Derbyshire Caving Association
Information Circular 2007/1, January / February 2007
NEXT DCA MEETING
DCA Annual General Meeting, 10am. 24th February 2006 at Monyash Village Hall
The Hall will be open from about 9.30am with tea, coffee and biscuits available. The Old Smithy Cafe, next to the Pub, does an excellent breakfast from about 9am.
Remember that Council and Annual General Meetings are open to ALL members.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2007
A reminder to all DCA Clubs and Associate Members: you no longer pay a subscription to DCA, instead you pay your subscription direct to BCA to receive all the benefits of the "one stop shop" - so no need to join other regional councils to obtain permits. If you haven't done so already, please pay your BCA subscription or else your DCA membership will lapse - application/renewal forms are on the BCA website (in the Membership section) at www.british-caving.org.uk. Remember, BCA now funds DCA administration and conservation & access work, training and bolting carried out by DCA on behalf of all cavers.
A reminder to Individual Members: you do pay a subscription direct to DCA, £10 for 2007, to be sent to the DCA Treasurer: Jenny Potts at 3 Greenway, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, DE6 3FE. Don't forget that, if you are already a BCA Direct Individual Member, you pay a discounted rate of only £7 for DCA Individual Membership. (If you want to join BCA, application forms are on the BCA website.)
CONSERVATION & ACCESS
If you have any queries or problems about Conservation or Access in the region, please contact the Conservation Officer, Dave Webb, 0115-840-1109 or the Access Officer, Iain Barker, 0114-253-0112, 07710-689704.
Please note that, due to increasing quantities of "spam", the email address of access@theDCA.org.uk for general queries has been discontinued.
SLOP MOLL PROJECT
Many thanks to the team of cavers who have successfully
completed the work to stabilise the Slop Moll rising just outside Peak Cavern.
The work in this SSSI was carried out on behalf of Natural England and was
overseen by DCA's Projects Officer, Wayne Sheldon.
CARLESWARK CAVERN CLEANUP
Many thanks to the team from Chesterfield Caving Club who
have finished a "cleanup" in Carleswark Cavern.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH DCA
For information on all DCA Training Courses and events, contact DCA Training Officer, Nigel Atkins, 01283-210666, 07831-449909, Coming up shortly:
DCA/BCA Cavers Workshop 2007 - Saturday & Sunday March 10th & 11th 2007
AT THE UPPER LIMTS CLIMBING CENTRE, LONGNOR, Nr BUXTON. £10.00 per head per day.
This workshop gives opportunity for cavers to gain further knowledge whilst having fun at low cost. It is also ideal for caving clubs to supplement their training requirements.
USE OF BRIDGE 75 ON THE MONSAL TRAIL
If your club is interested in making use of this abseil/SRT training facility, please contact the DCA Training Officer, Nigel Atkins: Tel. 01283-210666, Mob. 07831-449909.
INSTALLATION OF ECO-ANCHORS
If you have any queries about Eco-anchors installed in the region, please contact the DCA Equipment Officer, Dave Cowley, 0114-255-1285, 07956-560055.
Work on testing the Eco-anchors already installed in Derbyshire during previous years continues, using the tester supplied by BCA to "proof load" each installation. So far, all anchors tested have passed, including some dating back to 1992 - a tribute to the thoroughness of the original installers.
NEWS FROM BCA
BCA YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE - Derbyshire
"Try Caving" Day
Clubs who are interested in
taking part in the BCA Try Caving initiative may like to look at the comments
posted on the Try Caving Forum, accessed via the website
www.trycaving.co.uk. A draft of
guidelines for clubs taking part has been posted on the Forum by Bob Mehew, in
consultation with Chris Jewell. You are welcome to make your own contribution
to this discussion so that we can evolve sensible guidelines for all clubs
taking part. Chris is looking for volunteers to co-ordinate a "Try Caving Day"
in Derbyshire, possibly later this summer, rather than on the Spring Bank
Holiday weekend 26/27 May as this date is proving difficult for a number of
reasons. DCA may be able to help if a suitable date can be agreed - we've put
this as an item on the DCA AGM Agenda
BCA SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2007
All BCA subscription levels for both Club and Individuals
remain the same for 2007 as they were for 2006. The rates are already posted on
the BCA website at www.british-caving.org.uk in the Membership section. If you
have any queries, please contact BCA's new Membership Administrator, Glenn
Jones, on membership at british-caving. org. uk. Note that the address
published in error in BCA N/L No.7 will get results but there may be a delay so
please use the address below for all Membership enquiries, forms, etc.:
British Caving Association, The Old Methodist Chapel, Great Hucklow, Buxton. SK17 8RG.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
18th BCRA CAVE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM: Saturday 10th March 2007, University of Huddersfield, Further information, including directions to the venue, will appear on the BCRA website http://bcra.org.uk as the Symposium approaches.
BCA AGM 2007: 24 March 2007, 10.30am at Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall. The Agenda and details of nominations for BCA Officer posts are on www.british-caving.org.uk. The Agenda is being posted to all BCA Club, Associate and Direct Individual Members who are recorded as having paid for 2006. If you don't receive the Agenda by 10th. February, please contact the BCA Membership Administrator so that we are sure that changes of address have been recorded up to date.
HIDDEN EARTH 2007 - Venue Change: This had been arranged for 21-23 September at Hanley Castle High School, Upton-upon-Severn, which successfully hosted the Conference several years ago. However, the school has now decided to turn one of the large halls into 4 classrooms, so removing one lecture theatre and making it unsuitable for Hidden Earth. Hence the search is on for an alternative venue in that general area at the end of September or early October. Details will be posted on www.hidden-earth.org.uk and we'll let you know as soon as we have news.
BALTIC SPELEOLOGICAL CONGRESS 2007: 13-15 August 2007, Visby, Gotland, Sweden. www.speleo.se/bsc
15TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF SPELEOLOGY: 19-26 July 2009, Kerrville, Texas, USA. www.ics2009.us
FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD
5th February 2007