Re: [Texascavers] West Virginia related
David see Bill Balfour's FB Page. Culverson Creek lake waiting to drain through the cave. Lake is probably 50 feet deep and maybe more. It is backed up 2 miles and is 10 feet over the Ft Donally bridge. Gary Moss At 07:13 PM 6/24/2016, you wrote: I know many of the caves in West Virginia should not be entered if there is any chance of a thunderstorm. I can only guess that during a historic flood like the one going on today that all caves there are off limits and deadly. My curiosity wonders which of the major caves would be totally sumped with fast moving currents thru them. I seem to recall a map of a cave with a passage called "Canadian River" and was told cavers should never ever go there without doing detailed research on the weather. I assume right now today nobody is caving in Kentucky or Virginia, or North Carolina either ? David Locklear <mailto:dlocklea...@gmail.com>dlocklea...@gmail.com ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Re: Cave articles in Spiegel (German weekly)
Hi Mark: I think Carbide is still used in the production of steel. Some friends of mine once to a steel plant thinking they could get the empty 100 lb cans. They just through the carbide in the mix can and all. It appears the steel can did not hurt the steel :) Gary Moss At 10:47 PM 8/23/2012, Mark Minton wrote: I agree. Calcium carbide is mainly used for production of acetylene for welding where it is not available in tanks. In the West that is increasingly rare. My guess is that carbide will soon cease to be available at reasonable cost. (It is already hazardous cargo.) Mark At 10:07 PM 8/23/2012, DONALD G. DAVIS wrote: Mark, You'd be the best to answer this, wasn't calcium carbide a byproduct of something else, and used to produce commercial acetylene gas quantities? What is the current practice to get the gas? john Lyles No, calcium carbide was never a byproduct. It was, from the late 1800s, and still is, produced by reacting calcium carbonate and coke in electric furnaces. Its major use is still for making acetylene, but where petroleum and natural gas are plentiful, most acetylene today is derived from those instead. The Wikipedia article calcium carbide explains it. --Donald Please reply to mmin...@caver.net Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [SWR] [Texascavers] Re: Cave articles in Spiegel (German weekly)
Hi Mark: I think Carbide is still used in the production of steel. Some friends of mine once to a steel plant thinking they could get the empty 100 lb cans. They just through the carbide in the mix can and all. It appears the steel can did not hurt the steel :) Gary Moss At 10:47 PM 8/23/2012, Mark Minton wrote: I agree. Calcium carbide is mainly used for production of acetylene for welding where it is not available in tanks. In the West that is increasingly rare. My guess is that carbide will soon cease to be available at reasonable cost. (It is already hazardous cargo.) Mark At 10:07 PM 8/23/2012, DONALD G. DAVIS wrote: Mark, You'd be the best to answer this, wasn't calcium carbide a byproduct of something else, and used to produce commercial acetylene gas quantities? What is the current practice to get the gas? john Lyles No, calcium carbide was never a byproduct. It was, from the late 1800s, and still is, produced by reacting calcium carbonate and coke in electric furnaces. Its major use is still for making acetylene, but where petroleum and natural gas are plentiful, most acetylene today is derived from those instead. The Wikipedia article calcium carbide explains it. --Donald Please reply to mmin...@caver.net Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [Texascavers] Re: Cave articles in Spiegel (German weekly)
Hi Mark: I think Carbide is still used in the production of steel. Some friends of mine once to a steel plant thinking they could get the empty 100 lb cans. They just through the carbide in the mix can and all. It appears the steel can did not hurt the steel :) Gary Moss At 10:47 PM 8/23/2012, Mark Minton wrote: I agree. Calcium carbide is mainly used for production of acetylene for welding where it is not available in tanks. In the West that is increasingly rare. My guess is that carbide will soon cease to be available at reasonable cost. (It is already hazardous cargo.) Mark At 10:07 PM 8/23/2012, DONALD G. DAVIS wrote: Mark, You'd be the best to answer this, wasn't calcium carbide a byproduct of something else, and used to produce commercial acetylene gas quantities? What is the current practice to get the gas? john Lyles No, calcium carbide was never a byproduct. It was, from the late 1800s, and still is, produced by reacting calcium carbonate and coke in electric furnaces. Its major use is still for making acetylene, but where petroleum and natural gas are plentiful, most acetylene today is derived from those instead. The Wikipedia article calcium carbide explains it. --Donald Please reply to mmin...@caver.net Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Re: Cave articles in Spiegel (German weekly)
Hi Mark: I think Carbide is still used in the production of steel. Some friends of mine once to a steel plant thinking they could get the empty 100 lb cans. They just through the carbide in the mix can and all. It appears the steel can did not hurt the steel :) Gary Moss At 10:47 PM 8/23/2012, Mark Minton wrote: I agree. Calcium carbide is mainly used for production of acetylene for welding where it is not available in tanks. In the West that is increasingly rare. My guess is that carbide will soon cease to be available at reasonable cost. (It is already hazardous cargo.) Mark At 10:07 PM 8/23/2012, DONALD G. DAVIS wrote: Mark, You'd be the best to answer this, wasn't calcium carbide a byproduct of something else, and used to produce commercial acetylene gas quantities? What is the current practice to get the gas? john Lyles No, calcium carbide was never a byproduct. It was, from the late 1800s, and still is, produced by reacting calcium carbonate and coke in electric furnaces. Its major use is still for making acetylene, but where petroleum and natural gas are plentiful, most acetylene today is derived from those instead. The Wikipedia article calcium carbide explains it. --Donald Please reply to mmin...@caver.net Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [SWR] [Texascavers] Re: Cave articles in Spiegel (German weekly)
Hi Mark: I think Carbide is still used in the production of steel. Some friends of mine once to a steel plant thinking they could get the empty 100 lb cans. They just through the carbide in the mix can and all. It appears the steel can did not hurt the steel :) Gary Moss At 10:47 PM 8/23/2012, Mark Minton wrote: I agree. Calcium carbide is mainly used for production of acetylene for welding where it is not available in tanks. In the West that is increasingly rare. My guess is that carbide will soon cease to be available at reasonable cost. (It is already hazardous cargo.) Mark At 10:07 PM 8/23/2012, DONALD G. DAVIS wrote: Mark, You'd be the best to answer this, wasn't calcium carbide a byproduct of something else, and used to produce commercial acetylene gas quantities? What is the current practice to get the gas? john Lyles No, calcium carbide was never a byproduct. It was, from the late 1800s, and still is, produced by reacting calcium carbonate and coke in electric furnaces. Its major use is still for making acetylene, but where petroleum and natural gas are plentiful, most acetylene today is derived from those instead. The Wikipedia article calcium carbide explains it. --Donald Please reply to mmin...@caver.net Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [Texascavers] NSS election
