The opening session of the 179th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Monday, August 3, 1998, in Cravens Hall at The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. These minutes, when accompanied by corrections accepted by the Board, constitute the official record of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by President David Luckins at 9:17 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
1. Roll Call and Introductions
OFFICERS:
David E. Luckins, President
Fred L. Wefer, Executive Vice President
Douglas Medville, Administrative Vice President
G. Thomas Rea, Operations Vice President
Paul J. Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Nancy Holler Aulenbach
Dave Belski
Bill Bussey
Stephen Fleming
Louise Hose
Ray Keeler
Bob Liebman
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Ed Sira
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
President Luckins introduced the 1998 NSS Convention Chairman, Wm. Shrewsbury. Wm welcomed everyone to Sewanee and wished everyone an enjoyable convention experience. He also gave an oral report on the progress of the convention activities.
2. Approval of the March 21, 1998 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes
Bussey moved that the minutes of the March 21, 1998 Board of Governors meeting be approved as published. Seconded by P. Moss.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
3. Officers Reports
A. President’s
Report – David E. Luckins – Attachment A
B. Executive Vice
President’s Report – Fred L. Wefer –
Attachment B
C. Administrative Vice
President’s Report – Douglas Medville –
Attachment
D. Operations Vice
President’s Report – G. Thomas Rea –
Attachment D
E. Secretary-Treasurer’s
Report – Paul Stevens – Attachment E
4. Committee Reports
F. 1998 NSS Convention – Wm Shrewsbury
NSS Convention Chairman Shrewsbury gave an oral report during the
introduction.
G. 1999 NSS Convention – David Kesner
1999 Convention Chairman Kesner gave an oral report.
H. Nominating Committee Report – Ted Kayes
Chairman Ted Kayes reported the results of the recent Directors
election. Stephen Fleming, David S. Taylor, Ray Keeler and Bill
Tozer were elected to three-year terms.
(See Attachment A-1 for the complete report).
Recess
At 11:05 A.M. President Luckins declared a short recess.
Reconvene
The meeting was reconvened by President Luckins at 11:15 A.M.
5. National Speleological Society Young Investigator Award Program
Wefer moved: The National Speleological Society Young Investigator Award 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) Seconded by Hose.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Note: Appendix AL is included as Attachment B-1 of the Report of the Executive Vice President.
6. Tytoona Cave Preserve Management Plan
Medville moved: The Management Plan for the Tytoona Cave Preserve, Blair County, Pennsylvania, is approved.
Rea seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Note: The Tytoona Cave Preserve Management Plan is Attachment C-1 of the Report of the Administrative Vice President.
7. Cave Restoration Committee Chairmen
Luckins moved: Karen Irving Dennis (NSS 16,574) of Beavercreek, Ohio, and Norm Rogers (NSS 29,547) of Peoria, Illinois, are confirmed as Co-Chairs of the Cave Restoration Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. Sira seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
8. Project Underground Representatives
Luckins moved: Joli Lee (NSS 19,962) of Tularosa, New Mexico, Barbara Belshaw Moss (NSS 13,678) of Falls Church, Virginia, and David Jagnow (NSS 8,177) of Los Alamos, New Mexico, are confirmed as representatives to Project Underground in the Department of the President.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
9. NSS Publication Trust Fund Creation
Stevens moved: Attachment O, the proposed NSS Publication Trust Fund attachment to the NSS Trust Funds Contract with the National Speleological Foundation (NSF) is approved. The NSS requests NSF approval of the proposed amendment to the NSS Trust Funds Contract. Hose seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Belski
Abstaining: Liebman
PASSED
Note: The NSS Publications Trust Fund, Attachment O to the NSF Trust Funds Contract, is Attachment F to these minutes.
10. NSS Publication Trust Fund Funding
Stevens moved: The NSF is requested to transfer $100,000.00 of the excess in the NSS Life Membership Trust Fund above that needed for payment of membership dues to the NSS Publication Trust Fund.
Rea seconded.
Taylor moved to amend, deleting "$100,000.00" and inserting "$60,000.00."
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Taylor, Liebman
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
VOTE on the motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Belski
Abstaining: Liebman
PASSED
11. NSS Endowment Fund Funding
G. Moss moved: The NSF is requested to transfer $25,000.00 of the excess in the NSS Life Membership Trust Fund above that needed for payment of life membership dues to the NSS Endowment Fund.
