2007 NSS Convention - Activities

National Speleological Society

THE 2007 NSS CONVENTION at MARENGO, INDIANA July 23 - July 27, 2007

Field Trips (quick links):

Geology Field Trip

Wyandotte Geology and History Trip

Harrison - Crawford Karst Features Field Trip

Biology Field Trip

Post-Convention Field Trip - Lost River Tour

Pre-Convention and Post-Convention Caving Camps:

Caving & Caving Camps

Activities:


There are a wide variety of events scheduled for the week in addition to the sessions. (For Sessions information, please go to the Sessions page.) This page provides information about all of the events going on each day of convention. Click on the day you want to review. All Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Schedule - Review the tentative schedule for all sessions and special events! All Week Special Events Consignment Sales (all day, all week) Consignment sales are an opportunity for cavers to sell any item they wish, except firearms, at the convention. Cavers consigning items will staff the room. A percentage will be deducted from the final sales receipt based on whether or not the consigner volunteers. If you do not volunteer, twenty percent will be deducted. If you volunteer for two hours, fifteen percent will be deducted. If you volunteer for four hours, or to ten percent will be deducted. It is necessary for sellers to participate or there are likely to be periods when the room will be closed. Just sign-in when you bring in your consignment. Tables will be available but arrive early to find a space. The room will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday to consign items for sale. You can prepare items for sale by labeling and pricing them beforehand. Use your NSS number on each label (any identification numbers or letters are okay, just check to make sure there is no duplication). Items must be picked tip from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. We must be out by 2:00 p.m. At these times the room is closed for sales. Sales are located in the High School from 11:30 a.m. noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday. JSS Activities (all day, all week) The Junior Speleological Society has a number of special activities for members throughout the week. These include cave trips, and swimming. See JSS for a detailed schedule of events for the week. Gary Storrick's Vertical Equipment Display (all day, all week) When I started SRT in my pre-teen years, I wanted to have the best rappelling equipment available. With conflicting opinions present in the literature, I realized that the only way to know which was best was to acquire and test all options. My financial situation at that age was meager, and by the time I acquired all three rappelling devices, there were six. This forced me to delay making a decision, but by the time I had the other three, there were a few more. I faced a similar problem acquiring and testing ascenders. Manufacturers started to complicate the situation by changing their designs, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Despite their apparent conspiracy against my plan, I persevered, and continued acquiring and testing devices in my quest to identify the best. At this convention, I will display nearly one thousand superb, standard, stupid, and silly examples of ascenders, descenders, belayers, and miscellaneous devices for caving, climbing, caving, commercial, and rescue users and abusers. Which one is best? I will let you know as soon as I acquire and test the ones that I still do not have. Look for the Vertical Display exhibit at the high school. NSS Cartographic Salon (all day, all week) Survey and cartography have always been a major focus of the NSS. Long hours underground in cramped and uncomfortable positions are followed by long hours huntched over computer and drafting table. Both art and tool, the cave map combines useful and accurate information with the artistry of presentation. This salon will feature the finest in cave and karst maps. NSS Graphic Arts Salon (all day, all week) Newsletter editors continuously hound their friends for cover material. This gentle harassment often produces wonderful photographic, non-photographic, and computer enhanced images. The graphic arts salon will feature newsletter covers from NSS affiliated organizations. The covers will be judged in one of three categories: photographic, non-photographic and computer enhanced/manipulated. NSS Print Salon (all day, all week) The photographic print offers a different viewing experience from that provided by slides. These prints come in photographic color, digital color, and black and white. Spend as much time as you want on each. Discuss them with your friends. Think about how you would have taken the same picture. The print salon will be here all week for you to enjoy. NSS Symbolic Emblem Salon (all day, all week) Symbolic emblems (patches, pins, decals, etc.) of cave-related subjects will be exhibited all week. All entries and fees must be delivered to Kim Fleischmann at the exhibit area or placed in the marked box at Registration by noon Monday, July 23rd. The entry fee is $3.00 for the entrant's first entry and $1.00 for each additional entry. Symbolic Emblems Salon entry fees are separate from T-shirt Salon entry fees. For each entry, provide the name of the originator (artist), grotto affiliation, and any background comments that are appropriate. Judging will occur during convention. Symbolic Emblems may be displayed in the salons but not judged at the entrant's option. Entries will be considered to be donated to the NSS Museum unless otherwise specified. Those entries not being donated must be picked up between noon and 4:00 pm Friday, July 27th. NSS T-Shirt Salon (all day, all week) T-shirts of cave-related subjects will be exhibited all week. All entries and fees must be delivered to Kim Fleischmann at the exhibit area or placed in the marked box at Registration by noon Monday, July 23rd. The entry fee is $3.00 for the entrant's first entry and $1.00 for each additional entry. T-shirt Salon entry fees are separate from Symbolic Emblems Salon entry fees. Two-sided T-shirts may be entered as a single design or as two separate designs. If possible, provide two T-shirts for all two-sided designs. For each entry, provide the name of the originator (artist), grotto affiliation, and any background comments that are appropriate. Judging will