National Speleological
Society, Inc.
Executive Vice President's Report
June 26, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
AMERICAN CAVING ACCIDENTS COMMITTEE
AAAS REP-BIOLOGY
AAAS REP-GEOLOGY & GEOGRAPHY
AGI DELEGATE
U. S. EXPLORATION COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL
EXPLORATION
RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SPELEO DIGEST COMMITTEE
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
COMMITTEE
JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES
NSS NEWS
MEMBERS MANUAL COMMITTEE
PERMISSION TO REPRINT
The Table of Contents lines above in bold means I have a committee report below.
There are twelve committees, and publications, etc. in the Department of the Executive Vice President (EVP). A thirteenth item has been added here to cover permissions to reprint from NSS publications.
All EVP Committees completed their tasks within their respective budgets in 1999.
Scott Fee and the Speleo Digest Committee have three SDs completed and for sale here at the Convention. This is an awesome accomplishment.
Bill Putnam completed the 1996-1998 American Caving Accidents and has the ACA caught up.
As of this writing Maureen Handler is working on the 2000 Members Manual. With luck some luck it may be out by the Convention but computer problems have caused some delays.
Speleogenesis: Evolution of Karst Aquifers is completed and for sale. David McClurg has put in a huge amount of time on the book having worked almost full time on this during the last year.
Al Romero, Research and Advisory Committee Chair, collected NSS Project reports and statuses this Spring. These should become an annual event. The Project reports and updates are at the bottom of this EVP report. Four Projects were removed:
Half of the proceeds from the Convention Auction will go to International Exploration to help with slower than expected donations.
AMERICAN CAVING ACCIDENTS COMMITTEE
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Bill Putnam (Chairman)
1865 Eagle Summit Court
Lawrenceville GA 30043-6669
Phone: 770-822-0003
Fax: 770-682-5536
Cellular: 678-234-0566
Email: putnam@scci.org
Committee Members:
Louise Hose
John Gookin
George Dasher
Dave Hughes
Bill Cuddington
Report Date: May 2000
Progress: ACA 96-98 went to press on April 24. Printing was completed on May 12. Labeling and mailing preparation were completed on May 15. The issue was delivered to the post office in Birmingham for mailing on May 17.
I have not received the final statement yet, but total cost for production, printing, and mailing of the 96-98 ACA should be about $10,500, which is $1,500 under budget. Printing and labeling was $7,000, US postage was $2,800, and international postage was estimated at $700. Final numbers should be available by May 24.
The 96-98 issue is 56 pages long, and includes more than 150 incident and accident reports. With this issue, ACA is completely caught up.
The press run was 10,200 copies, with 9,750 to be mailed to members. I had aimed to have about 350 extra copies, with 250 going to the bookstore and 100 for distribution to search and rescue groups, park service rescue personnel, and potential advertisers. Printers can’t guarantee an exact number due to spoilage in the printing and binding operations, so I allowed for that. Unfortunately, the spoilage in the labeling process was greater than expected, and we were left with only about 180 extra copies. I am having those sent to the bookstore for sale, and will use the copies spoiled in the labeling process for the "giveaways". Because this is a triple issue, Camille and I have agreed that the sale price from the bookstore should be $5 per copy rather than the usual $1.50 for News back issues.
The next issue due out is the 1999 issue, which is scheduled for distribution in December. I am already working on that issue. There was some discussion during last year’s budget review of making ACA an every-other-year publication. Since the 99 issue will follow the current one by only 6 months, the 1999 and 2000 reports could be combined into a double issue and published in June 2001 to save money. The savings would be about $3,000, primarily in postage. Subsequent issues could keep the summer distribution schedule, which is provide more timely dissemination of the accident reports to the members than the previous December publication schedule.
Problems: Advertising sales for the 96-98 issue were not what I had expected. Only one ad was sold. This was not a major problem, as I was able to bring the publication in under budget anyway, but I had hoped to offset the cost significantly with advertising revenue.
The objective in selling advertising space is to generate revenue for the Society. Ideally, that revenue should cover some or all of the cost of the publication. I felt that this issue of ACA was a more valuable place to advertise than a regular News issue, because a) ACA is one of the most popular publications we produce; b) special issues like ACA and the Members Manual are read more carefully and stay out on the table longer than regular issues; and c) this was a long-awaited triple-issue full of interesting material. Unfortunately, the potential advertisers I contacted did not agree with those views.
Several regular NSS News advertisers said that they felt the News rates were already too high, and that the ACA rates were unreasonable. A couple stated that they did not see much benefit from advertising in NSS publications anyway. I had set the rates based on a market survey of similar publications in the caving and climbing communities. The resulting rates were about 19% higher than the current NSS News rates, which have not been changed since January 1998.
For comparison, the ACA rate for a color back cover ad was $1,700. The News rate is $1,423. Descent Magazine charges $2,262. A full page black & white inside ad in ACA was $800. A full page ad in the News is $672. Descent charges$1,103. The total circulation of Descent is 9,000 copies (2,400 subscribers). Total circulation of the News is 9,700 (all subscribers). Rates for climbing magazines range from $4,000 to $5,000 for a color back cover and $2,000 to $2,500 for full-page black & white ads (subscriber base 12,000 to 23,000; total circulation 32,000 to 47,500).
After receiving feedback from some advertisers that they considered the rates unreasonable, I offered to use the same rates as the NSS News. The offer was declined.
I have concluded from this experience that a) I’m not much of a salesman; b) I was probably trying to sell to the wrong market; c) I did not allow enough time & resources to market the ads; and d) some current NSS advertisers do not feel they get much value from advertising in NSS publications.
I plan to get some help in marketing the next ACA to a different set of advertisers, including equipment manufacturers rather than just small retail vendors. Many of these manufacturers and distributors routinely advertise in climbing and outdoor magazines where the rates are more than double the ones I used for ACA. Some of these magazines have subscriber bases not much larger than the NSS News. I will need some help with this from someone who understands sales, marketing, and advertising better than I do. I found that I could not juggle the production of the publication and the marketing and sale of advertising at the same time.
Plans: Prepare ACA 1999 for publication and distribution in December 2000, and ACA 2000 for distribution in June 2001.
Get some help with the advertising sales and marketing for ACA.
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William Putnam
1865 Eagle Summit Court
Lawrenceville GA 30043-6669
770.822.0003 voice
770.682.5536 fax
678.234.0566 mobile
EVP Notes: Bill had all of the ACA bills submitted to the Office prior to the year end closing effectively completing this task.
Kathleen H. Lavoie
Dean of College of Arts and Sciences and
Professor, Biology Department
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI. 48502-2186
Home: (810) 234-0524
Work: (810) 762-3360
E-mail: lavoiekh@SPLAVA.CC.PLATTSBURGH.EDU
No report received
EVP Notes: This committee has been all but inactive for the last two years.
Daniel L Chess
19 Tavano Road
Ossining, NY 10562
Home: (914) 945-2479 tieline 862
E-mail: dlchess@watson.ibm.com
No report received
Harvey R. DuChene
7216 East Bentley Circle
Englewood, CO. 80112
Home: (303) 688-5315
Work: (303) 695-3672
E-mail: hduchene@compuserve.com
American Geological Institute Representative’s Report
Subject: Report to BOG from the NSS representative to the American Geological Institute
Progress: The revised manuscript for the joint AGI-NSS karst book that will be part of AGI’s "Environmental Awareness Series" was sent to the AGI editors in March. George Veni recently confirmed by e-mail that most of the illustrations have also been sent to the editors. Travis Hudson, who coordinates this project for AGI, said that he is pleased with the manuscript and the project looks good. The karst booklet will probably be the next booklet in the Series to be published by AGI. I expect to see it in print before the end of the year. Hudson is currently scouring the country for financial support. I know that he has contacted numerous agencies, including ACCA, Project Underground, The National Park Service, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for support. I believe that ACCA has agreed to contribute, and the NPS was seriously considering a contribution as well. I don’t know about the other entities.