From the NSS Web Site: Paperless Election FAQ What do you mean by a Paperless Election? The Nominating Committee will not be mailing out a hard copy, paper ballot for the 2012 Director Election. What method will be used instead? How will NSS members vote? The Nominating Committee has chosen Vote-Now.com to run the 2012 Director Election. Why is this being done? Cost Savingswe will save on printing and postage. Error Preventionthe potential for human error in vote counting will be reduced. Simplicityit will be easier for the Nominating Committee to conduct the election. Ease of Useit will be easier, quicker, and cheaper for individual NSS members to cast their vote. Conservationwe'll use less paper. How will I cast my ballot? In the Sping of 2012 all NSS members, who are eligible to vote in the Director Election, will receive an e-mail invitation to vote from Vote-Now.com. When members click the link in the invitation, the 2012 Director Election ballot will load in their browser. The member will make a selection of candidates and cast his or her ballot. I don't have an e-mail account, how will I vote? All eligible members who do not have an e-mail address listed in the NSS member database will receive a postcard with a unique voter code and voting instructions. The voter can use that code to vote from a Web browser on any Internet-connected computer. I don't have an Internet connection or even a computer, what will I do? You'll still get a postcard with a unique voter code in the mail. Take the card to the Library or to a friend, relative, or acquaintance who has an Internet-connected computer. Why are you forcing me to use the Internet? We don't want to force anyone to use the Internet if they don't want to. You may still use a paper ballot, but you'll need to request one by following the instructions on the follow-up card. The Nominating Committee is encouraging everyone to use the Internet though, because it will save us money. Where will I be able to find information about the Director candidates? The Nominating Committee will still publish the candidate platforms on the Nominating Committee Web site. You will also be able to access candidate platforms from the online ballot. Will any of the dates in the election timeline change? Since we anticipate that a few members will request a written ballot, we will still need to abide by the timeline. The timeline is based on deadlines required in the NSS Bylaws. I have questions about the organization you have chosen to run the election. Where can I find out more about them? Here's their Web site: Vote-Now.Com. I have a question that you haven't answered here. How can I ask it? Please e-mail the Nominating Committee Chairman, Allan Weberg, at nominat...@caves.org. What can I do to help? Check the latest NSS Members Manual to see if you have a valid, working e-mail address on file, or... Check with the NSS Office to make sure you have a valid, working e-mail address. Submit an online Change of Member Info Form to add or change your email address Help us get the word out at Grotto Meetings, Region Meetings, and elsewhereencourage folks to update their e-mail address. Make sure the spam filter on your e-mail client doesn't block e-mail coming from electi...@vote-now.com by adding this address or the Vote-Now.com domain to your e-mail client whitelist. Gary Moss === = At 05:11 PM 2/4/2012, Mixon Bill wrote: According to the February NSS News, the 2012 National Speleological Society election will go paperless. Presumably that means that you'll get the ballot and platforms by e-mail. Nothing is said about how you'll return your votes; will be interesting to see what they come up with for that. The announcement doesn't say so, but I assume that those with no e-mail address on file at the office will still get it on paper. Anyway, make sure the NSS office has your current e-mail address if you have one. Evidently you can change your NSS membership info at https://secure.caves.org/nssapps/changeinfo.shtml . My information has been stable for so long I've never had to mess with the membership-update stuff of their site at all, but it looks like that's a new URL for it. Good luck. My experience is that the secure.caves.org site is annoying because it doesn't remember that you've logged in using a cookie, but some mysterious other way that I haven't enabled on my system. Just a reminder. Most NSS members will have seen the announcement if they've looked at their News and didn't just pass it up, thinking it was an advertisement or something. -- Mixon Never play leapfrog with a unicorn. You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] NSS election
From the NSS Web Site: Paperless Election FAQ What do you mean by a Paperless Election? The Nominating Committee will not be mailing out a hard copy, paper ballot for the 2012 Director Election. What method will be used instead? How will NSS members vote? The Nominating Committee has chosen Vote-Now.com to run the 2012 Director Election. Why is this being done? Cost Savingswe will save on printing and postage. Error Preventionthe potential for human error in vote counting will be reduced. Simplicityit will be easier for the Nominating Committee to conduct the election. Ease of Useit will be easier, quicker, and cheaper for individual NSS members to cast their vote. Conservationwe'll use less paper. How will I cast my ballot? In the Sping of 2012 all NSS members, who are eligible to vote in the Director Election, will receive an e-mail invitation to vote from Vote-Now.com. When members click the link in the invitation, the 2012 Director Election ballot will load in their browser. The member will make a selection of candidates and cast his or her ballot. I don't have an e-mail account, how will I vote? All eligible members who do not have an e-mail address listed in the NSS member database will receive a postcard with a unique voter code and voting instructions. The voter can use that code to vote from a Web browser on any Internet-connected computer. I don't have an Internet connection or even a computer, what will I do? You'll still get a postcard with a unique voter code in the mail. Take the card to the Library or to a friend, relative, or acquaintance who has an Internet-connected computer. Why are you forcing me to use the Internet? We don't want to force anyone to use the Internet if they don't want to. You may still use a paper ballot, but you'll need to request one by following the instructions on the follow-up card. The Nominating Committee is encouraging everyone to use the Internet though, because it will save us money. Where will I be able to find information about the Director candidates? The Nominating Committee will still publish the candidate platforms on the Nominating Committee Web site. You will also be able to access candidate platforms from the online ballot. Will any of the dates in the election timeline change? Since we anticipate that a few members will request a written ballot, we will still need to abide by the timeline. The timeline is based on deadlines required in the NSS Bylaws. I have questions about the organization you have chosen to run the election. Where can I find out more about them? Here's their Web site: Vote-Now.Com. I have a question that you haven't answered here. How can I ask it? Please e-mail the Nominating Committee Chairman, Allan Weberg, at nominat...@caves.org. What can I do to help? Check the latest NSS Members Manual to see if you have a valid, working e-mail address on file, or... Check with the NSS Office to make sure you have a valid, working e-mail address. Submit an online Change of Member Info Form to add or change your email address Help us get the word out at Grotto Meetings, Region Meetings, and elsewhereencourage folks to update their e-mail address. Make sure the spam filter on your e-mail client doesn't block e-mail coming from electi...