By unanimous consent, the Board agreed to change the order of business and consider NSS Endowment Fund Funding after Item #22, Life Membership Trust Fund Transfer.
Recess
At 12:31 P.M., President Luckins declared the meeting in recess until 9:00 A.M., Friday, August 7, 1998.
Reconvene
The continuation of the 179th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Friday, August 7, 1998, in Cravens Hall at The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.
The meeting was called to order by President Fred Wefer at 9:00 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
12. Election to Fill a Vacant Director’s Position
President Wefer announced that due to the election of Ray Keeler as Executive Vice President, an election would be held to fill the vacant seat on the Board. The individual elected will serve one year until the next election of Directors.
Those nominated were:
Dave Lester
Cheryl Jones
Joe Levinson
John Stembel
Kevin Smith
Thom Engel
Bill Biggers
It was moved and seconded that the nominations be closed.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
The results of the secret ballot were as follows: Dave Lester: 8 votes, Cheryl Jones: 3 votes, John Stembel: 2 votes, Thom Engel: 2 votes, and Kevin Smith: 1 vote.
The President declared Dave Lester to be elected and no member of the Board objected. Accordingly, he was considered a member of the Board at this meeting. However, after the meeting was adjourned, several Board members noted he failed to receive a majority of the votes. Subsequently the Board unanimously agreed by E-mail and telephone to consider the ballot results to have elected Dave Lester. This ballot will be reconsidered at the next Board meeting.
13. Roll Call
OFFICERS:
Fred L. Wefer, President
Ray Keeler, Executive Vice President
Douglas Medville, Administrative Vice President
Mike Hood, Operations Vice President
Paul J. Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Nancy Holler Aulenbach
Dave Belski
Bill Bussey
Stephen Fleming
Louise Hose
Dave Lester
Bob Liebman
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Ed Sira
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
14. Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate
Dave Belski announced that he had been re-elected Chairman of the Directorate, that Ray Keeler had been elected Executive Vice President, that Douglas Medville had been re-elected Administrative Vice President, and that Mike Hood had been elected as Operations Vice President.
15. Report of the Closed Session of the Board
President Wefer announced that no formal motions were considered during the closed session.
16. Other Reports
A. Congress of Grottos
Carol Jackson, Chairman of the Congress of Grottos, submitted a written report of the motions considered by the Congress. (See Attachment G to these minutes)
B. NSS Board Arrangements Committee
Tom Pollock, Chairman of the Board Arrangements Committee, reported that he had received 2 bids to host the spring 1999 Board meeting. He noted that neither bid proposals was complete at this time and suggested that the location of the spring 1999 meeting be selected at the fall 1998 Board meeting. Tom also said he had received a complete bid proposal from the Southeastern Cave Conservancy for the fall 1999 Board meeting.
Bussey moved to accept the bid by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy to host the fall 1999 Board of Governors meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 23, 1999. Taylor seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lester, P. Moss, Belski
PASSED
C. Fund Raising
Ted Kayes, Chairman of the Insurance Committee, said that he is preparing a fund raising letter that will explain how deferred gifts may be made to the NSS. It will be sent this fall to selected NSS members.
17. Board Meeting Presiding Officer (Bylaw Change, First Reading)
Wefer moved: Bylaw IV.E(1) is amended as follows: "... <The President of the Society, or in his absence, the vice-presidents in order of cumulative seniority in office, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Governors. > <<The President of the Society, or in his absence the attending <officer> <<vice president>> whose current continuous tenure as an officer of the Society has been longest, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Governors.>> ... " (1) Bussey seconded.
Hose moved to amend, deleting "officer" and inserting "vice president." Bussey seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Sira, G.Moss, Medville, Keeler
Abstaining: Aulenbach, Stevens, P.Moss
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville, Stevens, Keeler
Abstaining: Aulenbach
FAILED
Note: A proposed Bylaw change to which a substantive amendment has been made must receive a unanimous vote on the first reading to become effective. This motion will be placed on the next Board agenda for reconsideration.
18. Board Meeting Quorum
Wefer moved: Bylaw IV.E(1) is amended as follows: "... <One third of the directors and two officers shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Board of Governors.> <<One third of the directors and two officers, all present in person, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Board of Governors.>>"
P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Lester
Abstaining: Fleming
PASSED
19. Board Meeting Proxies
Wefer moved: Bylaw IV.G is amended as follows: "<Any member of the Board, except the President, may appoint a qualified member of the Society as a proxy to act for him at a designated meeting as defined in Section IV.A, D, and E.> << Any member of the Board may appoint a proxy to speak and vote for him at a meeting of the Board of Governors. The proxy must be a member of the Society who would be eligible to serve on the Board of Governors.>> ... " Liebman seconded.