Carol Zokaites of Project Underground told me that she is strongly supportive of the karst booklet and believes that it will be popular among teachers as an education tool. She indicated that she would do what she can to find funding to support the project. I also received from Hazel Medville a list of NSS members who might financially support the project on behalf of NSS.
Zokaites also has become involved with education programs sponsored by AGI. Julie Jackson of AGI told me that caves are a very popular item at AGI and hopes that we can contribute more to educational activities. With Carol Zokaites helping out in this area, I believe we have substantially enhanced NSS’s visibility within AGI.
Plans: I will continue to work with AGI to facilitate publication of the karst booklet, and to find money to pay for the project.
Problems: Funding for the karst booklet continues to be a big problem, but with the help of Travis Hudson, I believe that the money will be found to pay for publication.
U.S. Exploration Committee Report
C. William Steele
724 Crestland Dr.
Bartlesville, OK 74006
Home: (918) 333-5761
Work: ((18) 336-9170
Fax: (918) 336-6407
E-mail: oksteele@aol.com
Members of Committee
David Black – Georgetown, Indiana
Don Broussard – Austin, Texas
Scott Davis – Flagstaff, Arizona
Tom Shifflett – Bluemont, Virginia
Jim Smith – Rex, Georgia
Progress: I have received one Sara Corrie Fund grant request from Jim Chester of Eureka, Montana for a winter Montana wilderness expedition. Committee is reviewing it.
Plans: No new plans
Problems: None
INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION COMMITTEE
Joel Despain
Hcr 89 Box 211
Three Rivers CA 93271
Work: 559-5653717
joel_despain@hotmail.com
Progress: I was a bit overwhelmed after Borneo. There has been no activity on the International Exploration Committee.
Plans: More of the same as funds allow.
Problems: None.
EVP Notes: International Exploration donations have been less than $100 during the last year. There is very little left in the NSS restricted fund. There is no NSF restricted fund generating money for International Exploration as with many other areas needing regular donations. The 2000 Convention Auction will split the proceeds between International Exploration and Education to restore those spent during the last few years.
Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D.
Chair, RAC
Environmental Studies Program and Biology Department
Macalester College
1600 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-1899
USA
(651) 696-8157
(651) 696-6443 (fax)
romero@macalester.edu
Committee Members:
Donald G. Davis
Carol Hill
Thomas C. Kane
Fred G. Luiszer
Donald A. McFarlane
Allen D. McCrady
Thomas Poulson
Philip Reeder
Carol M. Wicks, Chair, Ralph Stone Award
Progress: A web page was designed and is now up and running. Its URL address is http://www.macalester.edu/~envirost/nss
Research and Advisory Committee Report for May 2000.
Since our last report three more proposals have been received and the announcements for the decisions will be made next week. The Committee is in good financial status. We are advertising our grants opportunities more widely. The Committee composition remains the same except for one person who recently withdrew from it. We have posted on our web page the titles of recent grants. Together with the Executive Vice-president we produced an update of the NSS Projects for the next members manuals.
Plans: Continue reviewing proposals.
Problems: There are no problems to report.
Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D.
Chair
EVP Notes: We are in agreement that the NSS has several examples of "Projects" but no criteria or definition to go by. Also, there is no policy listed for terminating NSS approved projects. We are working on both. This status has not changed since the last report.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS SCIENCE RELATED SMALL GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE. Get on the RAC web page to see the process application criteria. Its URL address is http://www.macalester.edu/~envirost/nss
Scott Fee
2501 Gable Blvd.
Birmingham, AL. 35215-2862
Home: (205) 854-7487
E-mail: scottfee@pipeline.com
Editors and Desktop Layout (DTP):
1990: Scott Fee & Tom Willett (DTP)
1991: Tom Rea (DTP), Eileen C. O’Malley, & Scott Fee
1992: Mark & James Adler
1998: Kyle Crider (DTP) and James & Shelley Reyome
1999: Scott A. Parvin
Speleo Digest Committee Report
I am pleased to report that at least three Speleo Digests will be available to purchase at the West Virginia NSS Convention.
Current Year Speleo Digests:
1999: Scott A Parvin
Progress: The manuscript was overnighted to the printer on April 26th. It is expected to ship on May 26th. Four cartons will be delivered directly to the NSS Convention.
Plans: To close this committee upon delivery of the book to the NSS Office.
Problems: None at this time.
1998: James Reyome and Kyle Crider (DTP)
Progress: The manuscript was overnighted to the printer on May 5th. It is expected to ship in early June. Four cartons will be delivered directly to the NSS Convention.
Plans: To close this committee upon delivery of the book to the NSS Office.
Problems: The manuscript was reworked many times and re-scanning was necessary for many of the photographs and artwork throughout the book.
Unfinished Speleo Digests:
1990: Scott Fee & Tom Willett
Progress: Tom indicates he is done with the book layout. I have almost 200 pages of camera ready copy.
Plans: To obtain the remaining pages of the manuscript, proof them, and submit to the printer. It is doubtful this book will be at convention.
Problems: Limited communication between Tom and the Series Editor.
1991: Tom Rea (DTP), Eileen O’Malley & Scott Fee
Progress: The manuscript was overnighted to the printer on April 10th. It was delivered to the NSS Office on May 10th. Four cartons will be delivered directly to the NSS Convention.
Plans: To close this committee.
Problems: None at this time
1992: James & Mark Adler
Progress: A new editorial team was assigned the 1992 Digest on January 1st, 2000. Thus far things are going pretty well. We had a pretty decent response to the plea for more articles, and some are even still trickling in. Thus far we:
Have completed the selection process. It is possible that some articles will still be cut and others could potentially be added, although instances will be rare.
2) Have completed 3/4 of the scanning. We are using better OCR software this time (the Adler boys edited the 1988 Digest) and are finding that even the "bad" stuff is scanning pretty well. James either has sent or is getting ready to send a small packet of documents to the typist. We plan to have all the scanning and typing complete by the end of July.
3) Are still working on a layout and design. We’ve not done much with this yet, but hope to finalize the design soon. Mark is currently playing with several fonts and layout schemes in PageMaker and hopes to have that finished by June 15 or possibly the end of June at the latest.
General Plan:
1) Finalize Layout: June 15.
2) Complete scanning: July 31.
3) Begin Layout: July 1.
4) Send sample chapter to Series Editor: August 1.
5) Finish Layout: October 31.
6) Final Edit Complete: December 1
Problems: Thus far we’ve been presented with very few problems, other than never having enough time to get as much done as we’d like. A few materials continue to trickle in, and although we gave a deadline for submission, we will include (even at the last minute) items which are of particular interest or value.
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
National Speleological Society, Inc.
Special Publications Committee
David McClurg, Chair
104 Graves Ct. • Vallejo, CA 94591 U.S.A.
Phone & Fax: 707 642-5528 • dmcclurg@value.net
May 15, 2000
Special
Publications Committee Report
For June 2000 Board of Governors Meeting
David McClurg
104 Graves Ct.
Vallejo, CA 94591
Phone and Fax: 707 642-5528
dmcclurg@value.net
Tom Rea (Committee Member)
Gale McCoy (Committee Member)
Janet McClurg (Committee Member)
George Moore (Committee Member)
Elizabeth White (Committee Member)
NEW PROJECTS
Caves
A Children’s Book by Ronal Kerbo
Progress: This is an update and rewrite of Ron Kerbo’s very successful 48-page introduction to caves for children. Originally published in 1981 by Childrens Press in Chicago, it was reprinted two or three times. Each of the 23 subjects is covered on two pages, one page with a photo (occasionally two photos), the other page with the text of about 150 to 200 words. An excellent glossary and index fill out the book. The format is typical of children’s books for intermediate readers (8 to 12 years). Text is on the right hand page, so the words will be seen first when the reader flips through the book. The photo is on the left-hand page, so it will be seen after the reader has read a few words, and then glances over at the photo.
