The opening session of the 197th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held July 12, 2004 in Marquette, Michigan, at Northern Michigan University. President Scott Fee called the meeting to order at 9:17 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
OFFICERS:
Scott Fee, President
Don Paquette, Executive Vice President
Tom Lera, Administrative Vice President
Colin Gatland, Operations Vice President
Paul Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer*
DIRECTORS:
Hazel Barton
Linda Devine
Cheryl Jones
Joe Levinson
Bill Klimack
Bill Liebman
Douglas Medville
Martha Mills
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Kevin Smith
Bernie Szukalski
PROXIES:
*Ted Kayes for Paul Stevens
*Paul was present for the entire meeting. He requested that Ted Kayes proxy for him because of his inability to speak due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
By unanimous consent, the Board approved the March 20, 2004 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes.
A. President – Scott Fee
A1. Nominating Committee Election Report – Montana Spencer
Montana reported that Joe Levinson, Kevin Smith, Bernie Szukalski, and Bill Liebman were elected to three-year terms on the NSS Board of Governors. For the full report see http://www.caves.org/soapbox/showthread.php?t=138
B. Executive Vice President – Don Paquette
Don is retiring as EVP and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve the NSS.
Don reported that there are still format issues with the forthcoming conservation and restoration book. The book may be in print by the end of the year.
Don noted the editor of the book on cave photography, Norm Thompson, has recommended increasing the number of copies printed from 1,000 to 2,000. The Special Publications Committee will evaluate the issue.
Don reported that the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Cave and Karst Research Institute and the NSS regarding the publication of the NSS Journal of Cave and Karst Studies must still be evaluated by the U.S. Park Service. He also said that many more reviews by both organizations would be needed before and if any publication agreement is reached.
C. Administrative Vice President – Tom Lera
Tom is retiring as AVP and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve the NSS.
Tom reported that the legal paperwork has been completed and the NSS is now the owner of the Potter Brothers Nature Preserve in Oklahoma.
D. Operations Vice President – Colin Gatland
Colin is retiring as OVP and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve the NSS.
Colin reported that the NSS web site has expanded to 120 GB.
He noted that the NSS E-book project is now under way thanks to Paul Stevens.
Colin also reported that Roswell Jones has taken on the task of converting all of the slide shows in the Audio/Visual Library to DVD format.
E. Secretary-Treasurer – Paul Stevens
A. 2003 NSS National Convention (California) – Peri Frantz, Chairman - Oral
B. 2004 NSS National Convention (Michigan) – Jean DeVires, Chairman - Oral
C. 005 NSS National Convention (Alabama) – Jim Hall, Chairman - Oral
Fee moved: Eve Proper, NSS# 50678, 3450 Marion St., Denver, CO 80205; phone: 317-490-3701 (h), e-mail: eproper@iupui.edu is confirmed as the Fund Raising Committee Chairman.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Paquette moved: G Thomas Rea, NSS 5683OS, 8677 S State Road 243, Cloverdale, IN 46120-9696; phone 765-653-4423, e-mail tomrea@ccrtc.com is confirmed as chairman of the Special Publications Committee.
Klimack seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: The Texas Cave Management Association and Bexar Grotto’s bid to host the Spring 2005 NSS Board of Governors meeting on March 5, 2005, in San Antonio, Texas, is accepted.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Paquette
PASSED
Lera moved: The Cave Conservancy of the Virginias is approved as a NSS Cave Conservancy.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
7. John Guilday Nature Preserve (Act 26-402 and Appendix F)
G. Moss and L. Devine moved: Act 26-402 and Appendix F are amended as follows:
Act 26-402 Trout Rock Property
The NSS Trout Rock property shall be designated the
<"John Guilday Nature Preserve">
<< "John Guilday Cave and Nature Preserve">>.
Appendix F is amended to replace <John Guilday Nature Preserve> with <<John Guilday Cave and Nature Preserve>>.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Devine, Levinson, Smith, Barton, G. Moss, Klimack,
Szukalski
Opposed: Gatland, Kayes, Lera, Paquette, Liebman, Mills, Jones,
Medville
Abstaining: P. Moss
FAILED
8. Television Video Production Committee
Lera moved : Act 97-491 Television Video Production Committee is replaced as follows:
Act 97-491 AV Production Committee:
The AV Production Committee is established in the department of
the Administrative Vice President. The committee will work with
committees within the NSS Education Division to develop
educational digital media and films. AV Production Committee
members may work with other NSS committees to produce visual
digital or analog media to support their programs. Additionally,
the AV Production Committee will serve as the NSS liaison for
documentary film and television entities, to promote and assist
with safe and conservation-oriented filming techniques and
provide assistance in developing films that conform to the NSS
Conservation Policy and accepted safety practices. The AV
Production Committee shall coordinate with the Audio-Visual Aids
Library Committee.