occur during convention. T-shirts may be displayed in the salons but not judged at the entrant's option. Entries will be considered to be donated to the NSS Museum unless otherwise specified. Those entries not being donated must be picked up between noon and 4:00 pm Friday, July 27th. NSS Fine Arts Salon (all day, all week) If it doesn't fit into one of the other salons, it goes here. The exhibits include drawings, paintings, sculpture, collage, and much more. On exhibit all week. Daily Video (all day, all week) Check out the Video Salon entries before the salon. There will be a self service video "kiosk" where all the video salon entries will be available to view. The kiosk will be open Monday through Thursday all day. Educational Posters (all day, all week) Is your grotto or other organization involved in efforts to educate cavers or the public on caves and karst? This poster session covers topics of interest within the NSS Education Division, which includes education of K-12 students and the public, youth group caving, and grotto training programs. Posters describing educational activities will be displayed all week. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642. Geology and Geography Posters (all day, all week) The Geology and Geography poster session is a great opportunity to talk to authors at length about the results of their research. This year, the posters will be up all week for you to study at your leisure and come up with questions and ideas for the authors, who will be with their posters waiting for you on Friday morning. Hot Air Balloon Rides (all week, weather permitting) Oooooh! Join cavers from the NASA Mojave Desert Science Expedition 2007 who will be will be giving hot air balloon tethered rides at the NSS convention, weather permitting. For more information about balloon rides, click here. Caving (all day, all night, all week) Yep, brought the gear...let's get back underground in Indiana! For more information about caves, click here. Sunday Special Events Geology Field Trip The all-day Geology Trip will take place in one of the most geologically interesting areas of Indiana and will allow participants to see a wide mix of geology in the eastern portion of the Illinois Basin and many physiographic provinces resulting from the combination of local strata and structure. This event leaves at 8:00 from the Convention Campground. Meet the bus right outside the Food Pavilion at Chug Station. For more information about this trip, click here. Also, see your Convention Guidebook for an article about the geology of the Southern Indiana area. Sketching Workshop An introduction to basic sketching-to-scale for those who have little or no sketching experience. There will be a short classroom session followed by hands-on instruction in a local cave. A fee of $10 for the cost of survey books, pencils, protrators and handouts can be paid when you attend the class. Caving Time to get underground? You bet! For more information about caves, click here. Sister Winkie Initiation (7:00 PM) Sister Winkie has made her presense felt throughout various Conventions since the '92 Convention in Salem, Indiana. Evidently, not enough cavers paid homage to Sister Winkie and she sent a lot of water during that Convention, most of it on Friday. Those that were there can still feel the terror as the lake and creek flooded through camp.... Help us make Sister Winkie "happy" this year by properly initiating her. Movie and Pizza Night (7:30 PM) You have arrived early and can't find anything to do or anyone to do it with. Well, let Sideshow Bob in-trance you with some big screen showings...and of course some pizza, popcorn, and a beverage or two. Monday Special Events Harrison - Crawford Karst Features Field Trip This all day field trip will be a general orientation to the caves, karst, geology and hydrology of Harrison and Crawford counties. The NSS Convention is located in Crawford County, which has over 200 caves. Harrison County is the county immediately to the east and has over 800 caves. This region has the state's second longest cave (Binkleys Cave), the deepest cave (Heiser Mystery Well) and the largest spring (Harrison Spring). For more information about this trip, click here Wyandotte Cave Geology and History Field Trip Wyandotte Cave is situated within the Crawford Upland region of ridge and valley development near the Blue and Ohio Rivers. These streams have dominated the development of Wyandotte Cave and the numerous other caves in this area. Progressive lateral development of new passages and complete abandonment by subsurface waters makes this a unique site. For more information about this trip, click here Opening Ceremony 8:00 am Please join us at 8:00 am at High School front lawn for the Convention Opening Ceremonies. Rain location in the Cafeteria. Special Dignitaries will attend to welcome everyone to Indiana! Board of Governors meeting (8:30 to 12:00) The board of Governors sets policy for the management of the Society. This opening meeting consists mainly of reports from the officers and committees. The agenda will continue with other items of business until noon. Print Salon Judge Orientation (9:00 - 12:00) Orientation meeting for the judges of this year’s print salon. Vertical Section's Rebelay Workshop (10:00 - 5:00) Demonstration, Instruction, and Practice of climbing over the European style of rope rigging using rebelays. Vertical Section instructors will be available throughout the day to assist students in learning and practicing the techniques necessary to negotiate rebelays. The course is open all day. Students may come anytime to observe others, demonstrate their own techniques, or just to practice. Students should bring their own climbing gear. Cowtails will be provided, if needed. This event is located in the Gym at the High School. Vertical Climbing Contest (12:00 - 5:00) Come climb in the contest and watch everyone else! To review the contest rules, see http://www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/44/contrule.html. This event is located in the Gym at the High School. Board of Governors closed meeting (1:00 - 5:00) This meeting consists of two sessions. The first is a meeting of the Directorate (The Directors but not the Officers). At this session the Directors will select a Chairman of the Directorate from among themselves and then will elect the three vice presidents to serve until the next