Hose moved to amend, deleting "to speak and vote" and inserting "to act." Sira seconded.
G. Moss moved to table until the Bylaws Committee can reconsider the motion.
Medville seconded.
VOTE on the motion to table:
In favor: Hose, Lester, Fleming, G.Moss, Liebman, Bussey, Hood,
Medville
Opposed: Tozer, Aulenbach, Sira, Stevens, Keeler, Belski, P.Moss,
Taylor, Wefer
FAILED
VOTE on the motion to amend:
In favor: Hose, Sira, Lester
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Liebman, Fleming
FAILED
VOTE on the motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Lester
PASSED
20. Record of Acts
Wefer moved: Bylaw IV.M is amended as follows: "... <The President shall see that a record is kept of all acts, that they are consecutively numbered in chronological order, and that new acts are reported in the NSS NEWS.> <<The President shall see that a record is kept of all Acts and that the record is made available to at least all>> <committee and commission chairmen and members of the Board of Governors.> <<members of the Society.>> Keeler seconded.
Lester moved to amend, deleting "committee and commission chairmen and members of the Board of Governors." And inserting "members of the Society." Bussey seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Sira PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
21. Substitute Officers
Wefer moved: Bylaw IV.H is repealed. It currently reads "An officer does not have the right to appoint a substitute for his Office." Hose seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Sira
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Stevens, Hose
FAILED
22. Amendment by Referendum
G. Moss moved: Bylaw XII.A.is amended as follows: <<(3) If 5 percent of the voting members of the Society have signed a petition within a fifteen-month period requesting a referendum on a proposed amendment to these Bylaws, the amendment must be submitted to the voting membership along with the next NSS election of directors that has a deadline for nominations at least thirty days after the signed petition has been given to the President of the Society, unless the proposal amendment has been previously approved by the Board of Governors as provided above. If the proposal receives a two-thirds <vote in the referendum,> <<favorable vote of all ballots returned>> the amendment to the Bylaws will become effective when the elected directors are seated.>> P.Moss seconded.
By unanimous consent, the motion was amended deleting "vote in the referedum," and inserting "favorable vote of all ballots returned."
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Tozer, Belski, Fleming, Liebman
PASSED
23. Life Membership Trust Fund Transfer
G. Moss moved: The Board requests the NSS Treasurer to make changes in the Life Membership Trust Fund and the Life Membership Trust Fund agreement to include the following features:
(1) Ten percent of the excess value in the Life Membership Trust Fund, as determined by the yearly NSF report to the NSS, be transferred from the Life Membership Trust Fund to the Endowment Fund.
(2) This transfer is to take place after the NSS Board of Governors Meeting held at the NSS National Convention on any remaining excess value in the Life Membership Trust Fund after the effects of any Board actions.
(3) A majority vote of the Board will stop the transfer of all or part of the funds transfer from the Life Membership Trust Fund to the Endowment Fund.
(4) These changes are to be in effect on or before the 1999 NSS National Convention.
P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Belski, Fleming, Liebman, Keeler, Stevens
Abstaining: Aulenbach, Hose
PASSED
23A. NSS Endowment Fund Funding (Item #11 from the 8/3/98 agenda)
G. Moss moved: The NSF is requested to transfer $25,000.00 of the excess in the NSS Life Membership Trust Fund above that needed for payment of life membership dues to the NSS Endowment Fund. P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Belski, Fleming, Liebman
Abstaining: Taylor
PASSED
24. Convention Budgets
Medville moved: All bids submitted for NSS National Conventions shall include draft financial projections showing major expected expense and income categories. Belski seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Absent: G.Moss
PASSED
25. Convention Chart of Accounts
Medville moved: All NSS National Convention budgets shall follow the standard NSS-supplied Chart of Accounts (COA) listing specific expense and income categories. P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
26. Convention Treasurer
Stevens moved: The Chairman of the NSS National Convention is responsible for appointing the NSS Convention Treasurer. <The NSS Convention Treasurer shall report to both the NSS Convention Chairman and the NSS Secretary-Treasurer.> << The NSS Convention Treasurer shall provide financial reports to both the NSS Convention chairman and agents of the NSS Secretary-Treasurer.>> The NSS Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for establishing financial process and reporting requirements for NSS National Conventions. The Convention Chairman, or his agent, must approve all convention expenses before payment. Medville seconded.
