NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING

July 12 and 16, 1999

The opening session of the 182nd regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Monday, July 12, 1999, in the 4-H Building, Twin Falls County Fairgrounds, Filer, Idaho. 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 Wefer at 9:15 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.

1. 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
Linda Baker Devine
Bill Bussey
Thom Engel
Stephen Fleming
Bill Halliday
Cheryl Jones
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer

PROXIES:
Joe Levinson for Ed Sira

2. Approval of the 27 March 1999 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes

P. Moss moved the approval of the 27 March 1999 Board of Governors meeting minutes as published. Bussey seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

3. Officer's Reports

A. President – Fred L. Wefer – Attachment A

Additions to the President’s report are as follows:

1) Three committee chairs in the President’s department remain vacant: the Fund Raising Committee, the NSS Outreach Committee, and the National Park Service Liaison.

2) The finishing order in the recent election for NSS Directors that was published in the President’s report is incorrect; Bill Halliday should be listed in second place and Linda Devine in third place. The correct order of finish should read: Cheryl Jones, Bill Halliday, Linda Devine, Philip Moss, and Thom Engel.

B. Executive Vice President – Ray Keeler – Attachment B

Addition to the EVP’s report is as follows:

1) The editor of the NSS Members Manual, Lois Lyles, has resigned. A new editor is being sought. An addendum to this year’s Members Manual, that will provide the material omitted, will be published and distributed to members this fall.

C. Administrative Vice President – Doug Medville – Attachment C

Additions to the AVP’s report are as follows:

1) A new Chair for the Junior Speleological Society is being sought.

2) AVP Medville continues to pursue the publication of an NSS Annual Report. A planning meeting was held during convention to gather ideas for inclusion in the report.

3) A review of the NSS Conservation Task Forces is planned to determine whether or not they are adhering to the CTF guidelines outlined in Act 50-238.

D. Operations Vice President – Mike Hood – Attachment D

Additions to the OVP’s report are as follows:

1) The project to catalogue the NSS Library has begun and is progressing rapidly. To date, one-third of the books and periodicals have been entered in the database.

2) The NSS purchased 750 copies of the Leave No Trace caving booklet produced by the National Outdoor Leadership School, however, it is not selling well in the NSS bookstore. Suggestions were requested for what should be done with the remaining copies.

E. Secretary-Treasurer – Paul Stevens – Attachment E

4. Committee Reports

F. 1999 NSS National Convention - David Kesner and Mike Backe – oral report

G. 2000 NSS National Convention (West Virginia) – Kelly Deem – oral report

H. NSS Nominating Committee – Ted Kayes

The Committee’s written report is Attachment F to these minutes and is also included in the President’s report, Attachment A.

OLD BUSINESS

5. Dues Structure

Wefer moved: Act 28-389 (Dues Structure) is amended to read as follows: "Effective January 1, 2000, the dues structure of the Society is as follows:

Institutional Dues are $70.00, Regular Life Membership is $600.00, and Family Life Membership is $300.00.

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."

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."

Aulenbach moved to postpone consideration to the Friday, July 16, 1999 meeting agenda.

Levinson seconded.

VOTE to postpone:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: P. Moss
POSTPONED

NEW BUSINESS

6. Examination of Potential Convention Sites

Wefer moved: Act 56-625 (Convention Sites) is amended to read as follows: "A representative of the Convention Development Committee may receive <an honorarium> <<reimbursement>> for travel expenses incurred, up to the amount budgeted by the Board, for travel to and examination of potential sites for future NSS National Conventions. The Convention Development Committee Chair will provide a report on the suitability of the sites visited to the Board following visits to these sites. <The honorarium> <<Funds for this travel reimbursement>> will come from the Convention Surplus Restricted Fund." Taylor seconded.

