The MSS membership consists of many different people from all walks of life. We have diversity in age and occupation. We consist of casual sport cavers and dedicated geologists. We are husbands and wives, children and grandparents. We have members that are underground every weekend and we have members that never go caving.

    

     Something you might notice about the MSS if you come to a meeting is that everyone is kind, accepting, and generally good people. Ask a question and you will get answers. Keep quiet and you will get introductions. We are friendly and often entertaining. In each of us, there is something that draws us to caves, and that common thread is what draws us together.

    

     Becoming a member of the MSS is much more than just dropping $5 or $15. It is a way of supporting a common interest and becoming a part of something larger than any one person. It is the group--the members--that make the club what it is. Club or no club, we would still have caves. They have existed for thousands of years, but the MSS is not really about the caves. It's about the people.

    

     When you become a member of the MSS, you join the club as an apprentice. This first step toward full membership shows your interest in the club and allows you to receive the newsletter and attend club events. Once you have demonstrated continued interest and support for the club by attending meetings and participated in caving trips and projects, the Board will vote for full membership status by which you have club voting rights and are eligible for election to the board. Full members have gained the respect of the Board and other full members and may have the opportunity for becoming a trip leader. A trip leader is not actually a formal designation, but rather a qualification for leading trips into various caves. Leadership status means you have demonstrated knowledge of the cave, experience and interest in leading a group, and above all, a genuine appreciation for the cave and how to traverse it safely. Leaders are confirmed by the MSS for each cave or cave route. This is a bit vague, but the point is that each leader has a known repertoire of routes they are capable of leading.