A. Liebman moved to amend the motion deleting,
<The Chairman of the NSS National Convention is responsible for appointing the NSS Convention Treasurer.>
and substituting:
<<The NSS Convention Treasurer shall be appointed by the Administrative Vice President with the approval of the Board of Governors.>> No second, the motion died..
B. Lester moved to amend the last sentence, inserting <<must approve all non-budgeted convention expenses in excess of 1% of the budget>> before payment. P. Moss seconded.
After discussion Lester and P. Moss withdrew the amendment with the concurrence of the Board.
C. Stevens moved to amend the second sentence to read:
<< The NSS Convention Treasurer shall provide financial reports to both the NSS Convention chairman and agents of the NSS Secretary-Treasurer.>> Lester seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: P.Moss
Abstaining: Stevens, Taylor
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose
PASSED
27. Convention Treasurer Bonding
Liebman moved: Act 15-020 is amended as follows: "The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for obtaining bonding for Society employees and members<<, including NSS National Convention Treasurers, >> who have access to significant Society funds on a regular basis. <The Secretary-Treasurer will consider the associated risks and the cost of bonds<<, >> then report his recommendations to the <BOG><<Board>>.">
Medville seconded.
By unanimous consent, the motion was amended by deleting the last line.
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose
Abstaining: Tozer
PASSED
28. Convention Budget Approval
Medville moved: Within <six months> <<one year>> after the Board of Governors accepts an NSS National Convention proposal, the Convention Chairman shall submit a convention budget to the Executive Committee for approval. The Administrative Vice President shall include that budget in his report to the Board following EC acceptance of the proposed budget. Subsequent revisions to the budget <<exceeding 5%>>must be approved by the<<Administrative Vice President>>and the<<Convention Chairman>><and the NSS Secretary-Treasurer>. Bussey seconded.
A. G. Moss moved to retain "Administrative Vice President" and delete "and the NSS Secretary- Treasurer" in the last sentence.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
B. Lester moved to amend the last sentence inserting "exceeding 10%" after the word "budget."
Medville seconded.
C. Belski moved to amend the proposed amendment, deleting "10%" and inserting "5%."
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
D. Medville moved to amend the first sentence, deleting " six months" and inserting "one year."
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the amended amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: P.Moss, Liebman, Stevens
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
29. Convention Committee Personal Expenses
Medville moved: All Convention Staff activities associated with preparation of an NSS National Convention are carried out on a voluntary basis. Travel related expenses (e.g., travel, lodging, meals) incurred by the Convention Staff are not reimbursable except at the discretion of the Convention Chairman from the NSS approved Convention Honorarium (See Act 56-293). Belski seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
30. Convention Honorarium
P. Moss moved: Act 56-293 is amended as follows:
A <$500.00> <$2,000.00> <<$3,000.00>>honorarium will be paid to the Convention Committee to recognize their efforts to host the annual NSS National Convention. The honorarium will be included in the convention budget and may be disbursed or used in any way that is deemed appropriate by the Convention Chairman.<<This will be effective starting with the 1998 convention.>>Bussey seconded.
A. Bussey moved to amend, deleting "$2,000.00" and inserting "$3,000.00." Stevens seconded.
VOTE to amend:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
B. Liebman moved to amend inserting a new last sentence, "This will be effective starting with the 1998 convention." Bussey seconded.
VOTE to amend:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
31. Final Convention Report
Medville moved: A final NSS National Convention report shall be submitted to the NSS Administrative Vice President for inclusion in his report to the Board of Governors at the Spring meeting following the close of the convention. The report should include a description of "lessons learned" as a result of the convention experience. A final NSS National Convention financial report shall be submitted to the NSS Secretary-Treasurer at the same time, for inclusion in his report to the Board of Governors. The Financial Report shall compare actual and budgeted income and expenses in accordance with the NSS Chart of Accounts. Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
32. Capital Purchases
Medville moved: NSS committees and commissions that seek to procure capital items are encouraged to use the normal NSS budget process to gain approval of the capital budget items. NSS capital items that cost more than $500 may be procured only with Board approval. The appropriate NSS officer may approve the procurement of capital budget items that cost less than $500. In an emergency the NSS President may authorize an NSS committee or commission to procure a capital budget item <<up to $10,000.00.>>
Hood seconded.
