BCCS: The Organization

Abstract

The Butler Cave Conservation Society (BCCS) was created as a non-profit scientific, education, and conservation organization in November, 1968. In 1970 the BCCS was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of the organization to own and manage caves as a conservation strategy, initially in Burnsville Cove, but not limited to the Cove. The organization is guided by a seven-member Board of Directors which includes the officers. Membership is by invitation. Lists of members, board members, and officers are provided. An addendum provides a description of the 50/40 celebration of the discovery of Butler Cave and the founding of the BCCS.

With an addendum by David Kohuth.

Fred L. Wefer: Deceased.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Out of the Cove Activities and Expeditions

12/87-01/88 Cueva De Diamonte, Mexico.

10/15/88 1989 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

10/14/89 1990 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

04/21/91 1991 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

10/12/91 1992 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

10/2/93 1994 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

2/21/97 1997 Expedition to the Dominican Republic approved as an official expedition.

5/30/99 The Hawaii expeditions were approved as official expeditions

2001 Expedition to Mexico approved as an official expedition.

10/10/02 Expedition to Iceland approved as official expedition.

Appendix 2: BCCS Members, Past and Present Through 2012

Name	Life	Date elected to membership—resignation
Arnswaldt, Frederich W. Van		1970–1975
Artz, Michael M. (Mike)	L	1988
Brady, Joseph M. (Joe)	L	1969
Canike, Tony	L	2007
Carter, Peter G. (Pete)		1980
Christenson, Keith		1996
Clark, Lawrence		1970
Clemmer, Gregg	L	1981
Cooper, Brad	L	2010
Cunningham, Paul A.		1970–1973
Davis, Nevin C.	L	1968, Charter, Deceased
Davis, Nevin W.	L	1968, Charter
Decker, William J. (Bill)	L	1969
Deike, George H. III		2010
Droms, Yvonne		2009
Dyas, Michael D. (Mike)		1991–1994
Faint, Harry		1968–1974
Farrar, Nathan	L	2010
Ficco, Michael J. (Mike)		1995
Ganjon, Richard (Rich)		1977–2005, Deceased
Gibson, Nancy	L	2000
Gilman, Lee B.	L	1976
Good, Lester V. (Les)	L	1978–2002, Deceased
Grimm, Alfred D. (Al)		1978
Haas, John	L	1970
Haverly, Kathryn (Kathy)		2000
Hess, John W. (Jack)	L	1968
Igoe, John W. (Jack)	L	1969
Jones, D. Scott		1982
Jones, William		2006
Kehs, Edward C. (Ed)		1996
Kistler, Michael R. (Mike)		2002
Kohuth, David A. (Dave)		2001
Lillestolen, Jon		2012
Longenderfer, Jay R.		1988
Lucas, Philip C. (Phil)	L	1971–1980, 1990
Lucier, Molly		2012
Madison, Holly		2002
Marks, Franklin J. Jr. (Frank)	L	1969
Martin, Duane		2002
Maxwell, G. Maret	L	1975
McAdam, Hope E.		1991
Miller, Ronald	L	1968–1985
Minton, Mark		2009
Morrow, David B. (Dave)		1989–1997
Nicholson, I. Kennedy (Ike)	L	1968–1999, Honorary Life, Charter, Deceased
Nicholson, Michael K. (Mike)	L	1968, Charter
O’Holleran, Tom		1978–1983
Olson, Scott T.	L	2001
Rigg, Richard H. (Rick)	L	1970
Rosenfeld, John H.	L	1986
Schrumph, Ronald L.		1970–1980
Schwartz, Benjamin (Ben)		1995
Shifflett, Tommy		1988
Shuster, Evan T.		1975–1976
Simmons, Ronald W. (Ron)		1988–1992, Deceased
Sproul, Mason		1970–?, Deceased
Stellmack, John A.(Jack)	L	1968–2009, Charter, Deceased
Sweet, John R.		1998
Swezey, Christopher	L	2006
Thompson, Glenn	L	1968
Trees (Williams), Toni L.	L	1978
Uhl, Jeffrey W. (Jeff)	L	1989
Vargas, Jean S. (nee Hartman)		1997
Walter, Nathaniel (Nate)		2001
Ward, Rockwell P. (Rocky)		1971
Wefer, Fred L.	L	1968–1999, Deceased
Wheeland, Keith D.	L	1969
White, Elizabeth L. (Bette)		1991
White, William B. (Will)	L	1968
Wilson, John M.	L	1975
Winter, Paul A.		2012

3.1.1 Officers

President

Clemmer, Gregg	2001–present
Davis, Nevin W.	1971–2000
Stellmack, John A.	1969–1970

