Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy minutes for February 25, 2006 This is a summary of the minutes of the meeting. The meeting was called to order at 3:40 pm by President Pat Minnick at the home of Jay Herbein The following officers were present: President: P. Minnick Vice President: C. Catherman Secretary: K. Bange Treasurer: G. Bange Representation was as follows: Bald Eagle Grotto JD Lewis Baltimore Grotto Craig Hindman Bucks County Grotto --- Buffalo Valley Grotto Matt Neyhart Central New Jersey Grotto Frank Strahan Commander Cody Caving Club Mike Mostardi Franklin County Grotto Pat Minnick Greater Allentown Grotto Dean Snyder Huntingdon Co. Cave Hunters ---- Nittany Grotto Chris Catherman Philadelphia Grotto Amos Mincin Pennsylvania Inner-Earth Grotto ---- Pittsburgh Grotto ---- Seven Valleys Grotto Joe Schock York Grotto --- Secretary Report: The minutes from the May 2005 meeting were accepted as published in the Breakdown. Treasurer Report: George Bange distributed a copy of the PCC financial summary. Web Page: Dave Fricke gave an update on the PCC web site. The site still continues to receive inquires and increase in visibility in the caving community with more listings on caving-related link web sites. The latest feature to the PCC web site is an addition of a News Page. Currently, this page includes the PCC brochure and the NPR radio interview from April 2005. Additional items for this page are welcome. PCC Breakfast: The Cathermans will be coordinating the PCC breakfast at the 2006 spring MAR. Christopher distributed a draft of Hosting a PCC Breakfast. The information is to be used as a guide for putting on a PCC breakfast and will be posted on the PCC web site. The Cathermans are receptive to the idea of doing the PCC breakfast at the 2006 fall meet. Fund Raising T-Shirts. Frank Strahan, Central Jersey Grotto, submitted a T-shirt design for the 25th PCC anniversary T-shirt. The design, along with future designs, will be posted on the PCC web site for everyone to view. Grottos and individuals are encouraged to submit T-shirt designs for the 25th PCC anniversary. Submission deadline is February 2008 with T-shirts to be printed in the spring of 2009. PCC Brochure: The supply of PCC brochures is dwindling. George Bange will inventory the amount left and give a report at the spring meeting. There are many brochures with the misprinted address remaining. Mike Spencer volunteered to put stickers, with the correct address, on these brochures. George will give the misprinted brochures to Mike at the spring field meet. Anyone interested in brochures should contact George Bange. OLD BUSINESS: Project List: Baker Caverns: Franklin, County, PA - No change in status or access; the property remains for sale. Dragon Cave: Berks County, PA - Nate Hirneisen reported that Frank Eckert is the contact person for access into the cave. The cave will be removed from the project list. J-4: Centre County, PA - status quo - CLOSED Gary Dunmire gave an update on the cave. Graymount Quarry has a contract to have the cave cemented shut. There are new No Trespassing signs on the property. Red Church Cave: Schuylkill County, PA - No change in status Merkle Cave: Berks County, PA - No update Cleversburg Cave: Franklin County, PA - Pat Minnick reported on the gate refurbishing project done this fall by FCG. The historic entrance to the cave is completely closed now. There is no change in the key status. The kiosk on the property still needs to be refurbished. This will be done by the spring MAR. Corker Hill and Frustration Pit: Franklin County, PA - Amos Mincin reported the survey of Corker Hill Cave will be complete in one more survey trip. Anyone interested in helping with the survey project should contact Amos. There is a rough map of the cave. Amos reported there are many beginner trips going into the cave. Schofer Cave: Berks County, PA - Mike Spencer is working with the PA Game Commission to determine the scientific reason to keep the cave closed. Mike will be going on the next bat count. Mike is working on a plan to address keeping the cave open for educational and scientific purposes. Amos Mincin reported on the Ridley Creek State Park cave conservation presentation done last fall. Amos's cave conservation presentation is available, on CD, in the PCC archive and will also be posted on the PCC web site. George Bange gave an update on Penn Aqua Cave. George and Dale Ibberson met with the owner this past fall to discuss the possibility of PCC obtaining the cave. At the time the owner was interested in subdividing the 8+ acres of land he is planning to sell. The subdivision would portion off the cave entrance. George spoke with the land owner this past week. At this time the owner has changed his mind about subdividing the land. PCC will approach the owner again this summer. Philly Grotto has surveyed 400 to 500 feet of cave past the Wendler Extension in McAlisterville Cave. A rough map of the newly surveyed passage exists. NEW BUSINESS: Karen Bange will be doing a presentation May 13th for a group of women in an outing group. The presentation will be on caving and cave conservation. Dale Ibberson gave a brief history of Stony Valley, a 44,373 roadless wilderness area in Central Pennsylvania. 32 years ago the area was saved from development but is currently threatened by a proposed expansion of Fort Indiantown Gap military range. PCC will sign as a supporting organization in the efforts to save Stony Valley. Karen Bange distributed forms for grottos to use to update and/or change grotto representative information. Officer elections were held. The current officers were all voted back into office. President: P. Minnick Vice President: C. Catherman Secretary: K. Bange Treasurer: G. Bange Next meeting: The next meeting of the PCC will be on Sunday May 7, 2006 at the Spring MAR Field Meet The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 pm Respectfully submitted, Karen Bange, Recording Secretary