Chouteau Grotto Minutes from December 1, 2004



Present:
President:  Marck Schneider
Vice–President: Eugene Vale
(Treasurer:  Kevin Feldz, absent)
Secretary:  Kathryn Devany DiFoxfire
Other Members:  9


CALL TO ORDER:  Meeting called to order at 7:09 p.m

REPORTS:
SECRETARY’S REPORT
        None.  No comments or corrections made to last month’s report.

TREASURER”S REPORT
        None.        

MSS LIASON REPORT:
        No meeting; nothing new to report.
       
FORESIGHT REPORT:
         Kirsten Alvey is experiencing difficulty getting outgoing mail to go out.  There was be a firewall preventing outgoing mail.  Eugene said he would work with Kirsten on the matter.

QUARTERMASTER’S REPORT:
         Marck borrowed a compass and chronometer and returned it in clean condition.  Ernie Bhend borrowed five helmets and five LED lamps.  Ernie also borrowed some of the Petzel lamps.  Mike let Enrie borrow the Petzels without a charge because they may or may not still be functional.  Johnson has one light—will give to Ernie for Hunter’s trip.  Mike also has two Boone County platt books available for loan.  One is only a year old, the other is five years old.

OLD BUSINESS

GROTTO CAVE TRIP TO HUNTER’S CAVE:  
Discussion:  Will be Sunday, December 5 starting at 9 a.m., ending at approximately 3-4 p.m.  Meet at the southern entrance of Three Creeks Conservation Area.  Currently about 7 people are confirmed.  It is important that the group all goes at the same pace.  There’s no need to be in a rush, there’s plenty of time to see everything and enjoy it.  
Action:  Marck will bring a digital camera to Hunter’s.
Directions to Three Creek’s Southern parking lot:  From Columbia to Hwy 63 south to Minor Hill Road (near roadside park).  Turn right on Meyer Lane and follow it north to the parking lot.  Alternately, you can take Hwy 63 to Ashland, take the main road (Route M) west through Ashland, turn right on Route and head north.  Eventually, after a 4-way stop, it will change names to Meyer Lane.

COOLIST
        Action:  Marck said he would e-mail Scott Schulte directions on how to get on coollist.
       
NEW BUSINESS
 
OFFICER ELECTIONS
        Vote:  All of the current officers were elected to remain in their current positions.

GROTTO PICNIC
        Discussion:  The annual grotto picnic did not happen this year.  It was suggested that we make sure this traditional picnic happens in 2005.  The picnic could include a fundraising auction and a BBQ.  It is usually hosted at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park’s Special Use Camping Area (SUA) which can be reserved up to 10 months in advance.   A suggestion was made to reserve the SUA for Sept. 17th-18 from 10 a.m. that Saturday to 3 p.m. the following Sunday.  
Action:  Kat said she would check availability of the dates.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 Grotto trip to Hunter’s:  Sunday, December 5, 9 .m., See Old Business above for details.

 Possible Hunter’s Cave Trip, Saturday, Dec. 11.  Ernie Bhend may be organizing a trip into Hunter’s cave the weekend following the Grotto trip to Hunter’s.


 Kathryn Devany DiFoxfire
 Interpretive Resource Technician
 Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
 5901 S Hwy 163, Columbia, MO 65203
 Tel:  573-449-7402     Fax: 573-442-2249
 E-mail: rock.bridge.memorial.state.park@dnr.mo.gov
 Website:  www.mostateparks.com