***I don't know if you can apply cloth simulation to only part of an object

*How about only through a Material Group?

**I tried applying the simulation through only the "Skirt" material group; with the "New Dynamic Group" button(Circled,) by clicking it and then entering the name of the group I want to use.  But this was merely trying to be intuitive, and did fail miserably...

I'm definately still doing something wrong in Poser.  Even after having reduced the Frame Count to 3 frames, my simulations still run on for hours?
**
***one option would be to open the mesh in a modeling app

Thanks again pjz99, but I havn't learned a Modeler yet.  I'd rather not begin another learning curve beside Poser, at that I'm stuck between Maya and Carrara.  I just don't know enough of either to begin practicing enough to become efficient..;  )