Well, it's happened again! The NNG is the subject of another feature article in the NSS NEWS. Authored by NNG president, John R. Marquart, the article, "Near Normal Grotto Protects Bats in Illinois", presents a history of the BlackBall Mine project, which has been the main focus of the NNG's first five years of existence. We're grateful for the initial vision of Don Coons, who understood that a fledgling grotto needed a project such as this to help define itself. He presented the idea of surveying the BBM at the very first NNG meeting as a good training project for the group. The NNG also received some favorable ink in the Illinois State University student newspaper, The Vidette. The feature story, "Local Cavers Find Fun in Dark Places", includes a 3-column picture of Brian Braye enjoying life in a crawlway, although the picture caption mis-identifies him as John Marquart. Photocopies of the article will be available at the next meeting. The Executive Committee has been meeting (via email), and presents the adoption of the following as "Standing Rules" of the NNG. The following proposals are little more than formal statements of the way we have already been doing things on an informal basis.
ISS MEETING
John Marquart plans to represent the grotto at the Illinois Spelological Survey meeting in Springfield, Sunday,
March 16. He will deliver an annual report of the NNG's activities for the year, as well as cave reports for Bird's
Eye Cave and Twin Cave In LaSalle County. These two small caves were brought to our attention by Larry Bird, and
pushed by Lara Storm. John also reports that he plans to suggest that an ISS web site be set up and linked to other
caving sites. This may serve to publicize the existence and mission of the ISS.
On January 30th, I spent another interesting and educational day helping Sam Panno, geologist with the Illinois State Geological Survey, take water samples inside Illinois Caverns. Also along for the day were Pius Weibel and Ivan Krepac; ISGS geologists, and Harry Hendrickson, DNR Educator out of Springfield, IL. We headed for Collinsville, IL the night before to get an early start the next morning. The evening was spent labeling sampling bottles with I.D. numbers for the next day (it's much quicker work in the cave if you don't have to stop to write numbers on each bottle.) Bottle sets were made containing three bottles each; one sterilized glass bottle for bacterial samples and two sterilized plastic bottles for water to be used in other tests. The bottle sets were put into ziploc bags, and we were ready for the next days work. Boy...do those guys get an early start on the day! We had eaten our breakfast, packed the vans, and were heading out of the parking lot by the time the sun came up!! Our first stop was to sample the resurgence of Illinois Caverns. It was on private property, and we got lost 3 times before reaching our destination. John M. asked me if I could find this place again. With a whole lot of luck.....MAYBE!! Driving along the gravel roads of Monroe County, we realized that they had endured one heck of an ice storm in the last week. This was confirmed when we arrived at the steps of Illinois Caverns and found them coated with the thickest mess of ice I've ever seen! I began to think of all the glass bottles that were in the two backpacks I was carrying and wondered how in the world we were going to get down there without breaking our necks. Words came out of Sam's mouth that I've never heard him use before- He was not pleased with the situation. We decided to slowly inch our way down the steps on our backsides, holding onto the railing, and hope that the sun would melt most of the ice before our return to the surface. It was 9:30 a.m. We made it to the bottom in one piece and the warm cave air sure felt good!!! We hiked to a spot just past the "dragon" in main cave and began our sampling. Water was to be sampled from the main stream passage, side passages such as Cascade Canyon, Rimstone River, etc., and seeps from the walls and ceiling. Readings were taken for temperature (low temp. indicated direct surface water seep), PH, conductivity (the more dissolved minerals, the higher the electrical conductivity), and water was gathered for bacterial and pesticide tests. In all, we sampled 23 sites that day and left the cave around 4:30 p.m. We were relieved to find that mother nature had melted most all of the ice from the steps. It was on to Waterloo for a great meal at the restaurant downtown before leaving for home. Ivan and I spent the next 1 1/2 hours filtering water samples in the back seat of the van on the way to the lab in Centralia, IL. Each of the 23 samples had to be poured into a filter, and then back out into two separate bottles. On bumpy roads, this job was a pain, especially when it came time to add the acid!! We had cave water all over us by the time we were finished. Harry Hendrickson was there to observe the sampling procedures for the possibility of planning a "Cave Watch" program for Illinois, similar to Riverwatch. He was to meet with DNR officials and Phillip Moss of ISS in late February, and will be at the March ISS meeting to discuss the feasibility of such a program. It was a good opportunity for me to jump in and tell him about our grotto. I told him that I was sure we would be interested in participating if such a project were to be started. I filled him in about our involvement at Blackball and the fact that many of our members are quite knowledgeable about geological, biological, and conservation aspects of caves and karst. Harry envisions using high school groups to sample some of the easier access caves and saving the grottos for the "tougher to get to" caves. This sounds like a great program if they can get all the details worked out. It was estimated that each group would need equipment (provided by DNR) worth about $100.00. Tests from the samples would be performed in a lab similar to the one in Centralia. John M. plans to attend the March ISS meeting so we can look forward to hearing of Cave Watch plans at our next meeting. Last I talked to Sam, bacterial tests showed that bacterial counts were almost as high as they were in the summer, which isn't good news. Yuk!! Results from the pesticide tests were not back yet. He plans to go back in April, preferably after pesticides are applied and just after the first big rain. This will help determine what amount of pesticides are making their way into the cave at application time. More on this later!!
If you received your March newsletter with a "blue dot" by your name, we are still looking for your 1997 dues. Dues are $10.00, $5.00 for students, and are payable to the Treasurer. Those who still owe dues after May 1st will be removed from the newsletter mailing list until dues are paid. Please send your check made out to "Near Normal Grotto" to Julie Angel, 2305 Brookhaven, Champaign, IL 61821. You can also pay at the next meeting. We need to keep our account in good shape to help pay our newsletter expenses so keep those checks coming! Thanks!!!!
