JRG Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting

November, 2007

By Chuck Waller, Secretary/Treasurer

The November meeting of the James River Grotto was held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Warren House ground floor activity room at Lynchburg College.

Board Meeting:

The board meeting began at 6:30 PM. Board members present were Mike Frazier, Harry Sowers, Neal Gunter, Paul Stern and Chuck Waller. There was no business to discuss at the board meeting.

General Meeting:

The general meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM. Members present Melanie Stern, Larry Sowers and Laura Stamen.

Welcome Visitors:: No visitors were at the meeting.

Trip Reports: There was a trip to Norman Cave on Saturday, November 17 lead by Harry and Larry Sowers. Mike Frazier, Robbie Donovan, Mark Morton, Paul Stern, Chuck Waller and the Sowers' friend "Paco" from Pennsylvania were also on the trip.

Previous Meeting Minutes Update: Saturday, December 8, is the correct date for our Christmas Party, not December 5 as stated in the last meeting minutes.

Finance Report: Current treasury balance is $3,242.16. We just received a check in the amount of $400.00 for JRG's participation in the 2007 Dixie Caverns Haunting.
We have just ordered a DVD from On Rope One titled "Single Rope Ascending Systems" at a cost of $21.60.
$63.00 was received at the meeting for the use of our helmets on several different cave trips.

Committee Reports:

Conservation & Education: Paul will present a slide-video presentation following the meeting.

Safety & Techniques: No report

Membership: No report

Trip and Events: No report

Web Site: Webmaster Melanie Stern reports that our website is working great.

Gear Master: Gear Master Neil Gunter reports that all gear is accounted for and ready for use.

Trip Coordinator / Events:

Paul Stern has several trips planned to Porters Cave if anyone would like to help. Contact Paul for details.

Paul and Melanie Stern have graciously offered to hoist our Christmas Party at their home on Saturday, December 8.

There is a cave trip in the planning for Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 to Organ Cave near Lewisburg, WV. Details to be determined.

Paul Stern is putting together a ski trip to Snowshoe, WV in February 2008. Contact Paul for details.

General Discussion:

The group discussed details about our upcoming Christmas Party. Mike Frazier will be sending everyone an email with party details. The party will also be our grotto meeting for December 2007.

JRG membership dues for 2008 can be paid at the Christmas Party. Individual membership will be $12.00 and family $18.00. Checks are a great way to pay your dues (I don't have to make change).

Meeting Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM.

Program:

After the meeting, Paul Stern presented a great slide-video program that highlighted cave trips to Porters Cave and caves in Kentucky and Alabama that were visited by LC on their 2007 Spring Break. Paul also had slides that were shown at an outdoor conference that he recently attended in Asheville, NC.