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working
Together
A meeting of Virginia and Washington, DC, speleologists was held at Virginia Military Institute on March 18, 1950. Present at the meeting, which was presided over by Col. Robert P. Carroll, a member of the NSS Board of Governors. Prominent among the guests were representatives of the Washington Grotto: Stephenson, Faust and Petrie; the Richmond Grotto: G. Alexander Robertson, Betty and Ackie Loyd; and the VPI Grotto: Joe and Frankie Lawrence. Several NSS members-at--large attended the meetings including Jean Lowry and Dick Sanders of Wytheville and Dr. Al Webb of Frederick, MD. The only Virginia grotto not represented was the Charlottesville group.
The purpose of this meeting was to make a concerted effort on the part of all Virginia speleologists to organize into a regional, state wide, unit. It is the consensus of all present that gratifying progress was made in this direction. Colonel Carroll appointed a committee of four, headed by Joe Lawrence, to draw up a list of recommendations concerning the function of the new regional unit. The following resolution was recommended:
"Resolved that we, the Grottos of the National Speleological Society in Virginia, do hereby establish a regional organization to coordinate our caving efforts within this state; and that two duly--elected representatives from each grotto shall meet at Virginia Military Institute on April 22, with Colonel Robert Carroll, for the purpose of drawing up a constitution and bylaws for the region."--Richard R. McDonald, NSS, NEWS, April 1950
On April 29, delegates from Richmond, Lexington and VPI grottos assembled at VMI for the second meeting of the Virginia Region. Also present were several cavers from Lynchburg who had plans for forming a grotto in that city.
Colonel Robert P. Carroll, presided. There was discussion of the purposes and the organizational structure of the region. A constitution was drawn up and adopted. Colonel Carroll was them elected chairman of the region, to serve until the first meeting of the Virginia Regional Council. It was suggested that this meeting be held in the fall of the year along with a baby NSS convention for Virginia. The presidents of the Virginia grottos are to decide among themselves on the exact time and place for this meeting. --Joe Lawrence, THE NEWS, June 1950.
On Saturday, February 24, i951, 66 people registered for the first Virginia Regional Convention. Henry Webb, President of the VPI Grotto, presided over the first general session during the afternoon. Colonel Carroll, acting chairman of the Region, officially opened the convention with a word of welcome. Mr. Jack Lyons of VMI spoke on ways the Virginia Region could cooperate with the Virginia Academy of Sciences. Mr. J.W. Murray of VPI gave a talk on rope usage in cave safety. Each Virginia grotto was then called upon to report its activities for the past year.
After a short intermission, the second general session convened with Kal Howard of the Charlottesville Grotto presiding. Dr. M.H. Stow, head of the Geology Dept. at Washington and Lee, gave a talk on underground waters. He was followed by G. Alexander (Robbie) Robertson who discussed photography as a tool for the scientific study of caves. The general session was then adjourned.
The Council, which is the governing body of the Region, also met Saturday afternoon. The Council was made up of two representatives from each of the Virginia grottos and two representatives selected by Virginia NSS members not belonging to any grotto. Colonel Carroll presided over this Council meeting. The first business taken up by the Council was the election of Regional officers. Jim Comer of VMI was elected chairman. "Robbie" Robertson of the Richmond Grotto was elected vice--chairman, Ed Bleicher of the VPI Grotto was elected secretary. The Council also adopted a set of by--laws for the Region.
Artifacts, minerals, formations, biological specimens, maps, fossils, Indian bones, and~ photographs were displayed at the convention, and were furnished by the Charlottesville, VPI, and Lexington Grottos. Saturday evening 55 Virginia NSS members attended the banquet. After the banquet, Prof. Henry Wiss of VPI presided while Ed Bleicher gave a report on the Council meeting, followed by an interesting talk by "Robbie" on the International Speleological Convention in Mexico. --Joe Lawrences, NSS NEWS, April 1951.
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