texascavers Digest 2 Apr 2012 19:20:58 -0000 Issue 1524
Topics (messages 19777 through 19788):
2012 TSA SPRING CONVENTION PICS & some videos
19777 by: Bill Bentley
19780 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
Monthly Reminder: SWR 50th Anniversary, !!! IMPORTANT DATES !!
19778 by: Stephen Fleming
UT Grotto Meeting Announcement - April 4
19779 by: Gary Franklin
TSA Spring Convention success, THANKS to all!
19781 by: ellie watson
19782 by: Diana Tomchick
19783 by: Mallory Mayeux
19784 by: Bill Bentley
19786 by: Don Arburn
TSA Spring Convention 2012 Group Photo
19785 by: Bennett Lee
19787 by: Pete Lindsley
Re: [MOCAVES] 3 cases full WNS discovered in Lincoln County...
19788 by: caverarch
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--- Begin Message ---
http://www.caver.net/tsa_/2012%20Spring%20Convention_/
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If y'all have any more photos from the Convention and reports,
commentaries, etc. you'd like to send my way for the next TEXAS CAVER,
fire away!
Thanks,
Mark
From: Bill Bentley [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 4:36 PM
To: Texascavers Mailing List
Subject: [Texascavers] 2012 TSA SPRING CONVENTION PICS & some videos
http://www.caver.net/tsa_/2012%20Spring%20Convention_/
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--- Begin Message ---
Current news...
The SWR completed the volunteer historic building balcony railing repair
on March 25. Everything was accomplished except some touch-up painting
and caulking, which will be done in a few weeks. At some point a few
photos will be posted online.
Online registration for dinner is available with payment via PayPal. A
mail-in form is also available there for those wanting an alternate
method. The regional notice will contain a paper form and will be in the
mail to members in the next few days.
Early registration is advised. After May 1, prices increase significantly.
The clock for submissions to the 50th Anniversary publication has
stopped ticking. Any late submissions may be accepted solely at the
discretion of Linda Starr; no guarantees any late material will be
incorporated.
IMPORTANT DATE (there's only one now)
May 26, 2012, SWR 50th anniversary celebration, Fort Stanton Cave
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--- Begin Message ---
Howdy Cavers,
You are cordially invited to attend the next
Underground Texas Grotto meeting - Wednesday April 4th from 7:45PM- 9:00PM
University of Texas Campus in 2.48 Painter Hall (156 West 24th Street,
Austin TX 78712) http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/pai.html
City of Austin - Water Quality Protection Lands staff members will present
Karst Management: A Critical Component of the Water Quality Protection Lands
They will describe the overall management of the Water Quality Protection
Lands (WQPL) and discuss the maintenance/restoration of cave/karst function
as a critical component to providing high quality recharge water to Barton
Springs as well as provide examples of opportunities for volunteers to
assist in many of the activities described. Come out to learn about their
mission of Environmental Awareness and for the fun and fellowship with
Austin Texas Cavers.
For information on Underground Texas Grotto activities, please see
www.utgrotto.org
Officer contact, trip reports, event calendar, and new caver training links
to beginner trips or vertical rope training are available.
Before the meeting, take advantage of Sao Paulo www.saopaulos.net for
happy hour specials. This area is the best place to park and meet folks
walking over to the meeting. Then after the official meeting, we continue
with the decades long tradition to reconvene for burgers, beer, and tall
tales of caving at Posse East. www.posse-east.com
The UT Grotto Program calendar has plenty of room you, the caver with
photos and a story to share about your adventures, scientific research, or
something else really cool. Contact me.
Sincerely,
Gary Franklin
UT Grotto Vice Chair & Program Organizer
512-585-6057
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
We had a great turn out for the 2012 TSA Spring Convention in Boerne, TX
with over 130 in attendance. The weather was perfect and friends were all
around.
Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped to make the
conventiona success!
I would like to give special thanks to the following:
- EVERYONE who helped out by setting up, tearing down, and pitching in
in every place...and for all the good-times! Too many names to thank for
all this but you all are appreciated.
- Roger Moore & Mallory Mayeux for recruiting & scheduling great
presenters.
- All those who gave such impressive presentations, it wouldn't be a
convention with out you!