convention. This session will be followed by a short meeting of the entire Board in case there is any business that has to be conducted in closed session. Future Convention Planning Meeting (2:00- 5:00) This is an informal discussion of what is involved in hosting an NSS Convention. Anyone working on an upcoming convention, or considering hosting a convention, is encouraged to attend this meeting to get a better idea of what is involved. Caving Pretty busy? How about relaxing in a tight, wet crawlway...better yet while surveying! For more information about caves, click here. New Members Reception This reception will allow New NSS Members a chance to meet the Board of Govenors and the Officers of the Society. Howdy Party (6:30 - ???) The Howdy Party will be at the NSS Campground in the Expo Hall. We'll quickly turn to the important part of the evening: Food, music, and good friends! Soft drinks and kegs of beer will be provided. This will be a great way to kick off convention! The menu includes Pulled Pork BBQ on Bun, Fried Chicken, Garden Burger, Creamy Cole Slaw, Green Bean, Potato Casserole, Vegetable Tray (finger foods) and dip, Fried Biscuits and Apple Butter. Some tables and chairs will be provided, please bring your favorite chair. For music and band information, click here. Please bring your ID -- we will be checking! Tuesday Special Events Amish Country Trip A rare blend of natural beauty and business is what makes Southern Indiana's Amish Country so unique. For more information about this trip, click here Vertical Climbing Contest (9:00 - 5:00) Compete in the vertical climbing contest! To review the contest rules, see http://www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/44/contrule.html. This event is located in the Gym at the High School. Caving Time flying by? Go back to the stone age and see what it feels to be a caveman (or cavewoman or cavedog or cave hodag)! For more information about caves, click here. Celebration of the Life of Paul Stevens (4:00 - 5:30) Come to Room 318 at the High School to honor Paul Stevens. Paul will be remembered with slides, pictures and anecdotes. Everyone is invited. Light refreshments with cheese and crackers will be served. Fellows Reception This reception will allow NSS Fellows a chance to meet one and another while bending the ears of the Board of Govenors. Acoustic Open Stage and Jam A Caver Acoustic Open Stage and Jam will provide both entertainment for the audience and a chance for musically-inclined or otherwise talented cavers to perform on the Big Stage in the Expo Hall in the same space as the Howdy Party. For more information, click here. Wednesday Special Events Winery Tour This all day tour will visit several Southern Indiana wineries. For more information about this trip, click here Holiday World...Splash'in Safari Water is the name of the game at this park! For more information about this trip, click here. Caving Got mud? You bet! For more information about caves, click here. NSS Auction (5:30 - ???) Come out and join us for the annual NSS Auction and Fundraiser. Come one, come all! We expect you to bring your checkbook or credit card and be prepared to bid on the many speleo-treasures that will be offered. All proceeds go to the NSS. Donations of items for the auction are welcome and can be dropped off at the NSS Bookstore in the High School. Many auction items will be on display before the event. Donated items may be tax deductible. PLEASE NOTE: Only bulk NSS News bundles older than 1969 (meaning prior to) will be accepted at auction this year. Campground Party (7:30 - ???) After you've spent some bucks getting that hard to find, got-to-have-it auction item, head over to the Expo Hall for the campground party! Our favorite caver band, the Terminal Syphons, will entertain us until we drop! For music and band information, click here. Convention Bonfire (8:30 - ???) Remember when there was a central bonfire at Convention? Well, the Newton's will show you how to "chug-up" a fire! Thursday Special Events Biology Field Trip The all-day Biology Trip will take place in one of the most biologically interesting areas of Indiana. For more information about this trip, click here NSS Awards Committee (Closed) (8:00 - 9:00) This is a closed meeting of the NSS Awards Committee. NSS Awards Committee (Open) (9:00 - 9:45) Ever wondered how the NSS Awards Process works? Want help in creating a great nomination? Not sure exactly what your caving pal should be nominated for? Then this opportunity is for you! Everyone is welcome to the Open Session of the NSS Awards Committee. Not all members of the NSS Awards Committee will be present; nonetheless, there should be enough of us around to provide one on one guidance to answer any questions you have. Heck, we might even be able to dispel the underlying mysteries of the NSS Awards Process. Vertical Section Workshop (11:00 - 5:00) The Vertical Workshop will be held Thursday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is designed to provide students with a basic overview of climbing equipment, techniques, and safety considerations for American style single rope techniques. Students experience hands on sessions on knot tying, belaying, ladder work, rappelling (with a rack and a Petzel stop), and several ascending systems (Rope Walker, Mitchell, Frog, and Prusik knot systems). All participants in the Vertical Workshop need to bring a helmet, seat harness, a locking carabiner, and gloves. Students should also bring a lunch. This intense workshop will give the novice climber good exposure to different systems but it is not intended as a complete training course. Students will have the opportunity to use different systems in a controlled environment, under instructor supervision. Contact Terry Clark terjen@evansville.net or Lynn Fielding lynn@wb6hqk.ampr.org Project Underground Workshop (9:00 - 1:00) Project Underground is a karst education program created to help people understand the importance of our karst resources. A variety of hands-on and fun lessons lead the student to a greater appreciation of the world hidden beneath our feet. This workshop will familiarize educators with the Project Underground curriculum and teaching materials, and provide experience in using the program. You must register for this workshop. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 or Carol Zokaites at carol.zokaites@dcr.virginia.gov Project Underground Board Meeting (1:00 - 2:30) The annual Project Underground board meeting. