July 1999 Near Normal News

FROM A HOLE IN THE WALL
Jim Jacobs

Well, it's that time again! Time for another newsletter! Seems like only yesterday… It just sneaks up on me. Oh, well! Let's see… do I have anything to write about? Oh, yeah! Our vacation! I'll write about our summer vacation! (I feel like I'm back in grade school). Well, we…(wait for it)…went CAVING! HOO HA! No, we didn't go to THE cave, the MAMMOTH cave. This time we went to The OTHER cave, Carlsbad. My, oh my! What that cave lacks in mileage, it makes up for with a whole lotta BIG! At one point in the big room we were looking up at the ceiling 255 feet away. There's only one cave room bigger, and it's in Borneo. (The Sarawak Chamber). Well, more about that later.
We spent the first week hiking around and into the Grand Canyon, getting warmed up for our trip to the Cavern. If you've never seen the canyon, you should. Everybody should. However, I think that everybody WAS trying to see it when we were there. Well…not THAT bad, but it IS one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.
This meeting, we will be voting on the particulars of our incorporation. Beth's article in this issue fills in all of the details, but in short, we need to authorize the lawyer to draw up the papers and to re-write the bylaws to match our new status. This will also authorize the expenditure for the lawyer's fee. As soon as the by-laws have been revamped, the Executive Board will review them, and they will be published in the September NEWS for a membership vote at that meeting.
Oh, the next MVOR is to be held on Halloween weekend at "Ozark Outdoors", formerly Keyes Canoe rental, which is across the Meramec from Onondaga Cave State Park, according to Jo Schaper.

IN THIS ISSUE:
· TROY SIMPSON encounters 'flashlight cavers'.
· MARC TIRITILLI explores the technology of LED lights as back-ups, and is glad that he uses safety devices when appropriate.
· BILL BAUS tells us about the Mitchell vertical system
· STEVE TAYLOR reports on this year's Indiana Cave Capers and the MVOR
· BETH REINKE presents the motion for incorporation that we will vote on this meeting.
· JIM JACOBS waxes enthusiastic about summer vacation out west.
· And an updated roster
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
May 28, 1999

Called to order at 7:20pm by President Brian R. Braye. Present: Carl Wenning, Rebecca Wenning, Marc Tiritilli, Angela Carson, David Carson, Matthew Carson, Julie Angel, Beth Reinke, Jim Jacobs
OFFICER REPORTS:
Secretary, Jim Jacobs: The minutes of the April meeting were approved as published in the NEWS.
Treasurer, Beth Reinke: Balance, $529.27.
President, Brian R. Braye: reports that there are two shirts left. One XL sweatshirt and one L long sl. T-shirt.
DISCUSSION: There was more discussion on incorporation. Julie will seek legal advice. Brian noted that Norm Rogers is advertising in the NSS NEWS for participants for the Mammoth Cave Restoration Field Camp. Jim J. passed out flyers for the Karst-o-Rama, the Tag Fall Cave-In and the Indiana Cave Capers. Mark T. volunteered to help Steve T. on the program committee.
TRIP REPORTS: none
TRIPS. July 17 to Illinois Caverns. This will be a "rookie trip".
Adjourned.
Submitted by Jim Jacobs, secretary


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MINUTES OF THE MEETING
June 25, 1999