@vote-now.com by adding this address or the Vote-Now.com domain to your e-mail client whitelist. Gary Moss === = At 05:11 PM 2/4/2012, Mixon Bill wrote: According to the February NSS News, the 2012 National Speleological Society election will go paperless. Presumably that means that you'll get the ballot and platforms by e-mail. Nothing is said about how you'll return your votes; will be interesting to see what they come up with for that. The announcement doesn't say so, but I assume that those with no e-mail address on file at the office will still get it on paper. Anyway, make sure the NSS office has your current e-mail address if you have one. Evidently you can change your NSS membership info at https://secure.caves.org/nssapps/changeinfo.shtml . My information has been stable for so long I've never had to mess with the membership-update stuff of their site at all, but it looks like that's a new URL for it. Good luck. My experience is that the secure.caves.org site is annoying because it doesn't remember that you've logged in using a cookie, but some mysterious other way that I haven't enabled on my system. Just a reminder. Most NSS members will have seen the announcement if they've looked at their News and didn't just pass it up, thinking it was an advertisement or something. -- Mixon Never play leapfrog with a unicorn. You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] NSS election
From the NSS Web Site: Paperless Election FAQ What do you mean by a Paperless Election? The Nominating Committee will not be mailing out a hard copy, paper ballot for the 2012 Director Election. What method will be used instead? How will NSS members vote? The Nominating Committee has chosen Vote-Now.com to run the 2012 Director Election. Why is this being done? Cost Savingswe will save on printing and postage. Error Preventionthe potential for human error in vote counting will be reduced. Simplicityit will be easier for the Nominating Committee to conduct the election. Ease of Useit will be easier, quicker, and cheaper for individual NSS members to cast their vote. Conservationwe'll use less paper. How will I cast my ballot? In the Sping of 2012 all NSS members, who are eligible to vote in the Director Election, will receive an e-mail invitation to vote from Vote-Now.com. When members click the link in the invitation, the 2012 Director Election ballot will load in their browser. The member will make a selection of candidates and cast his or her ballot. I don't have an e-mail account, how will I vote? All eligible members who do not have an e-mail address listed in the NSS member database will receive a postcard with a unique voter code and voting instructions. The voter can use that code to vote from a Web browser on any Internet-connected computer. I don't have an Internet connection or even a computer, what will I do? You'll still get a postcard with a unique voter code in the mail. Take the card to the Library or to a friend, relative, or acquaintance who has an Internet-connected computer. Why are you forcing me to use the Internet? We don't want to force anyone to use the Internet if they don't want to. You may still use a paper ballot, but you'll need to request one by following the instructions on the follow-up card. The Nominating Committee is encouraging everyone to use the Internet though, because it will save us money. Where will I be able to find information about the Director candidates? The Nominating Committee will still publish the candidate platforms on the Nominating Committee Web site. You will also be able to access candidate platforms from the online ballot. Will any of the dates in the election timeline change? Since we anticipate that a few members will request a written ballot, we will still need to abide by the timeline. The timeline is based on deadlines required in the NSS Bylaws. I have questions about the organization you have chosen to run the election. Where can I find out more about them? Here's their Web site: Vote-Now.Com. I have a question that you haven't answered here. How can I ask it? Please e-mail the Nominating Committee Chairman, Allan Weberg, at nominat...@caves.org. What can I do to help? Check the latest NSS Members Manual to see if you have a valid, working e-mail address on file, or... Check with the NSS Office to make sure you have a valid, working e-mail address. Submit an online Change of Member Info Form to add or change your email address Help us get the word out at Grotto Meetings, Region Meetings, and elsewhereencourage folks to update their e-mail address. Make sure the spam filter on your e-mail client doesn't block e-mail coming from electi...@vote-now.com by adding this address or the Vote-Now.com domain to your e-mail client whitelist. Gary Moss === = At 05:11 PM 2/4/2012, Mixon Bill wrote: According to the February NSS News, the 2012 National Speleological Society election will go paperless. Presumably that means that you'll get the ballot and platforms by e-mail. Nothing is said about how you'll return your votes; will be interesting to see what they come up with for that. The announcement doesn't say so, but I assume that those with no e-mail address on file at the office will still get it on paper. Anyway, make sure the NSS office has your current e-mail address if you have one. Evidently you can change your NSS membership info at https://secure.caves.org/nssapps/changeinfo.shtml . My information has been stable for so long I've never had to mess with the membership-update stuff of their site at all, but it looks like that's a new URL for it. Good luck. My experience is that the secure.caves.org site is annoying because it doesn't remember that you've logged in using a cookie, but some mysterious other way that I haven't enabled on my system. Just a reminder. Most NSS members will have seen the announcement if they've looked at their News and didn't just pass it up, thinking it was an advertisement or something. -- Mixon Never play leapfrog with a unicorn. You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
Re: [Texascavers] Study confirms Geomyces destructans responsible for WNS
Hi all One of our grotto members got invited to the press conference when this was announced. Below is his E-Mail and a site where he reported his comments on the press conference. I really like the magic bat affect for warmer areas. Gary Moss === Yo, The press conference is over and I have posted my report on my website, http://behindtheblack.com. The big news today is not so much that the fungus causes white nose, but that bats completely recover from the syndrome given the right circumstances. And those circumstances suggest that the syndrome will have great difficulty doing harm in warmer climates. Bob At 09:36 PM 10/26/2011, Justin Leigh Shaw wrote: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111026/full/news.2011.613.html Culprit behind bat scourge confirmed A cold-loving fungus is behind an epidemic decimating bat populations in North America. By: Susan Young Researchers have confirmed that a recently identified fungus is responsible for white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that is sweeping through bat colonies in eastern North America. The fungus, Geomyces destructans, infects the skin of hibernating bats, causing lesions on the animals' wings and a fluffy white outgrowth on the muzzle. When white-nose syndrome takes hold of a hibernating colony, more than 90% of the bats can die (see Disease epidemic killing only US bats). The disease was first documented in February 2006 in a cave in New York, and has spread to at least 16 other US states and four Canadian provinces. The culpability of G. destructans for this sudden outbreak was thrown into question when the fungus was found on healthy bats in Europe, where it is not associated with the grim mortality levels seen in North America1. Some proposed that the fungus was not the primary cause of the catastrophic die offs, and