Old Timers Reunion 2007 - Information Update

The 58th annual Old Timers Reunion (OTR) will be located at The Robertson Association (TRA) camp ground in West Virginia. The event will start at 12 noon on Thursday and close at 12 noon on Monday.

This Year’s Theme: Blackjack comes to Club Grotto'

It just seems like yesterday that we were preparing and setting up for OTR 2006 and now here we are preparing for OTR 2007.

This year will be an exciting OTR as we are going to kick things up several notches with six great bands and a fun filled Las Vegas style charity gaming night at Club Grotto', to benefit your favorite Cave Conservancy.

This year will see the return of the 2006 OTR logo, mascot & bat, Blackjack Tobias Robertson. Blackjack went on a little trip to Las Vegas and has returned with a few exciting games for your enjoyment an Saturday night so bring your lucky bats foot or your best Vegas attire and enjoy the fun.

Tim Brown
OTR Chair
2007/08

TRA Membership and OTR Registration

Membership: To attend OTR, you must be a TRA member or the guest of a TRA member. TRA membership costs $10. You must be sponsored by another TRA member and/or be a member of a pre-approved caving group. For details, visit www.otr.org, or send a SASE to:

Scott Baker
TRA Membership Secretary
5470 Logan-Thornville Road NE
Rushville, Ohio 43150

Ph: 740-536-7074
Email Scott

IMPORTANT: The deadline for TRA to receive all necessary paperwork is July 31, 2007.

TRA memberships are NOT available during OTR and the deadline is firm.

Early Arrival/Late Departure Policy: Unless you are on the list of workers that are actually required to set up OTR or on the list of TRA workers that are actually required for work weekends, you will not be able to enter the site prior to noon Thursday. Coming to one work weekend will not put you on the early-arrival list. Staying after noon on Mon is only permitted for pre-authorized OTR clean-up crews to ensure that OTR staff can also leave. If you arrive before 12 noon on Thursday and are not on the workers list you may be asked to either return at noon or may you be permitted to enter the site to park ( not to set up or stake out a camp site). If you are permitted to enter before noon persons arriving at or after noon may be given preference in line for registration. Best bet, do not arrive before noon.

Pets: No pets are permitted at OTR, including the gate area or chained to/inside vehicles at the gate.

Insurance Surcharge: The insurance surcharge is included in the fee schedule below.

2007 OTR Registration Fee Schedule

Infants under 3 are permitted free entry.
*Day starts at 4:00 a.m. - there is NO Pre-Registration

Registration: is open around the clock from 12 noon Thursday to 12 midnight Saturday. Staff and hours may reduce after midnight Thursday and Friday. Registration closes 12 midnights on Saturday and reopens 8:30 am Sunday. OTR closes completely to new registrants and guests at 6 pm on Sunday. If you plan on arriving after 6 pm on Sunday, you must make prior CONFIRMED arrangements with our registration staff, Steve McLuckie at scagrotto@hvc.rr.com or Dave Fricke at caverdave1@cox.net; and you must pay the full registration fee for Sunday. It is the responsibility of the person who wants to arrive after Registration closes to ensure confirmation of arrangements with Registration staff. If your name is not on their list, you’re not confirmed. Please get confirmation ahead of time to avoid the hassle of being turned away at the gate.

We realize you will have traveled a distance to attend OTR and will be anxious to locate your friends as soon as you arrive. Check the campground map at Registration where, if your buddies remembered to post it, you can locate your grotto campsite. Please be kind to the hard-working, dedicated OTR staff who welcomes you. They’re cavers – just like YOU -- volunteering their OTR hours to make your registration process and gate entry a bit easier.

Day Passes: Passes are good for the day purchased from 8:30 am until 6 pm. To stick around after 6 pm, go back to registration and purchase a regular pass. Without exception, day passes are $20 and are non-refundable, regardless of length of visit but, may be converted into a regular registration.

Guests: Guests are welcome at OTR, when invited and sponsored by a TRA regular member, who is responsible for the guest’s behavior. TRA regular members may sponsor up to 2 adult guests. Guests of all ages (except infants) pay the regular registration fee plus a $20 guest surcharge. Family companions 18 and over are considered guests. Non-adult guests must be children of adult sponsors or the adult sponsor must provide proof of guardianship. We cannot permit entry to guests under 18 who are not lawfully in the custody of their adult sponsors. Legal verification may be required. Please choose your guests carefully; invite only cavers you know.

Children of TRA Members: Children of TRA members up to the age of 17 are not considered guests and do not pay the guest surcharge. Caving children may apply for their own membership ($10). Parents are fully, solely responsible for their children at OTR.

Photo ID: You must provide legal photo ID at registration, even if you do not intend to consume any alcoholic beverages on site. OTR staff is authorized to request and see ID of any individual on-site. You must be over 21 to consume any alcoholic beverages on-site; and staff may ask for verification of age at any time.

Checks: OTR accepts cash or checks written in US funds and on US banks. OTR charges $30 and possible disciplinary action on returned checks and reports nonpaying registrants to the authorities. OTR does not accept registration payment through credit or debit cards.

