*2012 TSA Spring Convention March 30-April 1st, 2012 Boerne, TX* http://www.cavetexas.org/events/TSASC/tsasc2012.html
Alright Cavers, its time to get this party started! The Texas Speleological Association's annual Spring Convention is one day away and everything is good to go! Come prepared for rain just in case but Saturday and Sunday should be nice and sunny. All registration is on site so just come on. (Signs will be set up for registration). Wifi is at Cascade Caverns and Geneva School of Boerne. There might be a food truck at Geneva School on Saturday for another function but we can eat there too. PLEASE NOTE: The presentations will be held at Geneva School of Boerne (113 Cascade Caverns Rd, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015). Presentations are a little over a mile from Cascade Caverns, both locations on Cascade Caverns Road, and you will pass the school on your way to camp. *Printable Location Map*: http://www.cavetexas.org/PDF/2012%20TSA%20Spring%20Convention.pdf *Program & Detail (all the info is here):* https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzP7GaKdftjDRTRfNVFKdWtSVjJCYmJUanpsNGU0QQ *FEES*: *Registration* (Registration fee includes admission to presentations & supper on Saturday) $15.00 Individual Rate per person $10.00 Child Rate per child 12-16 years old $40.00 Family Rate (parents & children) Children 12 and under $free *Camping* $5.00 Camping per person/per night camping (children under 16 camp free) *THE DETAILS.... * This is an annual, technical meeting with formal presentations from cavers about cave sciences, exploration, project status and displays in the Map/Photo Salon. The TSA, founded in 1956, has been bringing Texas cavers together for over 50 years. Come and meet fellow cavers and project leaders from around the state. This is a great chance to get involved with ongoing projects and create future caving opportunities for all. Don Arburn, donarb...@mac.com, is facilitating the Photo Salon and Marvin Miller, mlmil...@gvtc.com, is facilitating the Map Salon and I know many are eager to see caver's beautiful talents in the Salons. Deadline for entries is 10:00 am, Saturday, March 31st at Geneva School of Boerne (113 Cascade Caverns Rd, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015). Please show off your photos and maps!! *PRESENTATION FACILITY for Saturday Meeting:* Geneva School of Boerne (113 Cascade Caverns Rd, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015) -Arial view of facility(park anywhere): https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzP7GaKdftjDY0NhYUxVYTJTNnlQNzFXZGE0azM4QQ -Presentation facility and campground are a little over 1 mile apart and the road good for a nice bicycle ride. *CAMPGROUND for Friday-Sunday:* Cascade Caverns (226 Cascade Caverns Road, Boerne, Texas 78015) http://www.cascadecaverns.com/ -Current photos of campground facilities: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150602639639506.386786.507449505&type=3&l=f86b9393ca *WEEKEND SCHEDULE: * *Friday, March 30th * 7:00 p.m. Registration begins at Cascade Caverns 8:00 p.m. Cascade Caverns tour for Cavers, meet at Visitor Center *Saturday, March 31st * 8:00 a.m. Registration begins at Geneva School of Boerne 8:00-10:00 a.m. Photo and Map Salon submissions due to Geneva School 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Regular scheduled tours of Cascade Caverns: (Tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm) *Morning Session (9:30a.m.- 11:30 p.m.) * 9:00-9:30 Diana Tomchick, "Winter Caving in China with the Hong Megui Cave Exploration Society: Entering the Year of the Dragon" 9:35-10:10 Peter Sprouse, "Cartography of Wide-area Cave Systems in Quintana Roo" 10:15-10:45 Jim Kennedy, "Recent Progress of TSA’s Colorado Bend State Park Project." 10:50-11:15 Edward Patrick, "In-situ Mass Spectrometry of Cave Atmospheres" 11:15-11:30 Monica Ponce, "Invitation: International Speleological Conference on Mayan Caves, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 25-27 May, 2012 *Break & Vertical Workshop (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)* 11:30 Group Photo by Bennett Lee set outside Geneva School of Boerne 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch, Salon viewing, and shopping at vendors 12:00 - 1:30p.m Vertical Show & Tell at Cascade Caverns Cave by David Ochel Bring your most favorite,weird, or useful/useless piece of vertical gear. Tell us all about it. We'll have the vertical shaft in the cave entrance rigged to play with it. This is *not* a beginner introduction to vertical caving. Every interested caver is welcome, but only those who are already proficient on rope will be let close to the shaft. *Afternoon Session (1:30 p.m.-5:00p.m.)* 1:30- 2:00pm Mustafa Saribudak, "Main Barton Springs Geophysics in Austin,TX: Where is all the spring water coming from into the Barton Springs Pool?" 2:00-2:20 Allan Cobb, "Fun Caving in Thailand!" 2:25-2:40 Ellie Watson, "Logan’s Cave Survey Project" 2:55-3:15 Julia Germany/Gerry Geletzke, "Longhorn Cavern Restoration and Conservation Projects" 3:20-3:40 Ben Hutchins, "The Edwards Aquifer: A Groundwater Refugium Supported by Allochthonous Production" 3:45-4:30 Travis Scott/Jerry Atkinson, "Update on Porcupine Grotto Projects, with an emphasis on Bradford Cave and Harrison Cave " 4:30-4:55 Logan McNatt, "Finding the Deepest Pit in the World:Discovery and First Descent of El Sotano de El Barro, Mexico" * -End Sessions-* 5:00 p.m. TSA Business Meeting at Geneva School, directly after talks 6:30 p.m Dinner served at Cascade Caverns Rec Building, bring your own utensils 7:30 p.m Announce Photo/Map Salon winners & awards at Cascade Caverns Pavilion 8:00-9:30p.m. Texas Cave Management Association (TCMA) Annual Fundraising Auction at Cascade Caverns Pavilion-Jim Kennedy, auctioneer *Sunday, April 3rd * 8:00 a.m. TCMA Fundraiser Breakfast at Cascade Caverns Rec Building 9:00 a.m. TCMA Members Meeting at Cascade Caverns Pavilion 9:00 a.m. Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos, meet at Cascade Caverns Rec Building 10:00 a.m Cascade Caverns tour for Cavers, meet at Visitor's Center 11:00 a.m.- 4 p.m. Regular Scheduled Tours of Cascade Caverns (Tours at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm.) 2:00 p.m. Check-out Time Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. See you soon! Ellie Watson TSA Vice Chair 509-899-0007 ellie.tho...@gmail.com For Facebook users: https://www.facebook.com/events/312213962130706/