that another factor such as an undetected virus must be to blame. But a study published today in Nature2 reveals that G. destructans is indeed guilty. The fungus alone is sufficient to recreate all the pathology diagnostic for the disease, says David Blehert, a microbiologist at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and senior author on the report. Bat-to-bat spread Blehert and his colleagues collected healthy little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) from Wisconsin, which is well beyond the known range of white-nose syndrome. They infected the bats by direct administration of G. destructans spores to the skin or by contact with infected bats from New York. By the end of the 102-day experiment, the tell-tale white fungus was growing on the muzzles and wings of all of the directly infected Wisconsin bats and 16 of the 18 exposed to sick bats. This is the first experimental evidence that white-nose syndrome can be passed from bat to bat, and is very worrying from a conservation point of view because bats huddle together in large numbers in caves and mate in large swarms, says Emma Teeling, a bat biologist at University College Dublin in Ireland. If a bat has this fungus on them, it's going to spread quickly throughout the population, says Teeling, who was not involved with the study. It's like a perfect storm. The infected Wisconsin bats did not die during the experiment, which may be due to the limited timeline of infection, the authors suggest. Although the study does not directly show that a healthy bat will die from infection with G. destructans, the results did show that the fungus alone was sufficient to cause lesions diagnostic of white-nose syndrome to form on previously healthy bats, indicating that the fungus is the cause of the deaths so often associated with white-nose syndrome in the wild. To stop a scourge Since it first appeared, white-nose syndrome has behaved like a novel pathogen spreading from a single origin through a naive population, says Jonathan Sleeman, director of the National Wildlife Health Center, who was not involved in the study. Proof that G. destructans is the primary cause of white-nose syndrome will help us focus our actions or management efforts into the future, he says. Although little can be done to control the spread of the disease through bat-to-bat transmission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has asked people to stay out of caves in and near affected areas, and has closed some caves on agency-managed land. On 21 October, the FWS announced that up to $1 million in funding will be made available for research on white-nose syndrome. Projects covering topics such as how the fungus proliferates within caves and mines, and the potential for biological means or environmental manipulations to improve bat survival, are among the service's top priorities. * References 1. Puechmaille, S. J. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 570-576 (2011). 2. Lorch, J. M. et al. Nature doi:10.1038/nature10590 (2011). - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Study confirms Geomyces destructans responsible for WNS
Hi all One of our grotto members got invited to the press conference when this was announced. Below is his E-Mail and a site where he reported his comments on the press conference. I really like the magic bat affect for warmer areas. Gary Moss === Yo, The press conference is over and I have posted my report on my website, http://behindtheblack.com. The big news today is not so much that the fungus causes white nose, but that bats completely recover from the syndrome given the right circumstances. And those circumstances suggest that the syndrome will have great difficulty doing harm in warmer climates. Bob At 09:36 PM 10/26/2011, Justin Leigh Shaw wrote: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111026/full/news.2011.613.html Culprit behind bat scourge confirmed A cold-loving fungus is behind an epidemic decimating bat populations in North America. By: Susan Young Researchers have confirmed that a recently identified fungus is responsible for white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that is sweeping through bat colonies in eastern North America. The fungus, Geomyces destructans, infects the skin of hibernating bats, causing lesions on the animals' wings and a fluffy white outgrowth on the muzzle. When white-nose syndrome takes hold of a hibernating colony, more than 90% of the bats can die (see Disease epidemic killing only US bats). The disease was first documented in February 2006 in a cave in New York, and has spread to at least 16 other US states and four Canadian provinces. The culpability of G. destructans for this sudden outbreak was thrown into question when the fungus was found on healthy bats in Europe, where it is not associated with the grim mortality levels seen in North America1. Some proposed that the fungus was not the primary cause of the catastrophic die offs, and that another factor such as an undetected virus must be to blame. But a study published today in Nature2 reveals that G. destructans is indeed guilty. The fungus alone is sufficient to recreate all the pathology diagnostic for the disease, says David Blehert, a microbiologist at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and senior author on the report. Bat-to-bat spread Blehert and his colleagues collected healthy little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) from Wisconsin, which is well beyond the known range of white-nose syndrome. They infected the bats by direct administration of G. destructans spores to the skin or by contact with infected bats from New York. By the end of the 102-day experiment, the tell-tale white fungus was growing on the muzzles and wings of all of the directly infected Wisconsin bats and 16 of the 18 exposed to sick bats. This is the first experimental evidence that white-nose syndrome can be passed from bat to bat, and is very worrying from a conservation point of view because bats huddle together in large numbers in caves and mate in large swarms, says Emma Teeling, a bat biologist at University College Dublin in Ireland. If a bat has this fungus on them, it's going to spread quickly throughout the population, says Teeling, who was not involved with the study. It's like a perfect storm. The infected Wisconsin bats did not die during the experiment, which may be due to the limited timeline of infection, the authors suggest. Although the study does not directly show that a healthy bat will die from infection with G. destructans, the results did show that the fungus alone was sufficient to cause lesions diagnostic of white-nose syndrome to form on previously healthy bats, indicating that the fungus is the cause of the deaths so often associated with white-nose syndrome in the wild. To stop a scourge Since it first appeared, white-nose syndrome has behaved like a novel pathogen spreading from a single origin through a naive population, says Jonathan Sleeman, director of the National Wildlife Health Center, who was not involved in the study. Proof that G. destructans is the primary cause of white-nose syndrome will help us focus our actions or management efforts into the future, he says. Although little can be done to control the spread of the disease through bat-to-bat transmission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has asked people to stay out of caves in and near affected areas, and has closed some caves on agency-managed land. On 21 October, the FWS announced that up to $1 million in funding will be made available for research on white-nose syndrome. Projects covering topics such as how the fungus proliferates within caves and mines, and the potential for biological means or environmental manipulations to improve bat survival, are among the service's top priorities. * References 1. Puechmaille, S. J. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 570-576 (2011). 2. Lorch, J. M. et al. Nature doi:10.1038/nature10590 (2011). - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
