ACT SECTION 19 — NSS GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS

The purpose of the Ralph W. Stone Research Fund is to provide income to the Society with which to support research activities. Each year the NSS awards a Ralph W. Stone Graduate Fellowship in Cave and Karst Studies. Selection is made by the Research Advisory Committee. Any excess above the amount needed for the Ralph W. Stone Graduate Fellowship in Cave and Karst Studies shall be added to the budget of the Research Advisory Committee to supplement its regular grant program. The Fund was established by donors. The Fund is managed as a temporarily restricted quasi-endowment fund. Annually the Society withdraws 5.5% of the total fund's value for this purpose. (See Attachment C of Appendix C in the Board of Governors Manual)

The Conservation Committee is authorized to award up to $5,000 annually from the Save-the-Caves Fund to make grants of up to $1000 to Internal Organizations, Conservation Task Forces, Conservancies, or to individual NSS members for specific projects that involve cave or karst conservation, restoration, or cleanup.

The Conservation Committee is responsible for establishing the application, review, and award process. Recipients of these grants shall submit written reports to the Society as stipulated by the Chairman of the Conservation Committee.

To be considered for a grant award, applications must include adequate description of one or more of the following:

• scientific investigation of cave or karst conservation problems;
• speleological research that will directly contribute to cave or karst conservation;
• the remediation of ecological problems in cave, karst, or pseudokarst areas;
• hands-on, in-cave efforts to restore cave passages to a former ecological state
• equipment and supplies for conservation or restoration projects that include hands-on participation from cavers;
• or public outreach to inform and raise awareness of cave and karst values.

Requests for cash-match grants will receive preference.

Pursuant to the agreement with the National Speleological Foundation, an annual grant, known as the Ralph W. Stone Graduate Fellowship in Cave and Karst Studies, consisting of an amount specified in the budget will be given to a g aduate student preparing a thesis on a speleological subject. Applications for this Fellowship shall be solicited from the membership by the Research Advisory Committee. The recipient will be selected from the applicants by a sub-committee of at least three NSS members appointed by the Chairman of the Research Advisory Committee with the concurrence of the Executive Vice-President. The members of this Sub-committee shall be professionally active in speleological research but need not be regular members of the Research Advisory Committee. The name of the recipient will be selected by the Executive Vice- President upon the recommendation of the Research Advisory Committee and will be announced at the annual NSS convention. The Chairman of the Research Advisory Committee shall notify, in writing, the recipient of the Fellowship and arrange for the recipient to receive a check for the designated amount of the Fellowship. The only obligations required of the recipient will be to give credit to the Society when the work is published and to donate two copies of the publication will be given to the NSS Library. Priority will be given each year to applicants who previously have not received the Ralph W. Stone Fellowship.

Recipients of grants, other than the Ralph W. Stone Graduate Fellowship in Cave and Karst Studies, or awards for scientific research will be selected by the Research Advisory Committee and their names will be announced at the annual Convention. The Chairman of the Committee will notify, in writing, each recipient of such a grant or award, enclose the check in the amount of the grant, and specify to the recipient those conditions under which the grant is made, as determined by the Board of Governors.

The International Support Fund is renamed the NSS International Cooperation Fund.
The NSS International Cooperation Fund Policy was approved.
The International Cooperation Fund agreement with the National Speleological Foundation is approved.
See Attachment I of Appendix C and Appendix I)

The purpose of the Sara Corrie Memorial Fund is to provide income to the Society for grants to fund group cave exploration in the United States. The fund was established through donations and is managed as a temporarily restricted quasi-endowment fund. Each fiscal year an amount up to 5.5% of the total fund value is used for this purpose. Grants should be very easy to obtain with a minimum of restrictions and paperwork. (See Attachment K of Appendix C and Appendix AG in the Board of Governors Manual)

The Young Investigator Grant Program is established for the purpose of investing in the future of karst science by supporting and recognizing outstanding research proposals by young society members. The program is funded by money approved in the yearly Research Advisory Committee operating budget. (See Appendix AL)

The Educational Grants and Scholarship Committee is created in the department of the Administrative Vice President, with the responsibility of administering or providing support for these programs.

The NSS Cave Rescue Training Restricted Fund is established to provide scholarships to individuals to cover registration fees associated with cave rescue training administered by the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC), with the purpose of improving the cave rescue infrastructure. The fund consists of donations.

Selection of individuals to receive scholarships will be at the discretion of the NCRC. Scholarships will be awarded based on the potential of selected recipients to improve the cave rescue infrastructure at any level, including roles as individual rescuers or in leadership positions. The NCRC Board will establish criteria for the award of the scholarship. The NCRC National Coordinator may authorize payments from this fund with the approval of the NSS Administrative Vice President. The scholarship award may cover all or part of the registration fees (including food and camping) for a NCRC rescue training course chosen by the applicant. The fund shall initially grow without disbursement until it reaches a balance of $1,500. Thereafter up to 50% of the fund balance available on the last day of the NSS fiscal year may be disbursed in the following fiscal year, unless this would cause the remaining balance to fall below $1,000.

The purpose of the Peter Gomez restricted fund is to support the scientific study of underwater karst. The Fund was established by donors. These funds may be spent by a committee established by the NSS Cave Diving Section Board of Directors subject to NSS Executive Vice President approval. The CDS committee shall administer the grant program subject to a plan approved by the CDS Board of Directors and the NSS Executive Vice President. The plan will be provided to the NSS Board of Governors and included in the NSS Board of Governors Manual.

The assets of the Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration is combined with those of the International Exploration Fund to create the International Cave Exploration Fund. The Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration fund and the International Exploration Fund are terminated. (See Attachment R of Appendix C.)

A loan of up to $6,000 may be withdrawn from the International Support Fund for use by the International Congress of Speleology Organizing Committee in planning and hosting the 2009 International Congress of Speleology.

The NSS Preserves Research Initiative Program is established to encourage scientific studies of the Society's caves. The Program will be set up and administered by the Research Advisory Committee, who will promote the program, solicit grant requests, review applications, award the grants, and ensure program guidelines are followed. Non-scientific terms and conditions shall be set forth with the advice and consent of the Executive Vice President (EVP) and the President.

Research proposals will be judged on (a) scientific merit, (b) feasibility, and (c) value to the management goals of the relevant NSS preserve(s). Contracts awarded must be signed by the EVP and the President. The EVP and the AVP shall work together to coordinate and promote these studies with the relevant NSS Nature Preserve Managers. Data collected shall become the property of the NSS and a copy given to the appropriate NSS Preserve Committee chairman. Grant recipients will be encouraged to publish the results of the funded research in NSS publications. Copies of any paper(s) resulting from the research will be given to the NSS Library and the appropriate NSS Preserve Committee Chairman. Copies of any paper(s) resulting from the research will be given to the NSS Library and the appropriate NSS Preserve Committee Chairman. (See Appendix AW)

The Treasurer is authorized to withdraw up to $20,000 from the Nature Preserve Fund to provide funds for the NSS Preserves Research Initiative Program.

Cross References
18-367 Save-the-Caves Fund
60-483 U.S. Exploration Committee
Act Section 88 Research
Appendix C: Attachments C, I, K, R
Appendix I
Appendix AG
Appendix AL
Appendix AW

10-Sep-2007

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