All,
Santa the Spelunker and his dirty, muddy, little elves have been busy! He's pleased to announce that his own Wizard of the Web, Butch Fralia, has posted the latest issue of The TEXAS CAVER to the Members Area of the TSA Website for your reading pleasure. You must be a paid TSA member to enjoy online reading of this literary masterpiece! There's some great reading in this issue, with a huge trip report from Matt Turner, with photos from Tone Garot, Jennifer Foote, and Jim Kennedy on the wild and wooly trip they made to Mexico to cave and endure a certain weather system that came ashore while there and their harrowing trip, through the river and over the mountains, back to civilization and the US. The finale of their incredible adventure will be in the 1st quarter issue of 2011. The front cover offers photos of their trip, as well, and the back cover sports a photo from my son, Andrew Alman, from the beautiful interior of Sitting Bull Falls Cave in NM. There also is a trip report from Lyndon Tiu on a caving trip while in Vancouver, as well as a long winded trip report from yours truly on a trip with two of my sons we did to the fantastic caves of New Mexico and the Guadalupe Mountains. Last but not least, since the 4th quarter issue always contains a montage of photos from TCR, the inside cover offers several shots from Lyndon (and me) on the goings on at the Texas Cavers Reunion in October. As a holiday gift to you, the loyal Texas caver and, hopefully, TSA member, Butch has also uploaded EIGHT back issues of the TEXAS CAVER that were written and recently unearthed by our own Don Arburn. Consider these issues as our own Secret Santa gift to you! The issues in this special bag from Santa's sleigh include: August 2003 December 2002 February 2003 June 2003 October 2002 October 2003 September 2002 April 2003 If you're a TSA member, but haven't yet joined the Digital Revolution, it is extremely painless to do so. Go to http://www.cavetexas.org/members/ <http://www.cavetexas.org/members/> and sign up and enjoy the back issues and all four 2010 issues. Please remember to select how you want your TC: mail or digital. Issues older than one year are FREE for you, the inquiring caver, to peruse at your leisure and, hopefully, will encourage you to join the TSA. You can still opt to receive the TC in the mail and be able to view the issues online. The Members Area continues to expand very well and we currently have grown to over 110 members. This is nearly 60% of the total membership. Not a TSA member? Don't be a Grinch!! We still would like for you to contemplate becoming a TSA member. Send me an email for your complimentary TEXAS CAVER and see what you've been missing. Or, you can visit the TSA website at www.cavetexas.org <http://www.cavetexas.org> and become a paid member and/or become an online member of the TSA. Become a member yourself, or, sign up that special someone as a new or renewal member for these insanely cheap rates listed below: * Single Membership - $15.00 - Newsletter Online * Single Membership - $25.00 - Newsletter Mailed * Family Membership - $20.00 - Newsletter Online * Family Membership - $30.00 - Newsletter Mailed * Student Membership - $10.00 - Newsletter Online * Student Membership - $20.00 - Newsletter Mailed Paid members now have access to a total of 29 issues available for your reading pleasure! Those contemplating membership can now view 25 issues online! I NEED material for the next issue and can ALWAYS use whatever you send me! I love getting articles, but, especially enjoy reports from TC virgins. Worried that you're not a very good writer or have never submitted one? Not to worry! I barely write at a 3rd grade level and y'all have no problem reading/enduring my posts! I know there are a lot of other trips that have gone on and this is a great opportunity for you to see YOUR name in print, so get busy! What better way to spend those wintery weekends, after you write that letter to Santa Claus, than to read some great trip reports AND to write one?! Enjoy and hope you and yours have a safe and happy Christmas and a great and productive 2011. Remember to cave safely and to not drink and drive! Mark Alman - TSA Chairman and TEXAS CAVER Editor