- Christopher Francke and Leslie Bell for tirelessly providing AV for
the Convention.
- Marvin Miller for chairing the Map Salon and for soliciting entries.
- Don Arburn for chairing the Photo Salon, displaying the photos so
nicely, and for picking up beer.
- David Ochel and Andrea Croskrey for facilitating the Vertical Workshop.
- Michael Cicherski for doing registration and taking care of all the
money.
- Jim Kennedy & Yaz for the TCMA auction.
- Saj Zappitello for organizing the TCMA auction and soliciting for
items.
- Vendors for bringing us the goods.
- Bennett Lee for group photo (he should be posing it soon).
- Bill Steele for hooking cavers up with Shiner beer!!!
- Diana Tomchick for Margarita Happy Hour.
Ellie
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Big thank you to Ellie for making it all possible!
I was especially pleased to see the large number of families with children at
the Convention this year, it's great to see all the generations of cavers get
together.
Who arranged for the after-auction entertainment? That was an inspired choice.
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
On Apr 2, 2012, at 9:34 AM, ellie watson wrote:
> We had a great turn out for the 2012 TSA Spring Convention in Boerne, TX with
> over 130 in attendance. The weather was perfect and friends were all around.
>
> Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped to make the convention a
> success!
>
> I would like to give special thanks to the following:
> • EVERYONE who helped out by setting up, tearing down, and pitching in
> in every place...and for all the good-times! Too many names to thank for all
> this but you all are appreciated.
> • Roger Moore & Mallory Mayeux for recruiting & scheduling great
> presenters.
> • All those who gave such impressive presentations, it wouldn't be a
> convention with out you!
> • Christopher Francke and Leslie Bell for tirelessly providing AV for
> the Convention.
> • Marvin Miller for chairing the Map Salon and for soliciting entries.
> • Don Arburn for chairing the Photo Salon, displaying the photos so
> nicely, and for picking up beer.
> • David Ochel and Andrea Croskrey for facilitating the Vertical
> Workshop.
> • Michael Cicherski for doing registration and taking care of all the
> money.
> • Jim Kennedy & Yaz for the TCMA auction.
> • Saj Zappitello for organizing the TCMA auction and soliciting for
> items.
> • Vendors for bringing us the goods.
> • Bennett Lee for group photo (he should be posing it soon).
> • Bill Steele for hooking cavers up with Shiner beer!!!
> • Diana Tomchick for Margarita Happy Hour.
>
> Ellie
>
>
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Yes, thank you Ellie! Your hard work paid off--it was a wonderful
convention!
I believe Angela just volunteered to spin fire Saturday night--it wasn't
planned, but just worked out great. I absolutely loved it. Did anyone
happen to get any video of that? It was too cool.
Mallory
On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 10:43 AM, Diana Tomchick <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Big thank you to Ellie for making it all possible!
>
> I was especially pleased to see the large number of families with children
> at the Convention this year, it's great to see all the generations of
> cavers get together.
>
> Who arranged for the after-auction entertainment? That was an inspired
> choice.
>
> Diana
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> Department of Biochemistry
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214B
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
> Email: [email protected]
> 214-645-6383 (phone)
> 214-645-6353 (fax)
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 2, 2012, at 9:34 AM, ellie watson wrote:
>
> > We had a great turn out for the 2012 TSA Spring Convention in Boerne, TX
> with over 130 in attendance. The weather was perfect and friends were all
> around.
> >
> > Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped to make the
> convention a success!
> >
> > I would like to give special thanks to the following:
> > • EVERYONE who helped out by setting up, tearing down, and
> pitching in in every place...and for all the good-times! Too many names to
> thank for all this but you all are appreciated.
> > • Roger Moore & Mallory Mayeux for recruiting & scheduling great
> presenters.
> > • All those who gave such impressive presentations, it wouldn't be
> a convention with out you!
> > • Christopher Francke and Leslie Bell for tirelessly providing AV
> for the Convention.
> > • Marvin Miller for chairing the Map Salon and for soliciting
> entries.
> > • Don Arburn for chairing the Photo Salon, displaying the photos
> so nicely, and for picking up beer.