Gatland seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
At this point the meeting was running ahead of schedule and the agenda was suspended by unanimous consent to allow consideration of more business.
Medville moved: The International Support Fund Policy (Appendix I) is amended by adding the following to the end of the first paragraph: “Principal may be used to support NSS sponsorship of International meetings and the bidding process for such meetings.”
Liebman seconded.
APPENDIX I
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FUND POLICY
The International Support Fund
The surplus from the Eighth International Congress of Speleology, and additions to that, hereafter called the International Support Fund, will be used to (1) Establish a program of grants to support international speleological partnerships, and (2) to support International Speleological Participation, according to the following policies, and within the terms of the agreement between the National Speleological Society and the National Speleological Foundation for the management of the International Support Fund. The principal of the fund shall be held and invested by the National Speleological Foundation, and the net income from the fund can revert to the NSS treasury titled the International Support Fund and designated for the purposes stated in this fund policy. Grant money is drawn from the NSS Treasurer by the chairman of each fund. << Principal may be used to support NSS sponsorship of International meetings and the bidding process for such meetings. >>
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Medville moved: A maximum of $10,000 in FY 04/05 <is> <<may be>> withdrawn from the International Fund to support the bid process for the 2009 International Congress of Speleology in San Antonio, Texas.
Barton seconded.
P. Moss moved to amend: Delete “is” and insert “may be” in the first line.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the motion as amended:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Gatland moved: The FY04/05 budget is amended to transfer $2,000 to the Web Site Restricted Fund to secure professional assistance to resolve any problems with the NSS Web Site should the need arise in the future.
Klimack seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The FY04/05 Operating Budget is amended to increase the Conservation Committee Travel budget from $100 to $500.
Medville seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Jones moved: The FY04-05 Operating Budget is amended to increase the total Journal of Cave and Karst Studies (Journal) expense from $22,500 to <$45,000> <<$41,500>>, and to remove all notes and items related to publishing the Journal jointly with NCKRI.
P. Moss seconded.
Jones moved to amend: Delete “$45,000” and insert “$41,500” in the second line.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, G. Moss, Gatland, Lera, Liebman, Paquette
Abstaining: None
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: G. Moss
PASSED
Stevens moved: The FY 04-05 Operating Budget is amended as follows to reflect the actual cost incurred.
NSS General Liability <22,100> << $26,100>>
Fire Insurance <5,000> << $ 4,800>>
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Jones moved: Bylaw I.B.(14)
is amended:
(14) <General> <Basic> <<Limited>>
members are at least seventeen years of age. These members do not
receive publications, except as stated; but otherwise have all
the privileges of Regular members.
(a) <General> <Basic> <<Limited>> members receive copies of Society periodicals no more than once per year, and such special publications or issues of periodicals as the Board of Governors may direct.
(b) Dues for <General> <Basic> <<Limited>> membership shall be set no lower than the amount which added to the cost of a subscription to the monthly periodical of the Society equals the dues set for the Regular membership.
(c) The Board of Governors may abolish <General> <Basic> <<Limited>> membership by Act. In that event persons holding this membership shall have the option to extend their current status for two additional years.
Klimack seconded.
Medville moved to amend: Delete “Basic” and insert “Limited.”
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Devine, P. Moss, Szukalski, Liebman
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Devine, Lera, P. Moss, Liebman
Abstaining: Szukalski
PASSED
16. Set Limits for a Change in Dues
Stevens moved to amend Act 28-389 (Dues Structure) as follows.
Effective <May 1, 2001> <<January 1, 2005>>, the dues of the Society are as follows:
| Number of Years Paid |
Regular | Associate | Family | Limited |
| One | <$33.00><<$40>> | <$22.00><<$30>> | <$6.00> <<$10>> | <$12.00><<$20>> |
| Two | <$64.00><<$78>> | <$43.00><<$59>> | <$11.00><<$19>> | <$23.00><<$39>> |
| Three | <$94.00><<$115>> | <$63.00><<$87>> | <$16.00><<$28>> | <$33.00><<$57>> |
Institutional Dues will be <$70.00> <<$100.00>> per year, Regular Life Membership will be <$600.00> <<$800.00>> and Family Life Membership will be <$300.00> <<$400.00>>.