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642. Education Division Meeting (2:30 - 4:00) The annual Education Division meeting. For more infromation, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 or Amy Bern at amybern@juno.com Newsletter Editor's Workshop (1:00 - 4:30) This workshop is specifically designed for the most special people in the NSS-the overworked, unappreciated, and completely unstoppable editors of grotto and regional newsletters. It's an informal workshop with lots of interaction and discussion. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own special ideas and techniques to share with the group, We always have a good time communicating and commiserating with each other. This year we'll cover: • Newsletter design, layout, typography, and related matters. • How to edit your newsletter for consistent style, using the NSS Style Guide as an aid. (Copies of the Style Guide will be available for all attendees.) • How to coerce people into writing trip reports and other material. • Plus information on copyrights, dealing with the U.S. Postal Service, and more. Contact David McClurg dmcclurg@planeteria.net or Tom Rea tomrea@iendeavor.com Caving Just bought new gear from your favorite vendors? Try it out! For more information about caves, click here. NSS Salon Program (7:00 - ???) Join us to view the world's best caving photographs, videos, and multimedia presentations. The program will be held underground in a quarry at Marengo Warehouse. The temperature will be around 55 degrees F. Please dress appropriately! Click here to find out more about the Warehouse. The first shuttle bus will leave that campground at 5. Doors open at 6:30 and the salon starts at 7:00. If you want to take your own vehicle, see your guidebook for help with parking (it can be tricky). Friday Special Events Video Viewing and Critique (all day) A video viewing and critique will be held where the videos are displayed. The judges will critique the videos entered in this year's salon. Speleology for Cavers - a short course (all day) A one-day course entitled "Speleology for Cavers" will be offered on Friday, July 27. Come learn the difference between strike and the dip, vadose and phreatic, and the birds and the bats. Bring home with you the reason why there are two parallel passages in Sinnett's Big Room, the meaning to cavers of Bogli's mixing corrosion, and the difference between the lifestyles of Riparia riparia and Pipistrellus subflavious. Experts in Speleology will lecture on Geology, Meteorology, Chemistry, Hydrology, Biology, and Paleontology. The course will go the full day, cost $35, and includes extensive printed course notes and lunch. Registration is limited to 35 people. Board of Governors meeting (all day) Coordinator: Bill Tozer This is the session that gets the nitty-gritty work done. The newly elected vice presidents for next year will be introduced. The entire meeting is open to all members. Take the opportunity to observe the board members and learn some of the details of society business. Members may be allowed to speak on subjects of interest to them at the direction of the President or at the request of a Board member. Print Salon Workshop (9:00 - 12:00) A print salon workshop will be held on Friday. During the workshop the judges and audience will critique the slides entered in this year's salon and photographic techniques will be discussed. Salon entrants may pick up their entries and awards. Slide and Digital Image Salon Critique (10:00 - 12:00) The slide and digital image salon critique is an opportunity to meet with the session chairmen and judges to discuss the entries, judging, and the general ground rules for the salon. Both photographers and would be photographers are encouraged to attend. It's an opportunity to discuss what the judges liked and didn't like about a particular image. Have your slides or digital images projected to receive constructive comments from the judges and other photographers. Photographers may pick up their entries. Cartography Salon Critique (9:00 - 12:00) A Cartographic Salon Critique will be held where the maps are displayed. The judges will critique the maps entered in this year's salon. They will also discuss cartographic design of cave maps and the awards presented. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. Salon entrants will be able to pick up their entries and awards after the critique. Vertical Awards (1:00 - 2:00) Awards ceremony for the Vertical Climbing Contest winners. Convention Planning Debriefing (2:00 - 5:00) This is an informal discussion of what went right, what may not have gone as planned during the convention, and what might have been done differently. This should be especially valuable for anyone hosting a future convention or thinking about doing so. It is a good way to find out what is involved in putting on a convention and to meet past and future organizers and staff personnel. Everyone is welcome. Caving Caving in Indiana? There is more than corn in Indiana! You just have to get below the field to find it. For more information about caves, click here. Banquet and Awards Closing Ceremony (7:00 - 11:00) On Friday evening we will gather for the banquet and awards ceremony. The program will be held underground in a quarry at Marengo Warehouse. The temperature will be around 55 degrees F. Please dress appropriately! Click here to find out more about the Warehouse. The facilities are large, spacious, and the food will be great! The food will be served buffet-style, so you can get exactly what you want. The menu will feature: Smoked pork chops, fried catfish, vegetarian lasagna, cucumber-onion salad, corn with diced red and green peppers, potato casserole, red cabbage, turnip slaw, fried biscuits and apple butter, apple strudel. Iced tea and coffee with be available, along with a cash bar. The awards program will begin after dinner. Please join us for a great end to a great week! Don't forget about our Great Membership Drive. For more information, click here The first bus will leave the campground at 5. Doors open at 5:30 and the banquet starts at 7:00. If you want to take your own vehicle, see your guidebook for help with parking (it can be tricky). Sister Winkie Ceremony (12:00 a.m.) Pay last respects and tribute to the One that made Convention a huge success!