*IN ATTENDANCE: Brian Bray, John Marquart, Beth Reinke, Julie Angel, Mathew Carson, Mark Belding, Dave Carson, Angie Carson, Lena Morris, Marc Tiritilli, Angie Bennett, Brett Bennett, Don Coons, Rick Toomey, Steve Taylor.
*MINUTES of previous meeting: not available, will be published in upcoming newsletter
*TREASURER: Current Balance $511.32
*OLD BUSINESS*
*Beth Reinke and Julie Angel: Incorportation and liability. Five options were discussed, and a sheet was passed out detailing the options. This information will be published in the upcoming newsletter. They consulted with a lawyer on options. There was a general but not too painfully long discussion of the options and sources of funds. Some donations are available from individual members to help defray costs for more expensive options. Emphasis was placed on option 5 (File article of incorporation and, with help of lawyer, rewrite bylaws. There will be a vote on these
options at next meeting.
*NEW BUSINESS:*
*Illinois Caverns: Trip to the cave on July 17th was discussed. Meet at 10:30 at McDonalds in Waterloo.
*LED lights: Marc Tiritilli demonstrated some interesting LED based light sources he has been developing. Some discussion. He invites other members to discuss possible designs with him. Very cool!
*TRIP REPORTS:*
*Brett and Angie Bennett: went to___________ Cave, ?Indian? (sorry, I forgot to write down name as I was too busy listening!-ST)
*Steve Taylor: research trips to Illinois Caverns, Fogelpole Cave, Stemler Cave, Krueger-Dry Run Cave (Illinois)
*Dennis Campbell and Steve Taylor: trips to Porter Cave, Freeman Pit, Hidden Pit (all in Owen-Monroe County area of Indiana)
*Don Coons: Roppel Cave trip (Kentucky)
*Marc Tiritilli: led campus life group on Logging Camp Cave and Buggy Top Cave trips (Tennessee)
*Next Meeting: July 23, 1999
*Karst-O-Rama is July 30-August 1, 1999, NSS Convention July 12-18, 1999 (Filer, Idaho)
*Meeting Adjourns for excellent presentation by Dr. Rick Toomey on his ongoing research at Mammoth Cave (Kentucky): 'Past Use of the Historic Entrance Area by Bats'

*submitted by:
Steve Taylor
Center for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Survey
607 East Peabody Drive (MC-652), Champaign, IL 61820-6970 USA
sjtaylor@mail.inhs.uiuc.edu http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/
Phone: 217-333-5702(work, with voice mail) Fax: 217-333-4949

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THE MITCHELL SYSTEM
Bill Baus
Baus@Indiana.edu

