The Secretary - Carol Tiderman
A motion was made by Bubble Cave to accept the minutes as published in the Region Record. Tri-State seconded. Motion passed.

The Treasurer - John Fox
A financial report was presented. A motion was made by Bubble Cave to accept the financial report, Dingo seconded - Motion passed.

The Vice Chair - Judy Fisher
No report

The Chairman's - Craig Hindman
No report

Conservation Co-Chair - Meredith Hall Johnson
Recycling bins are at the event. Spring monitoring project - continuing survey of Karst Springs in VA. VAR members cleaned up a sink for the Land Trust Authority.

Goodwin's Cave Management - Mary Sue Socky
Requested it be taken off the agenda.

VAR Outstanding Service Award - Meredith Hall Johnson
Awards were presented to Bill Biggers, Annie and Witt Wittemore. Need nominations sent in by next summer. Please include a paragraph citing accomplishments. Nominations forms are on the web.

Landowner Recognition Awards - Janet Tinkham
Charlottesville & Blue Ridge Grottoes presented to Pat MacNamarra owner of Blue Springs Cave. Please send in nominations. Forms are on the web.

Landowner Legal Support Committee - Bob Hoke
No news is good news

Region Record - Bob Hoke
Send articles - Deadline Dec. 15th

VAR List Server - Walt Pirie
No report

VAR Web site - Jim McConkey
If you have an event of region-wide interest, please send it in for the calendar.

Cave Bucks - JC Fisher
Send in your dollars.

VSS - Rick Lambert
No official report. VA has 4421 caves

WVASS - George Dasher
No report.

WVCC - Bob Handley
They are buying Maxwelton Sink Cave. 7K was raised at OTR. They have grants but still need contributions. Hope to finalize in the next few weeks. They are working on: Sinks of Sinking Creek, Brochures, and a Landowner Brochure

The annual Banquet will be on Nov. 15 location to be determined. The next meeting will be at Lost World on Nov. 16.

TRAIN BREAK

Virginia Karst Program - Joey Fagan
It has been very busy this year. They have been involved with hydrological studies and biological inventories. Dye tracing materials are available and study assistance is available.

SCCI - Walt Pirie
No report

Grand Caverns/Cave Hill - Jim McConkey
The dig continues in Fountain. A new leads has been found in Grand that require digging and removing debris discarded into a pit by earlier cave development.

Cave Board - Dave Socky
Cave Week has been moved to April to be held in conjunction with Earth Day Working with state on new storm water regulations. Cave sign program has 500 new signs. Help will be needed to get them installed. The first priority will be to install them in the most significant and high traffic caves.

Wilderness Proposal - Bob Handley
The House of Representatives has passed their version of the bill. The Senate passed the House version. The trouble is getting the resources committed & the final bill needs to be passed by the complete Senate - hopefully by the end of September. This bill is bundled with approximately 90 other land bills. The coalition is still alive & well The National Forest owns the surface only - no mineral rights.

Virginia Karst Trail - Joey Fagan
Going to work with the Cave Board Warren County has an area they are interested in being included in the plan.

CCV - Joey Fagan
Still active in funding projects. Conductinh a surface study of the Powell Mountain Preserve. There will be a short CCV meeting after this meeting.

Host Grotto Report - Blue Ridge & James River Grottoes
There were about 273 attendees. Thanks for coming. Bubble Cave moved to thank Blue Ridge and James River Grottoes. BATS seconded - passed.

The Spring 2009 VAR will be held on weekend of April 25th. Proposed sites are Natural Chimneys or Grand Caverns

Fall 2009 - BATS backed out

Spring 2010 - Bubble Cave will host the event on the last weekend in April at the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea WV.

Fall 2009 - no volunteers

Fall 2010 - no volunteers

Elections
Bubble moved to reseat the current slate of officers. Front Royal seconded - passed.
DC Grotto made a motion to thank the officers for their efforts - unanimous second

Announcements
Mary Sue Socky & Bob Hoke have updated the regions closed cave list. They are available.

Evelyn Bradshaw is doing well in an assisted living facility - she has Alzheimer's

Mary Sue Socky announced that Dixie Caverns will be doing the Haunted Cave - anyone can help. The cave owners allocate 2K for the grottoes to use for conservation. Primitive camping is available. This will be on Friday & Saturdays only - Oct. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 & 31st.

Sinkhole cleanup is scheduled for September 27th. Mountain State is sponsoring. Please come out and help at Pink Helectite Cave. Take advantage of court ordered community service individuals when performing a sinkhole cleanups or other conservation projects that need no caving skill.

RASS is hosting the BOG in Richmond in November. Contact Ted Kayes.

Adjournment
Bubble moved to adjourn, Blue Ridge seconded.

Meeting Adjourned 10:03

Respectfully submitted:
Carol Tiderman