Exact data on total sales isn’t available, but is estimated to be on the order of 14,000 to 15,000 copies over a ten year period. It was printed in both hardback and paperback versions, the hardback for school libraries, the paperback for bookstores. Original price for the hardback was $7, rising to $10 over the years. The paperback price was $4 rising to $6 or $7 with reprints. It’s probable that the first run was about 1,000 hardbacks and 2,000 paperbacks. Later reprints were most likely limited to the paperback, with possibly another 500 or 1000 of the hardback. Sometimes, publishers print a larger quantity of a book, then bind only a portion until more are needed for orders. I’m not recommending this, but I’ll get separate pricing for the print run and the two kinds of binding to see if it might make sense.
The book went out of print in about 1991, but paperback remainders continued to sell briskly at NSS events in the speleo book sellers’ booths. When it went out of print, Kerbo received a letter from Children’s Press stating that all rights to the book had reverted to him.
Kerbo would prefer to have the NSS publish the book and benefit from the proceeds. If we’re interested—and I indicated that we very likely would be—he will not submit it to Childrens Press.
Plans: This committee will get printing bids and prepare a detailed estimate sheet before the convention.
Problems: None, since the adoption of our current wholesale discount schedule—offering discounts essentially identical to industry standard discounts—removes what could have been a serious obstacle to selling this book to education and library wholesalers.
BOOKS IN PROGRESS
On Rope Reprint
by Bruce Smith and Allen Padgett
Progress: As of March 31 of this year, the stock of On Rope was 967. Based on past sales data, it was estimated by David Irving and Camille Mueller that this is about a six-months supply, enough to last through September or October.
To be sure of obtaining the best price for the reprint, we solicited printing quotes from four additional printers besides the company that did the first printing. The lowest quote is $24,400 for 5,000 copies, the quantity most likely to be printed. This is a savings of 18% compared to the quote from the company that did the first printing.
Plans: Based on this estimate, we have come up with this working schedule:
• August 14—Authors will submit all final changes including revisions for Chapter 13 Sources of Information.
• August 15 to September 15—Revise Pagemaker files, prepare pdf files, submit proofs to authors for final check.
• September 15––Ship new materials to printer.
• November 1—New stock to arrive in Huntsville.
We can fine tune this schedule if sales are brisker than expected in the summer months.
Problems: PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that these reprint plans be kept confidential. Nothing will kill sales of our existing stock quicker than an accidental leak about a "new edition" coming in the next few months.
Techniques of Cave Conservation and Restoration
by Jim Werker and Val Hildreth-Werker, Editors
Progress: The editors have been out of town, so an updated report wasn’t received in time for the report.
Plans: We expect to receive a character count of the text almost immediately. From this we will make preliminary layouts, calculate the page count, get printing estimates, and prepare a detailed specification and estimate sheet.
Problems: Nothing but the inevitable slow pace of multi-author books.
Comments on Micro-Management in the Production of this Title: Many years ago, when I was first elected by the board as Administrative Vice President, Russ Gurnee took me aside and said "You need to know you’re not as important as you think." He went on to explain, "To be a successful Vice President, you have to find good committee people, people who know what they’re doing—then leave them alone and let them do it."
In her last board report, Louise Hose, editor of JCKS, complained at length about the micro-management of her committee by a certain board member. (I don’t presume to comment on that, since the details aren’t known to me.) But I recognize the process that Hose was describing, because the Special Publications Committee is now being hamstrung by the same type of micro-management that she so aptly deplored. Unfortunately, it’s another example of a person with no apparent experience in publications trying to force inappropriate actions from the top down.
Specifically, I have been told by the Executive Vice President that unless I agree to do the layout for the upcoming cave conservation and restoration book for a fixed honorarium of $500, he will have it done by another person of his own choosing––thus excluding committee members from performing one of their primary functions. This other person is unknown to this committee, as are her skills and experience. She is not a committee member, nor has she ever contacted us.
In point of fact, this committee has two professional-level layout designers well experienced with NSS publications––Tom Rea and myself. We both have the latest page layout software. Plus computers with sufficient power to handle the large files required for computerized layout. As you might imagine, at least a portion of the layout honorarium is always spent on necessary updates for software and hardware.
To date, we haven’t decided which of us will handle this book, nor what an appropriate page layout honorarium might be. We can’t make the decision, because we haven’t received the materials and don’t know the exact nature of the task. Furthermore, laying out a book is a dynamic process closely tied to the authors and editors. It simply cannot be separated from the other committee functions and shopped out like a commodity—anymore than the layout of the NSS NEWS or JCKS could be separated from the editorial aspects of those publications.
Frankly, I thought the NSS had matured to the point where it is recognized that certain tasks need to be performed by experienced professionals who receive an honorarium or salary for these services. Among others, the office manager, the editors of the NEWS and JCKS, and the chair of the conservation committee, come to mind.
By way of background, this committee was set up in 1982 to solicit caving manuscripts and prepare them for printing using professional design, layout, and management skills. It was recognized that the market for specialized caving books is too small for traditional publishers. From the beginning––years before I took over the committee––a per-page layout honorarium was instituted ranging from $3 to $15 a page depending on complexity. A per-page honorarium is a kind of accounting convenience. It summarizes the complex work of design and layout involving hundreds of hours of close liaison with authors and editors into a simple honorarium per page, rather than some complex formula for an hourly rate.
And how does this fee translate into an hourly rate? The layout for On Rope-2 took 1,168 hours spread over a 27 week period. The book has 321 text pages with over 700 drawings. The hourly rate worked out be $5/ hour. This covers only the layout, not the solicitation, report writing, style editing, last minute changes, and the entire production management process with the printing company.
Layout for CMW-2 took some 1450 hours, spread over 26 weeks, equivalent to an hourly rate of $6/hour. The book has 321 text pages, with over 1400 drawings, photos, and mineral identification icons.
The hours for the Speleogenesis layout totaled just over 2,500 spread over a 69 week period, for an hourly rate of just under $3/ hour. This book has 484 text pages with 395 illustrations, and hundreds of chemical and mathematical equations.
This committee believes that the number of hours required to prepare NSS books for printing—spread out as they are over a period of weeks and months—clearly calls for some type of honorarium. We think a per-page honorarium reflecting the complexity of the task, not an arbitrary fixed fee, best answers that requirement. We hope the board agrees.
In conclusion––This committee stands on its record. We have worked successfully with the full support of the NSS board and four out of five executive vice presidents. If a majority of the NSS Board is not satisfied with the creative and production values contained in the 14 books prepared during my tenure as committee chair, I will be happy to turn it over to another candidate.
EVP Notes: David McClurg is unhappy that I have gotten more deeply involved with the Special Publications committee. Why? David has been involved full time with the creation of Speleogenisis for the last nine months. I spoke with the Werkers and committed them to having the text submitted by the authors by the 2000 Convention so as to get the book added to the 2000 budget. Why? This book will be especially relevant if it is available for sale at the 2001 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium and the 2001 International in Brazil.
I also found someone willing to layout the book for a nominal fixed fee (the same as the Speleo Digests) thus saving the NSS considerable money. David aptly points out that there are several books on the plate. I asked for his suggestions on amounts for the cost creation categories. David has not responded numbers yet.
As for the comment "We have worked successfully with the full support of the NSS board and four out of five executive vice presidents.", it is in part because the EVPs did not get involved. The most graphic example is Cave Minerals of the World II. The book came out 186 pages over the proposed count (288 pages to 462 pages), way over budget, and is not selling well. The NSS has approximately $100,000 (3,600 books) in unsold inventory.
David McClurg has put in a huge amount of time creating books for the NSS. I hope he continues to do so. However, future NSS books need to be created in a cost-effective manner. Red Watson of CRF (editor of Cave Books) reported in the September 1999 CRF newsletter that professional rates for layout and design are $12 to $16 per page. CRF gets their layout and design from volunteers for free.