In response to questions about the Mitchell system: There is no one system that is right for every caver and every situation, but I feel that a properly configured Mitchell system offers me the best of speed, efficiency, and versatility. A description of the system is at the end of this commentary.
For long, free drops, the Mitchell is the most efficient system, with the least amount of wasted motion. In terms of efficiency, it is equal to, or slightly better than a rope-walker, and is significantly more efficient than any sit-stand system. In terms of speed, it is also equal to or slightly faster than a rope-walker, assuming that the user is skilled and has the arm strength to move the ascenders fast enough and long enough to complete climb. In terms of amount of gear to tote around, it is similar to a rope-walker if the rope-walker's foot cam is tied to the foot in the traditional way. However, the Mitchell has less gear if the rope-walker uses one of those newer foot cams with a built-in stirrup or plate. Compared to a frog, the Mitchell is usually bulkier and heavier. Of course, this all depends on what type of chest rollers, slings, and harnesses are used on the particular set-ups being compared. My Mitchell is actually more compact than some frog systems that I've seen.
The versatility of the Mitchell comes from its ability to convert instantly to a Texas system. By clipping in my safety on the short-sling setting (I use a Lost Creek safety sling which has both long and short settings) and removing the upper ascender and chest box from the rope, I can change to Texas at any time during a climb in a matter of seconds. If I do not anticipate any long, free drops, I leave the chest harness, chest box, and upper ascender behind. My Texas system is more compact and lighter than any frog system that I've ever seen, and the Texas is just as versatile as the frog for crossing lips or re-belays, changing ropes, etc.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES:
The Mitchell and Texas utilize more upper body strength than the rope-walker and frog. Since I have good upper body strength, I don't find this to be a problem, but some people do. While a properly configured Mitchell does not use the arms to raise the climber, it does use the arms to raise the ascenders, and the Texas uses the arms much more than most frogs to balance and raise the climber.
While the rope-walker has the advantage of leaving the climber's hands free, the Mitchell has the advantage of not having the climber encumbered with all those bungie cords. (Some people have successfully rigged their Mitchells with the lower ascender on a double bungie, but I have not found that to be helpful to me.)
A prime advantage of the Mitchell over the rope-walker is that there is no ascender tied to the foot. This makes it possible to easily reach all ascenders at any time during the climb, and it makes it possible to start the climb without either having someone else hold the rope or having to
drag the rope over the climber's muddy boot, as must be done to self-start with either the rope-walker or frog. (With rope of average stiffness, I can start moving my lower ascender with no problems on the very first step. On very limp or muddy rope, I may have to hold the rope below the lower ascender with my free hand for the first 2 or 3 steps.) The lack of a foot-mounted ascender also makes crossing lips and getting off rope much easier.
A SAFETY WARNING: While nearly all Mitchell and rope-walker users have a third ascender with them when climbing in those systems, I have often observed frog and Texas users climbing without a third ascender. Everyone who climbs rope should <<< ALWAYS >>> have a third ascender on their person or in their pack, even if the third ascender is just a Prussik knot. (Since I always carry a Prussik knot and a biner in my pack, even when horizontal caving, I have my third ascender for emergencies even if I leave my chest-box and upper ascender behind.) DESCRIPTION:
A Mitchell system consists of one ascender attached to the left foot with a short sling so that it rides near the knee, one ascender on a long sling which rides near the climber's face, and a chest box with side-by-side rollers for two ropes or slings. The sling from the right foot ascender passes through the right roller(s) of the chest box and the standing line passes through the left roller(s). The seat harness is not used except for resting and safety. The system can be configured in reverse, left to right, but I recommend against this.
My system has been modified to add another short sling between my lower (left) ascender and my seat harness. This prevents me from hanging upside down from my foot stirrup in case of a failure elsewhere in the system and is designed so the the lower ascender will follow along without my having to do anything if I am walking up a slope or over a lip. I have also eliminated the traditional use of rope in the slings by use of sewn 1" tubular webbing in all slings. This reduces weight and bulk, prevents the knot from beating on my ankle, and in the case of the right (top) ascender, it greatly extends the life of the sling and rollers. My lower ascender is placed so that I can comfortably reach a webbing loop at the top of it, and I hold the upper ascender by the cinch hitch that attaches the sling to the handle. This prevents me from being victim of the natural tendency to wear my arms out by pulling myself up with the handles.
The Texas system consists of an ascender on a short sling to one foot and an ascender an a short sling to the seat harness. It is especially good for short, against the wall climbs, since the free (usually right) foot can be placed against the wall, but it can also be used on free drops by putting the free right foot on top of the left foot.
DISCLAIMER: All information herein is provided to assist cavers in determining which climbing system is best for them. It is not intended as an instruction manual or in lieu of proper personal instruction. The author assumes no liability for any loss, including serious injury or death which results from the use of any of the climbing systems discussed herein.
Bill Baus
1210 W. 8th St.
Bloomington, Ind. 47404
(812) 339-1210, Afternoons (Home)
(812) 336-4941 (Lost Creek Packs)
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CAVING OUT WEST
Jim Jacobs