Family members in the immediate family of a member accepting the prepayment option must prepay at the same time for the same number of years.
Limited Members will receive annually the Members manual and American Caving Accidents as published. <Existing membership application forms may be modified by interlineation or supplemented to provide for General Membership. >
The periodical subscription rates shall be changed to be consistent.
Klimack seconded.
Liebman moved to amend: Limited Membership – delete “$20” and insert “$25.”
No second, the motion died.
P. Moss moved: The motion is referred back to the Secretary-Treasurer.
No second, the motion died.
Barton moved: The motion is referred to the Secretary-Treasurer for revised upper dollar limits on the proposed dues until the Board meeting is reconvened on Friday, July 16, 2004. Medville seconded.
VOTE on the motion to refer:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kevin
Abstaining: Jones, Kayes, Klimack
REFERRED
Lera moved: The 2006 NSS National Convention bid by Cascade Grotto to host a convention in Bellingham,Washington, is accepted. Michael McCormack is confirmed as Convention Chairman.
Klimack seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The 2007 NSS National Convention bid by the Bloomington, Central Indiana, Eastern Indiana, Evansville Metropolitan, Harrison County, Northern Indiana, St. Joseph Valley, and Western Indiana Grottos to host a convention in Marengo, Indiana, is accepted. Dave Haun is confirmed as Convention Chairman.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Paquette moved: The NSS approves the “Alliance for Zero Extinction” Memorandum of Understanding.
P. Moss seconded.
Smith moved to table the motion.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE on the motion to table:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Paquette
TABLED
Paquette moved: Act 19-693, the Joe Ivy Endowment Committee, is disestablished.
Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Jones moved: The Caves and Karst Education Program Restricted Fund is terminated.
Szukalski seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: G. Moss
PASSED
Stevens moved: Act 56-539, Convention Insurance, is amended as follows:
<<The>> NSS <Conventions> <<Insurance Committee>> shall obtain <<NSS convention>> insurance for medical payments and liability for injury, death, or property damage for at least one million dollars<<.>> <, the contract shall be reviewed by the NSS Legal Committee prior to signing.> <<This will be paid for out of convention revenue. >>
Smith seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville, Szukalski, G. Moss, Paquette
Abstaining: Liebman
PASSED
At 11:47 A.M., President Fee declared the opening session of the 197th Board of Governors meeting in recess until 9:00 A.M., July 16, 2004.
On Friday, July 16, 2004, continuation of the 197th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was called to order by President Fee at 9:22 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
OFFICERS:
Scott Fee, President
Gordon Birkhimer, Executive Vice President
Steve Ormeroid, Administrative Vice President
G. Thomas Rea, Operations Vice President
Paul Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Linda Devine
Cheryl Jones
Joe Levinson
Bill Klimack
Bill Liebman
Douglas Medville
Martha Mills
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Kevin Smith
Bernie Szukalski
PROXIES:
Eric Weaver for Hazel Barton
Ted Kayes for Paul Stevens
Gary Moss, Chairman of the Directorate, announced that he had been elected as Chairman of the Directorate and that three new Vice Presidents were elected: Gordon Birkhimer as Executive Vice President, Steve Ormeroid as Administrative Vice President, and G. Thomas Rea as Operations Vice President. Gary also announced that Hazel Medville was re-elected as President pro tem.
President Fee announced that no formal actions were taken by the Board in closed session.
Bill Jackson, Congress Chairman, summarized the written report.
Ormeroid moved: Dr. Stephen Mosberg (NSS 20444), 5 Foxboro Drive, Vienna, WV 26105; phone: 304-295-5949; e-mail: cavedoc@citynet.net, is confirmed as NCRC Medical Coordinator for a term of three years.
Rea seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Ormeroid moved: David Ashburn (NSS 35855), 125 Dana Lane, Chickamauga, GA 30707; phone: 706-375-5185; e-mail: davidashburn@aol.com, is confirmed as NCRC Training Coordinator for a term of three years.
Jones seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Ormeroid moved: Tim White (NSS 26949), PO Box 1348, Decatur, AL 35602, is confirmed as Southeastern Region Coordinator for a term of three years.
