Regan Youngman reported that IBEX Climbing wall in Blue Springs is not available for our scheduled meeting date on March 10. Members agreed to change March meeting date to March 17 at the climbing wall.

Dave Foran reported that a scout troop asked him about doing a novice trip. He can only do the trip one of the last two weeks of April. They will let him know if this will work for them. Dave asked members to let him know if anyone would be interested in going.

Bryon Carmoney reported that he got a call from a scout troop in Blue Springs who want to do a trip March 19-21 which is the CCC dig. He asked members to let him know if anyone would be interested.

Spring MVOR May 14-16

Regan Youngman is leading a novice trip to Mushroom Cave and Little Scott April 10-11 camping at Meramac State Park (showers available). Trip is primarily for KCAG novices. Sign-up sheet was circulated - must interest in attending - may have to break up into separate trips with different leaders.

Mike McKinney gave Safety Committee Report: He talked to Rick Walk (sp.?) again who says it will take at least 3 months to organize a local NCRC class. Rick is booked until mid-July. The consensus is that it would be best for KCAG to host a local NCRC training in Spring of 2000.

Mike & Terry DeFraties are going to attend a Cave Rescue Seminar in Kentucky on April 24 & 25 which is part of a larger General Disaster Training in that area. There is no limit on the number of attendees. Bryon reported that the KCAG members agreed to sponsor the trip up to $200 during last months meeting.

Alternate after-meeting pizza locations were discussed because of the unfriendly reception KCAG has been getting at Torre's on Wornall. Torres in Westport and Westport Pizza in Westport were suggested. Consensus is to try both.

Bryon Carmoney reported that he will wed fellow KCAG member, Michelle Lowe, on June 3, 2000, with fellow KCAG member , Mike ( the "Rev") Jacob presiding.

Members expressed interest in future rope/rappelling classes beyond the climbing wall. Bryon will check with Richard Cindric about the possibility of him hosting another class. Members are also considering some rope training at the Grotto picnic this May.

Rick Hines reported briefly of the Carol Cave dig Jan. 16 & 17. Cement was mixed and poured into the cavity under the large rock.. See the February Guano for Full Dig report. Bryon Encouraged members to attend the CCC digs. Dig sign-up sheet was circulated.

MSS meeting for this spring will be May 21 in Rolla. Jeff page and Bernard Arnold to attend.

Terry DeFraties reported on the impromptu rope class at Cliff Drive on Sun Jan. 24 also attended by Barry Godsey, Regan Youngman, and Kathy Sumner. The changeover practice became somewhat more complicated than expected - but that's why we practice.

Regan Youngman presented a NSS slide show on cave restoration.

IMAX

Date: Fri, 29 Jan 99 17:22:40 MST
From: Paul Fowler
To: ...
Subject: IMAX caving movie

For anyone who is not yet aware of it, an IMAX (giant screen) movie is currently being filmed about caving. This will probably represent some of the most widespread and high-visibility mass publicity about caving ever. The producers, MacGillivray-Freeman Films, have a budget of nearly $4 million, and they expect the movie to be seen by many millions of people.

For those who want more information about this movie, one of the only published articles I know of about it appeared in the summer issue of Rocky Mountain Caving (v15, n3). This article is now available online(thanks to Rick Rhinehart and John Ganter) at:

http://nerve-net.zocalo.net/jg/c/masspub/rhinhart.htm

Some people think this movie will be good for caving, and some think it may be very harmful. I understand that this issue has already caused some controversy amongst the officers and Board members of the NSS. However, many cavers that I know seem to be largely unaware even of the existence of the movie. I think more widespread discussion would be healthy.

Personally, I have many doubts and concerns about the effects of making this movie. I do acknowledge and respect that others might reasonably hold very different views. I know some of the proponents of this movie are probably reading this; I hope some of you will speak out too, particularly if you can correct any factual errors or misunderstandings.

To kick off discussion then, here are a few of my own worries and opinions:

1) Some of those millions of viewers are going to want to go caving. Some of them may become "responsible" or "serious" cavers, some will be well meaning but ignorant, and predictably, some will be vandalistic yahoos. The increase in responsible cavers can both help and hurt caves; the increase in ignorant and yahoo cavers will mean some more caves get trashed. I suspect the damage will outweigh any good effects.

2) I fear that the dominant image of caving the movie will convey is that of yet another thrilling adrenaline sport, with at most only limited presentation of the minimum impact ethic many of us would prefer to be emphasized. I doubt that science or education are really major goals of this movie; I would think that if this were actually the principal intent, a video might well be a more effective tool that could reach a more carefully targeted audience. But of course a video might not make as much money for the producers, and wouldn't rank nearly as high on the "Wow golly gee" scale. IMAX movies are promoted as spectacles, and one of their draws is their ability to induce mild vertigo in viewers - the "roller coaster" effect. In line with this, the producers are reported to have said they want to include "dramatic" rappelling, climbing, whitewater canoeing, and cave diving, all in the context of a staged "expedition". Promoting caving as a thrill sport to the masses in this way seems to me to be nearly antithetical to effective education of people to appreciate, respect, and protect the precious and fragile environment of caves.

3) The producers plan to film in Lechuguilla (although to the best of my knowledge they have not yet actually applied for a permit.) Why use Lech? How will this movie benefit the National Park Service, or Lechuguilla Cave itself? Why not use some other well protected cave that is less fragile, is not managed as wilderness, and perhaps has not already been as thoroughly documented in photos and film? Why not, for instance, a commercial cave? Some commercial caves have plenty of pretties, and impact and access might be less of an issue.

4) Is there anything effective that cavers, or the NSS specifically, can or should do to oppose this movie? Is there anything useful that can be done to improve it, or ameliorate the likely negative effects of it? Or for that matter, if unlike me, you think it really on the whole is a good thing, what if anything should we be doing to support it?