There are a wide variety of events scheduled for the week in addition to the sessions. (For Sessions information, please go to the Sessions page.) This page provides information about all of the events going on each day of convention. Click on the day you want to review.

All Week
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Schedule - Review the tentative schedule for all sessions and special events!

All Week Special Events

Consignment Sales (all day, all week)
Consignment sales are an opportunity for cavers to sell any item they wish, except firearms, at the convention. Cavers consigning items will staff the room. A percentage will be deducted from the final sales receipt based on whether or not the consigner volunteers. If you do not volunteer, twenty percent will be deducted. If you volunteer for two hours, fifteen percent will be deducted. If you volunteer for four hours, or to ten percent will be deducted. It is necessary for sellers to participate or there are likely to be periods when the room will be closed. Just sign-in when you bring in your consignment. Tables will be available but arrive early to find a space. The room will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday to consign items for sale. You can prepare items for sale by labeling and pricing them beforehand. Use your NSS number on each label (any identification numbers or letters are okay, just check to make sure there is no duplication). Items must be picked tip from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. We must be out by 2:00 p.m. At these times the room is closed for sales. Sales are located in the High School from 11:30 a.m. noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday.

JSS Activities (all day, all week)
The Junior Speleological Society has a number of special activities for members throughout the week. These include cave trips, and swimming. See JSS for a detailed schedule of events for the week.

Gary Storrick's Vertical Equipment Display (all day, all week)
When I started SRT in my pre-teen years, I wanted to have the best rappelling equipment available. With conflicting opinions present in the literature, I realized that the only way to know which was best was to acquire and test all options. My financial situation at that age was meager, and by the time I acquired all three rappelling devices, there were six. This forced me to delay making a decision, but by the time I had the other three, there were a few more. I faced a similar problem acquiring and testing ascenders. Manufacturers started to complicate the situation by changing their designs, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Despite their apparent conspiracy against my plan, I persevered, and continued acquiring and testing devices in my quest to identify the best. At this convention, I will display nearly one thousand superb, standard, stupid, and silly examples of ascenders, descenders, belayers, and miscellaneous devices for caving, climbing, caving, commercial, and rescue users and abusers. Which one is best? I will let you know as soon as I acquire and test the ones that I still do not have. Look for the Vertical Display exhibit at the high school.

NSS Cartographic Salon (all day, all week)
Survey and cartography have always been a major focus of the NSS. Long hours underground in cramped and uncomfortable positions are followed by long hours huntched over computer and drafting table. Both art and tool, the cave map combines useful and accurate information with the artistry of presentation. This salon will feature the finest in cave and karst maps.

NSS Graphic Arts Salon (all day, all week)
Newsletter editors continuously hound their friends for cover material. This gentle harassment often produces wonderful photographic, non-photographic, and computer enhanced images. The graphic arts salon will feature newsletter covers from NSS affiliated organizations. The covers will be judged in one of three categories: photographic, non-photographic and computer enhanced/manipulated.

NSS Print Salon (all day, all week)
The photographic print offers a different viewing experience from that provided by slides. These prints come in photographic color, digital color, and black and white. Spend as much time as you want on each. Discuss them with your friends. Think about how you would have taken the same picture. The print salon will be here all week for you to enjoy.

NSS Symbolic Emblem Salon (all day, all week)
Symbolic emblems (patches, pins, decals, etc.) of cave-related subjects will be exhibited all week. All entries and fees must be delivered to Kim Fleischmann at the exhibit area or placed in the marked box at Registration by noon Monday, July 23rd. The entry fee is $3.00 for the entrant's first entry and $1.00 for each additional entry. Symbolic Emblems Salon entry fees are separate from T-shirt Salon entry fees. For each entry, provide the name of the originator (artist), grotto affiliation, and any background comments that are appropriate. Judging will occur during convention. Symbolic Emblems may be displayed in the salons but not judged at the entrant's option. Entries will be considered to be donated to the NSS Museum unless otherwise specified. Those entries not being donated must be picked up between noon and 4:00 pm Friday, July 27th.

NSS T-Shirt Salon (all day, all week)
T-shirts of cave-related subjects will be exhibited all week. All entries and fees must be delivered to Kim Fleischmann at the exhibit area or placed in the marked box at Registration by noon Monday, July 23rd. The entry fee is $3.00 for the entrant's first entry and $1.00 for each additional entry. T-shirt Salon entry fees are separate from Symbolic Emblems Salon entry fees. Two-sided T-shirts may be entered as a single design or as two separate designs. If possible, provide two T-shirts for all two-sided designs. For each entry, provide the name of the originator (artist), grotto affiliation, and any background comments that are appropriate. Judging will occur during convention. T-shirts may be displayed in the salons but not judged at the entrant's option. Entries will be considered to be donated to the NSS Museum unless otherwise specified. Those entries not being donated must be picked up between noon and 4:00 pm Friday, July 27th.

NSS Fine Arts Salon (all day, all week)
If it doesn't fit into one of the other salons, it goes here. The exhibits include drawings, paintings, sculpture, collage, and much more. On exhibit all week.