Here is the bottom line. I will accept David McClurg’s resignation if it is submitted after all of the electronic and non-electronic media for NSS books has been transferred to the NSS Office. I hope we will not have to go to this next step.
Underground Wonders—
Visiting Caves on Public Lands
by Ronal Kerbo
Progress: We received a detailed description and outline of this book from the author. As the title indicates, the author has broadened the scope of the book with the concurrence of this committee. Now, in addition to caves in National Parks, several caves on other public lands will be included.
The benefit of this broader coverage is a wider market for the book. It can now be sold in the bookstores of all the caves covered, as well as the larger bookstores of the other agencies venues
Underground Wonders will have full chapters covering the eight major NPS show caves, plus Blanchard Spring (Arkansas), Karchner Caverns (Arizona), and Mitchell Caverns State Park (California). Each chapter will have history, descriptions, maps, and photos. In addition, any recreational caves open to cavers on a permit basis, such as several at Carlsbad Caverns NP, will be mentioned also.
Plans: We expect to see materials and photos from Kerbo over a period of several months. When we have enough to accurately calculate the page count, we’ll get printing estimates, and prepare a specification and estimate sheet.
Problems: Too early to tell.
Committee Comment: It has come to this committee’s attention, that a board member reportedly expressed a mistaken opinion to the author that there is some kind of overlap or competition between this book and Queen’s Caves of the Guadalupe Mountains. Yet even a cursory glance at the book descriptions could easily dispel this idea. It’s evident that Kerbo’s book is national in scope. Queen’s book is confined to southeastern New Mexico. Kerbo’s focus is on show caves, with summary information about recreational caving to be included, if available at that site.
In contrast, 60% of Queen’s book deals with recreational caves and 20% with the surface above. The 20% allocated to Carlsbad Caverns is entirely devoted to off-trail areas like Spirit World and The Bell Cord Room. His chapters will consist of detailed feature stories covering geology, history of exploration, and cave descriptions. These caves are located on lands of all three federal agencies—the NPS, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Clearly, the books differ both in scope and in the treatment of the material. I mention this to clear the air in case other board members may have heard this incorrect notion.
Caves of the Guadalupe Mountains
By Michael Queen
Progress, Plans, Problems.
No report or materials were received.
BOOKS AWAITING MARKET RESEARCH REPORTS
On Caves and Cameras
John Van Swearingen and Norman Thompson, Editors
Progress: The editors have received and done their final editing of 95% of the text and illustrations.
Background: See the Spring 2000 Board report.
Plans: While waiting for the market research report, this committee recommends that we take a second look at the perfect-bound paperback version as an alternative to the hardback version with a dust jacket. This will significantly reduce costs and allow it to stay well within the budget of the average cave photographer.
With the help of editor J. Van Swearingen, we have located a printing company near Huntsville that specializes in quality color printing. The production supervisor (who is a caver and an NSS member) has volunteered to prepare the high resolution scans, color separations, and litho film at no charge. The firm is also offering free delivery to the NSS office from their nearby plant, another sizable saving.
A preliminary estimate of all costs for 1,000 copies is $13,000 . (Previous estimates for 2,000 totaled more than twice this figure.) With a per-book cost of $13, this means the book could be sold for $29.95 to $34.95. This would be real bargain for a 320 page book with 32 pages of full-color salon-quality cave photos—not to mention an authoritative text showing the readers how to take better cave pictures themselves.
Problems: The book is ready to produce pending the market analysis.
EVP Notes: The $13,000 figure listed above is overly optimistic. The agenda item to get the book into the 2000 budget will probably be around $17,000 for 1000 copies per conversations with John Van Swearingen. John would like more money. I think this will make the book cost too much and thus force the selling price too high. One more chapter needs to be written on an area not covered per my phone call to John on May 24th.
BOOKS IN LIMBO
Cave Rescue Manual
By various members of NCRC
Progress, Plans, Problems: We understood that a new team is working on the project. But no report or evidence of activity has been received. Some months ago, committee member Tom Rea received a request to do copy editing on a new version, but hasn’t received any ms yet. He still has a copy of the manual prepared by Chuck Hempel, but has taken no action awaiting decisions by the NCRC.
US Cave Management Manual
Progress, Plans, and Problems: Still in limbo, despite the fact that this book was once completely outlined, authors committed, and a schedule established. I plan to attend the Cave Management Session at the convention to ask about, it as I have in other years. Maybe this time, an enterprising author will come forward.
COMPLETED BOOKS
Speleogenesis: Evolution of Karst Aquifers
Alexander Klimchouk, Editor
Progress: A total of 1,057 copies of this title were received in Huntsville on May 2, 2000. Our order was for 1000 copies. The extra fifty-seven copies are the "overs," resulting from the printing industry practice of a 10% over-run to allow for binding spoilage. My understanding is that the NSS Bookstore has sent out the pre-publication orders as well as complimentary copies to editors, authors, and reviewers.
Some minor errors committed by the printer required an errata sheet to be prepared and inserted in the book. After several rounds of spirited but amicable discussions between the printer and this committee, the invoice was reduced by $321.00. The final invoice has been sent to the NSS office.
Through the good offices of President Hazel Medville, we received a free quarter-page full-color ad in the June 2000 issue of Geotimes. This is the monthly magazine of the American Geological Institute (AGI) which recently began publishing in full color. Its circulation includes hydrologists and mineralogists, as well as all other disciplines within the geosciences. For the Geotimes insertion, this committee prepared a full color ad. Since the NSS has not advertised in this journal before, the ad purposely promotes not only, Speleogenesis, but Cave Minerals of the World as well. Included in the ad are color images both book covers, with the following headline:
• Two Books of Immediate Professional Interest to Hydrogeologists and Mineralogists
The text continues with a short list of features and benefits of both books based on the text in the color promotional fliers.
Plans: Mailing labels of groundwater hydrologists was prepared by committee member Janet McClurg from the current AGI Directory of Geoscience Departments. This group had been identified by Professor George Moore of Oregon State University—and confirmed by the editors and others in the field—as a prime market for this book. The list totals 451 names of academic, government, and consulting groundwater hydrologists. Color fliers for "Speleogenesis" and "Cave Minerals of the World" will be mailed out to the this list in late August to take advantage of the start of the academic year. For this mailing, this committee prepared a special promotional "tipon" to position these two books in the minds of the direct mail recipient. It will be stapled to the two color fliers.
The tipon has b/w images of both book covers and short descriptive copy. Its headline, similar to the head in the Geotimes ad, and its subhead, read:
Two books of Immediate Professional Interest to the Hydrogeologist
• "Speleologenesis, Evolution of Karst Aquifers"—An authoritative new book on karst hydrogeology by 44 authors from 15 countries, including East European and Russian research
• "Cave Minerals of the World"—A book on cave minerals already recognized worldwide as the primary reference in its ?eld.
(A pdf file containing both ad and tipon is attached.)
We also prepared two other sets of labels for a mailing of both fliers:
• 137 libraries and bookstores at universities and selected science museums.
• 78 Library wholesalers who specialize in science books
Problems: None.
EVP Notes: Congratulations to David on getting this book completed on this very large project. It was completed within the budget estimate though took longer than expected due to the large number of equations and formulas involved.
General Comments
The Market Research Committee
This committee has provided copies of all reports plus other relevant data to the Market Research Committee. We stand ready to provide any other information needed on any book under development by this committee to aid in this effort.
A Quick Look at NSS Publications Program
Seven Current Titles—16 Books Produced in Total
For the edification of newer Board Members, here’s a quick review of the NSS book program. First off, it must be said it’s not a big program. At best, it might be termed modest, but with pretensions.
It was set up back in 1982 to publish books of interest to NSS members—books that would most likely never see the light of day from main-stream publishers because the market is too small. As for the financial side, our goal is that all NSS books should at least break even, and if possible turn a small profit.
