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Paperless Election FAQ Nominating Committee Chairman: Allan Weberg Members: Sarah Richards Susi Weston John Wilson |
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Here are the candidates for the 2012 NSS Director Election. Click on each name to be taken to their platform statement or download a .pdf version. Please study each candidate's platform carefully so that you may make an informed choice for the people who will help run our Society. Eligible NSS Members with a valid e-mail address on file will receive an e–mail with online voting instructions. The online ballot will be open from 12:01 AM, March 15, 2012 to 11:59 PM, May 1, 2012 - (U.S. Eastern). Members without a valid e-mail address on file will receive a postcard with instructions for voting online or obtaining a ballot. When you receive your ballot in the mail, follow the instructions carefully and be sure to mail it by May 1, 2012. Look for results here and in an upcoming NSS News. |
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Jay Balakirsky
31613 RE Maryland |
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There is an old saying, “May you live in interesting times.” Rather than a good thing, this saying is often thought of as a curse. Given the trying financial times that our economy is in, threats to the NSS from white-nose syndrome and governmental regulations, as well as an aging membership, it is truly an interesting time for the NSS and cavers. However, one can often prosper and grow in tough times, and, if you elect me as a Director, I will use my business experience to help the Society flourish. Born in Connecticut, I moved to Maryland at an early age. I attended the University of Maryland where I earned an Electrical Engineering degree. I spent many years working as an Electrical Engineer and I continued my education earning a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. My MBA allowed me to move into Business Development, and, after 20 years of working to grow large businesses, I moved into Strategic Planning. My experiences in Business Development and Strategic Planning have taught me to listen to my customers, to seek out expert advice, and to make the hard decisions that are required to ensure the growth and survival of a business. It is this experience that I will bring to my position as a Board of Governors Director and to my “customers,” the NSS membership. I began caving in 1986 when I visited Breathing Cave in Bath County, Virginia. I was immediately hooked by the beauty of the underground and, soon after, I joined the NSS and the Baltimore Grotto. I have been active in caving ever since and have regularly participated in Baltimore Grotto and Virginia Region (VAR) events, Old Timers Reunions (OTRs), and NSS Conventions. I enjoy cave exploration, surveying, and educating non-cavers on the amazing world that is found underground. My caving experiences have left me with a healthy respect for nature and a strong desire to help protect what we have for future generations to enjoy. I look forward to using my business expertise and love of caving to help move our Society forward. |
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Mike Crockett
33730 RE (FE) Kentucky |
Access is why many join the NSS. Many cavers are frustrated by cave closures or restrictions. The NSS should have a comprehensive program and services to focus on access issues that provides solutions and empowers members to get into caves. Science is a core purpose of the organization. The NSS should offer, sponsor, and partner with others to bring science education and training to members, specifically cave technician skills to support research in caves. The NCRC is a good model to follow. Grottos are the jewels of the NSS. Strung out across the nation, they provide the foundation for member activities. Despite the Congress of Grottos, they are sorely under-represented and unheard in NSS business. Changes should be considered to address this imbalance. As a candidate I bring a love of caves and caving to the table. I am in the 9th year of coordinating the Cumberland Gap Project for the Cave Research Foundation. I believe in empowering and enabling people to be in caves. I believe they will find good reasons and purposes for being there and that putting people into caves is the best way to advance cave science. Professionally I am the Director of a nonprofit agency that brings social service and community development to my impoverished corner of Kentucky. We have more employees, more real estate assets, and a bigger budget than the NSS. My work experience is similar to NSS business. I will advocate plans, budgets and policies that bring results. Since this is the first online election, I am providing a link to a news story about me from the Middlesboro Daily News that is almost current and almost correct: "Caves, culture and community: Appalachian devotee Mike Crockett." |
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A. Peri Frantz
10124 RL (FE) California |