RE: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related
Looking at the on-line NSS Board manual at past Board meetings looks like somewhere in October or November works. Gary Moss At 03:54 PM 6/20/2011, Fritz Holt wrote: That is a good question for someone other than me as I know nothing about it and was only responding to David's post. Fritz -Original Message- From: Rod Goke [mailto:rod.g...@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 2:36 PM To: Fritz Holt; 'David'; Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen; Texas Cavers Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related When during fall 2011 does the BOG meeting need to be scheduled? Notice that TCR 2011 is scheduled Oct. 14--16 at a location slightly west of Austin. Would it be practical to schedule the BOG meting close enough to that date so that people from out of state could attend both events during the same trip if they felt like spending more time here? Rod -Original Message- From: Fritz Holt fh...@townandcountryins.com Sent: Jun 20, 2011 11:24 AM To: 'David' dlocklea...@gmail.com, Clint Ladd btberser...@fastmail.fm, Lyndon Tiu lyndon@gmail.com, Syd Formanek sidca...@yahoo.com, Dorothy Mladenka dmlade...@juno.com, cavera...@aol.com cavera...@aol.com, hose h...@drkarst.net, Keith Goggin ke...@sbcglobal.net, Lisa Goggin l...@sbcglobal.net, Sheryl Rieck sheryl.ri...@gmail.com, Charles Fromen cfro...@yahoo.com, Texas Cavers Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related David and other interested parties, The Houston area has a host of opportunities for vacationers and tourists. However, if the Board of Governors are cavers, it would seem logical that the meeting be held in Austin which is much closer to some nice caves that may still be accessed. Some of the out of state visitors may want to visit a cave or two while in Texas. There are enough influential cavers in Austin that would probably volunteer to lead several trips. Where have you been, David? Has your computer been on the fritz? Fritz -Original Message- From: David [mailto:dlocklea...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 10:53 AM To: Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Fritz Holt; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; David Locklear; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen Subject: NSS caving related Dear caving friends, The National Speleological Society holds its annual Board of Governors meeting at different places each year. They are quickly searching for a place for the fall 2011 meeting. My good caving friend, RD Milhollin, of Dallas, is ramrodding the planning committee to get the meeting in Texas. He has possibly narrowed down to locations. 1 )Austin 2 ) Northeast Houston ( near Intercontinental Airport ) I believe they a commitment from the host by the end of the NSS Convention which means in less than a month. I would be willing to volunteer to meet people at the airport and drive them to their hotels and the meeting place. I would be willing to search for a meeting room. But that is about all I think I can volunteer for. I have serious doubts that the rest of the cavers in Texas would want to drive to northeast Houston.But the people flying in from the rest of the country would find that location convenient. But the purpose of the NSS holding in places like Houston, is to encourage NSS participation from different regions. Lake Houston State Park is only 30 minutes northeast of the airport, and the NSS could probably afford to rent all the facilities there, and then the guest would not have to get a hotel. David Locklear NSS 27639 - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related
Looking at the on-line NSS Board manual at past Board meetings looks like somewhere in October or November works. Gary Moss At 03:54 PM 6/20/2011, Fritz Holt wrote: That is a good question for someone other than me as I know nothing about it and was only responding to David's post. Fritz -Original Message- From: Rod Goke [mailto:rod.g...@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 2:36 PM To: Fritz Holt; 'David'; Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen; Texas Cavers Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related When during fall 2011 does the BOG meeting need to be scheduled? Notice that TCR 2011 is scheduled Oct. 14--16 at a location slightly west of Austin. Would it be practical to schedule the BOG meting close enough to that date so that people from out of state could attend both events during the same trip if they felt like spending more time here? Rod -Original Message- From: Fritz Holt fh...@townandcountryins.com Sent: Jun 20, 2011 11:24 AM To: 'David' dlocklea...@gmail.com, Clint Ladd btberser...@fastmail.fm, Lyndon Tiu lyndon@gmail.com, Syd Formanek sidca...@yahoo.com, Dorothy Mladenka dmlade...@juno.com, cavera...@aol.com cavera...@aol.com, hose h...@drkarst.net, Keith Goggin ke...@sbcglobal.net, Lisa Goggin l...@sbcglobal.net, Sheryl Rieck sheryl.ri...@gmail.com, Charles Fromen cfro...@yahoo.com, Texas Cavers Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related David and other interested parties, The Houston area has a host of opportunities for vacationers and tourists. However, if the Board of Governors are cavers, it would seem logical that the meeting be held in Austin which is much closer to some nice caves that may still be accessed. Some of the out of state visitors may want to visit a cave or two while in Texas. There are enough influential cavers in Austin that would probably volunteer to lead several trips. Where have you been, David? Has your computer been on the fritz? Fritz -Original Message- From: David [mailto:dlocklea...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 10:53 AM To: Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Fritz Holt; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; David Locklear; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen Subject: NSS caving related Dear caving friends, The National Speleological Society holds its annual Board of Governors meeting at different places each year. They are quickly searching for a place for the fall 2011 meeting. My good caving friend, RD Milhollin, of Dallas, is ramrodding the planning committee to get the meeting in Texas. He has possibly narrowed down to locations. 1 )Austin 2 ) Northeast Houston ( near Intercontinental Airport ) I believe they a commitment from the host by the end of the NSS Convention which means in less than a month. I would be willing to volunteer to meet people at the airport and drive them to their hotels and the meeting place. I would be willing to search for a meeting room. But that is about all I think I can volunteer for. I have serious doubts that the rest of the cavers in Texas would want to drive to northeast Houston.But the people flying in from the rest of the country would find that location convenient. But the purpose of the NSS holding in places like Houston, is to encourage NSS participation from different regions. Lake Houston State Park is only 30 minutes northeast of the airport, and the NSS could probably afford to rent all the facilities there, and then the guest would not have to get a hotel. David Locklear NSS 27639 - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
RE: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related
