I'm sure everyone knows by now that the 2009 NSS Convention will be held in conjunction with the 15th International Congress of Speleology in Kerrville, Texas. See <http://www.ics2009.us/>. Since New Mexicans are relatively close by and many know quite a bit about Texas, you are perfectly situated to become part of the operation of the ICS and help out by volunteering. Periodically I will post volunteer solicitations on behalf of Nancy Weaver, who is coordinating volunteer efforts. Please help out if you can. Thanks!
Mark Minton Dear Caver - We at the International Congress of Speleology headquarters are excited about the volunteer opportunities available for Texas, US and foreign attendees of the Congress, chances to get involved and really get to know many of the other cavers from around the world. The areas we are currently focusing on are translation opportunities, transportation for day trips and leading day cave trips. All of these are tremendous ways to connect with a wide variety of visitors from the US and all over the world. And in my experience, most of the people you interact with will be eager to host you in their home place. Following are brief blurbs by Sherry (translation) Don (drivers) and Travis (day trips) Please feel free to contact them directly and cc me. Or simply let me know to keep you on my list and informed about more positions as they arise. For those of you who already know the benefits of helping to run the show, please consider telling your friends and having them contact me to see how they can share in the camaraderie. Thanks! -- Nancy Weaver Volunteer Co-ordinator ICS [email protected] 512.847.7422 "Sherry Graham" [email protected] Volunteer Opportunities for the Translations Committee If you speak and/or write English and another language, here are two ways you may be able to assist this Committee. Besides, we're a very congenial multinational group and will be happy to meet you! Before the Congress: In preparation of the Circulars, website, and other materials, and in assisting the rest of the Organizing Committee with communications in non-English languages, we need volunteers who can write in English and another language and communicate via e-mail. Our needs are mostly in translation of English into French, German, Italian, and Spanish, but are not limited to that. Many texts needing translation are short, and I'm always happy to find answers to any questions you encounter. Are you a scientist or science student? If so, please go back and read the previous paragraph again. Your specialized vocabulary may be very helpful to us. At the Congress: If you speak English and another language, you can help this Committee as we try to make everyone feel welcome at the Congress regardless of language skills. All you will be asked to do is to identify yourself with a sticker or tag (we will provide those) saying "Ich spreche Deutsch" or "Io parlo Italiano" or whatever! You can then be identified by a person whose English is not great and who needs to ask a question in your language. You pick the occasions on which you wear your sticker or tag. Don Arburne [email protected] Drivers Nancy, I will need drivers, lots of them. 24 years or older (in 2009) for 15 passenger vans for various trips during the ICS. Somewhere in the region of 24+ a day for the entire ICS. "Travis Scott" [email protected] Day Trips I am looking for volunteers to lead day caving trips during the convention. The trips will range from short drives to somewhat nearby caves to long day trips to caves further away. They will range in size based on what the cave can handle with minimum impact. Transportation methods will be based on vehicle accessibility, trip size, etc. I need some volunteers that can start working with me soon to start visiting some of these caves, become familiar with the caves, and get to know the land owners a bit so that they can lead trips into these caves during the convention. And lots of smaller tasks . . .
_______________________________________________ NMCAVER mailing list [email protected] http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/nmcaver_caver.net