This is an exciting, and yet perilous, time for the NSS. The new headquarters facility promises numerous benefits. The increase in office space will support enhanced member services. For the first time in our 70-year history, the library and the museum can be located at the office, with copious archival storage. Our scattered collections and archives can be gathered in a single location, where they can be fully cataloged and given a virtual presence on the Web. Bookstore operations will be more efficient. Additional meeting and display space will let us reach out to the public with environmental education. The rental of the facilities to other organizations and groups can generate a new revenue stream not dependent on cavers. However, all this promise is not without risk. The NSS has taken on a substantial mortgage, and it will be years before the enhanced revenue can be used for other purposes. We were able to acquire this amazing facility thanks to the foresight of previous leaders, who established trust funds and started accumulating substantial reserves. These funds enabled the NSS to survive the recent financial turmoil with minimal disruption and to procure the funding for the recent purchase. However, using these reserves has reduced their ability to buffer us through difficult times. Developing the new headquarters, while maintaining our core programs, is going to put substantial strain on our limited finances. Paying off the mortgage and rebuilding our reserves is going to take major fundraising. Five years as the NSS Secretary-Treasurer have given me a deep understanding of the Society’s finances, which will be invaluable in helping keep the NSS financially sound. However, in addition to the financial risks, there is also a serious possibility that we could lose sight of our primary mission. As we take on new initiatives and learn to manage our new facility, it is critical we not forget our primary mission. Cave conservation and preservation, science, exploration, and fellowship must remain in the forefront. We must assure that the NSS News and the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies remain premier publications, and continue publishing important caving books. As a director, maintenance of these core values will be one of my principle objectives. I have been an NSS member for 45 years. I have served as Secretary-Treasurer, participated in NSS Expeditions, written a column for the NSS News, and worked on three conventions and the ICS. I look forward to continuing to serve the caving community, and thank you for your support. |
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Margot Geisler
29761 RL Virginia |
I’ve been caving for 24 years, in many states, Mexico, and Canada. I joined the NSS immediately upon joining the Richmond Area Speleological Society. I’ve served as President of the Richmond Area Speleological Society (RASS, 4 years) and have been a member of the RASS Board of Directors for 20+ years. Some of my duties have been historian, librarian, membership chair, and education director for the club. I enjoy taking young people caving and teaching them respect and conservation; some of them have become valued NSS members. I’ve presented slide shows to and taken caving my own students, Parks and Recreation groups, and the Boy and Girl Scouts. I have always encouraged those who take up caving to join the NSS. I have given talks to college outing clubs. Experienced members of the NSS should make an effort to mentor younger or less-experienced novices. This would encourage membership and the safety of our newer members. Membership and safety are major issues of the NSS today that I support. I have volunteered for many years at Virginia Region caving events and national conventions. I love leading cave trips while educating the public on cave conservation and geology. Environmental science is my passion. I’m a member of the Geology Section and have trained people in vertical techniques since "graduating" from a course sponsored by the Triangle Rescue group. I got a taste of volunteerism at the 1995 Convention. Since then, I have helped run registration at many NSS conventions. I’m in charge of on-site registration at the MayaCon 2012 Convention in West Virginia. I’ve also worked security and driven vans at several conventions. When Project Underground was first started for Virginia public school teachers, I contributed lessons and the initial publication. It has since gone national and I’ve been trained as a presenter. I represented our national director to the Karst Water Institute held in Bellingham, Washington. I have served on the Project Underground Board of Directors for 14 years. As an organization, we have done amazing things over the years. The society needs invested leaders who will listen to its members and continue to tackle the problems that arise. I would love to be that person for you and I can't wait to serve you as a Director of the NSS. I would like your support as a candidate for the NSS Board of Directors so I can continue to further the goals of our organization. Please vote for me in this election. |
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Gary Gibula
36288 RL Illinois |
As a ‘regular guy’ caver from the Chicago area, I thought it unlikely that I’d ever toss my hat (or caving helmet) into the ring for the NSS election. But in the same manner that I raised my hand to Chair the Windy City Grotto, and later to found the Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto, I’ve decided to again raise my hand and humbly offer to serve my beloved NSS as a Director. What do I bring to the table? Most of my caver friends know me to be a 'facilitator,' a guy who asks the opinions of those who otherwise don't speak up at meetings, an organizer, someone who strives for fairness and equality —a caver who treats others exactly as I hoped they'd treat me. I'm a good communicator. As a journalist and writer, I'm blessed with being able to effectively and persuasively put down in words my thoughts and ideas, and I've been advised that these skills will be a valuable asset to our organization. And I humbly offer