Steve Webb opened the meeting at 7:00PM

Members Present: Steve Webb, Charles Goldsmith, Glen Goldsmith, Bill Steele, Natasha Glasgow, Payton Madison, Mark Alman, Will Harris, Katy Roodenko, Udi Fuchs, Cristina Estrada, Diana Tomchick, Jay Jordan

...

Visitors Present: Josh Smith

Officer Reports: Glen Goldsmith motioned for the October meeting minutes to be approved, Bill Steele seconded with no objections.  Quartermaster Steele reported that we still have 2 cable ladders, 2 surveying instruments (Suunto Tandem surveying instrument, and a Leica disto laser range finder) and now 3 lights for loan to potential new cavers, the grotto added the 3 lights.  Bill continued as Librarian to report that we have 3 people with items checked out, Natasha, Payton and Jay all have books or dvd's.  Diana Tomchick reported in from the Department of Treasury that we have $1281.15.

Old Business: Only one item of old business, overdue memberships that were not paid for 2011, the general consensus that these were a lost cause.

New Business: New officer elections and since no one had any competition in the election, it was decided to accept the officers as is.

Announcements: Holiday party info to be sent out by Natasha.  Charles motioned that the grotto fund $150 for the party, Diana seconded, no opposing votes.

Trip Announcements: Grotto Highway adoption cleanup, Nov 19th.

Spring Creek cave survey and tank haul, Dec 3rd,

Longhorn Cavern cleanup project, Dec 3rd.

TAG caving, week of Thanksgiving.

CBSP in January will have a Girl Scout troup, volunteer to help if you can.

Jan 28th for Jester Cave, which has turned into an annual event for the Grotto, good for all ages and new cavers, contact Bill Steele if you want to attend.

Trip Reports: Natasha talked about a Whirlpool Cave trip that she attended over Halloween weekend and then went to Longhorn Cavern the following weekend.  She went down into the crownover entrance near the back of the cave, past the first sump and checked on the second sump.  Over the weekend of the 12th, she helped with CBSP, surveying and then kayaking down the Colorado River, checking out leads along the river.

Bill Steele sent in a late Trip report after the Spring Creek trip.  Bill writes, "The push of the upstream above the Shower Stall was thwarted due to Creature and James taking a ton of gear, including two 40 cu ft tanks each, and getting it all there, which was sort of the horror, and then not wanting to kit up while lying in a meter high passage with water half way to the ceiling. They're going back this Saturday and they'll get it done.

We tank haulers got the dive gear to the dive site and then went to the continuing Soda Straw Heaven and Wallow lead and surveyed 14 stations netting 213 feet of virgin cave. It continues, but it's a grueling trip getting there and back out, and the mud is getting deeper."

Program: Bill showed a short video about the area of China that Diana and he will be visiting over the holidays and Charles gave a program over his summer of caving.