Katy R. and Udi F. called the meeting to order at 7:09 PM.

Members in Attendance: Cristina Estrada, Udy Fuchs, Mark Gee, Glen Goldsmith, Will
Harris, Jay Jorden, Katy Rodenko, Diana Tomchick and Steve Webb.

Visitors: Omar Ladren, Yolis Pelayo, Jimmy Scott, Alayna Hofeling and Jamie Deich.

...

Officer Reports:
Charles G. wrote July Meeting Minutes and the document was published in the grotto
blog. Mark G. motion for approval, Glen G. seconded and they were approved. Treasurer
Edwin L. was not in the meeting. Bill S. reported by an email sent to Katy R. and Udy F.
that the programs for the rest of the year are as follow: September: Diana Tomchick – the
2010 Grutas de Guerrero Expedition. October: Cristina Estrada and Jay Jorden on their
Memorial Day trip to Bustamante. November: Steve Webb on cave lights (also show and
tell on cave lights). Librarian Steve W. said that there he brought very interesting books
for lending.

Old Business:
Bill S. reported by email that the grotto now owns two 10 meters cable ladders and one
Leica laser range finder, he mentioned that he will order the Suunto compass/clinometer
tandem instrument by the September meeting. Udy asked if anyone needs them for any
caving trip.

Constitution of our grotto still needs to be discussed. Charles G. was not present, so the
discussion about joining the blog with other grottos sites will be postponed.

New Business:
No new business.

Announcements:
If you go caving to CBSP, you need to disinfect your gear with pinesol or bleach if you
have caved in some other places. This is to protect the bats population in the area.

Trip Reports:
Mark said that they went to CBSP, but they didn’t actually cave. Will said that he went
caving to Yucatan, Mexico last week and that he is going to show pictures of the caves
during today’s program.

Trip announcements:
Diana T. mentioned that the caving season will start in October, the main reason of the
drought of caving trips during summer is the weather (too hot) and also that there is a
lot of CO2 in the caves (bad air). She mentioned that Colorado Bend State Park (CBSP)
project restarts in October the second Saturday of the month. The project is dedicated to
survey and find caves and it is specially suited for beginners.
Diana mentined that Cave Research Foundation has new facilities located just outside
of Mammoth Cave National Park in south central Kentucky and is now open for CRF

use and for those individuals/organizations involved in cave conservation, education and
research. This year the annual meeting will be held in Van Buren (Southern Missouri)
from the 22-24 of October. Diana T. mentioned that there are a lot of caves in that area
that require canoeing, so it is very fun caving! For more information, you can contact her.

Will H. said that this year TCR (Texas Cavers Reunion) will be held nearby Marble Falls
in the Texas Hill Country. It is the biggest gathering of Texan cavers and it is the event of
the year in Texas caving world.

Charles and Glen G. will go to Cascade caverns during the Weekend of 3-5 September.
They will try to get to the bottom level of the cave. It can be suitable for beginners. The
cave is located NW of San Antonio, it is around 6-7 hours drive. For more information
you can contact them.

Mark Alman announced during last meeting that there will be a TSA project in Longhorn
caverns during Sept-Oct. 2010.

Udy F. mentioned that Bill S. wrote in his email that a exploration trip to Spring Creek
may be possible during mid-November. Diana T. mentioned that they are waiting for the
bats to leave the cave.

Program:
Will Harris will be presenting a program about some caves he visited last week in
Yucatan, Mexico.