To manage this program, a Special Publications Committee (comprised over the years of two chairmen and two to five members) was established and charged with these general functions:
• Solicit manuscripts and in particular, help new authors develop book ideas that may ultimately result in books our members will want to read.
• Propose these books to the board and executive committee with supporting market and cost information to justify the investment and possibly return a profit.
• Prepare industry-standard author/NSS publication agreements (with help from NSS Legal Counsel),
• Obtain bids from six-to-ten short run printers,
• Prepare the book for publication (now almost exclusively digital pre-press) to professional standards for both text and covers. Cave Minerals of the World won top honors for the "Best Speleological Book" at the 1997 International Congress of Speleology.
• Select the best printing bid and supervise book production at the printer.
Currently, the NSS has seven titles in its catalog. Arranged chronologically, these are:
• Caving Basics—now in its third edition, total sales about 10,000 over a 16 year period.
• On Rope—now in its second edition, total sales about 55,000 over 12 years (FYI 10,000 copies over one-to-two years is a considered a "best seller" by most publishers. (The 100,000 copy mass market paperbacks don’t really signify among the 50,000+ new titles published each year).
• Cave Rescue Techniques—total sales, less than 2,000 over a ten year period. (A revised edition would undoubtedly have increased sales.)
• Cumberland Caverns—total sales under 2,000 over ten years.
• On Station—total sales under 3,000.
• Cave Minerals of the World—now in its third edition, counting the original Cave Minerals (of the U.S.). Total sales about 5,500 including 1,400 of the current (1997) edition.
• Speleologenesis, Evolution of Karst Aquifers—January 2000 edition just printed, quantity 1,000 copies. Prepublication sales about 330 copies.
You can see that our titles span a wide range of caving and speleological subjects, both technical and scientific. Four are how-to books—Caving Basics, On Rope, Cave Rescue Techniques, and On Station. Two are scientific—Cave Minerals of the World and Speleologenesis, Evolution of Karst Aquifers. One is exploration—Cumberland Caverns.
Of the books under development, two are how-to books:
• Techniques of Cave Conservation and Restoration
• On Caves and Cameras
Two are history and exploration:
• Underground Wonders—Visiting Caves on Public Lands
• Caves of the Guadalupes
We also produced three conference proceedings in quantities of under 1000 copies each:
• 1987 Cave Management Proceedings
• Appalachian Karst Symposium
• 6th International Symposium on Vulcano Speleology
Plus the NSS history book:
• Caving in America: The Story of the NSS (now sold out)
To sum up—the NSS publications program currently consists of seven books. These plus the new editions of existing books, the symposia proceedings, and the history book, bring the total number of books this committee has produced is:
• 16 titles over a 18 year period, or about one a year.
During this period, how many authors with ideas for new books approached the committee? In my 14 years, I’d guess this also averaged about one new book proposal per year. And how many of these nascent ideas actually materialized into a final book? Only two. Most of the rest never even got to the table-of-contents or outline stage.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of good ideas out there for new caving books. But as anyone who has published a book can tell you (I’ve published three), it’s a long hard road between the idea in your head and the ink on the printed page.
–––David McClurg, Chair, Special Publications Committee
JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES
Louise D. Hose (Editor)
New address:
Louise D. Hose
Department of Environmental and Chemical Sciences
1 University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
E-mail: hose@chapman.edu
Phone: 714-628-7255
Fax: 714-532-6048
James A. Pisarowicz (Production Editor)
Wind Cave National Park
South Dakota, SD 57747
Home: 605-673-5582
Work: 605-745-4600
E-Mail: pisarowi@gwtc.net
BOARD OF EDITORS
Steve Taylor (Life Sciences)
George Huppert (Conservation)
Andrea Futrell (Exploration)
Ira D. Sasowsky (Earth Sciences/Journal Index)
Marion O. Smith (Social Sciences)
Patty Jo Watson (Anthropology)
Betty Wheeler (Book Reviews)
ADVISORY BOARD
David Ashley
Penelope Boston
Rane Curl
Andy Flurkey
David Jagnow
Doug Medville
John Mylroie
Margaret Palmer
Elizabeth White
Progress: Volume 61, number 1 was mailed to member a moth early to take advantage of a price break on paper in the month of March. We are currently preparing v. 61, n. 2, a special issue on the speleogenesis in the Guadeloupe Mountains, New Mexico, in cooperation with Carol Hill and Harvey DuChene.
Plans: We expect volume 61, number 2 to be mailed to members in August. If a new editor is identified by the convention meeting, I will work with that person to facilitate a smooth transition in the editorship.
Problems: I will be changing positions and moving this summer, making communication and preparing the summer issue more difficult. However, we survived a move and change in jobs of both the Editor and Production Editor during our first year and do not anticipate a major problem.
Dave Bunnell (Editor)
P.O. Box 879
Angels Camp, CA 95222
Phone: (408)338-3853
E-mail: dbunnell@caltel.com
Bonnie Crystal (virtual Grotto)
Sharon Bravo (Proofreading)
Scott Fee (Advertising Manager)
Daniel Hazelton (Technology)
Dave Jagnow (Conservation)
Vacant (History)
Bill Klimack (In the Media)
Bob Springston (Newsletter Review)
Bill Cuddington (Techniques and Safety)
Peri Frantz (Down Through the Decades)
Progress: Our new columns seem to be on track: virtual caving, Jay’s review, and the new Technology column. And the News finished the FY on budget once again.
Plans: I’ll be attending the convention, where
I’ll be trolling for features, and am also planning to
attend a caving film festival in France this summer, which
I’ll write about for the News. We hope to do an
interview with Michel Siffre for the Spelean Spotlight (hopefully
at his home in Nice…). May attend the NCA convention in the
fall, and write that up. Articles are planned on the new Tytoona
preserve, and on Helictite Cave in VA, and on sea caves of Santa
Barbara Island. We’ll also have an issue with awesome color
photos of the big rooms in Camps Gulf, which I discovered on the
photographer’s web site.
Problems: Nothing other than I’m a bit low on features currently. I spent the last few days sending messages to those who’ve promised articles in the last year or so that never materialized (which I keep in a "features promised" folder). I’ve gotten positive response to several of those messages, so I don’t anticipate too many problems. And with convention coming up I should hopefully be able to keep them coming.
Dave Bunnell
Editor, NSS News
P.O. Box 879
Angels Camp, CA 95222
USA
Maureen Handler
P.O. Box 3802
Cleveland TN.37320
Home: 423-614-7077
Email: mhandler@cdc.net
Committee Members:
Vince Kappler (Board Information)
Evelyn Bradshaw (Grotto Information)
Bill Bussey (Section Information)
David Taylor (Survey Information)
Office Staff (Members Listing)
Al Romero (Project and Study Group Information)
Jim Wilbanks
Progress: All committee members have submitted their information except Section info from Bill Bussey. Have received members listing from Camille, IO information from Evelyn, and Committee information from Jim Wilbanks. In addition, survey information was received from Dave Taylor, awards information from Bill Tozer and donation information from Ted Kayes. Have received approximately 200 email updates to the information already received.
The manual is well underway for formatting. All up front information has been formatted and am currently working on all the changes sent by email. I believe I finally got a Macro to run the members information. Will complete this section as soon as I return home next week.
Have received a number of quotes from printers. Last years printer (I don’t have the name here with me) has quoted $13,500. This is close to the budget price and will be the printer used to complete the manual. All other quotes were $17,000+.
Plans As soon as I return from vacation, I will continue working on the MM formatting to complete the members section (cant do it here because I don’t have MSWord on this computer). Formatting should be complete and shipped to printer just before convention.
Problems: Computer virus’ have been a major problem for me. They seem to attack at the worst possible time. I have had to deal with 2 ‘worm’ type virus, in the last two months and have lost nearly a month of computer time because of this. I have still not figured out where they came from, since the only attachments that I have opened have been from persons sending information about the MM. I no more technical problems arise, then the rest of the formatting should go smoothly. I have still not received updated Section information from Bill Bussey, although I have emailed him and requested this information at least a half a dozen times.