Yes, we missed the last grotto meeting, but we had a good excuse. We were caving! We left for our western vacation on Saturday morning, and arrived at Grand Canyon National Park Monday evening. We spent the rest of the week hiking along the canyon rim and down into the canyon. We even brought a miracle! We hiked a mile and a half down the Bright Angel Trail to the rest house. Of course, the downhill part of the trip was the easiest. We very much enjoyed all of the myriad desert flowers and flowering cacti, and the squirrels that demand a cut of your lunch, as if this were a toll road. Of course, this is the same trail that the mules use, so you do have to watch your step! Oh yes, the miracle. We brought rain to the desert! We had been, of course, warned about the very real danger of dehydration when hiking into the canyon due to the heat and aridity. Naturally, about half way up, we had a thunderstorm! It was not unwelcome, though. We were huffing, puffing and sweating by that time, and the rain kept us from overheating. Luckily, I had packed a couple of rain ponchos. The rain hit so swiftly that we got soaked before we were able to get them on, but once they were on, they kept us from getting chilled.
OK…we're almost to the caving part. Patience, my children! From the canyon, we headed toward New Mexico and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. On the way there, we visited the Meteor Crater, the Petrified Forest, and the Painted Desert. (Busy trip!) A wonderful bit of serendipity occurred when we overnighted in Albuquerque, which sits in the shadow of Mt. Sandia. I picked up a brochure in the motel lobby that referred to their famous cable car that goes to the top of the mountain. Since we only had a five-hour or so drive from there to Carlsbad, we resolved to experience the 'Tram'. We were doubly determined to do this because we had been denied this very experience when we went to Germany a few years back. Close to Garmish-Partenkirchen is the cable car to the top of Mt. Zugspitze. We had seen a video about it, and it was on our list of "must do's". Unfortunately, it was cool and socked in with fog that day, so the car wasn't running. (Couldn't have seen anything, anyway!) Happily, the weather was perfect, and the Albuquerque Tram was operating. It was a wonderful trip to the top. Once there, we noticed that they had the chair lifts running down the other side of the mountain. So we rode the lift chairs down, had a snack, and lifted back to the top. It was great! And of course, there were restaurants and souvenir shops at the top, and on the bottom (both sides). Just like the Grand Canyon had shops strategically located. Everywhere you looked.
We found the city of Carlsbad to be delightful! Like hometown in the 50's. A friend of mine who used to live in the area, describes it as being 'stuck in a time warp.' (But in a pleasant way.) For example, we walked into the Tru-Value hardware store, and the owner and his wife spent twenty minutes talking about the area and suggesting sights that we must see. They gave us directions to go see the Living Desert Museum and Park. We were glad for the tip. It was wonderful, and we hadn't known that it existed. There was a one-hour walking tour, which featured hundreds of different kinds of desert plants, a snake exhibit, and some enclosures with outdoor animals such as elk and bison. The hit of the show was the prairie dog town. What a hoot! They are fascinating! A four-foot high wall enclosed them that you could lean on while you watched them. Convenient! I wish that we had had an hour to spend just watching the prairie dogs caper around. We found many of the merchants to be just as friendly, the fellow who ran the artist's co-op store, and the lady who has the caving/mountain climbing outfitting shop.
At Carlsbad Cavern, (while shopping for souvenirs), we decided to take the "Main Entrance" tour and walk all the way down. The entrance is very large, but not as large as I had imagined. To enter, you walk past the arena, which fills nearly every night with bat watchers. As you probably know, the nightly flight of Mexican Free-tail bats from the entrance is a major tourist attraction. And it is quite a sight! I taped it, and could show it after the meeting if anyone is interested. The swallows own the entrance during the day, the bats by night. Some of the late returning swallows run into quite a traffic jam at sundown! They entered the cave down low, while the bats exited nearer the top of the entrance. A park ranger gives a conservation lecture before the flight, debunking many of the common myths about bats, and educating people about bats place in nature.
As we made our way down into the cave, we quickly noticed that it just kept getting bigger and bigger as we descended. There were old, inactive decorations everywhere, and the cave continued to expand. The descent to the Big Room takes you around 750 feet below the surface. You'll notice that I capitalized "Big Room". More like REALLY big room. It's the largest cave room in North America, and the second largest known in the world. It's sort of 'T'-shaped, and the ceiling reaches 255 feet from the bottom. It took the better part of an hour to tour the perimeter of this lavishly decorated room. In the Hall of the Giants, one of the columns is 85 feet tall and around eight feet thick. Everywhere you look, columns, soda straws, giant stalagmites, helectites, lily pads, aragonite trees, gypsum flowers, whatever you want to see, it's there somewhere. And on a grand scale! An awesome spectacle! I took the video camera along, and was surprised at who well the tape turned out. Surprisingly, there was a restaurant and souvenir shop at the end of the tour. But they were not going to snag me! I only bought three shirts. And some refrigerator magnets and a computer disk of cave and park photos. We took the elevator back up to the surface, and visited the Main souvenir store on the way out. Again. (They must have had us in mind when they built these things!)
Being semi-hardcore types, we wanted to also do a wild cave trip, and purchased tickets for the ranger-led tour to Slaughter Canyon Cave. They have to prepare you for what the trip is like, and to discourage people from taking the tour who won't be able to finish it. The fewer rescues, the better! I don't know what their policies are at Carlsbad, but if they have to helicopter-lift you out of the Grand Canyon, that particular ambulance will cost you over $2,000. Anyway, in the brochure, they describe the trip as "very strenuous". Of course! But we're hard-core cavers! We can handle a little cave trip.
Forgot the part about the 50-story hike up the mountain in 98-degree temperature. Huff. Puff. I was behind Marty all the way. A few times, I swear I had to push. The hike was beautiful if you took the time to notice. We knew that they expected us, because the ranger who was to lead the trip had passed us on the trail quite a while ago. We were the last to arrive, but weren't really more than a few minutes late. The 58-degree cool of the cave was a welcome relief from the heat of the hike. But to get to the parking lot, we had to drive a seven-mile gravel road. Now, I don't know just how long it had been since they last graded this gravel road, but the grader had preceded us this particular morning and had cut the narrow road in two with a foot-high ridge of gravel right down the middle of the road. This left us two choices: to squeeze over to the right (or left), and scratch the hell out of our paint on the overhanging shrubbery, or try to go down the middle, and listen to the rocks (some of them softball sized or larger) bang into the undercarriage of the car and threaten to break and/or puncture vital things. He was waiting in the parking lot for us, and his second pass on the way out smoothed the road out pretty well. The trip out was a piece of cake. Terrific timing!
Slaughter Canyon Cave shares many characteristics with other caves of the area. It has very large rooms. (Huge by our standards.) Lavish decorations. I had considered bringing a large flashlight but didn't. I really regretted this omission, because my cheap helmet light died, and I was left with a couple of small Garrity double-A battery back-up lights which were still fine for getting around a small cave, but their beams were dwarfed in these cave rooms. Deposits of guano from the former tenants. This cave had been abandoned by the bats hundreds of years ago, but they had left guano dozens of feet deep. The mining had uncovered guano that was thousands of years old and contained the skeletons of extinct species of bats.
Of course, we played the "experience total cave dark" game and wandered from one large room to the next even larger one. There were two very special formations in this cave. I have pictures on disk. I hope that we can transfer them for this issue. One is called "The Christmas Tree". It's a good fifty feet tall and covered with white calcite 'frosting', and is quite spectacular. The other resembles a forty-foot hooded figure, and was formerly called, "The Klansman", but in these enlightened times is now called "Darth Vader". I think that it looks more like the hooded Emperor from "Star Wars". There were a couple of small footbridges and steps in difficult places, but for the most part, the cave had been returned to nature. Flagging tape now guards delicate and sensitive areas. There was also an interesting display of artifacts left from the mining days, such as old light bulbs and machine parts.
Naturally, the hike back down the mountain was much more enjoyable than the trip up. Faster, too!
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INDIANA CAVE CAPERS
June 18-20, 1999
Steve Taylor

