Meeting: 5 Dec 2007
Attendance:
Amanda, Pat, Samantha, Karen, George, Gary, Andy, Larry, Brandon, Dave, Keith, Ezra
Officer/MAR MEETING:
Officers and MAR people met at 6:30 and we discussed possible places
for MAR and possible caterers. Gary has looked at several and has
a few more still to look at, so far it looks like it will cost
about $10 a person.
Karen looked at food costs for Saturdays MAR meal and that will also be
about $10 a person, weather it is from Lions Club or Clems. No decision
was made as to which caterer to use
GENERAL MEETING: Began
at 7:05. First Pat gave a rundown of MAR costs per person.
It would be nice to keep it under $30 for registration costs.
with $10 per person on food, $10 for camping fees and $5 per person
goes to MAR hopefully the remaining $5 per person is enough for beer
and music.
The possibility was discussed that we can use Grotto funds (unalloyed)
to make a really good grotto anniversary MAR.
Also MAR registration checks should be made out to MAR not the Nittany
Grotto, if made to the Grotto then it seen as donation and we don't get
the money for a while.
Newsletter- It would be
nice to get this out at some point. WE NEED ARTICLES! If
you went to a cave you qualify for writing about your experience.
NO writing skills necessary.
Website- Is now being updated
on a regular basis, so feel free to use it. Send events to
alm489@pushed to be added to the calendar.
Community Service- Rather than the canned food drive we will be doing an Earth day sink hole clean up in April.
Old Business- t-shirt
competition for MAR was announced, deadline in 2nd meeting in April, a
prize will be awarded to the person who's design is chosen.
We voted on the date for our MAR. Choices were Sept 13, Oct 4 and
Oct 11. The vote was unanimous for Oct 11 (closer to the full
moon on Oct 14)
Also voted on was weather the MAR location should be an executive
decision since this must be made soon and no more meetings are
scheduled for a while. The vote passed.
Samantha
mentioned a Bluegrass band that *MIGHT* play for free at MAR, she will
contact them and let us know.
New Business- Karen received a letter from someone who would like to
take some big browns out of Mt Rock on Dec 15. Game Commission
gave her approval. We put this to the vote and the Nittany Grotto
also approves, we also believe that her asking for permission was very
outstanding and it would be nice if she submits her findings to a
future newsletter.
WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THE WHITE BUILDING! Come play with some
ropes this Sunday from noon-3 pm in room 106 of the White building.
Trip Reports- Pat and 2 others
went to Carnegie (sp?) they were in cave for 3-4 hours. He
mentioned the smell of smoke near the back of the cave. This was
his first time to the cave and he said it was a lot of fun.
Interesting story about this cave is that it could of been destroyed
with highway construction, but the cave was conserved by the
installment of a Culvert.
Gary Went to Miller on Thanksgiving day with one other person. In
cave for 1 hour, very low water levels. He said this was his quickest time ever in Miller cave.
Trips Planned- A date
has not been set yet for McCalister. This Wednesday night trip
will probably go to Stitzer if all that show are willing to do this
slightly harder cave.
Keith, Amanda, Bryan and Rob are going to Mexico with Jim over the
winter break.
Program- Amanda gave a
presentation on vertical caving to encourage people to come to the
White building THIS Sunday to train. She also brought some sample
books that can be checked out from the PSU libraries on caving, many
more available. Grotto does not lend
vertical equipment for caving but in the presentation was a list on
equipment one could use for under $50 to do your first vertical cave
(with less than 60 foot drop). If enough can get trained will
have possible trip to Nails, or Kooken next semester????