The NFSA and NACD need your help at Madison Blue Springs State Park.

[NACD]

Here is some information on the NFSA and NACD cleanup at Madison Blue Springs State Park that I mentioned in a post a few days ago.

Who: Open to all. Bring your significant other(s), children, friend’s children, etc.
What: General cleanup and some basic construction
When: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Where: Madison Blue Springs State Park
Why: To help keep our parks and dive sites in tip top shape.
Schedule:
9:00 to 12:30 – work (Come earlier if you wish)
12:45 to 1:30 – grilled burgers and dogs
1:30 – Door prizes

Last year, 20+ volunteers helped paint the changing/rest rooms, fill potholes, install tank benches, pressure clean steps, clean the entrance way to the park, and perform some other miscellaneous jobs. Park personnel were most appreciative of your efforts. Additionally, it was a great way to meet other people who care about the parks including a number of cave divers.

This year, our efforts will be steered towards installing BBQ grills, replacing picnic tables, and some cleanup around the entrance. Depending on the number of volunteers, we may also transplant some palmetto bushes. The park will donate all supplies needed. We will need to provide the muscle and maybe some hand/garden/power tools. I will keep you posted on this. We will provide lunch, water/sodas, and door prizes.

If you can help, send me a pm (to NACD or to sandy) or email me at the address below. You can also contact Kelly Jessop at kjessop@bellsouth.net.

Also, I want to say how appreciative we are for the volunteer efforts you guys and gals contribute to our dive sites and its environment. Whether it is the Interpretative Trail (thanks Kelly), Cannonball Cave (thanks Doug), the Great Suwannee River Cleanup (thanks Rob), or the Madison Blue cleanups, your efforts go a long way in keeping our parks, dive sites, and rivers clean. At the same time, it shows the public that we care enough about these areas to use our personal time to improve them. It seems like whenever we ask, you respond. It is great to be associated with all of you. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Safe diving,

Sandy Robinson
pr@safecavediving.com

[NACD]

Hey all, we are up to 6 volunteers and one donor who is out of town on cleanup day. Thank you for your response and support so far. I hope we can match or exceed last years number of volunteers.

Sandy Robinson
pr@safecavediving.com

[sandy]

We have about 11 volunteers so far. Also, the Nestle Water plant has some volunteers who plan to help. But we need more volunteers - still time to sign up.

One of the door prizes is a print(#25) titled Formation in the Air Dome that Michael Angelo drew from his photos in Sistema Cocodrilo in Cozumel - compliments of Cozumel Caves Expedition. Without a doubt, this print will look good in your home. Volunteer with us for a chance to win it and other prizes.

Hope to see you on the 17th of March.

[sandy]

Hey all, we are up to about 15 to 20 with the possibility of more. This is a great opportunity to show how involved cave divers are with our conservation efforts. If you can make it, let Kelly or me know so we can plan work to be done and also food. Hope to see you there.

[Kelly Jessop]

This was a very successful event last year,with some good food and door prizes. This went along way to showing the park system our concern for the sites we dive,and this really helps develop a relationship. We hope you can come out and join us for just a few hours,and still have time to get dive in.

[sandy]

Hey all,

We are still on for Saturday. If you can make it and have not responded, let me know so we can plan for enough drink and food. I talked with a ranger today who said the spring was still not divable. He said a team stopped by Martz a few days ago and promptly left. I am guessing Madison (not sure about Martz) will be closed for diving (and swimming) on Saturday but I will post if I hear anything different. But you can be at WSPSSP or Cow in 45 minutes or so.

We will be installing 6 grills, replacing 6 picnic tables, and cleaning some brush at the entrance, If time permits, we may transplant some plants to the fence above the cave entrance.

Grills will be placed in holes and secured with cement. We will also install some grill racks which have been built. Mat, if you can still bring your auger, that would be great. If a few of you can bring some shovels, it will help. Just let me know if you can bring one. If you are traveling any distance, someone living closer can handle this for you.

Six of the picnic tables will be replaced with newer tables which have already been assembled. The biggest issue will be removing the cables from the old tables. The park will have a gator that we can use to move tables.

For the brush removal at the entrance, we need a few chainsaws and some weed whackers. Let me know if you can bring one.

See you on Saturday.

I would recommend each of you to bring sunscreen and gloves. If you want to help clean brush, you may wisjh to wear long pants.

[sskasser]

Hey all,

.....
Grills will be placed in holes and secured with cement. We will also install some grill racks which have been built. Mat, if you can still bring your auger, that would be great. If a few of you can bring some shovels, it will help. Just let me know if you can bring one. If you are traveling any distance, someone living closer can handle this for you.
.....

Hey Sandy,
Mat is temporarily banned on CDF so he may not see this (until tomorrow afternoon) Do you have him on FB?

[sandy]

Hey Sandy,
Mat is temporarily banned on CDF so he may not see this (until tomorrow afternoon) Do you have him on FB?

I do. I was not sure if the ban was from posting or from access in general but you just answered that question for me. Thanks.

Hope all is well with you. Miss seeing you which means I am not diving as much as I would like

[John Ploegert]

Sandy,
I'll bring a chain saw, weed whacker and shovel. Since Saturday is St Patricks Day may I correctly assume the drinks being provided will include green beer?
John

[sskasser]

Hope all is well with you. Miss seeing you which means I am not diving as much as I would like

Ditto that, my friend! Every word