Campground Information

Overflow Camping: Historically an overflow camping area has been located in the SE quadrant. Because of the decrease in attendance the past few years we have decided to open this entire area up for camping on Thursday at noon. Please reserve only the space required for your group. If you want to camp in these areas, plan your arrival times accordingly. Exceptions cannot be made. 

Sauna Area: They’ve got rules to keep it a safe and enjoyable experience for all. Please follow those rules and treat staff with kindness.

Wireless Network: The campground is  equipped with a high-speed wireless network with wireless Internet access for a small fee to cover costs. Check details at Registration or contact Johnny Parsons FMI JohnP@exhilaronics.com

Porta-Pots: We are extremely pleased with the past years service we have received from Zinns and they have again reminded us to inform you that to keep the cost down and to improve their service we must not put posters or throw stuff in the Porta pots other than human organic waste. It’s your own registration fee that goes up to pay for increasing cleaning fees.

Trash: Please recycle. If you can pack it out, do so. We note who brings and leaves furniture onsite and you may be invited to not return.

Schedule of Events

OTR Events  -  Each Old Timers’ brings a host of new ideas, although the time-honored Doo-Dah Parade, Speleo-Olympics, Yard Sale, Speleo-Auction and other traditional OTR activities are planned as well.  Schedule your arrival on Thursday for the ceremonial opening of the OTR at the Lutz Rock Flag raising and plan on staying thru the  final big party on Sunday night- Put a little Vegas theme in your campsite party decorations this year.

Thursday: Lutz Rock: Raising the Flag, Memorial Service for departed old-timers. Bonfire: ROOTs and COOTs Gathering. Buzz City plays at COOTers, Main Pavilion: 3-D slide show followed by Oceans 11 double header movies

Friday: Old fashioned pub crawl - catch Shanty Irish at COOTers and later crawl or stagger to the main pavilion to see Tyne and the Fastline.

Saturday: Auction, Lion’s Club chicken dinners, TRA Awards Ceremony, Put on your lucky outfit and try your luck at Club Grotto’ and earn some $ for your favorite Cave Conservancy, enjoy the music of the Dennis McClung Blues Band, Annual T shirt auction.

Sunday: Sauna fund-raiser, Music at the river 1pm till 4 pm the Jug Busters, Kilt night, OTR Awards, Ceremony, Music by Vern’s Pot of Chili and after-hours noodle wrestling brought to you by Loyal Hanna grotto

Speleo Olympics: Begin noon Friday and end noon Sunday. Check the OTR Program or Contest Office for details, schedules, and rules. $1 participation fee is required

Kiddies Activities: Some activities are planned for caver children. This is not a babysitting service and parental involvement is required. The playground is available during daylight hours only.  Parents must supervise and be responsible for their own children.

Campsite Competition: The best dressed campsite receives an award. This year’s theme is LAS VEGAS

Vendors

Vendors must make prior arrangements with Vendors Coordinator Norma Peacock sweetbat1@aol.com or Kelley Deem at (304) 216-9818 or kdeem@frontiernet.net. Wednesday is set-up day for vendors; please don’t arrive earlier.

Food concessions: are already prearranged and must have the proper health and safety permits. No other food concessions are permitted.  All vendors selling food or beverages may be visited by the Health Department’s inspector and must be set-up and ready for inspection when he arrives.

Special Announcements:

COOTers 2nd Annual Charity Texas Hold Tournament: Sign up early as the tables will fill up quickly. Also COOTers will be also holding a special Baccarat table at Club Grotto’ on Saturday night. As always the finest in brewed beverages will be available each day at COOTers. Reservations are accepted. Visa, AE and MC are not.

ROOTs and COOTs Gathering:   We’ve come a long way in our 58
year history.  The tales that ol’ cavers will spin are many so join us at the camp fire immediately following the Lutz Rock memorial and create your own version of an OTR tale to share with others

Shower Houses: We are looking for volunteers to: clean out the shower houses (Can your grotto or camp adopt a shower house for a day?); help out with all the little grungy tasks that no one ever wants to do - like emptying trash cans, restocking toilet paper, etc. If you would like to help, please contact Charlie Williams thru the web site at www.otr.org

Sound Equipment: We are also looking for someone to donate the
Following sound equipment for use by our professional volunteer staff during the parties, awards ceremonies, and other special pavilion ceremonies:

• 1 QSC speaker amp RMX 1450,
• 1 Mackie mixer CFX 16 MK II,
• 1 mixer case ATA CFX 16,
• 1 snake,
• 6 PSSL mike stands A 300, and
• 6 SHURE mikes.

If you are willing to donate these to OTR, please contact Harny or Fang thru the web site 

Coot & Holler Gazette: send in now, your articles and news worthy stories for consideration for the daily printing of the Coot & Holler.

Remember

OTR is a caver event for cavers - Please sponsor only cavers.

PMI is our main sponsor year after year. Please support them by buying their ropes.

John Cadle continues to be a sponsor in 2007 for donating registration computer equipment. If you would like to help John and his IT committee please contact him thru the web site

Staff Contacts: To contact OTR staff, go to www.otr.org, and click on the link for Contacts