Lester moved to amend inserting "up to $10,000.00" after "budget item" in the last sentence. Stevens seconded.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the amended motion.
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
33. NCRC National Coordinator Term & Role of NCRC Financial Officer
Stevens moved to amend Appendix S, the Charter of the National Cave Rescue Commission.
Medville seconded.
VOTE to approve the amended NCRC Charter:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Note: The NCRC Charter is Attachment H to these minutes.
Suspend the Agenda
By unanimous consent, the Board agreed to consider the following motion to approve the NCRC Regional Coordinators.
34. NCRC Regional Coordinators
Wefer moved: The following people are re-appointed regional coordinators in the National Cave Rescue Commission:
David Ashburn (NSS 35885),of Chickamauga, Georgia, NCRC Training Coordinator
Sam Chewning (NSS 33858), of Cornelius, North Carolina, NCRC Medical Coordinator
Mimi Ortiz (NSS 32125), of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, NCRC Caribbean Region Coordinator
Jeff Parnell (NSS 25786), of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, NCRC Southeastern Region Coordinator
Belski seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
35. Secretary-Treasurer Responsibilities
"Stevens moved: The Secretary-Treasurer (S-T) is the Society's chief financial <<and record keeping >>officer and shall ensure the Society's finances are managed in a fiscally responsible manner. The S-T is responsible for investing NSS funds, and for delegating signature authority for NSS accounts to agents of the S-T. As a minimum, the NSS President and S-T shall have signature authority on all NSS accounts. The S-T is responsible for establishing the Society's accounting and financial processes and managing their implementation in accordance with policies established by the Board of Governors so as to allow for an independent audit by a certified public accountant or accounting firm. The S-T is responsible for managing the process by which the entire EC assumes responsibility for both the income and expense side of the budget. <Each officer will take the lead to prepare cost and income estimates for program activities in his or her department and in addition> The S-T is responsible for preparing estimates for dues income and other items which do not fall within a specific department. All such estimates will be provided to the entire EC for peer review with associated backup data. The S-T is responsible for presenting a budget to the Board of Governors for approval based on a consensus of the entire Executive Committee.
The S-T shall support the other officers and the Board of Governors by providing timely reports of the Society's financial activity and status, certifying corporate documents as "Secretary," <<filing corporate returns including annual reports and tax returns >>when required, and ensuring original corporate documents are stored in a safe deposit box. The S-T is also responsible for managing committees assigned to the S-T department by the Board of Governors. Bussey seconded.
A. Lester moved to amend, inserting "and record keeping" in the first sentence.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
B. Lester moved to amend inserting "filing corporate returns including annual reports and tax returns" in the second to last sentence. Liebman seconded.
VOTE to amend:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
C. Hose moved to refer the motion back to the S-T for re-wording, and reconsideration at the fall 1998 Board meeting. Aulenbach seconded.
VOTE on the motion to refer:
In favor: Aulenbach, Hose, Sira, Bussey, Fleming, Liebman
Opposed: Tozer, G.Moss, Hood, Medville, Stevens, Keeler,
P.Moss,Taylor, Belski
Abstaining: Lester
FAILED
D. Hose moved to amend, deleting "Each officer will take the lead to prepare cost and income estimates for program activities in his or her department and in addition." Keeler seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, P.Moss, Belski, Fleming, Liebman, Stevens
Abstaining: G.Moss
PASSED
E. Hose moved to suspend the agenda to consider the motion on "Agenda," before resolving Secretary-Treasurer Responsibilities. Medville seconded.
VOTE to suspend the agenda:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
36. Agenda
Stevens moved: Act 04-023 is amended to read:
". . . The president shall be responsible for <preparation of the annual budget, ><<the content and objectives of the annual budget,>> minutes of meetings of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee, and the <agenda> <<agendas>> for all meetings of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee. Bussey seconded.
A. G.Moss moved to amend, deleting "preparation of the annual budget," and inserting "the content and objectives of the annual budget,". Tozer seconded.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
B. Stevens moved to consider together Item #34 as amended and #35 as amended.
Belski seconded.