Looking at the on-line NSS Board manual at past Board meetings looks like somewhere in October or November works. Gary Moss At 03:54 PM 6/20/2011, Fritz Holt wrote: That is a good question for someone other than me as I know nothing about it and was only responding to David's post. Fritz -Original Message- From: Rod Goke [mailto:rod.g...@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 2:36 PM To: Fritz Holt; 'David'; Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen; Texas Cavers Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related When during fall 2011 does the BOG meeting need to be scheduled? Notice that TCR 2011 is scheduled Oct. 14--16 at a location slightly west of Austin. Would it be practical to schedule the BOG meting close enough to that date so that people from out of state could attend both events during the same trip if they felt like spending more time here? Rod -Original Message- From: Fritz Holt fh...@townandcountryins.com Sent: Jun 20, 2011 11:24 AM To: 'David' dlocklea...@gmail.com, Clint Ladd btberser...@fastmail.fm, Lyndon Tiu lyndon@gmail.com, Syd Formanek sidca...@yahoo.com, Dorothy Mladenka dmlade...@juno.com, cavera...@aol.com cavera...@aol.com, hose h...@drkarst.net, Keith Goggin ke...@sbcglobal.net, Lisa Goggin l...@sbcglobal.net, Sheryl Rieck sheryl.ri...@gmail.com, Charles Fromen cfro...@yahoo.com, Texas Cavers Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] RE: NSS caving related David and other interested parties, The Houston area has a host of opportunities for vacationers and tourists. However, if the Board of Governors are cavers, it would seem logical that the meeting be held in Austin which is much closer to some nice caves that may still be accessed. Some of the out of state visitors may want to visit a cave or two while in Texas. There are enough influential cavers in Austin that would probably volunteer to lead several trips. Where have you been, David? Has your computer been on the fritz? Fritz -Original Message- From: David [mailto:dlocklea...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 10:53 AM To: Clint Ladd; Lyndon Tiu; Fritz Holt; Syd Formanek; Dorothy Mladenka; cavera...@aol.com; hose; Keith Goggin; Lisa Goggin; David Locklear; Sheryl Rieck; Charles Fromen Subject: NSS caving related Dear caving friends, The National Speleological Society holds its annual Board of Governors meeting at different places each year. They are quickly searching for a place for the fall 2011 meeting. My good caving friend, RD Milhollin, of Dallas, is ramrodding the planning committee to get the meeting in Texas. He has possibly narrowed down to locations. 1 )Austin 2 ) Northeast Houston ( near Intercontinental Airport ) I believe they a commitment from the host by the end of the NSS Convention which means in less than a month. I would be willing to volunteer to meet people at the airport and drive them to their hotels and the meeting place. I would be willing to search for a meeting room. But that is about all I think I can volunteer for. I have serious doubts that the rest of the cavers in Texas would want to drive to northeast Houston.But the people flying in from the rest of the country would find that location convenient. But the purpose of the NSS holding in places like Houston, is to encourage NSS participation from different regions. Lake Houston State Park is only 30 minutes northeast of the airport, and the NSS could probably afford to rent all the facilities there, and then the guest would not have to get a hotel. David Locklear NSS 27639 - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] CFC Annoucment - Round 2
Requested re-post from Scott Fee Gary Moss As you may recall, It is time for the NSS to apply to the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign. If approved, this means that all federal military employees around the world can select the NSS to receive donations when they participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). (Our CFC number is 10808.) I got responces from Alabama (1), California (3), Kentucky (1), Nevada (1), New Mexico (2), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Virginia (1), and West Virginia (3). CAN YOU HELP? Part of the application package requires that I document how the NSS provided services in at least 15 different states. I NEED to collect the data for 2010 now. Did you participate in a clean-up, restoration, or other conservation related activity? If so,PLEASE take a minute and EMAIL ME this basic information: When? Where? (City or County and State) Activity? (Clean up? What? How many bags/pounds of trash? Graffiti Removal? Other?) How many People? Need at least 5 to make this a viable service. Please post this message to your grotto e-mail account or any other cave related group to spread the word so I will get enough responses! Scott Fee, NSS Fund Raising Dude scottfee A-T bellsouth D-O-T net - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Majlis Al Jinn
If I remember correctly this cave was discovered and first explored by Don Davison and Cheryl Jones when they lived there. Gary Moss At 09:03 PM 11/16/2010, Mixon Bill wrote: Huge pit in Oman: http://www.saudicaves.com/majoman/index.html --Mixon All the world's a stage, but the play is badly cast. You may reply to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] NSS Officer elections
Seeking Officer Candidates for the NSS Are you a firm believer in the goals of the NSS? Do you have a desire to get involved with the Society at the national level? If so, you might be a potential candidate for a Society officer position. At the upcoming 2010 Vermont NSS Convention the officer candidates for Executive, Administrative, and Operations Vice President will be interviewed and elected for a one year term by the NSS Directorate. In addition Peri Frantz, our current Treasurer, is stepping down. Interview times for the Treasurer position will be available at the Convention and at the Fall Board meeting when the new Treasurer will be elected for a one year term. The officers are tasked with the day-to-day operation and management of the Society and accomplish this through the various committees assigned to them. Descriptions of the officers' departments and committees are found on the NSS web page and in the Members Manual. See the NSS Executive Search page for up-to-date information. Officers attend the three yearly Board of Governors meetings and two to three Executive Committee meetings. Officers can expect to devote time to their position each week. Currently we have several officer positions where the incumbent is stepping down. If you feel you have the experience and time to be an officer then I'd like to hear from you. Feel free to contact me if you just want to ask some questions about being an officer: I can be reached at 703-573-1068, e-mail gmoss...@nova.org, or through the NSS Executive Search web page. The latest Officer updates are available on the NSS Executive Search web page: see the Current Event tab. http://www.caves.org/info/execsearch/ Gary Moss Chairman, Executive Search Committee - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Ibberson has died
Hi Gill and all: Below is a link to Dale's Obit and a log book http://obits.pennlive.com/PennLive/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifestoryPersonId=124960357 Gary Moss At 09:01 AM 3/25/2009, Gill Ediger wrote: For those few Texas cavers who may have known Dale Ibberson--a very active mover and shaker in the York Grotto, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and MAR caving scene in general, and the NSS for over 40 years--I'm sorry to have to report that he died a few days ago. The information I have is a bit sketchy so I can't supply any more details right now. Dale was a good friend of mine since the early '70s. He was an ardent speleo-historian. The walls of his house were lined with bookshelves filled not only with books but with all sorts of art related to caves and caving. He was a major figure in caving politics in the MAR for as long as he'd been caving. Dale was an excellent example of a caver dedicated to the sport. --Ediger - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] RE: NSS Convention Report - part 4