> > • David Ochel and Andrea Croskrey for facilitating the Vertical
> Workshop.
> > • Michael Cicherski for doing registration and taking care of all
> the money.
> > • Jim Kennedy & Yaz for the TCMA auction.
> > • Saj Zappitello for organizing the TCMA auction and soliciting
> for items.
> > • Vendors for bringing us the goods.
> > • Bennett Lee for group photo (he should be posing it soon).
> > • Bill Steele for hooking cavers up with Shiner beer!!!
> > • Diana Tomchick for Margarita Happy Hour.
> >
> > Ellie
> >
> >
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> UT Southwestern Medical Center
> The future of medicine, today.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I made a partial video of the last dance on my smartphone and ftp's to Butch
Fralia, he will link it to the TSA web page...
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Mallory Mayeux
To: Diana Tomchick
Cc: ellie watson ; [email protected]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 10:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] TSA Spring Convention success, THANKS to all!
Yes, thank you Ellie! Your hard work paid off--it was a wonderful convention!
I believe Angela just volunteered to spin fire Saturday night--it wasn't
planned, but just worked out great. I absolutely loved it. Did anyone happen to
get any video of that? It was too cool.
Mallory
On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 10:43 AM, Diana Tomchick
<[email protected]> wrote:
Big thank you to Ellie for making it all possible!
I was especially pleased to see the large number of families with children
at the Convention this year, it's great to see all the generations of cavers
get together.
Who arranged for the after-auction entertainment? That was an inspired
choice.
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
On Apr 2, 2012, at 9:34 AM, ellie watson wrote:
> We had a great turn out for the 2012 TSA Spring Convention in Boerne, TX
with over 130 in attendance. The weather was perfect and friends were all
around.
>
> Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped to make the
convention a success!
>
> I would like to give special thanks to the following:
> • EVERYONE who helped out by setting up, tearing down, and
pitching in in every place...and for all the good-times! Too many names to
thank for all this but you all are appreciated.
> • Roger Moore & Mallory Mayeux for recruiting & scheduling great
presenters.
> • All those who gave such impressive presentations, it wouldn't be
a convention with out you!
> • Christopher Francke and Leslie Bell for tirelessly providing AV
for the Convention.
> • Marvin Miller for chairing the Map Salon and for soliciting
entries.
> • Don Arburn for chairing the Photo Salon, displaying the photos so
nicely, and for picking up beer.
> • David Ochel and Andrea Croskrey for facilitating the Vertical
Workshop.
> • Michael Cicherski for doing registration and taking care of all
the money.
> • Jim Kennedy & Yaz for the TCMA auction.
> • Saj Zappitello for organizing the TCMA auction and soliciting for
items.
> • Vendors for bringing us the goods.
> • Bennett Lee for group photo (he should be posing it soon).
> • Bill Steele for hooking cavers up with Shiner beer!!!
> • Diana Tomchick for Margarita Happy Hour.
>
> Ellie
>
>
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
My son has video, of course.
Sent cellularly.
-Don
On Apr 2, 2012, at 10:55 AM, Bill Bentley <[email protected]> wrote:
> I made a partial video of the last dance on my smartphone and ftp's to Butch
> Fralia, he will link it to the TSA web page...
> Bill
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mallory Mayeux
> To: Diana Tomchick
> Cc: ellie watson ; [email protected]
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 10:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] TSA Spring Convention success, THANKS to all!
>
> Yes, thank you Ellie! Your hard work paid off--it was a wonderful convention!
>
> I believe Angela just volunteered to spin fire Saturday night--it wasn't
> planned, but just worked out great. I absolutely loved it. Did anyone happen
> to get any video of that? It was too cool.
>
> Mallory
>
> On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 10:43 AM, Diana Tomchick
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> Big thank you to Ellie for making it all possible!
>
> I was especially pleased to see the large number of families with children at
> the Convention this year, it's great to see all the generations of
> cavers get together.
>
> Who arranged for the after-auction entertainment? That was an inspired choice.