Smith seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Liebman moved: The NSS Operations Vice President is directed to create a <complimentary> NSS Fellows lapel pin <to be given> > <<available for sale>> to each NSS Fellow. <<The FY 04/05 <OVP’s> budget is amended to include up to <$750.00> <<$1,000.00>> for this expense <.> << which will be funded from the NSS Awards Fund.>> >>Levinson seconded.
By unanimous consent, the “$750.00” cost was deleted and “$1,000.00” cost inserted.
By unanimous consent, “OVP’S” in the second line was deleted and “which will be funded from the NSS Awards Fund.” was added to the end of the third sentence.
Klimack moved: delete “complimentary” and insert “available for sale” after the word “pin” in the second sentence; delete the last sentence.
Devine seconded.
The motion including pending amendments is as follows:
“The NSS Operations Vice President is directed to create a NSS Fellows lapel pin available for sale to each NSS Fellow.”
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Devine, Klimack, Szukalski, Kayes, Medville, Jones,
Birkhimer, P. Moss, Weaver
Opposed: Levinson, Smith, Rea, Ormeroid, G. Moss, Mills, Liebman
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Devine, Jones
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Liebman
FAILED
29. John Guilday Nature Preserve (Act 26-402 and Appendix F)
G. Moss and L. Devine moved: Act 26-402 and Appendix F are amended as follows:
Act 26-402 Trout Rock Property
The NSS Trout Rock property shall be designated the <John
Guilday Nature Preserve> << John Guilday Caves Nature
Preserve>>.
Appendix F is amended to replace <John Guilday Nature Preserve> with <<John Guilday Caves Nature Preserve>>. Klimack seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes
PASSED
Stevens moved to amend Act 28-389 (Dues Structure) as follows.
Effective <May 1, 2001> <<January 1 2005>>, the dues of the Society are as follows:
| Number of Years Paid |
Regular | Associate | Family | Limited |
| One | <$33.00> <<$40>> | <$22.00><<$28>> | <$6.00> <<$7>> | <$12.00><<$20>> |
| Two | <$64.00> <<$78>> | <$43.00><<$55>> | <$11.00><<$13>> | <$23.00><<$39>> |
| Three | <$94.00><<$115>> | <$63.00><<$80>> | <$16.00><<$19>> | <$33.00><<$57>> |
Institutional Dues will be <$70.00> <<$100.00>> per year, Regular Life Membership will be <$600.00> <<$800.00>> and Family Life Membership will be <$300.00> <<$400.00>>.
Family members in the immediate family of a member accepting the prepayment option must prepay at the same time for the same number of years.
Limited Members will receive annually the Members manual and American Caving Accidents as published. <Existing membership application forms may be modified by interlineation or supplemented to provide for General Membership. >
The periodical subscription rates shall be changed to be consistent.
Smith seconded.
After the above motion was read onto the floor, Stevens immediately moved the following:
Stevens moved: Consideration of the proposed dues structure is postponed until the Fall 2004 Board meeting.
Rea seconded.
VOTE on the motion to postpone:
In favor: Kayes
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
B. P. Moss moved to amend: Delete the membership rate for Regular Life and Family Life dues and the Limited category dues.
Szukalski seconded.
After discussion, the Limited category dues numbers were reinserted into the motion by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the motion to amend:
In favor: P. Moss
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Mills
FAILED
P. Moss moved: Consideration of the motion is postponed until the Fall 2004 Board meeting.
Levinson seconded.
VOTE to postpone:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville
POSTPONED
Fee moved: An open discussion is held for a period of time not to exceed 45 minutes.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Fee declared the floor open at 10:55 A.M. The following topics were discussed:
President Fee closed the open discussion period at 11:40 A.M.
President Fee declared a closed session of the Board for a period not to exceed one hour.
President Fee reported that no formal actions were taken in closed session.
Stevens moved: The NSS undertakes not to execute a cooperative agreement with NCKRI that would be effective during the <2004-2005> <<2004 Federal>> fiscal year.
P. Moss seconded.
By unanimous consent, “2004-2005” was deleted and “2004 Federal” was inserted in the second line.
VOTE on the motion as amended:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the 2004 NSS National Convention staff for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements.
Devine seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
P. Moss moved: The meeting is adjourned.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Fee declared the meeting adjourned at 1:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary
9/17/04