Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:38:20 -0400 From: "David A. Riggs" Subject: 2006-09-13 WVUSG Meeting Minutes Minutes for the Sept. 14, 2006 WVU Student Grotto meeting. There were 25 people in attendance at tonight's meeting. There were a couple first-timers and a lot of returning beginners. Several people became grotto members, but I don't have the list - welcome! 1. We briefly talked about last weekend's Bowden Cave trip. People must have had a good time because everyone from the trip was at the meeting. 2. Beginners Weekend is this weekend! We now have 23 people planning to go. I will be sending out a separate email tomorrow morning for coordination and instructions for beginners, as well as directions. People who put your name on the driving list: I may be calling you tomorrow. People who need rides: if you cannot be ready to leave town by 5:30pm Friday, please email me ASAP with the earliest you can be ready (the earlier you can be ready, the better). 3. Geary Schindel gave an excellent slideshow featuring assorted caves and karst of Kentucky, TAG, Mexico, Texas, and Belize. We learned that Texas caves are full of poison gases, rattlesnakes, and flesh-eating beetles. Sounds like a great place for next year's Beginners Weekend [1]. Thanks again Geary! Reminder, he is giving a presentation today (Thr. Sept. 14) at 4pm in room 310 White Hall on the technical and environmental issues of managing the Edwards Aquifer in Texas. The meeting ended at 9:15pm and a large group headed to BW3 for the post-meeting meeting. [1] Beginners, the conditions Geary described are by far the exception rather than the norm. You won't find any of those things in WV, and especially not this weekend! - DR -- David A. Riggs