VOTE:

In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: P. Moss
PASSED

7. Chair of the Nominating Committee

Wefer moved: Kim Louise Kehs (NSS 32496 FR) is confirmed as Chair of the Nominating Committee in the President's Department. Bussey seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

Note: Kim Keh’s contact information:
1426 Ash Lane
Quakertown, PA 18951-5638
edandkim@easy-pages.com

8. Board Meeting Presiding Officer

Stevens 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 whose current continuous tenure as an officer of the Society has been longest, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Governors. >>

Taylor moved to substitute:

1. Bylaw IV.A. (3) is amended by adding:

(f) Concurrently with the installation of a President, and thereafter at its pleasure, the Directorate shall select a President pro tem, who shall in the absence of the President have all powers and duties of the President. The President pro tem shall have by virtue of this selection no powers and duties when the President is present.

1/ A non-incumbent President-elect shall automatically become President pro tem.

2/ The President pro tem shall be selected from people qualified to hold the office of President.

2. Bylaw IV.E. (1) is revised to retain only the last sentence regarding a quorum.

Stevens seconded.

VOTE on the motion to substitute:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

VOTE on the substituted motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

9. Chair of the Market Analysis Committee

Wefer moved: Michael R. Taylor (NSS 21969 RE) is confirmed as Chair of the Market Analysis Committee in the OVP’s Department. P. Moss seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Aulenbach
PASSED

Note: Michael Taylor’s contact information:
800 N. 14th St.
Arkadelphia, AR 71923-3810
taylorm@holly.hsu.edu

10. Manager of Shelta Cave Preserve

Wefer moved: Paul Meyer (NSS 34328 RE) is confirmed as manager of Shelta Cave Preserve in the AVP’s Department. Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

Note: Paul Meyer’s contact information:
7506 Clubfield Drive, SW
Hunstville, AL 35802-2970

11. I-Max Film Committee

Gary Moss moved: The I-Max Film <Ad Hoc> Committee is established <<in the AVP’s Department>> to investigate what the NSS can do to take advantage of the caving I-Max film due out in 2001. The committee shall give <status> reports at Board meetings. <The final committee report to the Board is due at the 2000 NSS National Convention. > Bussey seconded.

Stevens moved to amend, deleting "Ad Hoc" in the first line, and the entire last sentence, and inserting "in the AVP’s Department" in the first line. Medville seconded.

VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Keeler, P. Moss
PASSED

The word "status" was deleted from the third line by unanimous consent.

VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

12. NSS Periodical Publication Fund

G.Moss moved: Act 18-447 (NSS News Photographic Endowment Fund) is amended to read, "The Foundation is requested to establish the NSS Periodical Publication Fund. No more than 75% of the yearly net income of the fund shall be used to defray the cost of the routine periodicals." Bussey seconded.

Levinson moved to amend, inserting as a last sentence, "A majority vote of the Board is required for funds distribution." No second, the motion died.

Stevens moved to refer the motion to the Secretary-Treasurer with instructions to return a motion for the Friday agenda that accomplishes the original intent of the motion and describes a mechanism for implementation that is compatible with the existing NSS/NSF fund agreements. G. Moss seconded.

VOTE on the motion to refer:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Keeler, Engel
Abstaining: Halliday
REFERRED

The agreements between the NSS and NSF are to be changed to reflect this change as shown below:

ATTACHMENT J

NSS <NEWS PHOTOGRAPHIC ENDOWMENT> <<PERIODICAL PUBLICATION>> FUND

1. This attachment to the contract between the Foundation and the Society pertaining to the NSS Trust Funds (the contract) describes the purposes and conditions of the Individual Fund known as the NSS <News Photographic Endowment Fund.> << Periodical Publication Fund>>.

2. The purpose of the <NSS News Photographic Endowment Fund> << NSS Periodical Publication Fund>> is to provide income to the Society to be used 1) To promote publishing of the NSS Photo Salon winners<<,>> <and> 2) To help provide high quality covers for the NSS NEWS <<and 3) fund other special printing features in all the regular NSS Periodicals.>>

3. <<No more than 75 percent of the net income from this fund shall be returned to the NSS in a given year. After the primary goal of these funds have been meet in paragraph 2 any additional net income may be used to supplement the regular NSS Periodical's budget.>> <After the net income of the Fund is sufficient to pay for publishing the Photo Salon winners and full color covers for each issue of the NSS NEWS, any additional net income may be used to supplement the regular NSS NEWS budget.>

4. The Foundation's annual report, as described in Paragraph 9 of the Contract, shall specify the amount of net income available from the NSS <News Photographic Endowment> <<NSS Periodical Publication>> Fund. Within sixty days after the close of the fiscal year of the Foundation, the Foundation shall transfer the entire amount of this net income to the Society.