Dennis Campbell and I headed over to Owen County, Indiana to attend Cave Capers. We arrived early, by 1pm on Friday. It was nice to be leisurely about setting up camp - and especially nice to do it by daylight (instead of headlight). We got one of the choicest spots, with deep afternoon shade under a big beech tree, which looked good for vertical practice. Just behind the tree was a fair sized sinkhole (for atmosphere, I suppose).
Anyway. we got settled in, toured vendor's row, chatted with Barb Capocy (a Chicagoland caver). Finally, we decided there was nothing to do but go caving. We got directions to Porter Cave, and headed off in search of a hole in the ground. The directions were good, we found the parking area and cave. At 20 feet wide by eight feet tall, the entrance was hard to miss. The scenic opening was perched up perhaps 20-30 feet above the valley floor, with a nice waterfall coming out of it. We took photos and poked about. Both of us being biospeleology types meant that there was lots of time spent with our noses to the rock, looking for little crawlies. Even at our slow pace, the cave was remarkably short, perhaps only a few hundred feet. Soon we were popping out the sinkhole entrance. We retraced
our steps through the cave, taking a few more photos.
Back at camp, we wandered about checking out other campsites, and made our way through vendor's row a few more times. Things picked up a bit when Cindy Lee (Little Egypt Grotto) joined us. We did a bit of ethanol testing as the evening wore on.
The next morning, the three of us (Dennis, Cindy and I) headed out to do a couple of pits. Our first stop was Freeman Pit, which we successfully found after a bit of driving. This is a nice open air thing, with a 98
foot rope drop to a dead-end bottom. Several other cavers were around, and rigging and coordinating took a little time, but soon we'd all bounced the pit. Then we headed west about 400 feet to do the same at Hidden Pit. Here, we found more cavers, and were able to cut in front of about five of them because they were having a little vertical training, and weren't yet to the go-down-the-rope stage. This cave had two drops, a 25 foot entrance drop and then a 40 foot drop a little further into the cave. Both were nice and free of the wall. The in-cave drop was rigged with a bolt. At the bottom of the second drop, there was a VERY ripe squirrel - stinky.
Back at camp again, we cooked dinner, did vertical practice in a tree, and watched the presentation by Dr. Halliday on Hawaiian caves - excellent! Then door prizes, which were plentiful. But none came our way (four ropes!). More ethanol research.
Sunday morning. Rain. I had to de-rig the rope from our beech tree - in the rain - before coffee. But it really wasn't so bad. Then we broke camp and caught breakfast on the highway and headed home. A fine little caving weekend.
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LED UPDATE:
Marc Tiritilli

