Chouteau Grotto Minutes from July 7, 2004

Present:

President:Ý Marck Schneider

ViceñPresident: Eugene Vale

(Treasurer:Ý absent)

Secretary:Ý Kathryn Devany DiFoxfire

Other Members:Ý 9

CALL TO ORDER:Ý Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m

REPORTS:

SECRETARYíS REPORT

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ None.

TREASURERîS REPORT

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ None.

MSS LIASON REPORT:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ New MSS brochures available.

Rita mentioned that Scott House needs someone to transcribe & type cave files.Ý He can be reached at 1606 Luce Street or scotthouse@nps.gov

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The MSS is developing a research award as a memorial to Ken Thompson who recently died in a car accident.Ý They decide to omit the word ìmemorialî in the name of the award.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ MSS is also working on a new patch design and new souvenirs.Ý They may redo the current design or they may keep it.Ý Rita suggested that it would be nice to have hats with logo.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The fall meeting will be Sept. 18, location TBA.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

FORESIGHT REPORT:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ No report:Ý

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Reminder from last month:ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ First issue will have an August 1 deadline for submission and a target date of Sept 1 for publication.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ To be placed on the e-mail list to receive copies of the Foresight, send the following information to Kat at rock.bridge.memorial.state.park@dnr.mo.gov and she will compile it into a database and submit it to Kirsten:Ý First and last name, address(es), phone number(s), primary e-mail address(es).Ý Please indicate whether the information being submitted is a work, home, mobile or other address/phone/e-mail.

QUARTERMASTERíS REPORT:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ All helmets and lights are available to be checked out.Ý Inventory includes cable ladder (35-40í), clinometer, compass, two climbing ropes (one 200í, the other 400í).Ý Need liability release forms before ropes can be checked out. ÝKirsten Alvey mentioned in a previous meeting that she would bring forms in, but has not as of yet.Ý We need to have a lawyer review those forms.Ý Reminder that ropes should not be washed using pressure washer or detergent as both make the rope weaker.Ý Packets of rope-washing material are commercially available.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ A 100í survey tape added to Grotto equipment inventory.Ý The tape uses inches and meters, instead of 10í of a foot.

OLD BUSINESS

STREAM TEAM:Ý No report.Ý Marck attempted to contact Amber Spohn without success.Ý Amber is working as a seasonal naturalist at Onondaga Cave State Park this summer .

BONNE FEMME WATERSHED PROJECT:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Both Marck and Kat have copies of the Bonne Femme Watershed Project volunteer time sheets. ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Terry Frueh explained at a previous meeting that part of the grant requires Project participants to donate hours and people power as part of a matching fund.Ý Chouteau Grotto members can assist by recording numbers of people and numbers of hours donated in mapping caves and cleaning caves and sinkholes in the Project area.ÝÝÝÝÝ Note:Ý We can record information starting July 1, but not anything prior to that.Ý Prompt reporting is important because the committee needs to make a report every three months.

PHILLIPS TRACT WATER QUALITY TESTING:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Concern was again voiced that we should be assisting with water quality testing in areas that will be affected by the development of the Phillips tract.Ý This would also count toward volunteer hours for the Bonne Femme Watershed Project.

GROTTO CAVE TRIP:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ One or two trips, possibly on the same weekend was discussed.Ý Ernie Bhend said he would check on rules for night trips into Hunterís Cave.Ý Contrary to her comment last month, Rita expressed concern about doing two difficult trips during the same weekend.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Devilís Icebox Cave trip:Ý Friday night Sept. 24 was proposed as a trip date.Ý That, or jump on Jim Yanceyís C-level trip to Chert Bridges on 9/11/04.Ý See previous e-mail from Roxie Campbell to coollist for further details.Ý Rita motioned that Marck should coordinate scheduling a grotto trip.Ý Motioned seconded and carried.Ý Some money was collected.Ý All fees and personal information (name, address, date of birth, phone numbers, and email must be submitted to the park by July 24 (preferably July 17)in order to schedule a grotto trip on Sept 24. See e-mail from Roxie Campbell to coollist for further details and other options.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ More information on Devilís Icebox Wild Cave Tours can also be found at www.mostateparks.comÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

NEW BUSINESS

DECALS / STICKERSÝ

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ As a possible fundraiser, Mike Morgan mentioned selling decals.Ý Eugene will check on costs of the three-to-four color decal (red, yellow, black, and maybe white), finding out what a minimum order would be for various types and sizes of decals.Ý Some discussion occurred about changing the colors, and on the type of decal people wanted.