5. The Society will add this income to the budget of the <NSS NEWS> << NSS Periodical Publications>> as a "budget addition." The <<NSS VPs>> <Editor of the NSS NEWS> will use this additional income for the purposes described in Paragraphs 2 and 3 above.

6. This attachment has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Society on the 22th day of March, 1997, and by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation on the 23th day of March, 1997.

NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

By: /s/ David Luckins

David Luckins, President

NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION, INC.

13. Travel Report

G. Moss moved: The Secretary-Treasurer of the NSS shall develop a Travel Report showing the amounts, funding source, and general purpose for the use of the travel funds. This is will be a policy level report and no member names are to be included in the report. This yearly report shall be included with the normal reports that go to the Board for the yearly budget meeting. P. Moss seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Keeler, Jones
Abstaining: Halliday, Hood, Stevens
PASSED

Agenda Suspended

By unanimous consent, the agenda was suspended to consider the bid for the 2001 NSS National Convention.

14. 2001 NSS National Convention (Kentucky)

Medville moved: The proposal submitted by William Carr (NSS 16821 RE) to hold the NSS Convention at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve, Rockcastle County, Kentucky on 23-27 July 2001 is accepted.

P. Moss seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Keeler
PASSED

Recess

At 12:30 P.M., President Wefer declared the meeting in recess until 9:00 A.M, Friday, July 16, 1999.

Reconvene

The continuation of the 182nd regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Friday, July 16, 1999, at Filer High School, Filer, Idaho.

The meeting was called to order by President Fred Wefer at 9:25 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.

15. Roll Call

All officers and directors were present with the following exceptions; Hazel Medville served as proxy for Doug Medville during the first hour of the meeting, and Joe Levinson served as proxy for Ed Sira for the duration of the meeting.

16. Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate

Bill Tozer, Chair of the Directorate, reported that he had been elected Chair of the Directorate, Hazel Medville had been elected President pro tem, Ray Keeler had been re-elected as Executive Vice President, Doug Medville had been re-elected Administrative Vice President and Mike Hood had been re-elected Operations Vice President.

17. Committee Reports

A. Report of the Congress of Grottos

Gary Storrick, Chair of the Congress of Grottos, presented the report which is Attachment G to these minutes.

B. 1999 NSS National Convention Report

Co-Chair Mike Backe reported that to date 822 cavers are attending convention as full-week registrants.

C. 2002 NSS National Convention Report (Maine)

Peter Jones, Co-Chair of the convention, gave a short progress report on the preparations for the convention.

Stevens moved to suspend the agenda in order to consider approval of the 2002 NSS National Convention bid. G. Moss seconded. Agreed to by unanimous consent.

18. 2002 NSS National Convention (Maine)

Medville moved: The proposal submitted by Peter Jones (NSS 11412 RE) and Kevin Harris NSS (16868 RE) to hold the NSS Convention at the Community School District High School near Camden and Rockport, Maine on 24-28 June 2002, is accepted. Bussey seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Halliday
PASSED

19. Board of Governors Meeting Bid – Spring 2000

Wefer moved: The spring 2000 Board Meeting will be hosted by Colorado Grotto on March 4-5, 2000, in Denver, Colorado. Medville seconded.

P. Moss moved to postpone consideration until later in the agenda so representatives of Colorado Grotto could be consulted on whether or not they would be able to host the meeting on a weekend other than the one proposed in the motion.

Agreed to by unanimous consent.
POSTPONED

20. Dues Structure

Wefer moved: Act 28-389 (Dues Structure) is amended to read as follows: "Effective January, 1, 2000 the dues structure of the Society is as follows:

Institutional Dues will be $70.00, Regular Life Membership will be $600.00, and Family Life Membership will be $300.00.

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."

Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, Halliday
PASSED

21. Reconsideration of Item # 19 – Spring, 2000 Board Meeting Bid

Wefer moved: The spring 2000 Board Meeting will be hosted by Colorado Grotto on March <4-5> <<18-19>>, 2000, in Denver, Colorado. Medville seconded.