Daily Video (all day, all week)
Check out the Video Salon entries before the salon. There will be a self service video "kiosk" where all the video salon entries will be available to view. The kiosk will be open Monday through Thursday all day.

Educational Posters (all day, all week)
Is your grotto or other organization involved in efforts to educate cavers or the public on caves and karst? This poster session covers topics of interest within the NSS Education Division, which includes education of K-12 students and the public, youth group caving, and grotto training programs. Posters describing educational activities will be displayed all week. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642.

Geology and Geography Posters (all day, all week)
The Geology and Geography poster session is a great opportunity to talk to authors at length about the results of their research. This year, the posters will be up all week for you to study at your leisure and come up with questions and ideas for the authors, who will be with their posters waiting for you on Friday morning.

Hot Air Balloon Rides (all week, weather permitting)
Oooooh! Join cavers from the NASA Mojave Desert Science Expedition 2007 who will be will be giving hot air balloon tethered rides at the NSS convention, weather permitting. For more information about balloon rides, click here.

Caving (all day, all night, all week)
Yep, brought the gear...let's get back underground in Indiana! For more information about caves, click here.

Sunday Special Events

Geology Field Trip
The all-day Geology Trip will take place in one of the most geologically interesting areas of Indiana and will allow participants to see a wide mix of geology in the eastern portion of the Illinois Basin and many physiographic provinces resulting from the combination of local strata and structure. This event leaves at 8:00 from the Convention Campground. Meet the bus right outside the Food Pavilion at Chug Station. For more information about this trip, click here. Also, see your Convention Guidebook for an article about the geology of the Southern Indiana area.

Sketching Workshop
An introduction to basic sketching-to-scale for those who have little or no sketching experience. There will be a short classroom session followed by hands-on instruction in a local cave. A fee of $10 for the cost of survey books, pencils, protrators and handouts can be paid when you attend the class.

Caving
Time to get underground? You bet! For more information about caves, click here.

Sister Winkie Initiation (7:00 PM)
Sister Winkie has made her presense felt throughout various Conventions since the '92 Convention in Salem, Indiana. Evidently, not enough cavers paid homage to Sister Winkie and she sent a lot of water during that Convention, most of it on Friday. Those that were there can still feel the terror as the lake and creek flooded through camp.... Help us make Sister Winkie "happy" this year by properly initiating her.

Movie and Pizza Night (7:30 PM)
You have arrived early and can't find anything to do or anyone to do it with. Well, let Sideshow Bob in-trance you with some big screen showings...and of course some pizza, popcorn, and a beverage or two.

Monday Special Events

Harrison - Crawford Karst Features Field Trip
This all day field trip will be a general orientation to the caves, karst, geology and hydrology of Harrison and Crawford counties. The NSS Convention is located in Crawford County, which has over 200 caves. Harrison County is the county immediately to the east and has over 800 caves. This region has the state's second longest cave (Binkleys Cave), the deepest cave (Heiser Mystery Well) and the largest spring (Harrison Spring). For more information about this trip, click here

Wyandotte Cave Geology and History Field Trip
Wyandotte Cave is situated within the Crawford Upland region of ridge and valley development near the Blue and Ohio Rivers. These streams have dominated the development of Wyandotte Cave and the numerous other caves in this area. Progressive lateral development of new passages and complete abandonment by subsurface waters makes this a unique site. For more information about this trip, click here

Opening Ceremony 8:00 am
Please join us at 8:00 am at High School front lawn for the Convention Opening Ceremonies. Rain location in the Cafeteria. Special Dignitaries will attend to welcome everyone to Indiana!

Board of Governors meeting (8:30 to 12:00)
The board of Governors sets policy for the management of the Society. This opening meeting consists mainly of reports from the officers and committees. The agenda will continue with other items of business until noon.

Print Salon Judge Orientation (9:00 - 12:00)
Orientation meeting for the judges of this year’s print salon.

Vertical Section's Rebelay Workshop (10:00 - 5:00)
Demonstration, Instruction, and Practice of climbing over the European style of rope rigging using rebelays. Vertical Section instructors will be available throughout the day to assist students in learning and practicing the techniques necessary to negotiate rebelays. The course is open all day. Students may come anytime to observe others, demonstrate their own techniques, or just to practice. Students should bring their own climbing gear. Cowtails will be provided, if needed. This event is located in the Gym at the High School.

Vertical Climbing Contest (12:00 - 5:00)
Come climb in the contest and watch everyone else! To review the contest rules, see http://www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/44/contrule.html. This event is located in the Gym at the High School.

Board of Governors closed meeting (1:00 - 5:00)
This meeting consists of two sessions. The first is a meeting of the Directorate (The Directors but not the Officers). At this session the Directors will select a Chairman of the Directorate from among themselves and then will elect the three vice presidents to serve until the next convention. This session will be followed by a short meeting of the entire Board in case there is any business that has to be conducted in closed session.

Future Convention Planning Meeting (2:00- 5:00)
This is an informal discussion of what is involved in hosting an NSS Convention. Anyone working on an upcoming convention, or considering hosting a convention, is encouraged to attend this meeting to get a better idea of what is involved.

Caving
Pretty busy? How about relaxing in a tight, wet crawlway...better yet while surveying! For more information about caves, click here.