VOTE to consider together Items #34 and #35 as amended:
In favor: Tozer, Aulenbach, Stevens, P.Moss, Belski, Taylor,
Sira, Keeler, Liebman, Fleming
Opposed: Hose, Bussey, G.Moss, Medville
Abstaining: Hood, Lester
PASSED
C. Keeler called the question.
VOTE to call the question:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose, Hood, Medville, Bussey
Abstaining: G.Moss
PASSED
VOTE to approve together Items #34 and #35 as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose, Sira, Hood, Medville, Bussey
PASSED
37. Budget Process
Stevens moved: Act 16-115 is amended to read: The budget for the next fiscal year shall be approved by the Board at its spring meeting. The proposed budget shall be submitted to the Board including projected income and expenses for the following <four fiscal years> <<fiscal year>>, proposed transfers from the operating budget to restricted funds, proposed capital budget, and a cash flow analysis.
Keeler seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
38. Finance Committee
Stevens moved: Act 16-045 is amended to read:
<The Finance Committee will be under the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Treasurer will be a member of the committee, but not the chairman, the committee to be charged with preparing the budget and other things so designated.>
<<The Finance Committee is under the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer. The committee is charged with helping to prepare the budget and other things so designated.>>
G.Moss seconded.
Sira moved to amend, inserting "The S-T will be a member
of the committee." as a second sentence.
No second, the motion died.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
39. NSS/NSF Liaison
Stevens moved: Act 17-433 is deleted.
Note: Act 17-433 currently reads, "NSS/NSF Liaison — The position of NSS/NSF Liaison is a committee chair in the Secretary-Treasurer's Department for the purpose of facilitating communication between the two organizations." Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Lester, P.Moss, Belski, Liebman
Abstaining: Tozer, Aulenbach
PASSED
40. Cooperative Agreement between Mammoth Cave National Park and the NSS
Medville moved: The Administrative Vice President of the NSS is authorized to sign the Cooperative Agreement between Mammoth Cave National Park and the NSS following approval of the Cooperative Agreement by the NSS President with the advice of the Chair of the NSS Legal Committee.
P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
41. Transfer of Fractional Interest
Medville moved: The fractional interest held by the NSS in Exline #1 and #1A, and Baker #1 gas wells in Ritchie County, West Virginia, is transferred to C.H.C. Drilling, Inc. for the sum of <<no less than>>$5,000.00. Hose seconded.
P.Moss moved to amend, inserting "no less than" before "$5,000.00."
Accepted by unanimous consent.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Belski, Fleming
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
42. Cave Management Committee Budget
Wefer moved: To increase the FY 98-99 Cave Management Committee budget from $25 to $3,000. Keeler seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, P.Moss
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
43. Educational Opportunities in Speleology
Medville moved: Act 57-276 is repealed. Information about Educational Opportunities in Speleology will be provided by NSS Sections. Courses and workshops in speleology at NSS conventions will be given by those NSS members who are qualified and have an interest in teaching such courses and workshops. Hose seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
44. Cave Restoration Committee
Medville moved: The Cave Restoration Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President (Act 50-602) is renamed the Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee.
Hose seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Absent: Bussey
PASSED
45. Resource Stewardship Symposium
Belski moved: That the NSS be recognized as a sponsor of the El Malpais National Monument 10th Anniversary Resource Stewardship Symposium, October 1-3, 1998.
P.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
46. Fricks Cave, Walker County, Georgia
Keeler moved: The NSS shall donate up to $5,000.00 from the Cave Acquisition Restricted Fund to the Southeastern Cave Conservancy to assist in the purchase of Fricks Cave, Walker County, Georgia.
Aulenbach seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
47. NSS Cave Management Symposium Coordinator
Wefer moved: Cheryl Jones of McLean, Virginia, is appointed NSS Cave Management Symposium Coordinator. Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
48. Life Membership Dues
Aulenbach moved: To instruct the Bylaws Committee to formulate the motions necessary to revise the NSS Bylaws and Acts of the Board of Governors such that the fee for becoming a Regular NSS Life Member shall vary with the person’s age. The fee shall be $540.00 less $13.00 for every year the person is over 60 years of age with no further discount for a person joining after they are 90 years old. A person may become a Family Life Member by payment of one-half this amount. The total fee required for Sustaining and Family-Sustaining Life Memberships shall be established on the date the person becomes a Sustaining or Family-Sustaining Life Member based upon their age at that time. Sira seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose, P.Moss, Fleming, Belski
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
49. Reimbursement for Rescue Costs
Liebman moved: The NSS will send a bill to the person rescued from a cave on an NSS Preserve in New York for expenses incurred in excess of the donations received to defray the cost of the rescue. P. Moss seconded.