Hazel Barton, Chair of Colorado Grotto, reported that the spring 2000 Board meeting could be held on any weekend in March chosen by the Board. The weekend of March 18 - 19, 2000, was suggested.

VOTE on the motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

22. 2003 NSS National Convention (California)

Medville moved: The proposal submitted by Peri Frantz (NSS 10124 RL,FE) and Lynn Fielding (NSS 32926 RE) to hold the NSS Convention at Porterville College in Porterville, California, on August 4-8, 2003, is accepted. Hood seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Fleming
PASSED

23. Agenda Content and Objectives

Wefer moved: Act 04-023 - Agenda --- is amended to read: "The president shall be responsible for the content and objectives of <<:>> the annual budget, minutes of meetings of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee, and the agendas for all meetings of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee. (See Appendix J)"

No second, the motion died.

24. Agenda Style and Format

Wefer moved: Act 04-093 - Style --- is amended to read, "<<The>> <A><<a>>genda for a meeting of the Board of Governors will be standardized to the style and format of the agenda for the meeting of the Board of Governors, <March 12, 1983> <<07 November 1998>>."

No second, the motion died.

25. Agenda Motions Changing NSS Bylaws

Wefer moved: APPENDIX J, BOARD OF GOVERNORS OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES, II., C. - Motions, 2. --- is amended to read, "All motions changing or requiring a change in the bylaws must be submitted to the Bylaws Committee in advance of <the meeting. ><<being submitted for inclusion in the agenda.>> See Act 08-204." Halliday seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED

26. Additional New Business

Wefer moved: APPENDIX J, BOARD OF GOVERNORS OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES, II. D. - New Business --- is amended to read as follows:

<Omega> <<Additional>> < New> Business

<Omega><<Additional>> <New> Business will be an agenda item. <<Motions included in <Omega> <<Additional>> <New> Business are the ending items of the agenda and should be addressed after the "Committee of the Whole.">> <Questions that could have been placed on the agenda in regular order should not be introduced as new business, but reserved for the agenda of a subsequent board meeting.> Appropriate matters to introduce in <Omega><<Additional>>< New> Business are:

Motions arising from board discussions of previous motions or discussion.

Urgent matters not included in the agenda due to lack of time.

<<At the insistence of a Board Member, motions not meeting these two criteria shall be included in <Omega><<Additional>>< New> business.>> Stevens seconded.

A. Taylor moved to amend, inserting "not" between "will" and "be" in the first sentence.

No second, the motion died.

B. Bussey moved to amend, retaining the word "New" and deleting all references to "Omega."

Jones seconded.

C. Medville moved to amend the amendment, inserting the word "Additional" before the word "New."

Bussey and Jones accepted the motion as a friendly amendment.

VOTE to amend the motion inserting the word "Additional:"
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Tozer
Abstaining: Taylor
PASSED

VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Taylor
PASSED

The motion as amended reads as follows:

Additional New Business

Additional New Business will be an agenda item. Motions included in Additional New Business are the ending items of the agenda and should be addressed after the "Committee of the Whole." Appropriate matters to introduce in Additional New Business are:

Motions arising from board discussions of previous motions or discussion.

Urgent matters not included in the agenda due to lack of time.

At the insistence of a Board Member, motions not meeting these two criteria shall be included in Additional New Business.

27. NSS Board Meetings and Quorums

Wefer moved: Bylaw IV. (E)(1) is amended to read:

"1) The Board of Governors may be convened by action of the Board, by the President, or by petition of at least one third of the Board members…One third of the directors and two officers, all present in person, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Board of Governors." Stevens seconded.

Note: At the Board meeting on Monday, the first sentence of IV (E)(1) was inadvertently deleted from the Bylaw when the motion was revised.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

28. NCRC Coordinators

Wefer moved:

Mark Bowers (NSS 28911) is confirmed as the Western Region Coordinator of the NCRC.

John Evans (NSS 13390) is confirmed as the Northeastern Region Coordinator of the NCRC.