>
> Diana
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Professor
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> Department of Biochemistry
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214B
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
> Email: [email protected]
> 214-645-6383 (phone)
> 214-645-6353 (fax)
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 2, 2012, at 9:34 AM, ellie watson wrote:
>
> > We had a great turn out for the 2012 TSA Spring Convention in Boerne, TX
> > with over 130 in attendance. The weather was perfect and friends were all
> > around.
> >
> > Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped to make the convention
> > a success!
> >
> > I would like to give special thanks to the following:
> > • EVERYONE who helped out by setting up, tearing down, and pitching
> > in in every place...and for all the good-times! Too many names to thank for
> > all this but you all are appreciated.
> > • Roger Moore & Mallory Mayeux for recruiting & scheduling great
> > presenters.
> > • All those who gave such impressive presentations, it wouldn't be a
> > convention with out you!
> > • Christopher Francke and Leslie Bell for tirelessly providing AV for
> > the Convention.
> > • Marvin Miller for chairing the Map Salon and for soliciting entries.
> > • Don Arburn for chairing the Photo Salon, displaying the photos so
> > nicely, and for picking up beer.
> > • David Ochel and Andrea Croskrey for facilitating the Vertical
> > Workshop.
> > • Michael Cicherski for doing registration and taking care of all the
> > money.
> > • Jim Kennedy & Yaz for the TCMA auction.
> > • Saj Zappitello for organizing the TCMA auction and soliciting for
> > items.
> > • Vendors for bringing us the goods.
> > • Bennett Lee for group photo (he should be posing it soon).
> > • Bill Steele for hooking cavers up with Shiner beer!!!
> > • Diana Tomchick for Margarita Happy Hour.
> >
> > Ellie
> >
> >
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> UT Southwestern Medical Center
> The future of medicine, today.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I posted the group photo for the TSA Spring Convention on TSA's Facebook
page. Please tag yourself.
For those who have not succumbed to Facebook, I also posted the full-res
version here:
http://bennettlee.com/photos/caving/TSASpringConvention2012.jpg
--Bennett Lee
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
That's a great shot, Bennett! Looks like it was well posed and used at
least a couple of good strobes.
One way to consider adding the names in a way that makes it more
difficult for the Google bots to do facial recognition on cavers is to
put the names in a graphic, instead of plain text. Here's an example
of the way the SWR is doing this: [http://www.caves.org/region/swr/photos2.html#dec2011
].
Another hint for any TSA cavers planning to attend the SWR 50th [http://www.caves.org/region/swr/50th.html
], get your registration in by May 1st before the price goes up.
You'all are welcome to join us at Historic Fort Stanton!
- Pete
On Apr 2, 2012, at 9:55 AM, Bennett Lee wrote:
I posted the group photo for the TSA Spring Convention on TSA’s
Facebook page. Please tag yourself.
For those who have not succumbed to Facebook, I also posted the full-
res version here:
http://bennettlee.com/photos/caving/TSASpringConvention2012.jpg
--Bennett Lee
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Bad news from Missouri.
Roger Moore
-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Schaper <[email protected]>
To: MMVGrotto <[email protected]>; MeramecValleyGrotto
<[email protected]>; mocaves <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, Apr 2, 2012 10:54 am
Subject: [MOCAVES] 3 cases full WNS discovered in Lincoln County...
Three cases of bat disease discovered in Missouri
MDC confirms White-Nose Syndrome in bats from two caves in Lincoln
County.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
recently received confirmation that a deadly disease in bats called
“White-Nose Syndrome” (WNS) has been found in three bats from two caves in
Lincoln County. The name describes a white fungus, Geomyces destructans,
typically found on the faces and wings of infected bats. WNS spreads mainly
through bat-to-bat contact and has not been found to infect humans or other
animals.
WNS was confirmed in a little brown bat from one public cave and in two
tri-colored bats from a second public cave north of St. Louis by the U. S.
Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis. The
specific names and locations of the caves are not being disclosed to help
prevent human disturbance of remaining bats in the caves. The two caves are
closed to public access.
“Disturbing bats in caves while they roost or hibernate can increase
their stress and further weaken their health,” said MDC Bat Biologist Tony
Elliott.