Hi David: Even if the convention were to lose money, the NSS has a special convention fund where they take the profits from other conventions to make up the short fall. This is done so that conventions will cut the budget tight to hold the registration costs down on conventions, but not draw from general funds if they take a loss. Gary Moss At 12:55 PM 8/18/2008, Minton, Mark wrote: David Locklear said: I don't know if anybody took showers on campus, but I did. There was no hot water. I used the showers a couple of times, as did many other people, and there was always hot water. I never heard anyone say there was no hot water. Some of the showers were plumbed backwards, though, so in those you had to use the cold setting rather than the hot. I presume the Convention lost money. In fact, they announced at the banquet that the Convention broke even. Mark Minton - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] NSS Convention
Nice summary David You did miss one area. Most conventions have Pre and Post Convention caving camps that can be up to a week long. Provides a great chance to see caves in that part of the country. Gary Moss At 04:19 PM 7/29/2008, David wrote: This post is intended for cavers who don't know what is so exciting about attending an NSS Convention. Below is only a summary of the main events at an NSS Convention: Some cavers arrive on Saturday and start camping and meeting people.Sunday there is a organized Geology trip, which is almost always booked up. The other folks either go caving or do touristy things in the vicinity. Monday is mostly NSS business stuff. Monday night there is usually a big party with lots of food. The so-called Howdy Party. Some say, Texas put on the best Howdy Party in 1994. But Monday, is your first chance to see all the caving vendors, and the latest gear on the market. On Rope or IMO usually has the latest caving gadget.Monday is also the day to familiarize yourself with the weekly itinerary and read all the NSS Guidebook. Cavers usually go all out on making the Guidebook a memorable keepsake. By Monday evening, you should have found all your friends campsites and made some new friends. Cavers will sit around their individual campfires, some till 2 or 3 in the morning, every night for the rest of the week. Tuesday the convention swings into full gear. Lots of exciting presentations on the latest caving discoveries that may not yet have been published. Wednesday during the day, is a good time to watch all the new caving videos. This could take several hours. You can also look at all the caver art, the maps, and the photos, that are competing for awards, Wednesday night is a big campground party. In years past, the world's most awesome caver rock band - THE TERMINAL SIPHONS, took the stage and rocked the campground so loud that a few cavers complained. Thursday night is the big event, The Photo Salon.One of the best slide shows you will lay your eyes on is shown on a big screen, accompanied by caver music. It should be all digital from hereon. Friday, a lot of people pack up there camps. It is your last chance to buy caver goodies from the vendors. Friday night is a formal banquet. The NSS puts on it's professional hat, and gives out prestigious awards to hard-working dedicated cavers who have contributed to speleology. The food may be a local cuisine. A lot of people go home after that. Saturday morning, the campground is almost vacant. A lot of people go caving Saturday and Sunday if they can on the way home. Others do touristy things in the area. A handful of cavers may spend the next week caving in the area. For a lot of the cavers, the convention is a lot of hardwork and not much play time. Cavers judge salon entries. Convention organizers run around resolving last minute glitches. Presenters iron-out the last bugs in their presentation. Here is the web-site, one more time: http://nss2008.com Now that you know all that, it is very important to remind you that in 300 something days, the convention will be in our own back-yard - Kerrville, Texas. http://www.ics2009.us/ David Locklear independent armchair caver in Fort Bend County, Texas - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2008/07/interview-jerry-patterson.h tml?page=0%2C0
An interesting line from the article The early technology turbine blades that turned faster, at Altamont Pass, killed a lot of birds. At the last VA Cave Board meeting it was commented that bats had more problems with slow blades than the fast ones. Gary Moss At 10:21 AM 7/15/2008, Joe Ranzau wrote: This is caving related because of the bat kills caused by wind turbines. I'm not putting the story here because it's three pages and I'm not inclined to take the time to cut and paste em all. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Candidates for NSS Vice Presidents
The NSS is Seeking Candidates for NSS Vice Presidents. Are you a firm believer in the goals of the NSS? Do you have a desire to get involved with the Society at the national level? If so, you might be a potential candidate for a Society officer position. At the upcoming Florida NSS Convention the Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President and Operations Vice President will be elected to the NSS Board for a one-year term. The officers are elected by the NSS directorate on Monday afternoon. The officers are tasked with the day-to-day operation and management of the Society and accomplish this through the various committees assigned to them. Officers attend the three yearly Board of Governors meetings and two to three Executive Committee meetings. Descriptions of the officer�s department and committees are found on the NSS web page and in the Members Manual. More informations can be gotten at the Executive Search Web page on the NSS Web site at. http://www.caves.org/info/execsearch/ or the Executive Search Current events page. http://www.caves.org/info/execsearch/exec_current.htm If you feel you have the experience and time to be an officer we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me if you just want to ask some questions about being an officer. I can be reached by E-Mail at kd4...@amsat.org, or through the NSS Executive Search web page. Gary Moss Chairman, Executive Search Committee Feel free to repost - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Jim Beck funeral logbook link
Jim Beck passes away The last time I was in Texas I was asked about Jim Beck aka Easter Pig. He died this week. Below is the link to his sign log at the funeral home. After I did a simple log sign I noted few has listed caving as an activity he did. He was very active in caving in the 60 and 70's. Gary Moss Jim Beck link This the link to the funeral home. http://obit.moneyandking.com/obitdisplay.html?id=494540clientid=moneyandkinglisting=Found James M. Beck Born in Georgia on Mar. 13, 1945 Departed on Jan. 12, 2008 and resided in Fairfax, VA. Visitation: http://obit.moneyandking.com/./svf_card.cgi?type=Visid=1540839Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 Service: http://obit.moneyandking.com/./svf_card.cgi?type=Serid=1540840Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008 Cemetery: http://obit.moneyandking.com/./svf_card.cgi?type=Cemid=1540837National Memorial Park Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions. http://obit.moneyandking.com/./wrapper_gb.php?id=494540task=add_form [] http://obit.moneyandking.com/./wrapper_gb.php?id=494540 [] James M. Jim Beck, age 62, of Fairfax, Virginia on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of Lynda Beck; father of Karen Beck, Kristin Beck, James Beck, Ted, Monica Beck and Walter Beck and brother of David Beck, Robert Beck, Nancy Crews and the late Ellen Beck. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, his close friend Daisy and many nieces and nephews. Mr Beck was the owner of A.J. Sports Stop in Vienna, a member of the Vienna Rotary Club and a baseball coach for Falls Church High School. Family and friends are invited to Jim's Celebration of Life at Money King Funeral Home, 171 West Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia 22180 on Tuesday, January 15 from 6-8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road, Vienna, Virginia on Wednesday, January 16 at 11:00 A.M. Interment National Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Falls Church High School Baseball Program or the Men's Senior Baseball League, 255 West Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia 22180. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] finite resources