MVOR

Pony Express Grotto contacted Mike Morgan and asked when we were going to host an MVOR.Ý It is possible that they confused our grotto weekend cave trip with an MVOR.Ý We are NOT hosting an MVOR anytime on the near future.Ý

CAVE FILES

Mike Morgan obtained cave files from Joe Dom.Ý They are on a five-disk set.Ý Mike said he would be happy to print out copies of particular caves for grotto members, depending on time.Ý These requests would be limited to just a few caves, not the entire set of files.

VILLAGE OF PIERPONT

The majority of the residents of the neighborhood of Pierpont have proposed incorporating as a village.Ý After much discussion, the issue has been presented to the county commissioners who need to decide whether or not to permit it.Ý

MEMBERSHIP LIST

A request was made for an updated membership list.Ý

EVENT REMINDERS

A request was made for reminders of upcoming events to be sent over coollist when the event dates draw near.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FORB Friends of Rock Bridge, July 10, ìLetís Go Cavingî at RBMSP.Ý Guest speaker Marck Schneidner.

NSS Convention, July 12-16Ý Marquette, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior.Ý Website www.nss2004.com for more info.Ý Jo and Eugene may go.Ý Kirsten would like to go as part of a caravan. Rita is also thinking of going.Ý Anyone else interested?

Possible Grotto Trip into Devilís Icebox July 24, July 17 or July 25.

Bridal Cave Haunting Oct 29, 30, 31:Ý Lake Ozark Grotto is hosting a haunted cave trip at Bridal Cave.Ý This will be a LOG fundraiser.Ý Live people will be jumping out of nooks and crannies.Ý Fee to be determined.

CAVE REPORTS

CAVE REPORT REMINDER:Ý We should be writing cave reports and submitting them to the appropriate journals, including MSS Speleology.

… Ernie Bhend reported that he, John, and Eric Thomas visited the Irish Wilderness in Mark Twain National Forest in Oregon County June 18-19.Ý The area was advertised in Backpacker Magazine.Ý The cave they visited can be accessed via the south loop of the Whites Trail (6.5 miles from Trailhead) or by canoe along the Eleven point River.Ý The cave is located about 80í above the creek and in a hillside.Ý The entrance is 25í wide and 6í high and is gated to protect an Indiana bat hibernaculum.Ý The cave is open May 1 to Sept 15 when the Indianas are not in residence.Ý Past the cave entrance, the cave drops down then opens back into big rectangular walking passage with near vertical walls and a flat ceiling 25-30í wide.Ý They almost didnít need helmets in the main passage.Ý There were some stalagmites and stalactites including one stalagmite 10-15í high in the middle of the passage.Ý The passage continues to a pool which is cabled off to prevent further access into the cave.Ý The group camped on the ridge above the cave about 1000 feet from the entrance.Ý Mosquitoes were thick, sometimes landing in pairs.

… Rita reported that the Carroll Cave survey trip was postponed to the following Saturday.

… Eugene reported that he visited the entrance to Watson Cave in Kirkwood, located by the quarry.Ý The cave was first discovered when the Meremac Highland Quarry operation intersected the cave during one of its digs.Ý As the city grew outward, the quarry eventually went out of business.Ý It was last quarried for the Worldís Fair, and is on one of the National Historic Registers.

OTHER BUSINESS

None.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:36 p.m.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kathryn Devany DiFoxfire, 7/14/04