5/14/2012 Chattanooga Grotto Presentation Announcement

The Chattanooga Grotto has a great May presentation that I hope you'll be able to attend. Bruce Smith will be presenting on Knots: The Defining Activity.

Description:  Everyone knows something about knots and as such the very act of tying a knot becomes a lightning rod from all those who would see the tied knot complete with compliments and ridicule. No matter what you may think, in a rigging situation, knots define you. It has never been how many knots you know or how you can impress others with flying knot magic rather it is about how well you use the few knots you’re able to use safely and with confidence.

So it is good to pause every now and then and ramp up your knot IQ. The presenter will discuss some of the more common knots.

Bio: Bruce has been caving for over 50 years. His first cave was Frankford Cave in MO near the Hannibal--Mark Twain caves with a Boy Scout Explorer group.  Bitten for life, his pursuit became intensely serious in college when he attended Westminster College in Western PA. Graduation was nothing more than a passport to live the in caving world and he moved to Franklin, WV, home of Hellhole and Schoolhouse Cave. Professional pursuits allowed vast travel and the enjoyment of the world’s great caves. NCRC was the beginning of the technical path he chose to take. He went on to write most of the NCRC Curriculum. Working with professional groups all over the country, he attended several schools, rigging courses and sponged information from other rigging icons in North America. He went on to co-author 2 books with Allen Padgett, “On Rope” which has remained the number one best selling book on its topic in the world for 24 years. Bruce Smith, along with Gini, his wife, own On Rope 1 in Harrison, TN.

The meeting will be held at the Chattanooga Nature Center at 7:00 PM EDT on Monday, May 14, 2012. The Chattanooga Nature Center is located at 400 Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN 37419. Please visit the following website for more detailed directions:  http://chattanooganaturecenter.org/general-info/  

I hope to see you there,

Brian Killingbeck Chattanooga Grotto Vice Chair NSS 51200