OTR 2000

As we enter the next millennium, we celebrate the 51st OTR.  This was Vic Wards' second and final year as chair.  It's difficult to out do yourself when you were responsible for the blowout 50th year of OTR celebration last year.  This year came close though.  The big name band was none other than the famous "Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen" which played on Saturday night to a packed pavilion.  The band was sponsored by the Commander Cody Grotto. 

Our attendance was down to 2217, a couple hundred less people than our record breaker of last year.  This was a number more representative of a normal year. 

We had our fair share of gully washers this year, but everything dried out by Monday (more or less).  We watched the weather change from scorching sun to a down pour in only a few minutes.  Cavers found this a good opportunity to try out their 4x4's.  So what's an OTR without rain?

The doodah parade was second to none this year.  The participants really made the judges job difficult.  The judges bribes were substantial, and the costumes were outstanding.  The "Sinks of Ghandi" (with real sinks), mooning M&N's, Captain Zundap, the International Ralph Society (IRS), bat boy, closed caves, Mardi Grass Grotto, and others.  Deem's Diner (celebrating the year of the sheep) was priceless with Jerry Nettles dressed in his Little Bo Peep nightie.

The TRA elections this year resulted in the reelection of Don (the feet) Conover, and a newcomer A.J. Goslin.  Both of which, work very hard to keep the site maintained.  You've elected a couple of very good people to represent you this year, let them know your concerns.  Tom Williams stepped down as TRA Vice President after countless years of service.  Newly elected to positions this year were Kelley Deem as TRA Vice President, Tim Brown as TRA Membership Chair.

TRA officially established an OTR Museum.  The purpose of the museum is to preserve and catalogue any paraphernalia of historic importance related to OTR (e.g. photographs, news articles, t-shirts, etc.).  Dale Ibberson is the curator and is willing to accept donations.  So dig through those old photographs and t-shirts and let Dale know what you have.

A bad accident involving one of our members and a sharp curve in a neighboring town inspired TRA to become involved in some of the local politics to try and erect a guard rail on that curve.  

This year marked the first year that no pets were allowed at the camp site during OTR.  This was a very controversial issue, and came up for discussion many times during the years prior to OTR.  If you have any specific feelings on this, be sure to fill out the survey or let your TRA representatives know what you think.  Ultimately this was the decision of the OTR chair, but you should be sure to voice your support or objection to matters like this.

Another first this year was the creation of two awards to honor those who have dedicated countless hours of their lives to maintaining the TRA Campground and making OTR the reunion that it is today. The two awards are the Robbie Outstanding Service Award and the Fellow Award. The Robbie is given to those few who have dedicated a lifetime of service to TRA/OTR and have put many, many years of hard work into TRA/OTR. This is the highest award TRA can bestow and goes to those who live and breathe TRA. The Robbie conveys a lifetime TRA membership. The Fellow is given to those who have worked hard over the years for the betterment of TRA/OTR. The Fellow conveys a certificate to recognize the dedication of the recipients.

A couple of late night (not planned) public events took place down by the bonfire on Saturday and Sunday nights.  Saturday night's crowd pleaser was the witnessing of leather clad vixens showing control over their unwary victims.  Sunday's nights crowd, gathered to watch a group of wrestlers (With a little help from the stormy weather) become one with the earth.  By the end of the match these wrestlers were completely covered with mud.  Lucky for the early morning shower crowd, security was on hand, after the wrestling match, with the hose to remove the first couple of layers of mud before they clogged the drains in the shower houses.

This year saw the first printing of "The Coot & Holler Gazette", a replacement for "The OTR Dailey" which had been published for a number of years by Ray and Mary Ellen Garton.  The Coot & Holler Gazette produced by editor Carol S. Jackson is the first OTR newsletter to provide photos.  Photos in and around OTR are provided by photographer Bill Jackson.

Cooters was in it's second official year of establishment, with it's fine dining Victoria Room.  The elegance is unsurpassed for the location.  Reservations are advised.

West Virginia Cave Conservancy (WVCC) sponsored the bat flight to raise money for their cause.  The bat flight was first noticed at the NSS Convention earlier this year, where a $1 would allow you to choose a numbered "plastic" bat which was loaded into an acetylene cannon.  After a few siren blasts to warn the unsuspecting, the cannon was fired and the bats that flew the farthest won a reward.  A great way to raise money, but the use of prime (dry) camping facility raised some eyebrows.

Membership in the IBINTHRUTHESINKS CLUB, which was resurrected at the NSS Convention this year, continued to be available to those brave soles who ventured out and through the Sinks of Gandy cave during OTR this year.

This year was a first for TRA to provide the campground and support for the National Speleological Society to host their Annual convention.  This year the theme was "Cave the Millennium" and featured many different aspects of West Virginia life.  This convention was considered by many as one of the best conventions ever, understandably as it was chaired by our very own Kelley Deem and vice chair Leecee Molina Deem.