Vice President

Clemmer, Gregg	1995–2000
Hess, John W.	1974
Ficco, Michael J.	2001–present
Marks, Franklin J. Jr.	1975–87
Nicholson, I. Kennedy	1969–71
Wefer, Fred L.	1971–72, 1988–94

Secretary-Treasurer

Davis, Nevin C.	1969–71, 1975–2001
Gibson, Nancy	2002–present
Thompson, Glenn	1972–1974

Directors

Artz, Michael M.	1989, 1996–97
Brady, Joseph M.	1975–76
Clemmer, Gregg	1985, 1987–94
Davis, Nevin W.	2001–present
Ficco, Michael J.	1998–2000
Ganjon, Richard	1980–86
Good, Lester	1980–83, 1986–91
Grimm, Al	1992–2000
Hartman, Jean S.	1999–2000, 2002
Haverly, Kathy	2005–2009
Hess, John W.	1971–73
Igoe, Jack	1977–79, 1981
Kohuth, David A.	2004–2005, 2009–2010
Lucas, Philip C.	1999–2003
Marks, Franklin J. Jr.	1974
Maxwell, Maret	1984–87
Nicholson, I. Kennedy	1972–80
Nicholson, Michael K.	1982–83
Olson, Scott	2010–present
Rosenfeld, John H.	1995
Schwartz, Benjamin	1998, 2001–2003
Shifflett, Tommy	1990–91
Stellmack, John A.	1971–80
Wefer, Fred L.	1971, 1977–78, 1981, 1984
Wheeland, Keith D.	1982–98, 2001, 2003–2006
White, William B.	1971, 1975–76, 1979, 1988, 1992–97

Newsletter Editors

Canike, Tony	2009–present
Christenson, Keith	1997–2001
Gibson, Nancy	2002
Haverly, Kathy	2003–2008
Igoe, Jack	1976
Wheeland, Keith D.	1977–1996

Expedition Leaders

Clemmer, Gregg (Bobcat)
Good, Lester	1979
Grimm, Al	1991
Hess, John W.	1971–74
Igoe, Jack	1975–76
Longenderfer, Jay	1988
Maxwell, Maret	1983–87
O’Holleran, Tom
Stellmack, John A.	1973
Uhl, Jeff and Wilson, John	1990
Wheeland, Keith D.	1989, Temporary 1987

BCCS Member’s Awards and Recognition

Davis, Nevin C. and Thelma 1983 BCCS Certificate of Appreciation

Davis, Nevin W. 1992 NSS Lew Bicking Award

2003 BCCS Limestone Award

Deike, George H. III 1961 NSS Certificate of Merit

Dyas, Michael D. (former member) 1991 NSS Lew Bicking Award

Lucas, Philip C. 1990 NSS Certificate of Merit

2001 NSS Lew Bicking Award

2007 BCCS Limestone Award

Shifflitt, Tommy 1996 NSS Lew Bicking Award

Simmons, Ron (former member) 1998 NSS Lew Bicking Award

Stellmack, John A. 1971 NSS Honorary Member

Wheeland, Keith D. 2005 BCCS Limestone Award

2008 NSS Outstanding Service Award

2012 NSS Certificate of Appreciation

White, William B. 1958 NSS Certificate of Merit

1975 NSS Outstanding Service Award

1994 NSS Science Award

2001 Karst Waters Institute Award

2005 NSS Certificate of Merit

Wilson, John 1997 NSS Outstanding Service Award

Appendix 3: Cave Access Policy

The BCCS conducts expedition weekends at the Butler Cave Homestead. The number of weekends per year is decided at the prior annual regular membership meeting.

Competent cavers are welcome to participate in the continuing exploration, survey, and other cave related activities in Butler Cave and other nearby caves.

• 1. Only experienced and fully qualified cavers will be accepted for caving trips on the expedition weekends.

• 2. There will be no tourist trips during the expedition weekends. All trips will be work trips, i.e. survey, dig, exploration, or research.

• 3. There will be trips of varying duration and difficulty which cavers can state their preference.

• 4. Trips will be made into Butler Cave as well as other nearby caves. There is no guarantee that a participant will be assigned a trip into Butler Cave.

• 5. Tourist trips (as well as work trips) may be arranged by contacting any of the members of the BCCS. Trips may be scheduled at a time mutually agreed upon by all parties.

2008 Addendum: Milestones in Limestone by David Kohuth

• [Editor’s Note: This addendum is an edited version of an article that appeared in the BCCS Newsletter Volume 33 for 2008. Photos that appear below were taken by the editor.]