During the NSS convention (June 23-27), a group of visiting cavers, professors and politicians from China will need host families. They will be landing in Chicago approximately one week before convention, and leaving about a week after. During that period, they will need housing, transportation and food. (They extend these courtesies to our American cavers during their visits). This exchange arrangement is necessary, because they are not allowed to spend their currency outside the borders of China. We will be planning a return trip to China, and would like to include a wider group of participants than the CRF-based groups that have participated in the past. If anyone is interested in getting in on the ground floor, this is your chance.
The Illinos State Geological Survey is sponsoring a field trip April 19, 1997 to the cave and karst area of St. Clair and Monroe Counties. The day will culminate with an optional trip into Illinois Caverns. Sam Panno indicated that it would be a big help to have some volunteers; either to be present at certain spots in the cave to make sure no one "strays" from their group, or possibly to help lead groups to point out features of the cave. I told Sam that I would try get 5-10 grotto members who know Illinois Caverns to help out. Please let me know if this is something you would be willing to do. It would be another opportunity for our grotto to get to know people from ISGS and to show our willingness to be involved with projects. All the activities planned for that day sound very interesting. Please call or e-mail me if you are interested in helping out or if you want more information!!
The Spring MVOR will be hosted by Club 69, May 2-4 at beautiful Riverview Ranch in Bourbon, Missouri. There will be guided and self-guided cave and canoe trips available. Campsites are available along the Meramec River. There will also be an on-site banquet, friday night howdy fire and slideshow, saturday night bonfire, DJ and sauna, door prizes, etc... Guest speakers will be Joe Walsh and Pam Saberton. Riverview Ranch has an on-site store, limited shower facitities, and cabins. Cabins must be reserved by contacting them directly, 1-800-RIV-VIEW, or (573) 732-5544. Reservation forms will be available at the meeting.
Called to order at 7:08pm by president John Marquart. Present: Members: John Marquart, John Walther, Jim Jacobs, Marty Jacobs, Norm Rogers, Greg Phillips, Mark Belding, Chris Dinesen, Julie Angel, Beth Reinke, Leonard Storm, Lara Storm, Tonja Fraser, Larry Bird, Dave Carson, Angela Carson, D.C. Young, Tim Sickbert, Tim Shaffer, Kevin Rasmus.
Guests: Ellen Myers, Ken Mager, Linda Alwes, Donna Simms, Angela Neller, Earl Neller, J.L. Turner, Marilyn, Frances, and Laurinda Buerkens, Debbie Matlock, Andy Hedberg
OFFICER REPORTS: The minutes of previous meetings were approved as printed in the January NNN. Treasurer's report approved.
OLD BUSINESS: The fate of the ISU Outdoor Program still seems to be unsettled.
NEW BUSINESS: Vice President Beth Reinke has the master copy of the membership roster, and will work with the treasurer to keep it current.
TRIP REPORTS: Tonja reported on the weekend cleanup trip to Mammoth Cave. Julie Angel reported on collecting water samples with Dr. Sam Panno. She also reported on the possibility of a Cavewatch group being formed, using the current Riverwatch group as a model. A group of this type may be able to use help from grottos and high school groups. Tim Sickbert discussed a trip to Illinois Caverns. He also mentioned that Tim Shaffer had traveled to southern Illinois to do some work with Dave Mahon. They found a new 30 ft. pit.
PLANNED TRIPS & ANNOUNCEMENTS. The next meeting of the Ill Speleological Survey will be Sunday, March 16 in Springfield. There is still talk of a "behind the scenes" field trip tour to Brookfield Zoo this spring. Tonja is coordinating.
Meeting adjourned.
The Program, "Bats of Illinois and Elsewhere: Twenty-five Years of Studying Some of the World's Most Fascinating Animals", was presented by Dr. Thomas A. Griffiths, Professor of Bilology, Illinois Wesleyan University.
Called to order by president John Marquart at 7:10. Present: New member, John Roark, Tim Sickbert, Brian Braye, Beth Reinke, Brian Scheidt, Lara Storm, Linda Alwe, Tonja Fraser, D.C. Young, Julie Angel, Jim Jacobs, Norm Rogers, Greg Phillips, Rich Bell, Chris Dinesen.
OFFICER REPORTS:
The minutes of the January meeting were read by secretary Jim Jacobs and approved as read. Treasurer Julie Angel
reported that the last issue of the NNN was printed free due to errors and delays by the printer.
OLD BUSINESS: There is nothing doing on the proposed memorial for Armin Krueger at this time.
NEW BUSINESS: John M. will attend the ISS meeting on the 16th. D.C. Young stated the NNG Bylaws and Constitution should be on the webpage. There was general agreement to this idea.
TRIP REPORTS: Julie Angel helped with a Boy Scout Troop overnight at Blue Spring Caverns. Tim Shaffer and Dave Mahon have done work in Hannibal's 6th Street Cave. There will be an April 5th trip to Wayne's Lost headed by Norm Rogers. There is a trip to Broome Moore Cave, in Perry County, Mo., March 21 and 22. Norm Rogers has maps and info. The Ill. Dept. of Nat. Res. field trips to Columbia and Waterloo will be April 19. Dr. Pano asks for help in escorting folks through Ill. Caverns. The NSS national convention will be in Sullivan, MO, June 23-27. Brian B.'s church group is going to Illinois Caverns. Julie A. will give a caving talk to the University Women's Club for "Explorer Day". Tonja F. also has talks planned. Meeting adjourned.
Chris Dinesen gave a slide show on Illinois Prairie Grass area restoration projects.