I believe the time frame for producing this manual was WAY too short. I now know the initial schedule was too ambitious. This document really requires approximately 6 months to prepare and since I was not confirmed as the editor until February (began work on it in the beginning of February), the time frame did not allow for completion of the MM before convention this year. If allowed by the board, I would be interested in continuing as editor next year and will have plenty of time to get the MM back on schedule.
Hope this gives you enough information for your report to the board. Sorry for the delays in getting the MM out, but technology has been working against me.
Maureen
Ray Keeler,
NSS EVP
I have not had time to get this section ready at this point. I will send an addendum to this report before the Convention.
The following permissions/contacts/non-permissions were made for reprinting NSS copyrighted materials and release of NSS Member information:
| WHO ORG. TYPE ORANIZATION |
REPRINT PERMISSION STATUS |
REQUEST REASON FOR REQUEST |
| Peter Sprouse Non-Profit Proyecto Espeleological Perificacion (PEP) |
Being worked No progress has been made on this since the October EVP report. |
Placing a JCKS article on the PEP web page. |
NSS PROJECT REPORTS AND STATUSES
National Speleological Society
Research Advisory Committee
Report on Projects. 2000
From Al Romero, RAC Committee Chair:
Progress, Plans, Problems:
Out of 25 in the 1999 Members Manual only11 responded. I guess that most of those that did not respond was because the Project, for all practical purposes, has been terminated.
It occurs to me that one of the policies we may want to institute regarding projects is that if the project director/coordinator does not send an report annually or does not respond to the RAC 's Chair request for information, the Project will be terminated.
EVP Notes: I agree with this position. We made a special effort to write, email, call, and "find out about" each project’s status. The Members Manual has been sent the most current list. Those that we were unable to contact this year were left in the Members Manual. In some cases shorter reports of those below are included. Next year we will have a more complete list of project statuses. Four Projects were removed: California Sea Caves, Lewis and Clark Caverns, Papoose Cave Project, and Romania Speleological Cooperation Project.
Those not responding next year will be removed.
Caves of Tabasco, Mexico
Exploration, mapping and study of caves in the Mexican state of Tabasco, near the Chiapas border. Eleven new caves were located and mapped during the 1998-1999 expedition along with four additional caves during the 1999-2000 expedition. Numerous other caves have been located but have yet to be explored and surveyed. National Geographic and NOVA grants to Dr. Louise Hose have provided equipment to continuously monitor gas and water chemistry in Cueva de Villa Luz. Current biology projects include surveys of spiders, midges and fish, as will as continuing microbiological investigations. Villa Luz is scheduled to be featured in programs by NOVA and National Geographic in the next year. Project members have noted significant declines in the fish population in Villa Luz and are consulting with local officials to determine the cause. Recent deforestation over Villa Luz is the suspected reason for the fish decline. Contact Dr. Jim Pisarowicz or Dr. Luise Hose for more information: Pisarowicz (605) 745-4600 pisarowi@gwtc.net; Hose (573) 592-5303 hose@jaynet.wcmo.edu. Project Director: Jim Pisarowicz, Wind Cave National Park, RR 1 Box 190, Hot Springs, SD 57747.
Cueva San Josecito
The Cueva San Josecito NSS Project is still active. Currently, we are finalizing a manuscript on an aspect of bone taphonomy in the cave that we will be submitting to the JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES for their consideration.
EVP Notes: Refer to the Members Manual for contact information.
Fern Cave Project Report
We have mapped 5.5 miles of passage. A total of 105 survey trips have been conducted..A large portion of which was surveyed using tripod mounted Brunton instruments. We have achieved very high accuracy and detail. We are currently in the process of drafting an interim map. Our current goal is to draft up all of the current survey data. The survey is ongoing in all major areas of the cave.
Problems: Membership in the FCP has declined in recent years. The FCP is a Re-Survey project. Most cavers probably are more interested in surveying new caves which unlike Fern cave are not already heavily explored and mapped. Some survey stations have been lost which will require resurveying to establish tie-ins. Some stations were inadequately marked and in some cases not enough recoverable stations were established. Also, a significant amount of traffic through some of the survey areas has resulted in stations being displaced or removed. At least 2 entire trips worth of survey data was never submitted by trip leaders or otherwise lost.
Gunung Buda
February 2000 saw the Gunung Buda project at the height of activity as 25 American cavers returned to Gunung Buda in Sarawak, Malaysia on the island of Borneo for a third cave exploration and science expedition. The expedition was 3 years in the planning and includes an internet education project (http://www.northcoast.com/~rchilds), and research on local bats, cave invertebrates, cave protozoa and cave sediment dating. The expedition will continue until March 10, 2000. To date more than 7 kilometers of cave passage have been surveyed, and a significant connection between Babylon and Disapointment caves was discovered. We hope for a great deal more survey and more important connections at Gunung Buda in 2000. The projects overall goal is the creation of a Malaysian National Park surrounding and protecting Gunung Buda. A great deal of progress on this has been made. Final park boundaries and development plans as part of the Eight Malaysia plan are being considered by the Government at this time. We hope for final park approval by the end of 2000. The project organizer is Joel Despain: HCR 89 Box 211, Three Rivers, CA 93271; joel_despain@hotmail.com
Hawaii Speleological Survey Lava Tubes
Mapping and resource inventories of lava tubes and other caves in the state of Hawaii were continued. They surveyed about fifteen miles of lava tubes, published two issues of a Newsletter, and one report to the State Office of Historic Preservation. Bill Halliday continues to maintain the paper files at the Lyman Museum in Hilo, HI, and will need another file cabinet this year. Don Coons and Hazel Medville maintain electronic backups of survey data and an electronic bibliography on Hawaii caves. They are working with state and federal agencies and large landowners to provide data on resources owned by those entities and hope to work with Hawaiian family groups in protecting their cultural histories found in lava tubes. They intend to seek closer contact with other researchers working in Hawaii through exchange of data and subscriptions to our Newsletter. The new Executive Committee is as follows: Chairman: Pat Kambesis, 3473 Regalwoods Dr., Doraville, GA 30340; Vice Chairman: Olé Fulks, HC-1, BOX 5664, Kea'au, HI 96749; Secretary: William R. Halliday, 6530 Cornwall Ct., Nashville, TN 37205; Other members: Hazel Medville, 11762 Indian Ridge Rd., Reston, VA 22091; Stephen M. Smith, 1212 Hollow Tree Court, Charlotte, NC 28226.
Index to Cave Passage Descriptions
Preparation of a computerized index to availavle cave passage descriptions to be made available to the NSS. So far the database includes more than 24,000 records from 67 titles. It is sompiled under Lotus Approach. Included in the index are three code categories and eleven subcategories rating the descriptive quality of text, maps and photographs. Another code category and two subcategories rate the quality of directions to the cave. This database does not include actual cave descriptions. Project director: Alan Parker, P.O. Box 2523, Madison, MS 39130. aparker@netdoor.com
Summary of changes:
1. The master database has increased to slightly over 24,000 records.
2. The number of pages reviewed has increased to more than 28,200.
3. An interface has been designed under Lotus Approach for OS/2. Distributing this interface would require the user to have a copy of Lotus Approach. These relational databases are still formatted as FoxPro databases, so the information would be retrievable by anyone capable of manipulating FoxPro database files.
Goals for 2000
1. Complete all issues of the NSS News for 1996-1999.
2. Continue reviewing the NSS Bulletins, picking up with volume 49.
Problems: There are no particular concerns at this time.