Just in case somebody missed the hoopla, the Butler Cave Conservation Society achieved an important milestone on May 24, 2008. Oh, the “milestones” weren’t just in limestone, but also in the hearts of all those brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors who have been involved with this long, strange trip in the Burnsville Cove. The 50/40 celebration honored the dedication of Society members and friends who have contributed to “50 years of discovery; 40 years of stewardship”. From Ike Nicholson’s 1958 discovery of Butler Cave, through the Butler Cave Conservation Society founding in 1968, to the current day activities of the BCCS, the commemoration was well deserved. The accomplishments of the Society have made it a role model for the entire caving community as well as the general population. By Official Proclamation of Virginia’s Governor, Timothy Kaine, May 24, 2008, was declared Butler Cave Discovery Day across the Old Dominion.

I remember it was a few years ago that my Engineering brain ran the numbers and targeted a day “out in the future”. I mentioned the dual anniversaries to Gregg Clemmer and wound up with a job. The initial proposal to the Society happened almost immediately so that we could get ready. That was back in 2004. Whoever thought that the big day would arrive.

And arrive it did! The event was described by Society President Gregg Clemmer as follows:

“First, the weather was perfect. Clear, sunny, zero humidity. Registrants officially numbered 142. Saturday evening’s BBQ loaded up nearly 200 plates. Campers found the grounds clean, dry, accessible, and mowed. Action verbs popped up from the Homestead like the sandstone float we once dug there: Caving. Photographing. Joking. Eating. Imbibing. Reminiscing. Meeting. Laughing. Hiking. Exploring. Jawing. Playing. And always, Grinning. Burnsville Cove is one of those special places we harken to when we “need to get away” (Fig. 3.1). Some of us have been doing this for decades. A few of us finally moved there. Know that all of you are good stewards of the land. Above and below ground.”

Fig. 3.1

The homestead on a bright spring day, May 24, 2008. WBW photo

And what items will I always remember?

Tremendous weather—blue and white sky for a totally fabulous day.

A throng of smiling people huffing up the hillside to the Butler Cave Nicholson Entrance while……Duane and Jean’s failure to open the locked steel door on Butler Cave just minutes before the Entrance Dedication ceremony and Nevin Davis arriving in the nick of time to open that door, peer inside, and greet an old friend (Fig. 3.2).

Fig. 3.2

The crowd waiting for the plaque dedication ceremony at the Nicholson Entrance. WBW photo

Phil Lucas’ rendition of the discovery of Butler Cave, highlighted by the personal remembrances of Tommy Burns and Donnie Miller (Figs. 3.3 and 3.4)

Fig. 3.3

Ackie Lloyd, Charlie Moss, and Tommie Burns. WBW photo

Fig. 3.4

Donnie Miller at the Plaque. WBW photo

A stupendous feast prepared by Master Barbequer Kenny Davis and his crew (by any other name) Hog Wild (OK, Dylan, Austin and Duane). If “barbequer” ain’t a word, it is now (Fig. 3.5).

Fig. 3.5

The barbeque setup. WBW photo

Rockwell Ward’s description of “a thin place” beloved by us all. Tommy Shifflett reads the Commendation from the State of Virginia Legislature (Fig. 3.6).

Fig. 3.6

Rocky Ward delivering the dedication of the monument. Tommy Shifflett waiting to read the Virginia legislature commendation. WBW photo

The placement of the limestone BCCS monument (carved by Ed Kehs, Sr.) on the Homestead’s rock wall (Fig. 3.7).

Fig. 3.7

The women of BCCS. Clockwise: Bette White, Jean Vargas, Hope McAdam, Holly Madison, Nancy Gibson, and Kathy Haverly. WBW photo

“Burnsville Bock” crafted by Mike Kistler. Brewed in the Cove with water from the Lockridge Aqua Cave resurgence, a pinch of grass from the Butler meadow, hops from Pennsylvania, bottled on Easter Sunday 2008 and conditioned inside Dave’s Gallery of Butler Cave.

The look on Jeff Uhl’s face when someone finally told him, without a doubt, that one of the half kegs was indeed Dos Equis. The next look on Jeff’s face when that very same keg kicked about 2 min later.

A roaring campfire in the “amphitheater” fire ring and Mike Ficco’s raucous fireworks display.

The campfire stories shared with friends over the back-up keg of Sierra Nevada Summerfest.

Late Saturday night, after many had retired from the campfire, Mike Ficco broke from the group and headed off into the meadow alone. On the way he stopped to answer a simple question with a one word answer spoken very softly: “loud”.

Great people and a great time