For those of you who weren't at the last grotto meeting, I showed and told of an LED replacement lamp for my Petzl Micro. I was frustrated with the short life (about 1.5 hours) of the two AA batteries so I began to look for a longer lived alternative. I use my Micro for close up work such as knot tying, lunch, etc. when I don't want to eat up time on my Zoom or as a backup in case my main light should fail. For these relatively low intensity purposes I decided to look into some of the newly developed high output LEDs. I wanted something that would give me enough light to move comfortably (say walk through Illinois Caverns at regular speed) and to work within arm's length without having to strain my eyes (enough to read normally).
After searching many different brands, colors, and sizes, I found a few combinations that worked quite well. I settled upon a cluster of four medium sized LEDs with an amber color that I fitted into a standard mini-screw base bulb. The final product can be installed in a Micro just like a regular bulb. In my test, one pair of AA Energizers gave useable light for over 40 continuous hours! No modifications to the headlamp are necessary. Just pop it in and turn it on! The intensity is better than I expected and is a rich sunset-orange color that actually makes you feel warm. Unlike the Micro bulb, the LED beam pattern is very smooth although it is not focusable. I was initially hoping to use a white or blue light, but these devices require more than 3 volts.
That evening I also tried a cluster of three white LEDs that I bracketed onto my Zoom. The setup here is more complex since it involves a mounting bracket, external wiring, modifying the lamp, etc. The result is a set of running lights that uniquely identify my helmet from a distance allowing mere mortal non-LED cavers to hide in shame before they are seen. The cluster automatically brightens when the Zoom is turned off. An extra switch allows the LEDs to be turned off too. The light output here is much softer but is perfectly adequate for personal business and could easily get you out of a cave if it's all you had. On a 4.5-volt flat pack I suspect it could run for months.
Currently in the works are headlamp retrofit kits that could replace the bulb and reflector to provide equal or greater light at a fraction of the energy usage. Yes, I've seen the new LED light that's on the market, but it looks a bit awkward. I'm trying to come up with something that's inexpensive, that will fit into what people already have. So far, the amber Micro bulb seems to be ideal. The cost is about $15 if anyone is interested. I'd be happy to discuss customizing a system and to share more detailed information on the parts that I used and where to obtain them. I can be reached at marc_tiritilli@hotmail.com. Take care and cave softly.
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GROTTO LIABILITY SUMMARY REPORT
Julie Angel & Beth Reinke