New Members Reception
This reception will allow New NSS Members a chance to meet the Board of Govenors and the Officers of the Society.

Howdy Party (6:30 - ???)
The Howdy Party will be at the NSS Campground in the Expo Hall. We'll quickly turn to the important part of the evening: Food, music, and good friends! Soft drinks and kegs of beer will be provided. This will be a great way to kick off convention! The menu includes Pulled Pork BBQ on Bun, Fried Chicken, Garden Burger, Creamy Cole Slaw, Green Bean, Potato Casserole, Vegetable Tray (finger foods) and dip, Fried Biscuits and Apple Butter. Some tables and chairs will be provided, please bring your favorite chair. For music and band information, click here.

Please bring your ID -- we will be checking!

Tuesday Special Events

Amish Country Trip
A rare blend of natural beauty and business is what makes Southern Indiana's Amish Country so unique. For more information about this trip, click here

Vertical Climbing Contest (9:00 - 5:00)
Compete in the vertical climbing contest! To review the contest rules, see http://www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/44/contrule.html. This event is located in the Gym at the High School.

Caving
Time flying by? Go back to the stone age and see what it feels to be a caveman (or cavewoman or cavedog or cave hodag)! For more information about caves, click here.

Celebration of the Life of Paul Stevens (4:00 - 5:30)
Come to Room 318 at the High School to honor Paul Stevens. Paul will be remembered with slides, pictures and anecdotes. Everyone is invited. Light refreshments with cheese and crackers will be served.

Fellows Reception
This reception will allow NSS Fellows a chance to meet one and another while bending the ears of the Board of Govenors.

Acoustic Open Stage and Jam
A Caver Acoustic Open Stage and Jam will provide both entertainment for the audience and a chance for musically-inclined or otherwise talented cavers to perform on the Big Stage in the Expo Hall in the same space as the Howdy Party. For more information, click here.

Wednesday Special Events

Winery Tour
This all day tour will visit several Southern Indiana wineries. For more information about this trip, click here

Holiday World...Splash'in Safari
Water is the name of the game at this park! For more information about this trip, click here.

Caving
Got mud? You bet! For more information about caves, click here.

NSS Auction (5:30 - ???)
Come out and join us for the annual NSS Auction and Fundraiser. Come one, come all! We expect you to bring your checkbook or credit card and be prepared to bid on the many speleo-treasures that will be offered. All proceeds go to the NSS. Donations of items for the auction are welcome and can be dropped off at the NSS Bookstore in the High School. Many auction items will be on display before the event. Donated items may be tax deductible. PLEASE NOTE: Only bulk NSS News bundles older than 1969 (meaning prior to) will be accepted at auction this year.

Campground Party (7:30 - ???)
After you've spent some bucks getting that hard to find, got-to-have-it auction item, head over to the Expo Hall for the campground party! Our favorite caver band, the Terminal Syphons, will entertain us until we drop! For music and band information, click here.

Convention Bonfire (8:30 - ???)
Remember when there was a central bonfire at Convention? Well, the Newton's will show you how to "chug-up" a fire!

Thursday Special Events

Biology Field Trip
The all-day Biology Trip will take place in one of the most biologically interesting areas of Indiana. For more information about this trip, click here

NSS Awards Committee (Closed) (8:00 - 9:00)
This is a closed meeting of the NSS Awards Committee.

NSS Awards Committee (Open) (9:00 - 9:45)
Ever wondered how the NSS Awards Process works? Want help in creating a great nomination? Not sure exactly what your caving pal should be nominated for? Then this opportunity is for you! Everyone is welcome to the Open Session of the NSS Awards Committee. Not all members of the NSS Awards Committee will be present; nonetheless, there should be enough of us around to provide one on one guidance to answer any questions you have. Heck, we might even be able to dispel the underlying mysteries of the NSS Awards Process.

Vertical Section Workshop (11:00 - 5:00)
The Vertical Workshop will be held Thursday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is designed to provide students with a basic overview of climbing equipment, techniques, and safety considerations for American style single rope techniques. Students experience hands on sessions on knot tying, belaying, ladder work, rappelling (with a rack and a Petzel stop), and several ascending systems (Rope Walker, Mitchell, Frog, and Prusik knot systems). All participants in the Vertical Workshop need to bring a helmet, seat harness, a locking carabiner, and gloves. Students should also bring a lunch. This intense workshop will give the novice climber good exposure to different systems but it is not intended as a complete training course. Students will have the opportunity to use different systems in a controlled environment, under instructor supervision. Contact Terry Clark terjen@evansville.net or Lynn Fielding lynn@wb6hqk.ampr.org

Project Underground Workshop (9:00 - 1:00)
Project Underground is a karst education program created to help people understand the importance of our karst resources. A variety of hands-on and fun lessons lead the student to a greater appreciation of the world hidden beneath our feet. This workshop will familiarize educators with the Project Underground curriculum and teaching materials, and provide experience in using the program. You must register for this workshop. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 or Carol Zokaites at carol.zokaites@dcr.virginia.gov

Project Underground Board Meeting (1:00 - 2:30)
The annual Project Underground board meeting. For more information, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642.