Mount Rainier Steam Caves Project
The primary project goal is describe the current morphology and physical environment of the caves. This information will then be compared to the studies conducted in the early 1970s. Annual or near annual visits will be conducted to monitor cave passage morphology and environmental dynamics. Finally the project will attempt the first description of biota in the caves. Biological samples will be collected and taxonomical study performed. Throughout, safety of participants will be paramount. The National Park Service through the annual permit process must approve all activities. The caves will be surveyed and a map prepared. The map will be compared to the earlier Kiver map. Environmental data will consist of air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity as well as measurement of passage dimensions (to allow calculation of air volume movement) and ice density data. This data will be used to attempt to determine the frequency of periodic changes in passage morphology and to characterize the variance of the passage dimensions. Prudent (limited) sampling of biota in the caves will be made. Participants may not collect anything without permission of the trip leader and the appropriate permission annotated on the NPS research permit. Expedition participants may also be asked to participate in testing to gather psychological data regarding operating in difficult conditions.
Here is some background on the project:
Mount Rainier is the highest member of the Cascade Range. This range extends from northern California into British Columbia, Canada and contains many snow-clad volcanoes. The Cascades form an important climatic divide, with the western slope receiving large amounts of precipitation but the eastern slopes very little. Perhaps the most famous member of the range is Mount Saint Helens, in Washington, which erupted in 1980 and 1982. Because of the eruption Mount Saint Helens, the only National Monument administered by the US Forest Service, has eclipsed Mount Rainier as a tourist attraction. Mount Rainier is a 368-square-mile National Park established in 1899. Mount Rainier's 26 glaciers give the mountain the distinction of having the largest single-peak glacier system in the United States outside Alaska. This heavy glaciation makes Rainier a popular training ground for mountaineering. The park receives heavy annual precipitation, which supports the growth of thick forest below the timberline at about 6500 ft. Vegetation includes such tall species of trees as Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar, as well as numerous varieties of wildflowers. The diverse wildlife includes mountain lion, bobcat, elk, bear, deer, and mountain goat. Known by local Native Americans as Tahoma, meaning the "Mountain that was God." Rainier was named by the first European to sight it, British naval Captain George Vancouver in May 1792; he named it after British Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. Hazard Stevens and Philomon Beecher Van Trump first climbed it in 1870. They a night on the summit, without adequate equipment, by staying in the summit caves. At the summit of Mount Rainier, at 14,411 feet above sea level, are systems of caves in the carved by hot gasses venting from the semi-dormant volcano. The only published scientific work on these caves was Professor Eugene Kiver, in the 1970s. Because the caves are difficult to reach the caves have not received the attention they merit. The caves are of interest in their own right, and also because they are one indicator of volcanic activity. Mount Rainier represent a tremendous geological hazard (geohazard) because of the amount of water on its flanks in the form of snow and ice, and because the andesitic lava is being hydrothermally altered to clay. The caves are formed in the firn ice at the summit. Firn ice is formed from consolidated snow. The firn melts at the rock substrate interface and the entire mass of firn in the crater subsides. Hot gasses escape from fumaroles and melt cave passages in the firn. Kiver reported two kilometers of passage. The continualsubsidence and melting of passages apparently stays in an annual equilibrium. Despite this equilibrium, anecdotal reports indicate that the cave system is changed from that observed by Kiver and his associates.
The summit consists of two craters. The west crater is approximately 275 meters in diameter, the east crater, the more recent, is about 420 meters in diameter. Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. The crater rims are kept largely free of ice by the heat. The craters each contain an inverted ice cone resulting from deposits of snow. The ice subsides as it melts at the contact with the rock substrate. The interplay of the hot gasses and the constantly descending ice stay in a rough equilibrium. As the ice is not glacial, it does not undergo plastic flow that would reduce the cave passage volume. The steam caves are inside the craters. The cave passages are floored by rock and the balance is firn ice. The passages, as described by Kiver as he found them in the 1970s , fit into three categories:
1. Radial passages that descend from the surface. The floor slopes down at the angle of repose. Firn arches over the rapidly descending andesite, forming "walls" and "floor."
2. Each crater has a semicircular passage that links to most or all of the radial passages and, roughly, runs at a constant elevation. The "floor" and "outer wall" (towards the outside of the crater) is andesite that slopes sharply. The "inside wall" and "ceiling" are firn arch.
3. Each crater has one room that is below the semicircular passage. A "drain" room. It is completely enclosed by firn ice. A lake was found here the Bird Room in the east (larger) crater.
The cave passages, with one exception, do not require vertical caving equipment. The floor tends to blocks of andesite and so is somewhat unstable. In general, the caves are at 32° F and 100% humidity. However, these conditions change near entrances and fumaroles. Anecdotal reports indicate that there is a significant amount of cave life present. The name "steam caves" was applied because the high humidity causes one's breath to condense and fill the passages with fog.
Project status:
Do to the remoteness of the caves and the challenge of getting food and fuel to the summit for a period to allow surveying the field work has not been very successful. We were last in the field in 1998 and gathered some limited passage measurements. Psychological data was gathered in 1998 and also during 1997.
Project plans:
Tentatively a limited reconnaissance is planned this year and a larger effort next year. Participants have been discussing modifications to our approach, including a cooperative effort with The Mountaineers and airlift support from the National Park Service. All these ideas are in the early brainstorming stages.
Contact: Bill Klimack
Organ Cave System Project
Exploration and Survey of the Organ Cave System with studies of its geology paleontology and hydrology. The Organ Cave System project continues to respond to request for information and encourages further work in the cave. Currently the project is converting its survey data field notes to electronic form (.pdf files) and storing the data in DVD format to make it more accessible. The WVASS "Caves of the Organ Cave Plateau" book inventory is running out. The project is considering making sections of it available in electronic form to a focused group. Projectors: Ray Cole (3410 Austin Ct, Alexandria VA 22310-3102) and Paul Stevens (44082 Natalie Terrace, #101, Ashburn, VA).
Proyecto Cheve (formerly called Proyecto Papalo)
Exploration and survey of one of the deepest cave systems in the Western Hemisphere, located in the Sierra Juarez of Oaxaca, Mexico. As of 1999, Cueva Cheve is 24.3 kilometers long and 1,386 meters deep with a depth potential of over 2500 meters. The project also includes a systematic investigation of the geology and hydrology of the various caves in the area, including Cueva Charco. Project coordinator: Matt Oliphant, 4105 Lowell Ave, La Crescenta CA 91214-2356. bf821@lafn.org.
Tongass Cave Project
Dedicated to the exploration, survey, study, and conservation of the caves of Southeast Alaska. Besides containing several of the deepest pits in the United States, this area comprises a unique karst ecosystem capped with ancient temperate rainforests. Over 60% of the forest has already been harvested over karst, where larger trees occur. Caves beneath this forest are providing exciting paleontological, archaeological, and ecological discoveries. This work is contributing to new insights and theories as to the early human migration routes and ice sheet coverage during past ice ages. TCP members are investigating interactions between bats, caves and the old-growth forest, and determining dissolution rates of limestone in old-growth forest and clear-cut areas. Last year three different expeditions were held in SE Alaska, with participants from across the US and Japan. As well as these main expeditions there are ongoing pushes into known caves by locals. The support that TCP has received from the Forest Service for the past 12 years seems to be drying up. As a result TCP directors have been looking to acquire grants from foundations interested in environmental conservation. Much karst inventory work is needed still. The Forest Service has continuing plans to log thousands of acres of karst on the Tongass, with Kosciusko Island, Tuxekan Island and Chichagof Island being the critical areas now. Tongass Cave Project members will continue to work in these areas finding and documenting caves, and reminding the land managers that they must work within the confines of the Federal Caves Resources Protection Act. Directors: Kevin Allred, PO Box 376, Haines, AK 99827, carleneallred@hotmail.com. Steve Lewis, 4300 University Apt A5, Juneau, AK 99835, (907) 747-7471, tsswl@uas.alaska.edu. Pete Smith, Box WWP, Ketchikan, AK 99950, (907) 846-5223, waleswood@aol.com
Ukrainian American Youth Caver Exchange
The Ukrainian American Youth Caver Exchange Foundation seeks to both foster relationships between the caving communities of both America and Ukraine, and to promote the exchange of speleological related information between both countries with an emphasis on exploratory, cartographic and vertical techniques and skills. In pursuance of its goals the UAYCEF operates a student exchange program, and leads annual trips to both Western Ukraine, home of the world's giant horizontal gypsum caves, and Crimea, an area well known for it deep limestone pits. Local cavers from the Kiev and Ternopol areas join trip participants on their explorations and provide instruction in Eastern European Rebelay Techniques. To date there have been six expeditions to the Ukraine, with occasional side trips to Russia, which included over 20 participants from the US and United Kingdom. In addition, a total of five youngsters have benefitted from the UAYCEF's student exchange program. The international caving community also has benefitted from the UAYCEF: not just from its annual trips and student exchange program, but from such other activities as; the introduction of SCT (Single Cable Technique) to the U.S., publication of various articles, slideshow presentations for various caving organizations and community groups, conduction of vertical rebelay workshops, and the development and testing of new and unique ascending, descending, and safety systems and devices. Project Director: Chris Nicola, 2446 43rd. Street, Astoria, N.Y. 11103. Phone: 718 204-8373, UAYCEF@Juno.com, www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Curb/8151.
