National Speleological Society, Inc.
The 203rd regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held at the Fairhaven College Auditorium of Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash, on August 7 and 11, 2006. These minutes, when accompanied by corrections submitted by the Board, constitute the official record of the meeting.
President Bill Tozer called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Janet Thorne substituted for Lee Stevens as Recording Secretary.
Roll Call
OFFICERS:
William Tozer, President
Gordon Birkhimer, Executive Vice President
Steve Ormeroid, Administrative Vice President
G. Thomas Rea, Operations Vice President
Ted Kayes, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Jay Clark
Linda Devine
Lee Florea
Peri Frantz
Cheryl Jones
Joe Levinson
Bill Liebman
Gary Moss
Doug Robertson
PROXIES:
Matt Bowers for Bernie Szukalski
Greg Glazner for Kevin Smith
Mark Sherman for James Lewis
Rea moved that the minutes be approved as published. Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Clark, Florea
PASSED
President (PRES)– Bill Tozer
There were no additions to the submitted written report.
Executive Vice President (EVP) – Gordon Birkhimer
The EVP submitted a Summary report that has been attached (Attachment B1) to his regular report (Attachment B). Additions to these reports are as follows:
1) The copyright policy needs to be rewritten. He is working on it with Society lawyers.
2) Budget increases are needed for the Journal. Journal Editor Malcolm Field was invited to address the Board. He discussed the budget for both the Journal and for a "special issue" in December to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Society. The Journal is considered the best publication of its type, and it needs to remain a timely and quality publication to hold that position.
Administrative Vice President (AVP) – Steve Omeroid
Additions to the submitted written report are as follows:
1) There are a significant number of vacancies in the AVP committees. He is interviewing volunteers.
2) The Mill Creek Preserve in Florida is facing water quality issues because of a proposed Wal-Mart development. Cavers are trying to set new policies in Florida re storm water retention, and other organizations are supporting our efforts. These new policies will provide significant changes for the future.
3) Thanks to Carol Tiederman there are NSS conventions scheduled or proposed out to 2012.
Jones mentioned that, now that the conservation restoration book is at the printer, it is important to talk about addressing other national and regional conservation issues.
Operations Vice President (OVP) – Tom Rea
Rea indicated that there are no vacancies in his department, and no controversies.
Secretary-Treasurer (S/T) – Ted Kayes
Additions to the submitted written report are as follows:
1) The year-end financial reports are not yet available. The office software can't handle the complexity of the reports.
2) Dave Irving receives a number of requests for information, which interrupts his working on reports (particularly the end-of-month) for the Board. Directors should send their requests to Peri Franz, and she will prioritize them for Dave.
3) There are several unfilled volunteer positions.
4) Currently there are at least twenty-six different checking accounts. A number of them have signatures that are out of date. The office accounts are now in compliance. He is moving forward in correcting the others.
Glazner asked whether the NSS can use standard software for accounting. Franz indicated that there is a software committee to document software requirements. New volunteers are needed. NSS accounting needs are different from most non-profits. New software will be costly -- no less than $50,000, and possibly as much as $100,000. Bowers asked about National Geographic as a similar organization.
OLD BUSINESS
4. 2011 NSS National Convention - Dave Lester indicated that a bid is being prepared for Colorado. It probably will be presented at the Spring Board of Governors meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
5) Appointments:
5A) Nominating Committee
Tozer moved that Montana Autumn Spencer (2119 Grist Road, N Manchester, Indiana 46962; telephone: home 260-98-7792, e-mail cavrbab@earthlink.net) is confirmed as Nomination Committee Chairman and David D. Seng (16147 Darden Road, Granger, Indiana 46530; telephone: home 574-277-1351, e-mail ddseng@ comcast.net) and Brent M. Grist (2119 E Grist Road, N Manchester, Indiana 46962; telephone: home 260-982-7792, work 765-513-0060, e-mail gonecavin@hotmail.com) are confirmed as members of the Nominating Committee.
Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
Ormeroid moved that Kriste Jo Lindberg (NSS 36097 RE, 2354 Winding Brook Cir, Bloomington IN, 47401-4371, Ph. 812-339-7210, email lindberg@kiva.net) is confirmed as the Chairman of the Environmental Educational Committee.
Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
Smith moved that the NSS Treasurer will include a financial report that includes the latest financial information, budget to actual comparison, and the values of all NSS and NSF-held funds as part of the Secretary-Treasurer's report for Board of Governors meetings.
Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
Smith moved that the NSS OVP shall develop a pin for Fellows <<of the Society>> and distribute pins to all <present> <<current>> and future Fellow recipients free of charge.
Levinson seconded.
Jones moved to insert "of the Society" and "current" and delete "present." Rea seconded.
VOTE TO AMEND:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
VOTE ON AMENDED MOTION:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bowers, Clark
PASSED
Kayes moved that accident insurance be required for future conventions. Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
9) Committee Report – West Virginia NSS Convention 2012 Proposal
Jeff Bray and John Pearson presented information and pictures on the proposed 2012 Convention.
10) Recess: Noon
President Tozer declared a recess for lunch and the closed meeting of the Directorate, which was called to order at 1:08 p.m. by Gary Moss, Chair of the Directorate. The Directors elected a President Pro Tem and three of the Vice Presidencies, as reported later at the open Board meeting.
11) Friday, August 11, 2006, Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
The meeting was called to order by President Tozer at 9:05 a.m. All Officers, Directors, and Proxies were present as had been present on Monday.
12) Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate
Gary Moss, Chair of the Directorate, announced the following election results:
David Taylor as
President Pro Tem
Gordon Birkhimer as Executive Vice President
Steve Ormeroid as Administrative Vice President
Cheryl Jones as Operations Vice President
13) Report of the Closed Session of the Board
No closed meeting of the Board was held on Monday.
President Tozer indicated that the financial reports by Peri Franz will extend to the end of June. Franz will distribute the fund balances. The Executive Committee has designated 50% of Auction proceeds to go to the Great X purchase, and 50% to the Education Fund.
14) Election of Director
Liebman nominated Dave Lester to fill Cheryl Jones' vacancy. Moss nominated Josh Abdulla, Carol Tiederman, Rick Bowersox, John Pearson, and John Lamar Cole. Kayes moved to close the nominations. Liebman seconded.
VOTE TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS:
In Favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
After several ballots, the Directors elected John Lamar Cole, who will hold the position of Director until the Convention 2007 Board of Governors meeting.
Liebman moved that all bequests received by the Society will be placed into the Endowment Fund for investment in the future of the Society, unless otherwise designated in the bequeathal. Robertson seconded.
Kayes moved to amend by inserting, "except for the Pruett bequest." Franz seconded.
Moss moved to amend the amendment by inserting a period after "designated" and deleting the rest of the sentence.
VOTE ON AMENDING THE AMENDMENT:
In favor: Bowers,
Franz, Liebman, Moss
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
VOTE ON AMENDMENT:
In favor: Devine,
Franz, Jones, Kayes, Levinson, Ormeroid
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION:
In favor: Clark,
Florea, Jones, Liebman, Robertson, Sherman
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
Frantz moved that the $18,298.83 bequest recently received from the Dorothy D. Pruett Trust shall be used to fund a matching grant to help retire the Great X mortgage. <The Fundraising Committee will be responsible for promoting and managing this matching campaign, which will begin no earlier than Sept. 1, 2006. Any portion of the bequest not matched by the end of the 2007 NSS Convention shall accrue to the Endowment Fund.>
Florea seconded.
Jones moved to amend by deleting everything after "the Great X mortgage." Liebman seconded.
VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Clark, Florea
PASSED
VOTE ON AMENDED MOTION:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bowers, Florea, Liebman, Robertson, Sherman
PASSED
17) The International Fund (Act 19-431 and Appendix I)
Frantz moved that the International Fund, sometimes referred to as the International Support Fund, is renamed the International Cooperation Fund. Levinson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
18) Executive Grant Search Committee
Tozer moved that Board Act 19-762 is repealed. Robertson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
19) Recess
The meeting was recessed at 10:40 a.m. and reconvened at 10:55 a.m. Glazner and Liebman were absent but rejoined the meeting during discussion of the Journal.
20) Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
Birkhimer moved that the FY 06-07 Budget of the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies is increased by $5,358.00 to provide a total budget of $47,000.00. Bowers seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Unanimous
PASSED
21) Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, FY 2006-07 Budget
Birkhimer moved that the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies budget for FY 2006-07 is increased by <$6,000> <<$5,000>>. <$6,000> <<$5,000>> will be transferred from the Journal Restricted Fund and from the Periodical Special Features Fund. Liebman seconded.
Franz moved to amend by changing "$6,000" to "$5,000". Clark seconded.
Kayes moved to postpone the issue to the next meeting. No second.
VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Liebman
PASSED
VOTE ON AMENDED MOTION:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes
PASSED
Tozer moved that the bid for the Spring 2009 NSS Board of Governors meeting at Manitou Springs, Colorado, is accepted. Robertson seconded.
Levinson moved to postpone the decision to the summer 2007 meeting. Sherman seconded.
VOTE ON MOTION TO POSTPONE:
In favor: eight
Directors
Opposed: seven Directors
Abstain: Liebman
PASSED
23) 2008 Convention Proposal
Ormeroid moved that the 2008 NSS Convention bid proposal as presented by the Board of Directors of the Cave Diving Section, the Flint River Grotto, the Florida Speleological Society, and members of the Tampa Bay Area and Central Florida Grottos be approved.
Florea seconded.
Franz moved to refer the 2008 Convention bid back to the AVP for clarification of the following issues:
Bowers seconded.
Jones moved to amend the motion to refer by deleting the last sentence. Kayes seconded.
VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND THE REFERRAL:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Florea, Franz, Glazner
PASSED
VOTE ON AMENDED REFERRAL:
In favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
24) Fellows Pin Budget
Franz moved that the OVP Budget is increased by $2,000 for the creation and distribution of Fellows' pins in accordance with Board Act 43-777. Levinson seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bowers
Abstain: Clark
PASSED
25) Project Underground Board
Ormeroid moved that Margaret (Peg) Sorensen (NSS 26779 FL (FE), P. O. Box 722, Carlsbad, NM 88221-0722, phone 505-217-5345, e-mail Pegmatite@warpdriveon line.com), Amy Bern (NSS 42786 SU, 12722 W. Virginia Ave., Lakewood, CO 80228, phone 303-763-5097, e-mail Amybern@juno.com) and Kriste Jo Lindberg (NSS 36097 RE (CO, EF), 2354 Winding Brook Circle, Bloomington, IN 47401-4371, phone 812-339-7210, e-mail Lindberg@kiva.net) are appointed to the Project Underground Board.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
In favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
26) NCRC Regional Coordinators
Ormeroid moved that the following persons are appointed to 3-year terms as National Cave Rescue Commission Regional Coordinators. These terms will begin at the date of action on this motion and end at the regularly scheduled NCRC meeting at the NSS Convention in the summer of 2009:
John Punches (national@ncrc.info) as Coordinator of the Pacific Northwest Region
Anmar Mirza (central@ncrc.info) as Coordinator of the Central Region
Jeff Good (eastern@ncrc.info) as Coordinator of the Eastern Region
Devine seconded.
VOTE:
In favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
27) Congress of Grottos Report
Bill Jackson, Chairman of the Congress of Grottos, reported on the meeting held this week. There were no action items. In elections, Cliford Colwell was elected as Chairman for the coming year, and Vee Curl as Vice Chairman.
28) Open Discussion Period
Tozer moved that an open discussion is held for a period of time not to exceed ____ minutes. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
The open discussion period began at 12:15 p.m. and ended at 12:26 p.m.
29) Appreciation
Tozer moved that the Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the 2006 NSS National Convention Staff for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements.
Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
In favor:
Unanimous
PASSED
30) Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12:28 p.m. and reopened at 12:56 p.m. as a closed meeting of the Board. All Officers and Directors were present. After discussion, the closed meeting adjourned at 1:56 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Janet Pickens McCormick Thorne
Recording Secretary pro tem
2/21/07