We had an appointment with a local lawyer on June 2, 1999 regarding how to protect the grotto, officers and members from liability associated with grotto activities.
The meeting was very helpful and we were able to talk with "someone in the know" about many of the things that have come up in our group discussions about liability during the last several years. From information gathered earlier and our discussion with the lawyer, it appears that we have at least five options:
1). Do nothing.
PROS: We're already there! No one has to do a thing!
CONS: The grotto, grotto officers, grotto members have no, none, zilch, zippo legal protection from liability associated with grotto activities.
2). Prepare and fill out trip specific liability forms.
PROS: We have already prepared a general liability form that could be modified for trip specific purposes.
CONS: It would be a hassle to prepare, complete and file these for each grotto trip/activity. Also, although the signed form might deter someone from suing, it would not provide legal liability protection for the grotto, grotto officers or grotto members.
3). Obtain Liability Insurance for the grotto.
PROS: The grotto, grotto directors and grotto members would be protected from liability.
CONS: The recurring yearly premium would likely be prohibitive.
4). File Articles of Incorporation as a Not-For-Profit Corporation on our own.
PROS: The $65 up-front document fees and annual $5 fee are not prohibitive. The grotto, grotto directors and grotto members would be protected from liability, provided our bylaws are modified to reflect the incorporation.
CONS: Without legal council we might not get the wording of our bylaws exactly right which might leave loopholes for liability.
5). File Articles of Incorporation as a Not-For-Profit Corporation with the assistance of legal council. The legal council will also help us reword our bylaws and review our general liability form (which he suggests we have all members sign and submit when they join the grotto).
PROS: The grotto, grotto directors and grotto members would be protected from liability. We would have professional help in cleaning up our by-laws (a task that has been on our plate for several years and is long overdue). The up-front document fees ($65) and annual renewal fee are minimal ($5).
CONS: We need to raise $200 for legal fees.
ANALYSIS:
Option 5 is by far the most comprehensive solution and the one recommended by the lawyer as the best way to protect the grotto, directors and members from liability associated with grotto activities. We were not charged for our initial consultation, so at this point, no money has been spent. We have informed the lawyer that we would get back with him with the final "go-ahead" after consulting with the membership. The grotto Board as voted unanimously to endorse Option 5 and will make a motion to this effect at the July 23 grotto meeting. For those unable to attend that meeting, the motion is also included in the July "Near Normal News." Please contact a grotto officer if you'd like to register an opinion prior to the vote. Pending approval of the motion, there will be a separate vote to approve the updated bylaws once the lawyer has re-drafted them and the executive committee has had a chance to review them.

MOTION TO BE VOTED ON AT THE NNG MEETING JULY 23, 1999

The Executive Committee moves that we resolve the NNG liability issue by adopting Option 5 of the Grotto Liability Summary Report, which states that we will, with the help of legal council: 1) file Articles of Incorporation as a Not-For-Profit Corporation and 2) update our bylaws to conform to the standards set for a Not-For-Profit Corporation. The Executive Committee further moves that the membership approve the expenditure of $265 to cover document filing and legal fees.
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IMPRESSIONS OF THE SPRING 1999 MVOR EXPERIENCE
Steve Taylor