Evidence of the fungus that causes WNS was first detected in Missouri in
April 2010 on a little brown bat found in a privately owned cave in Pike
County. In May 2010, evidence of the fungus was detected on five federally
endangered gray bats and on a northern long-eared bat netted outside a
public cave in Shannon County. The three bats with WNS in Lincoln County are
the first confirmed cases in Missouri of the actual disease.
Elliot explained that the earlier detected cases of the fungus means the
bats had contact with the fungus that causes WNS, but may or may not have
been infected with the WNS disease. He added that these first confirmed
cases of the disease mean the bats have WNS and the disease is present in
Missouri and likely to spread.
“We have worked closely with the Missouri Department of Conservation to
prepare for the arrival of White-Nose Syndrome in Missouri,” said U.S Fish
and Wildlife Service Midwest Region Regional WNS Coordinator Rich Geboy.
“Now that we have confirmed it is here, we will continue to work with MDC
and our other partners in Missouri to research and manage the disease.”
MDC has been working with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and
USFWS, along with conservation groups and private cave owners to address the
threat of WNS. Efforts include restricting access to most publicly-owned
caves that contain bats and educating the public about the value of bats and
the threat of WNS.
“While many caves on public lands that house bats have been closed to
public access in response to the threat of White-Nose Syndrome, Missouri’s
numerous show caves remain open as great places for people to discover
nature by learning about the value of bats and the unique ecosystems of cave
environments,” Elliott said.
Approximately 74 percent of the more than 6,300 caves in Missouri are
privately owned. Visitors to private caves are asked to check with
landowners before entering caves, and to use USFWS decontamination protocols
before and after visits to reduce the risk for accidental spread of the
fungus. Information on these protocols is available at
fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/pdf/WNSDecontaminationProtocol_v012511.pdf.
The WNS fungus thrives in cool, damp conditions found in many caves,
which are also ideal hibernation and roosting sites for many bat species.
Bats with WNS exhibit unusual behavior such as flying outside and clustering
near entrances of caves and mines during the day in cold winter months when
they should be hibernating. This activity uses up stored fat reserves needed
to get them through the winter, and they may freeze or starve to death.
USFWS biologists and partners estimate that at least 5.5 million bats
have now died from the disease, which continues to spread. WNS is decimating
bat populations across eastern North America, with mortality reaching up to
100 percent at many sites. First documented in New York in 2007, the disease
has spread quickly into 19 states and four Canadian provinces.
Bats provide tremendous value as natural pest control for farms and
forests, and also play an essential role in helping to control insects that
can spread disease to people.
“Missouri is home to at least 12 species of bats,” Elliott explained.
“They are our front-line defense against many insect pests including some
moths, certain beetles and mosquitoes. Missouri’s 775,000 gray bats alone
eat more than 223 billion bugs a year, or about 540 tons.”
He added that bats are long-lived but slow-reproducing animals with most
species having an average lifespan of about 15 years and giving birth
usually to only one pup each year.
“Bats also play a vital role in cave ecosystems by providing nutrients
for other cave life through their droppings, or guano,” Elliott said. “Bats
are also food for other animals such as snakes and owls.”
Elliott cautioned that people should not handle any bats, and should
contact their local MDC office or conservation agent if they find dead bats
or see bats flying outside during the day during cold winter months when
they typically would be roosting or hibernating.
More information on WNS is available at:
fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/
nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/
fort.usgs.gov/wns/
nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/wns_definitions.jsp
####
Server limitations prevent the inclusion of photos as attachments to MDC
News/All Outdoors media releases. Images of bats with White-Nose Syndrome
are available at
http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/three-cases-bat-disease-discovered-missouri
To follow MDC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, or through RSS
feeds, visit mdc.mo.gov and click on the icons at the bottom of the page.
Joe Jerek
News Services Coordinator
Missouri Department of Conservation
[email protected] or 573-522-4115 x3362
Discover Nature at www.mdc.mo.gov
_______________________________________________
Mdcnews mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.mo.gov/mailman/listinfo/mdcnews
Jo Schaper
River Hills Traveler
Assistant Editor
800-874-8423 x 2
[email protected]
--
http://www.missouriworld.net
http://www.riverhillstraveler.com
_______________________________________________
MOCAVES mailing list
[email protected]
http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/mocaves_caver.net
--- End Message ---
