Cavers,
There will be another work session for the Texas Speleological Survey tomorrow evening, Wednesday, September 14th, at the Pickle. Doors open at 5:00pm and close when we all get tired. There will be a lot of work to do. Last Sunday, there was a special work session for a group of Austin cavers who really wanted to get a tour and work on a non-Wednesday evening. Nine showed up including Jim and Kat, William, James, Cara, Bev, Marlene, Shannon and David. Physical labor included moving new (to us) filing cabinets to the third floor, wire brushing the walls in the back room after removing electrical metal tubing and copper gas pipe. The room is now ready for painting and then the installation of shop lights (hint, Jerry Fant). The large pile of USGS maps, a recent gift by a retiring caver, was partially sorted into initial piles requiring more sorting. The final piles will include maps for our files, maps to be sold at TCR and maps for discard (torn, cut, containing sensitive environmental data). Kat began cataloguing the TSS holdings and will continue this chore as our librarian for many moons to come. Labels were prepared for several folders and some counties perused prior to resorting. We will soon begin a new program called "Adopt a County" that will allow one or more cavers to select a set of county files for organization. We have several that are in great need of work. David worked on a new computer (named YELLOW) and seems to have it up and running. Jim cleaned up the ROYAL computer placing files to be moved to the new (BLACK) computer prior to scrubbing the ROYAL hard drive. We need a large memory stick or other device to move these files, as the write to CD function on the YELLOW is acting up. There are several other computers in the storage room that will require geek assistance to see if they can be salvaged or robbed for parts. A trip to the recycle shop is required in the near future. So there is a lot to do. Come out and give a hand. The TSS "office" is in building 18-A at the Pickle Research Center (PRC) in north Austin. PRC is between 183 and Braker, and between Mopac and Burnet. If coming north on Mopac, take the Braker exit, then enter from the north. If closed, continue east to Burnet, turn south (right) and enter from the east. If coming west on Research (183), take the Burnet Road exit, then north on Burnet to the east entrance on the left. After hours, you can only enter from the east off Burnet Road. A detailed map to PRC can be found at http://www.utexas.edu/maps/prc/ On the PRC map 2 ("NW Area"), 18-A is the little building just above the "ra" in "Granberry". Park to the south in the PETEX lot across the street (Read Granberry Trail) from building 18-A. Remember that you must arrive before 6:00 pm, or the gate guards might not let you in! We'll probably work until 8:30 or 9:00. If you have questions, please contact me [email protected] off line, or give me a call at 512.280.9648. Matthew McConaughey might show up with his bongos. It is not true that some of the New Orleans Saints cheerleaders will be stopping by to show us their cave leads. Ron Ralph