Education Division Meeting (2:30 - 4:00)
The annual Education Division meeting. For more infromation, contact Kriste Lindberg at (812) 327-1642 or Amy Bern at amybern@juno.com

Newsletter Editor's Workshop (1:00 - 4:30)
This workshop is specifically designed for the most special people in the NSS-the overworked, unappreciated, and completely unstoppable editors of grotto and regional newsletters. It's an informal workshop with lots of interaction and discussion. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own special ideas and techniques to share with the group, We always have a good time communicating and commiserating with each other. This year we'll cover: • Newsletter design, layout, typography, and related matters. • How to edit your newsletter for consistent style, using the NSS Style Guide as an aid. (Copies of the Style Guide will be available for all attendees.) • How to coerce people into writing trip reports and other material. • Plus information on copyrights, dealing with the U.S. Postal Service, and more. Contact David McClurg dmcclurg@planeteria.net or Tom Rea tomrea@iendeavor.com

Caving
Just bought new gear from your favorite vendors? Try it out! For more information about caves, click here.

NSS Salon Program (7:00 - ???)
Join us to view the world's best caving photographs, videos, and multimedia presentations. The program will be held underground in a quarry at Marengo Warehouse. The temperature will be around 55 degrees F. Please dress appropriately! Click here to find out more about the Warehouse. The first shuttle bus will leave that campground at 5. Doors open at 6:30 and the salon starts at 7:00. If you want to take your own vehicle, see your guidebook for help with parking (it can be tricky).

Friday Special Events

Video Viewing and Critique (all day)
A video viewing and critique will be held where the videos are displayed. The judges will critique the videos entered in this year's salon.

Speleology for Cavers - a short course (all day)
A one-day course entitled "Speleology for Cavers" will be offered on Friday, July 27. Come learn the difference between strike and the dip, vadose and phreatic, and the birds and the bats. Bring home with you the reason why there are two parallel passages in Sinnett's Big Room, the meaning to cavers of Bogli's mixing corrosion, and the difference between the lifestyles of Riparia riparia and Pipistrellus subflavious. Experts in Speleology will lecture on Geology, Meteorology, Chemistry, Hydrology, Biology, and Paleontology. The course will go the full day, cost $35, and includes extensive printed course notes and lunch. Registration is limited to 35 people.

Board of Governors meeting (all day)
Coordinator: Bill Tozer This is the session that gets the nitty-gritty work done. The newly elected vice presidents for next year will be introduced. The entire meeting is open to all members. Take the opportunity to observe the board members and learn some of the details of society business. Members may be allowed to speak on subjects of interest to them at the direction of the President or at the request of a Board member.

Print Salon Workshop (9:00 - 12:00)
A print salon workshop will be held on Friday. During the workshop the judges and audience will critique the slides entered in this year's salon and photographic techniques will be discussed. Salon entrants may pick up their entries and awards.

Slide and Digital Image Salon Critique (10:00 - 12:00)
The slide and digital image salon critique is an opportunity to meet with the session chairmen and judges to discuss the entries, judging, and the general ground rules for the salon. Both photographers and would be photographers are encouraged to attend. It's an opportunity to discuss what the judges liked and didn't like about a particular image. Have your slides or digital images projected to receive constructive comments from the judges and other photographers. Photographers may pick up their entries.

Cartography Salon Critique (9:00 - 12:00)
A Cartographic Salon Critique will be held where the maps are displayed. The judges will critique the maps entered in this year's salon. They will also discuss cartographic design of cave maps and the awards presented. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. Salon entrants will be able to pick up their entries and awards after the critique.

Vertical Awards (1:00 - 2:00)
Awards ceremony for the Vertical Climbing Contest winners.

Convention Planning Debriefing (2:00 - 5:00)
This is an informal discussion of what went right, what may not have gone as planned during the convention, and what might have been done differently. This should be especially valuable for anyone hosting a future convention or thinking about doing so. It is a good way to find out what is involved in putting on a convention and to meet past and future organizers and staff personnel. Everyone is welcome.

Caving
Caving in Indiana? There is more than corn in Indiana! You just have to get below the field to find it. For more information about caves, click here.

Banquet and Awards Closing Ceremony (7:00 - 11:00)
On Friday evening we will gather for the banquet and awards ceremony. The program will be held underground in a quarry at Marengo Warehouse. The temperature will be around 55 degrees F. Please dress appropriately! Click here to find out more about the Warehouse. The facilities are large, spacious, and the food will be great! The food will be served buffet-style, so you can get exactly what you want. The menu will feature: Smoked pork chops, fried catfish, vegetarian lasagna, cucumber-onion salad, corn with diced red and green peppers, potato casserole, red cabbage, turnip slaw, fried biscuits and apple butter, apple strudel. Iced tea and coffee with be available, along with a cash bar. The awards program will begin after dinner. Please join us for a great end to a great week!

Don't forget about our Great Membership Drive. For more information, click here

The first bus will leave the campground at 5. Doors open at 5:30 and the banquet starts at 7:00. If you want to take your own vehicle, see your guidebook for help with parking (it can be tricky).

Sister Winkie Ceremony (12:00 a.m.)
Pay last respects and tribute to the One that made Convention a huge success!