I've just returned from an exceptionally pleasant dinner. Several Texas cavers arrived in Carlsbad today. Since I couldn't join them caving this weekend, they met me for dinner. The delicious main course came when Bexar Grotto President Evelynn Mitchell told me that Bexar Grotto just approved sponsoring the 15th International Congress of Speleology (ICS) with a $1,000 donation! Bexar Grotto is the grotto closest to the ICS venue and many of its members are highly involved in organizing the ICS, but they are now the first grotto to sponsor the ICS. Such support is key to helping keep the registration price as low as possible. If you work, belong to, or have some influence or affiliation with a company, agency, or organization, check to see if they would be willing to sponsor the ICS. They don't have to be specifically cave-related to be interested in sponsoring the ICS. Check out the ICS website (www.ics2009.us) and the home page will show you a number of caving but also non-caving sponsors. This is the last month when sponsors can join us and still receive maximum exposure through our promotional media. If anyone would like information on how to sponsor the ICS, the various sponsoring levels, and what the ICS offers in return, contact Fund Raising Chairman Ron Ralph at [email protected]. One of the goals of the ICS to bring together as many cavers, and cave and karst scientists, managers, and educators as possible. Keeping the price of registration as low as possible will help make this possible, especially for students and people traveling to the US from other countries.
Thank you Bexar Grotto and everyone helping to support the 15th ICS. George Veni Chairman, 15th International Congress of Speleology