Those who were there might understand - if there wasn't too much brain cell death. The rest of you must live knowing that you missed a really special weekend. Suzanna Walaszek showed up on my doorstep around noon on friday, May 14th. We crammed my gear into her already-full and too-small car, and drove, drove, drove, until all we could see were yellow and white stripes ticking across the field of view, until every CD was played, and until all the AM stations had been perused a hundred times. So many 18-wheelers, it seemed there was no end to the gray pavement and gray sky. Such agony! Six and a half hours later, we were crossing a low water bridge on the Current River in south central Missouri.
As we pulled up to the registration booth, everything suddenly seemed fine somehow - life was good again. Friends old and new were generously sprinkled about no matter where I turned. The map at registration led us to the Illinois cavers' hangout, a mix of Little Egypt Grotto (Brad Hibdon, Gary Resh [aka 'Stingray', and, later in the weekend, aka 'Gary Retch'], and Barry Smith); Near Normal Grotto (Brett Bennett and the two youngsters, Suzanna Walaszek, Lara Storm and me); and remnants of the old SEMO Grotto of Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Brad Blackburn + Sandy [aka cyberbabe materializes!], and Richard Young). Lawn chairs came out (really, Richard, you ought to spring for a new one, your butt hangs out the bottom of that one), and we settled in around the already cozy fire after setting up our tents amid the trees in the dwindling light of our ridge-top home. Coolers were produced, and each imbibed of their favorite.
From that point on, I must confess that the entire weekend became a blur, and any details I may set forth on these pages represent only the dullest of moments, capturing only the smallest portion of the grandness and wonder of the event.
We wandered up to vendor's row in groups of two to ten, shopping or window-shopping. Vendor's row was not just a major social event, but was also a real gear-fest. Here, let me help you adjust that harness you're trying on... Nothing quite like sitting down for half an hour with one of the authors of 'On Rope' to discuss the merits and drawbacks of the latest Petzl innovation (Tibloc B01). Meeting new people, being introduced, introducing - and sometimes just gawking. And that big trailer with the beer taps sticking out the side of it kept calling to us....
Wandering from campsite to campsite, visiting other people's fires. And some returned with stories of the sauna... Now we're singing cave ballads late into the night. Drinking home made mead, and other, more toxic, home-brew permutations. What was that funny smell I noticed by that other camp up the road? Sharing stories of each other's past follies, planning new ones. It was very dark, very late - or very early in the morning, before any of us even began to think about bed. The bellowing voices of distant camps, laughter in the darkness, excited children (of all ages) with their new toys.
And it was too few hours later - no more than three or four for many of us - we were up again on Saturday morning. Looking a little green around the gills there, aren't you? After breakfast was scrounged and we were done lazing about for some time, some of our camp chose to go on a tour of nearby springs, caves and karst features. But some folks weren't quite fit for travel. They were feeling the effects of the previous night's celebration so much that one of our group even obtained a new nickname out of his queasiness. Afternoon. And a torrential, but brief, rainstorm spent sitting under a hastily raised shelter. Opening another beer as the sky pounds down on the tarp and the thunder rolls. My bottle opener was the bottom of a folding chair. Hound number 106 (painted on his side) limps through camp and back into the woods on the far side. Keeping the fire burning in spite of it all. Truckloads of wet, but jubilant cavers who were returning from the days' adventures. Kayaks coming back to camp. Who was that girl on the end of the leash? As evening came, and our group coalesced again back from their various excursions and the sky cleared, with promise of wonderful weather for the big Saturday night party. And that promise was kept.
Morels with dinner, a group stew (thanks to Gary and Suzanna). Then to the bonfire and the door prizes. Oh, but how we all wanted to be the winner of one of the ropes - the pretty orange ones or the big 200 footer. As the bonfire roared up to its' full potential (PA system: 'we apologize for miscalculating - if your tent is near the bonfire site, please move it immediately to prevent shrink-wrapping your sleeping bag' - OK, I paraphrase a bit, but that was the intent of message) the music started. And what a band - real, quality, authentic, heartfelt, urban electric blues. Truly one of the best MVOR bands I've ever heard. And after the first set, a multi-talented belly dancer / cave babe, well known to some MVOR veterans, was there to entertain us to the compelling sounds of the band. In my memory (such as it is) of MVORs since 1989, never have so many hearty cavers been out on the uneven, muddy, stump infested, dance floor.
I danced and danced with so many fine ladies as to make my head swirl even now. Oh, cave babes, my worst weakness.... sigh! Excuse me, mister, will you hold my beer while I dance with that woman you're hitting on? And
Jennifer was *so* lovely - in spite of the squirt gun incident.
Late into the night the band goes on. The bonfire becomes a giant mountain of intense orange embers - still unapproachable by even the boldest of fire-walkers. The Illinois camp gradually refills with its more hardy members, whilst others crawl into tents. Children are gently shuttled off to dreamland. In the inky blackness of a new moon night, the placid calm of our little fire soothes, and eventually even the staunchest of the late-nighters wander off to retire to tents dampened by the afternoon rain.
Sunday morning. Too early, but up anyway. The road now deeply rutted by oversized 4x4s. Puddled rainwater, spent cyalums, crushed beer cans. Hangovers. Muddy cave gear. We eat what remains of the food. Coffee brings life. Tents, still wet, are stowed away. Gradually the campground becomes empty. Fires are spread out and extinguished with water. Every shred of garbage is searched out and bagged. More Tylenol, please! One last stop at vendor's row. Goodbyes to the cat, Froggy VII.
The drive home is much better than the drive out to MVOR. On the way home your head swirls with all the experiences, the new friends. Future cave trips promised, and perhaps a new phone number or email address.
Certainly everyone found a new face that, when the next MVOR comes around, will be a familiar, friendly face that wants to spend some time with you playing in the Ozark woodlands.
Really, it *is* about caving. And caving is about cavers. This was an MVOR not to be missed - and never to be forgotten. Thanks MVG and all who helped make it great!
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