Bill Steel called the meeting to order at 7:18 PM.   Katy R. and Udi F. were out of town.

Members in Attendance: Mark Alman, Cristina Estrada, Charles Goldsmith, Glen  Goldsmith, Will Harris, Jay Jorden, Ryan Monjaras, Shawn D. Ruzek, Bill Steele, Diana Tomchick, Mark Turner and Steve Webb.

Visitors: Dave McClung and Marcela Redigolo.

Officer Reports: Cristina E. apologized again because she couldn’t finish the minutes again. She promised that by tonight she will finish both March and April minutes otherwise she would give $20 to each person in the grotto… and highly possible May’s. Treasurer was not in the meeting.

...

Mark G. said he will send a contribution to Charles G. Librarian Steve W. said some books were lended and there are more available for lending. He did a great job by making an inventory of the books. The list will be published in the blog online. Mark Alman donated newsletters from NSS. The grotto received 15 boxes and they are available for lending. Steve recommended a book about Cave history.

Charles said he always looks for trip reports and they committed Steve W. to write one about the trip to Guerrero, Mexico. Ryan was also asked to write a report about the lighting work done in Cascade caverns.

Vicechair Bill S. said that now he has 2 cable ladders that belong to the grotto, they are in good condition and they are available for lending to grotto members, he and also reported that for June, Michael D. and Cora R. will present about Wall climbing and cave climbing. Diana T. will talk about Mexican caves in Guerrero during July. For August, Will H. was suggested to give a vertical workshop. For September, Charles will talk about Wind cave. October will be about the Bustamante trip of Cristina and Jay J. (the first one responsible for colorful comments).

Old Business:

Our grotto had the exclusive of the public announcement about NSS elections. This year 10,173 domestic and 325 international ballots were mailed, allowing more than the 45 days return time required by the NSS Bylaws. Of the 10,498 ballots mailed, 1,934 good and counted ballots were returned, for an 18.4% return rate, compared to 17.9 % in 2009. This year’s return rate is the best return rate since 2003.

The winners are Jay Clark (AL), with 1,184 votes (17.86%), Bill Putnam (GA) with 1,136 votes (17.14%), Dean Wiseman (IN) with 945 votes (14.18%) and Gary Bush (OH) with 770 votes (11.62%). Texas candidate, Herman Miller, came in 8th 561 votes. Texas’ voters increased 65%. Bill mentioned some amusing facts about elections: 17 ballots  were fake, some people voted for all of the candidates, there was a 5 votes difference between a winner and a loser.

There was a huge improvement in the logistics in this elections by taking into account the postmark date in the ballots, the ballots were valid as long as you send it before the deadline.

New Business:

Dave McClung is a new member of the grotto.

Bill said he got a lot of good information about Distos (laser-based distance measuring devices) by asking in the Texas cavers mail list, he agreed to send it by email to Charles G. Charles motion for buying a distance finder, Ryan motion to buy survey gear and he was seconded. David McClung said he can donate to the grotto one broken down. Bill will be responsible of buying the equipment.

Mark mentioned some details about CBSP, Gorman falls were very active and a small group may go back in July, but officially the project will restart next October.

Trip Reports:

Ryan went to cascade caverns. He helped with the lighting, Shawn went with him. They basically hang up wires on Saturday and Sunday. He got a shock on Saturday but luckily nothing happened. He mentioned that Patrick Swayze made a shot of a movie in that cave….. He got a pass for going there due to his hard work. He mentioned that there are more caves in the area. Diana T. mentioned that Spring cave is a water cave our grotto may visit during fall and is near the area…

Mark G. said the cave in CBSP is a good cave for beginners. It’s the second Saturday of the month, Diana T. said there is too much CO2 and it gets hot. Steve W. said is a fun project: you usually arrive on Friday, during Saturday you work and Sunday is an open day.

There’s not gonna be a rock haul in Carlsbad.

Trip announcements:

Charles G. mentioned that next June 5th there is a digging trip to Five mouth cave in Sonora, TX, they may visit Sonora Caverns during Sunday.

June 12th they will have the opening of Kikapu caverns (seven hours drive). It is a huge cave, like Carlsbad.

Cascade caverns project still running up to middle July.

Matt Turner is coming this weekend to Dallas and he is asking for someone to let him stay in his/her house.

Mark Alman talked about a cave that is South of Turner falls, OK, he mentioned that a mapping survey project is ongoing.

Diana T. talked that about a trip to a cave northwest of San Antonio, she mentioned that it is a very tight cave.

Ryan talked about a project to go surveying in Kentucky the 7th longest cave in the world, from 11-17th of June.

Bill mentioned about a business trip he will take to Germany, he may get info about the catacombs in Paris.

Program:

Charles program about what you can find in your caving pack and about caves in Arkansas….