leadership abilities, as my credentials attest. If elected, I promise to listen well: to all NSS members, to all Board members and NSS officials, and to the general public and those outside the caving community (who may not fully understand the caver's point of view). I treat this as an opportunity to foster change, as warranted, and promise to give my utmost to current issues in the Society, like WNS, membership retention, and our business plan, to name a few. As one example, I would advocate reaching out to NSS members, by e-mails or other means in addition to our monthly NSS News, to keep members aware of the latest issues, to solicit opinions, to promote membership and gatherings, and to just say 'howdy.' Credentials: Life member since 1988; founder and chair of Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto for past 16 years; created and edited SUCG newsletter throughout; wrote the 'Virtual Caving' column for NSS News; moderator of NSS Affinity group ‘Grateful Cavers’; active participant in Mammoth Cave restorations; made countless caving presentations to Scout groups and others; participated in numerous sinkhole cleanups and NCRCs; helped map several caves in MO, IL, and KY, organized dozens of caving trips and activities; past chair of Windy City Grotto. Professional: newspaper reporter for the Chicago Tribune for past 12 years, weekend musician, and pro-sound live audio engineer. |
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Robert David 'RD' Millhollin
29962 RE Texas |
If elected as an NSS director I will advocate for: 1. The NSS to recognize that its primary obligation is to cavers and caving. The strength of the Society lies in its members, and the NSS must support their interests. 2. A streamlined NSS. We should continue to strive for improved effectiveness and greater efficiency in carrying out organizational functions. 3. Improved organizational decision making, including rigorous data gathering, timely analysis of options, and removal of structural barriers that slow or weaken action. 4. Bringing professional leadership—an Executive Director—to the NSS. Running a large organization with a significant budget requires a full-time professional, who can represent the NSS to government and the public. 5. Strengthening the network of NSS volunteers who are the lifeblood of the Society by empowering experienced people who make things happen and systematically finding and developing future leaders. 6. Seeking new sources of revenue for the NSS. Member dues will likely not be enough to meet long-term obligations while working toward our vision and mission. 7. A structured planning process to guide the NSS into the future. After adopting a strategic plan we still need guided implementation; periodic review and update helps assure the NSS is best serving the membership. I am a high school educator with a degree in Management, and additional advanced academic work in anthropology. I started caving in Mexico at age 10 and have travelled extensively in pursuit of caves. I am vertically competent, have worked with expeditions, am an experienced cave diver, and have taught cavern diving through the NSS-CDS. I was first fascinated by caves while in elementary school, and that fascination remains with me today. I’ve served as officer and editor for two Texas grottos. For the past three years I have served on the NSS Planning Committee, the last two as chair. We recently worked with a consultant to bring to the NSS Board the first draft proposal for a strategic plan. I’ve attended the last six BOG meetings and made presentations regarding the planning process. During the meeting sessions I’ve observed how the BOG functions, interacted with various NSS leaders, and developed my own ideas of ways the NSS can be improved to better achieve its organizational goals and serve its members. |
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Herman Miller
55273 SU Texas |
My passion for caving began nearly a decade ago, when I joined the Southern Nevada Grotto. I began volunteering considerable time to projects in the Great Basin National Park and to local youth activities. Currently, I live in Alpine, Texas, where I’m a member of the Permian Basin Speleological Society. I’ve been involved in numerous restoration projects in New Mexico and exploration efforts in Texas. I am a sustaining life member of the NSS. I am 29 years old, ready to represent both Texas and the greater West with my ability and ambition. I am aware that the West is not very well represented on the BOG, specifically Texas. I see the utmost need for a representative, specifically one with the youth and vigor that mirrors the spirit that is Texas caving at its best. While my goals as your representative are vast, they can all be simplified down to this: I would like to breathe new life into both the BOG and the NSS as a whole. We are all aware that our median age of membership continues to grow. I have been caving for over a decade and an NSS member for nearly that long. I believe cavers, including younger ones, deserve a candidate they can relate to. I am that candidate. Though I have not been caving for as long as some, I can contribute many fresh ideas, while upholding long-loved "caver" traditions. If elected, I have a number of issues to champion. I believe the NSS exists because of and for its cavers and should represent the majority, who are recreational in nature. With this in mind, I would push for access to be restored in areas that have been decimated by WNS. I would push for developing better means to ensure caver access to caves both on and off public land, whether this means jumpstarting the creation of cave conservancies or simply providing more resources or advice to those speaking with private land owners. Exploration is why many of us cave. I will push for further support and incentive for those cavers. I will publicize the efforts of these groups as I feel these expeditions could fuel new membership and an increase in revenue. We all thrive on discovery; I feel everyone would benefit if the efforts of our members were more publicized. NSS membership has been stagnant for a number of years. I would push for changes, advertising in “like-minded” publications. Advertising could be in the form of simply giving articles to a magazine for print; not only would we be educating the public about caves but we would be increasing visibility as well. |