Hose moved to substitute: The Administrative Vice President is directed to investigate the recent rescue at Barton Hill Karst Preserve and to report at the fall Board meeting on the advisability of sending a bill to the victim for expenses in excess of donations. Bussey seconded.
VOTE to substitute:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the substituted motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
50. FY98 Capital Budget
Wefer moved: The FY98 Capital Budget is augmented by $16,000.00 to cover publication of two issues of the SpeleoDigest originally planned for FY 99. Belski seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
51. Spring 1999 Board of Governors Meeting
Wefer moved: The Board of Governors accepts the bid of the Central Indiana Grotto to host the spring 1999 Board meeting. The meeting will be held in Greenwood, Indiana, on March 27, 1999.
Sira seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
52. Suspension of the Agenda
Wefer moved: In accordance with Act 04-472, the agenda is suspended for informal discussion among all present for forty-five minutes. Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Wefer declared the discussion period open at 3:55 P.M.
Topics addressed were as follows:
A. Board Response to Motions Passed by the Congress of Grottos
Don Shofstall questioned whether or not the Board intended to respond to any of the motions passed by the COG. The Board addressed the following motion passed by the COG, Issue 6C: "The Congress of Grottos requests that the Board of Governors expel from the NSS the members of the 1997 Convention Executive Planning Committee who received travel reimbursement in violation of NSS policy and practice, after being explicitly advised in Convention planning meetings that this was not an allowable convention expense, unless that money is returned by a date established by the Board of Governors."
AVP Medville responded that letters were sent requesting return of the funds by June 1998. No money has been returned to date and he is waiting for further direction from the Board.
President Wefer, citing Board Act 10-253, Discipline Procedures, appointed an investigating panel to investigate the matter and resolve it by informal means if possible. Dave Belski, Steve Fleming, and Doug Medville were appointed as committee members.
B. Convention Surplus Fund
Dave Irving noted that the 1998 convention surplus will fully fund the Convention Surplus Fund. Dave requested that the Board decide how the excess funds will be allocated.
C. IMAX Film
AVP Medville said that he received a letter from the officials at Carlsbad Caverns National Park on filming part of an IMAX movie in Lechguilla Cave. Louise Hose suggested that we send a letter expressing concern over IMAX filming in any cave in the park. EVP Keeler said he would draft a motion for the Board’s consideration.
D. Thanks to the Board
Marjorie Nelson expressed her thanks and those of the audience to the Board for the revised seating arrangement. Those in the audience could now hear the Board discussions much better.
E. Other Cave Related Films
Nancy Aulenbach reported that she has been contacted by Allison Chase of Ventana films about a possible appearance in a series of cave films being produced by Ventana.
F. Lava Beds Research Center
Peri Frantz presented a preliminary information sheet about the proposed Lava Beds Research Center at Lava Beds National Monument, California.
G. Senior Caver Concerns
Bob Liebman suggested that information be placed in the NSS Convention Manual that advises future convention committees to take into account the needs of older cavers who might have physical difficulties getting to sessions or around the grounds of future convention sites.
President Wefer declared the session closed at 4:40 P.M.
53. IMAX Film
Keeler moved: The NSS is concerned with the use of Lechuguilla Cave for the proposed IMAX film due to potential adverse environmental impact. The Society would like to work with Carlsbad Caverns National Park to consider the environmental impact of such use and suggest ways to mitigate impact. Belski seconded.
Hose moved to substitute: The NSS Conservation Chairman is directed to write the superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns National Park asking that the NSS Conservation Committee be notified of any actions to be considered concerning making an IMAX film in any wild cave in the Park. We particularly request to be sent an <Environmental Assessment> <<Environmental Impact Statement>> for review if such action is being considered. Bussey seconded.
Fleming moved to amend, deleting "Environmental Assessment" and inserting "Environmental Impact Statement." Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE to subsitute:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Stevens, Keeler, Liebman, Bussey, Taylor
Abstaining: Tozer
PASSED
VOTE on the substituted motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
54. Appreciation
Liebman moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the 1998 NSS National Convention Committee for our excellent meeting arrangements and outstanding convention.
Taylor seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
55. Adjourn
It was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Wefer declared the meeting adjourned at 4:52 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary