passage opened into large dome. There was a date from 1959 inscribed in there. They could not find any more passage from there.

Jessie Bebb led her first solo non-assisted trip in the Icebox, with five people.

Ben and Jessie caved in Stone County, enjoying rain Friday night and snow Saturday. They visited Powell Cave and Talking Rock cave, and tried in the cold to map Abesville Church Cave. And they mapped 98 foot long Pillar Cave in Reed Springs.

Jo Schaper did Geology training for cave guides at Onondaga. A female geology student from St. Louis had died (drowned) there 90 years ago, Jo learned, so Jo dressed as a ghost for her two hour tour.

Jessie, Rita and a former Grotto member looked for an unnamed cave near Rita's place in Moniteau County.

Doug Selby, science teacher at Jamestown School in Moniteau County, introduced himself and two students. They reported on trips to Bruce Cave and Anderson 1,2,3 Caves. The students had an assignment to document a cave not in the files. Cody read his report of "Lost Boys Cave."

Rick Walk was interview by KRCG Television's Mark Slavit at Connor's Cave. Rick is supposed to get a copy of KRCG's entire cave series.

Upcoming Cave Trips

Tiffany Addington has offered to take Cathedral off cave trip in Onondaga, perhaps a restoration trip in April.

Ben may go on the 16th to Pulaski County, and will let people know details on the listserve.

On April 23 (Tuesday), Ben has a Smittle Cave Permit. Is not often open! So if you want to go, get in touch with Ben. Up to eight can go; so far three have signed up. It'll be a long trip.

Ben may also lead a trip on 16 March.

On May 9 Rick Walk is going to Tucson, Canyon de Chelley, and Leadville, caving all the way, especially in southern Arizona.

Other Matters:

The Day with Wildlife is coming up. Contact Rick to volunteer.

Rick Walk on NSS Business: One cave the NSS owns is having its gate replaced, and NSS is soliciting funding for this effort.

Mike Morgan: The last Chicken Roast had a disappointing turnout of only a dozen people. Maybe there should be reservations for the next one, so that not so much chicken goes wasted?