Additional information:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
-Provided all expense paid trip for Virginia's Davy Gillespie to visit Ukraine as part of its Student Exchange Program. Similarly, Ukrainian youngsters Yura Brikaylo, Dan Filippovsky, Andrey Lukianchuk and Boudarenko Vladimir Nikolaevich have also visited the U.S. to cave.
-Regularly scheduled annual trips to Ukraine since 1994, with numerous participants from both the US and United Kingdom.
-Developed the UAYCEF Knotted Frog System; a knot system made with a single cord, which is safer than the conventional three knot system in that a safety line runs from the top knot to the waist. For details refer to Volume No. 44 of the Nylon Highway, a publication of the Vertical
Section of the NSS.
-Developed the UAYCEF Quick Release Safety Shunt System, a shunt safety used in conjunction with a rack, which is not subject to premature lockup, engages by the natural action of tightening one's grip during free fall, can be easily disengaged without releasing one's grip on the rope or bars, and can even be engaged by a belayer below. Presented at the Vertical Session of the 1999 Convention, and tested successfully on drops at West Virginia's New River Bridge.
-Introduction of the use of steel cable in the U.S. for special vertical
situations and circumstances.
-Trained US cavers in the use of Eastern European Rebelay Techniques developed and perfected in Ukraine.
-Presentation of paper on the Geology of the Ukraine at the 1998 NSS Convention.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
-Organization of the seventh annual three week Ukraine caving trip (7/2 thru 7/23). Two weeks in Western Ukraine, home of the World's Giant Gypsum Caves. One week in Crimea, visiting some of the most challenging vertical caves in the Former Soviet Union.
-Organization of a special "Welcome the True Millennium" Crimea Caving Trip, atop of one of the three major Karst plateaus in the region. Ski, hike and cave by day, and then dine and party in Yalta at night; followed by a swim in the Black Sea. Stay in a lodge 3800 feet above Yalta, overlooking the Black Sea. Yalta only 30 minutes away via cable car. Visit some of the most challenging and deepest limestone pits in the Former Soviet Union.
-Preparing for annual donation request mailout to grottos, regions, conservancies, and other caving related organizations.
-Solicitation of computers to be donated to those caving clubs in Ukraine in need of such equipment to run mapping software to expedite their surveying projects; including that of some of the world's longest caves.
-Pursuing efforts to secure a visa for Ukrainian Youth Caver Instructor Lairisa Chulovkaya to visit the US for the purpose of exchanging information with American cavers who train and instruct youngsters in caving techniques and practices.
-Continue to escort Boudarenko Vladimir Nikolaevich, this year's Ukrainian exchange student, on caving trips throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US.
-Continue searching for sponsors to host future exchange students visiting from the Ukraine.
-Translation of UAYCEF co-founder Valeriy Rogozhnikov 's book on Ukrainian caving and vertical techniques.
-Maintenance of the UAYCEF's Delaware nonprofit incorporation status, with the following designated officers: President: Chris Nicola, Vice President: Valeriy Rogozhnikov, Teasurer: Ed Sira, Secretary: Genevieve Doster
-Writing up of several papers for presentation at the 2000 NSS Convention, to include " SCT: Single Cable Technique. The history, development, and practical applications of the Ukrainian technique of using steel cable to both rappeling and ascending".
-Conduction of regularly scheduled Eastern European Rebelay workshops.
-Continued development and upgrading of the UAYCEF's Website: http://www.geocities.com/pipeline/curb/8151.
-Searching of grant sources in order to supplement any donations received; to be used in covering the expenses of those chosen as exchange students.
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED:
-The Fall annual donation request mailout was delayed, awaiting final approval of NSS Project status in order to take advantage of being able to offer tax-exemption of all moneys received.
-The relocation of UAYCEF's Vice-President Valeriy Rogozhnikov, to Florida, and Secretary Genevieve Foster to California, served to temporarily delay some of the organization's administrative responsibilities.
-The failure of many NSS grottos/regions/sections to respond to past annual mailouts, each of which cost approximately $70, has lead one to conclude that in many cases the requests are not making their way to the membership through either announcements at regular meetings, and/or inclusion in organization newsletters. Even negative responses would be of benefit, because it would eliminate the need to spend more money on additional follow up mailouts, phone calls and emails.
Williams Canyon Project
It’s been ten years since the Williams Canyon Project was chartered with the National Speleological Society and 18 years since cavers first began working with the commercially operated Cave of the Winds. In 1999, project members continued the exploration, survey and scientific study of the more than 70 caves of Williams Canyon north of Manitou Springs. In recent years, exploration and survey efforts have concentrated on Narrows Cave, a mile long cave in the lower canyon that originally had only seven feet of passage. Cavers have discovered multiple levels to Narrows, a complex cave that someday might link the Cave of the Winds with Manitou Cave. Project members also assisted with continuing conservation efforts in canyon caves, including Breezeway, Huccacove and Cave of the Winds. In addition to taping visitor trails and cleaning muddy flowstone, cavers have repaired broken formations using innovative new techniques. Efforts are also underway to replace several environmental gates in the Cave of the Winds originally installed in the 1980's, including the gate leading to the famous Silent Splendor. Surveyors also spent time in 1999 with a laser theodolite survey that will eventually link all major caves in the canyon together on a common grid. For 2000, project members plan to release a published retrospective of the project’s history, including historic articles and photographs dating back to the 1880's beginnings of cave exploration in the canyon. Project coordinator: Richard Rhinehart, 1718 Lorraine Street #B2, Colorado Springs CO 80906, 719-447-8822. E-mail: rrhineh1@ix.netcom.com.
Woodville Karst Plain Project
The 100 plus member WKPP explores cave in the Woodville Karst Plain. Currently the team has surveyed 108,000 feet of underwater passage in the Leon Sinks Cave System, making it the longest underwater cave in the United States. In 1999, a swim-through was done in the connection made between Big Dismal Cave System and Leon Sinks, and the resulting traverse was a new world's record at 14,000 feet. In 1998, the team added another 20,000 feet of passage to the Wakulla Springs Cave and pushed one passage out 18,065 feet in 300 feet of water, a new worlds distance record, breaking the team's own records. The WKPP continues to explore these systems when the weather allows. All problems have long ago been solved other than rainfall. We are also making TV documentaries designed to highlight these resources, and have formed a nonprofit organization called Global Underwater Explorers designed to teach what we do to others. That organization is headed by Jarrod Jablonski, also a Director of the WKPP.
Project Director: George M. Irvine III, 1400 SE 11 St., Ft Lauderdale , Fl 33316, kirvine@safari.net or email trey@netdor.com. Training Director: Jarrod Jablonski, Project Coordinator: Casey McKinlay.