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population#Number_of_humans_that_have_ever_lived you can get an est of about 100,000,000,000 (100 Billion) for the number people who have ever lived. So if 0.000,000,01 % or .000,000,000,1 of them ever had central air or electricity that would be only be 10 people. But yea it is amazing how things that were not around 100 years ago are now so necessary. Gary At 02:08 PM 11/16/2007, Nancy Weaver wrote: So in reality, I don't see how we can stop this trend of people living in houses above their means. Reality is exactly what will stop people from living in houses above the planets means. Unless of course we humans have the good sense to realize what a thin branch way out on the end of the food chain we are actually sitting on and proceed to behave as though we would like to continue as a species. As for people living without central air or electricity, good god a mighty! 99.% of all the human beings who have ever lived did without those things. Nancy - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Fellows of the NSS
It's not too soon to begin thinking about nominees for 2008. Generally Nominations for 2008 awards close Nov 15, 2007. So it may be a bit late. If you have a nomination now, let the sub chair on the awards committee know there is one coming soon. Gary Moss At 11:00 PM 11/13/2007, Carl Kunath wrote: No, it's not two years in a row, but there have been gaps even worse than that. Bev Shade received the NSS Fellow award in 2006. Besides 2007, other years without a Texan being honored are: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2003. There is a complete listing of Texans honored by the NSS in 50 Years Of Texas Caving. Beginning in the mid-1960s, there have been a total of 51 Texas-based cavers who were made Fellows. Of those, several received other honors such as Certificate of Merit. As Linda Palit has pointed out, those honored must have been nominated by others and their nomination supported by letters of praise. They must then be approved by the NSS Awards Committee. It may be that we do not have a worthy nominee(s) each year, but there ARE rather large gaps in the record. It's not too soon to begin thinking about nominees for 2008. ===Carl Kunath - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Jim Hixson
Hi All: This just came from Bill Stringfellow. I thought a number of you may have known Jim. Gary Moss == Friends: With great sadness I need to inform you Mr. George Hixson has passed away in our facility July 28, 2007. The arrangements have not been made as of this date. He will be laid to rest by Longanacre Funeral Home RR1 Fort Springs, WV 24936 Phone number 1-304-647-4025. Sorry for your loss as well as ours. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Seeking Candidates for NSS Vice Presidents
Seeking Candidates for NSS Vice Presidents Are you a firm believer in the goals of the NSS? Do you have a desire to get involved with the Society at the national level? If so, you might be a potential candidate for a Society officer position. At the upcoming Indiana NSS Convention the Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President and Operations Vice President will be elected to the Board for a one-year term. The officers are elected by the NSS directorate. The officers are tasked with the day-to-day operation and management of the Society and accomplish this through the various committees assigned to them. Descriptions of the officer�s department and committees are found on the NSS web page and in the Members Manual. See the NSS Executive Search page for up to date information. http://www.caves.org/info/execsearch/ Officers attend the three yearly Board of Governors meetings and two to three Executive Committee meetings. Officers can expect to devote several hours to the job each week. Steve Ormeroid, the Administrative Vice President, is stepping down and the Executive Search Committee is looking for candidates for this open position. If you feel you have the experience and time to be an officer then I�d love to hear from you. Also, please feel free to contact me if you just want to ask some questions about being an officer. I can be reached at 703-573-1068, e-mail kd4...@amsat.org, or through the NSS Executive Search web page Gary Moss Chairman, Executive Search Committee Permission to reprint given - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Seeking NSS Secretary-Treasurer Candidates
The NSS Executive Search Committee is seeking candidates for the NSS Secretary-Treasurer position to be considered at this upcoming November NSS Board meeting in New York. Once elected, the Secretary-Treasurer will start a one year term beginning in the spring of 2006. Those interested can find more information about the position at: http://www.caves.org/info/execsearch/exec_current.htm Gary Moss Chairman, Executive Search Committee Permission to reprint is granted. ___ Texascavers mailing list Texascavers@texascavers.com http://mail.texascavers.com/mailman/listinfo/texascavers_texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Certificate of Merit Award
Hi All: The deadlines for the NSS award nominations for 2006 are just a month away on November 15. Certificates of Merit Award Up to three Certificates of Merit Awards are awarded each year to individuals, jointly to no more than three individuals, or to organizations for specific accomplishments in cave exploration, study, or conservation which further the goals of the NSS. If you know a deserving person or organization, don't delay nominating them; emphasis is placed on more recent accomplishment. Document their work in a short letter and submit the nomination to Gary Moss by November 15 at: E-Mail: gmoss...@nova.org or regular mail: Gary Moss 7713 Shreve Road Falls Church, Virginia 22043-3315 Additional information on the NSS awards may be found at: http://www.caves.org/nss-business/bog/description.html Gary Moss Certificate of Merit Award Sub-Committee Chairman Permission to reprint granted. ___ Texascavers mailing list Texascavers@texascavers.com http://mail.texascavers.com/mailman/listinfo/texascavers_texascavers.com
Re: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
Hi Dave: If your guests had been interesting in caving, joining the NSS might have helped. You would have gotten the discounted member price for the Convention plus there is a $50 NSS member discount for attending their first convention. Gary Moss At 05:37 PM 7/11/2005, David Locklear wrote: To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
Re: CaveTex: deep cave question
As I remember there is about a 25 mile bulge in the earth near the equator due to rotation. If true then maybe the ice caves near the south pole would be closer to the center earth. Gary Moss At 05:07 AM 7/22/2005, txcavecraw...@aol.com wrote: the deepest cave would likely be deep in the ocean, maybe in the marianas trench. john I was wondering which cave comes closest to the center of the earth. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
