Thanks for the note Julie. I haven't yet mailed the package to Jerry so will remove the letter and forward it to the TCMA mailbox. Thanks again to you and Bill and Craig's daughter Molly for your incredible efforts in support of Camp Challenge.
Ron _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of JJenkins Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 2:32 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: CaveTex: Thank-you letter Ron, The letter goes to Julie Jenkins, TCMA for taking Molly and her Camp Challenge kids to Whirlpool Cave a couple of weeks ago. It's not a TSA project or event, it's a TCMA event and I have done this event for the past 3 years. Bill Russell usually helps out and was the original contact to Molly Bittinger, Craig Bittinger's (old timer caver, now living in Hawaii) daughter who is a teacher/couselor at the School for the Blind. Ron, pls forward that letter to the TCMA mailbox at: PO Box 202853, Austin, TX 78722-2853. Thanks, I'm very happy that they have TCMA as a contact for an incredible experience, not just for the kids, but for me, as well. It's wonderful, amazing and very humbling. It makes me take stock of all the gifts I have in life, one being my sight! The kids are amazing, curious and fearless, the toughest challenge for them is the entrance ladder, as one might imagine, blind folks have very little use for ladders. They are terrific in the cave! We've never even had anyone so much as stumble, or trip and fall. They're incredibly tactile and thus feeling all the neat rock, with all of its nuances is a thrill for them. Wonderful is the best description I have for the experience! thanks for sending this notice out to cavetex. I'll call Molly and let her know we received it. There are photos, which I can make available if folks are interested. julie jenkins VP, TCMA At 11:22 AM 7/2/2005 -0500, Ron Ralph wrote: Cavers, As you may or may not know, I collect TSA mail from the UT PO box on campus. I just opened a letter from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired dated June 20, 2005 and signed by Phil Hatlen, Superintendent and Molly Birrell, Teacher. They wish to thank the Texas Speleological Association for contributing a free caving experience for the summer school students in the Camp Challenge program. They further say that gifts like yours provide us with the opportunity to enrich the lives of children in special ways. To those of you who participated in this event, I would like to thank you personally and on behalf of the Texas Speleological Association for your contribution of time and labor to make this experience memorable to these students. You give us all a good name. The original letter has been sent to TSA secretary Jerry Atkinson. Contact him if you want a copy or want to see the original. Sincerely, Ron Ralph Mailman