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Dick Mitchell
8200 RE Colorado |
I was born in Seattle and grew up climbing and skiing in the Cascades. I moved to Huntsville in the mid ‘60s where I attended my first Huntsville Grotto meeting. Clearly, I was hooked and wanted to discover, explore, photograph, and map every vertical and horizontal cave in Alabama and beyond. I served as the Chairman of the Huntsville Grotto and chaired the 1967 SERA Convention. I was a member of the second expedition to Sotano de las Golondrinas and did the initial survey in June 1967. I worked on improving the ascending systems we were using in those days. Hence was born the “Mitchell System,” which, at that time, proved to be the fastest method of ascending, and still remains a favorite of many today. Currently, I am the chairman of the Vertical Section of the NSS, attend all Conventions, and support all vertical activities and sessions. Beyond caving, I have been an ardent rock and ice climber with several first ascents. I led an expedition to Mt. McKinley in June 1976, culminating with a congratulatory message from the White House in celebration of this Nation’s 200th anniversary. I retired from The Boeing Company, with extensive experience in environmental, safety, and health fields both within the U.S. and internationally. I’ve been a consultant to both the Departments of Defense and Energy managing work performed and associated costs and schedules. I am very familiar with budgetary and financial constraints and in developing options to continue to meet organizational goals. If elected as a Director of the NSS, I plan to participate fully in NSS affairs and to support issues consistent with the goals of our organization. I will make my decisions after thoughtfully analyzing each issue and obtaining input from our membership. One critical activity of concern is the quality of our relationship with Federal, State, and local agencies in managing the white-nose syndrome crisis. We need to work as an integrated community in solving this crisis while continuing to protect our caves and their endangered bat populations. Two concerns I have are our diminishing budget and aging membership. We need new ideas to tap into the thousands of non-NSS cavers, and motivate them to join us, to attend our Grotto meetings and National Conventions, and to share with us in our adventures. I will offer proposals to move us in this direction. If elected to the Board, it would be my honor to serve the membership. I value your support. Thank you. |
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Walter Pickel
55535 RE Florida |
I grew up diving golf course lakes and the black rivers of the SC low country. In the Navy, I worked as a ship’s diver and underwater ship’s husbandry diver. I moved to Florida with my interest in diving renewed. Expanding my technical diving skills led me to become a cave diver. My passion for caves extended to dry caves, fully developing my perspective of the entire karst landform that we all appreciate as NSS members. The combination of both disciplines, caving and cave diving, has provided me a unique perspective and appreciation of caves. I share my passion for caves and conservation by hosting vertical clinics, leading dry cave trips, and speaking at events for the NSS Cave Diving Section (CDS) and the National Association of Cave Diving. I am active in three major areas of conservation and exploration of both dry and wet caves. In Florida, I serve as an explorer and the dive safety officer for the Weeki Wachee Springs Exploration Project; Weeki Wachee is currently the deepest naturally formed spring in the U.S. In the Dominican Republic, I discovered significant primate fossils that changed the direction of how New World primates are studied. In Mexico and the U.S., I am an explorer and logistics director for various Advanced Diver Magazine (ADM) Exploration Team expeditions. I am the VP of product development for a financial software company. Through this and other executive level positions held, I’ve learned the necessity of leadership, the requirement of managing people and money, and the responsibility of expectation management. These skills have helped me be successful as a VP of the ADM Exploration Foundation; I led the restructuring allowing it to perform to stated mission and goals. I’ve also worked with The Karst Conservancy and Karst Underwater Research to coordinate research, survey, and expand cave conservation and exploration in Florida. My unique perspective and appreciation of the entire karst landform, coupled with 20 years of experience successfully transforming small companies into profitable and agile businesses will be a perfect fit for the NSS. That’s why I’m running. I’d appreciate your vote! If elected as a Director, I plan to actively participate in NSS operations, carefully considering the facts surrounding each vote. I will work aggressively to have the largest block of NSS membership, the CDS, become more educated about the whole of the karst landform and more involved with the mission and benefits of the NSS. Thank you for reading this and considering what I can bring to the leadership level of our organization—a proven leader, a successful businessman, an explorer, and a conservationist. |
