Announcing the 2012 TSA Cave Map Salon Cave cartographers, I hope you are working hard on finishing that map for the convention because it's just around the corner. I'll be organizing the salon again this year. Below are the basic rules as listed on the TSA web page. On the map salon page you can also find a link to the judging criteria. I encourage you to take a look at it to ensure that you have all the necessary elements on your map. Maps will be displayed at the Geneva School, where Saturday presentations will take place. Bring your maps there by 10:00 Saturday morning or get them to me before that if you can't make it Saturday morning.
As past winners can attest, it's not that hard to win and awards are bountiful. 1) All maps submitted must be of Texas caves, or drafted by Texas cavers. Texas cavers are those whose primary residence has been Texas at some time during the previous year. Cartographers can enter as many maps as they want. Maps need not be of the entire cave (i.e. detail maps of cave sections are eligible). Caves need not be completely surveyed for a map of the cave to be eligible. 2) All maps must have been made in the past year (since the last Convention). Significant modifications or additions made to older maps in that time may also be submitted. 3) Maps that have won past awards at either the TSA or NSS Conventions are not eligible for entry. 4) Final categories depend on the number of entries, but should include: * Caves under 100 m * Caves over 100 m * First-time Cartographer. The first-time cartographer category is to encourage beginning cartographers, and is aimed at those whom have never entered a map salon before. It is not for skilled cartographers who just never took the time to enter before this. Maps may not be entered in multiple categories. 5) Judging will be objective (based on mandatory elements of good cave maps, and drafting quality) and subjective (quality points awarded for innovative representations, balance and layout, visual impact, etc.). Completed score sheets with comments will be given to the entrants at the end of the Convention. 6) Prizes will be determined by the number of entrants and categories. There is no fee to enter maps, and the maps remain the property of the entrant. However, the editors of The TEXAS CAVER will probably want to publish the winning maps in upcoming issues. 7) Ribbons are awarded for First, Second, and Third place maps, as well as Honorable Mention. All ribbons do not have to be awarded in each category if the number of submissions is low and the scoring does not suggest awards. The highest-scored map will also be awarded Best of Show, in addition to the prize in its individual category. Thank you, Marvin Miller