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Buford Pruitt
17920 RL Florida |
Grutas de Garcia (Mexico) at age 19 was my first cave experience. I began ardent caving in 1972 and joined the NSS in 1977, starting with dry caves in FL and TAG and adding cave diving in 1985. I have caved in the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, Curacao, Puerto Rico, and 11 states. I am active in the Florida Speleological Society, served as President and other officer positions, am a Founding Member of the Florida Cave Survey, Sustaining Member of SCCi, Life Member of the NSS and CDS, past Chair of the NSS Nature Preserves Committee, and Chair of the 2008 NSS Convention. I donated a biologically significant cave to The Nature Conservancy. I was an environmental consultant from 1971 to 1999, and owned an environmental consulting firm for 12 years. My professional experience includes wetlands, endangered species, vegetation mapping, wildlife, water quality, aquatic invertebrates, and expert witness testimony. Retired since 1999, I have significant time for NSS duties. I am a Founding Member of the Florida Native Plant Society and was a gubernatorial appointee to the Florida Non-Game Wildlife Advisory Council. My primary caving concern is protection of cave resources from impacts of human overpopulation and invasive flora and fauna. Appropriate experience includes cave property purchases and proactive management, cave gating, cave and sinkhole cleanups, and landowner outreach. I follow the issues of WNS closely, and vow to support research, pragmatic cave visitation practices, and legislative lobbying for the conservation of imperiled bat species. An important current financial issue is the new headquarters property. Although I was unhappy with the way it publicly went down, I believe the NSS Headquarters Commission quietly did an excellent job in making its final recommendation. It comes with a high cost, and we must not to allow it to consume so much of our money that cave resources suffer, but I am confident that we can do so. You can get an idea of my overall attitude by reading my adventures blog at http://onrappel.blogspot.com/. However, over the next few weeks, you can see what I stand for in this election by following my new speleopolitical blog at http://speleopolitics.blogspot.com/. If elected, I will maintain the blog as a way to address NSS issues and obtain continuous feedback from you in a timely manner. |
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Carol Tiderman
10604 RL (OS-FE) Maryland |
You honored me by electing me 3 years ago. I hope I have served you well and you’ll elect me again. I’m an active member of the Baltimore Grotto. I have been active in the MAR and am currently active in VAR activities. I am the NSS Convention Development Chair. I started out sport caving. Over the years I’ve focused on project caving, primarily survey and conservation. Also I have participated in way too many cave gating projects, especially when the choice was gate it or lose it. The NSS was already searching for ways to stretch its funds when the current economic situation hit us all. It’s going to take a lot of creativity to maintain member services and to support expeditions, projects, and scientific research. The need exists to pursue grants and other funding outside our membership base. We need to develop effective public outreach programs. There is a need to educate the public about caves, cave sciences, conservation, and the impact we all have on not only what is on the surface, but what is below and how that can return to them via their water systems. Movement has been made to develop educational promotions that could be shown at outdoors or sportsmen shows. Standardized programs could be made available that would span school groups to Lions clubs and anything in between. Groups and organizations are always looking for programs to show their members. Why not engage them in cave and karst conservation? These efforts would not need to tie up cavers to show them—a simple CD that can be run on a loop at shows, schools, or meetings. The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club would be a prime place to start. We should develop programs for municipalities and developers on developing on karst. Too long have we conducted our activities in secrecy and now we are paying the price. It is time for us to have a public image. I am not saying put caving in the spotlight to recruit new cavers. I am saying there are a lot of conservation-minded individuals out there, some with very deep pockets, who might be inclined to support our efforts if only they knew more. We also need to improve our image with Government agencies, develop credibility, and be recognized as a professional entity. If you choose to re-elect me to the BOG, I will continue to look for ways we can economize while not sacrificing member services, find alternate funding to reduce the financial burden on the membership, and try to provide more education and information to the non-caving public. |
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