Harry Burgess (NSS 32789) is confirmed as the Southwestern Region Coordinator of the NCRC.

John Punches (NSS 39211) is confirmed as interim National Coordinator of the NCRC.

Medville seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

29. Public Address System

Medville moved: The NSS accepts the donation of the portable public address system and wireless microphones purchased by the 1999 NSS Convention Committee for the 1999 NSS Convention in Filer, Idaho.

Taylor seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

30. NSS Continuing Service Award

Engel moved: The Board of Governors shall annually select recipients for the Continuing Service Award from those candidates whose names are submitted by the Awards Committee. The committee shall solicit nominations for those awards from the membership. Recipients will be those members awarded a Fellow at least 5 years prior to being nominated for this award, and who have exemplified by their continuing actions their dedication to the goals of the Society or the Society itself. Recipients must have been members in good standing of the Society for at least two years immediately prior to their nomination. Upon confirmation by the Board of Governors the names of the recipients shall be announced at the annual convention. The recipients will receive an appropriate certificate, signed by the President and the Chair of the Awards Committee.

Bussey seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Jones, Halliday, Keeler, Levinson, Fleming, Engel, Bussey
Opposed: Aulenbach, Devine, G. Moss, Hood, Stevens, Medville, P. Moss, Taylor
Abstaining: Tozer
FAILED

31. Policies for Society Activities

Taylor moved: Appendix P: Definitions and Policies for Society Activities (Act 60-226: Society Activities) is amended:

Policies

<8. Except in the case of conservancies, the Board of Governors of the Society shall be the ultimate arbiter of policies and plans of these NSS Activities. Ordinarily, however, those will be established by cooperation between the group and committees and officers of the Society. The separate and independent nature of conservancies is recognized, although those groups may bring problems to the Board for arbitration if they wish. >

<<8. The separate and independent nature of the NSS Activities is recognized. The Board of Governors may elect to review the official status of any NSS Activity at any time.

9 .The designation of NSS Activity shall not confer upon the Society any right of control over, or responsibility for, the equipment, methods, or techniques employed by the group, or the acts, omissions, or decisions of any of the participants. >>

P. Moss seconded.

Keeler moved to refer the motion back to Director Taylor for a report at the fall 1999 Board meeting.

G.Moss seconded.

VOTE to refer:
Unanimously in favor
REFERRED

32. Complimentary NSS Convention Day Passes

A. Jones moved: The NSS Convention Chairs are encouraged to offer complimentary day passes for public relations purposes, particularly to those people involved in cave management, such as members of state and federal agencies and private cave owners, as well as government officials.

Stevens seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Engel
PASSED

B. Jones moved: The NSS Convention Chairs may offer complimentary day passes to people in order to obtain their services to perform significant work benefiting the convention. The decision shall be based upon whether the service to be performed provides sufficient benefit to convention compared to the value of the day pass. Stevens seconded.

1) G. Moss moved to refer the motion to the NSS Convention Committee for evaluation and the formulation of a policy for implementation. Devine seconded.

2) Stevens moved to substitute to refer the original motion to the NSS Executive Committee to formulate guidelines on how the NSS Convention Committee will administer the policy. Medville seconded.

VOTE on the motion to substitute:
In favor: Jones, Stevens
Opposed: Rest
FAILED

3) Stevens moved to substitute to refer the original motion to the NSS Executive Committee to formulate guidelines on how the motion should be implemented. These guidelines will be presented to the Board at the fall 1999 Board meeting. G. Moss seconded.

Bussey moved to amend the substitute motion, striking "Executive Committee" and inserting "Convention Committee." Devine seconded.

VOTE on the motion to amend the proposed substitute:
In favor: Bussey
Opposed: Rest
FAILED

VOTE on the substitute motion to refer to the EC:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Aulenbach, Engel
PASSED

33. Donations through Credit Card Deductions

Jones moved: The Society shall promote a program under which a person may authorize donations through periodic deductions from their credit card. The President shall report the status of implementing this program at the fall 1999 Board meeting.

Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

34. Postage Surcharge for Members outside the U.S.A.

Stevens moved: The dues of members with a mailing address outside the U.S. and U.S. Territories <may> <<shall>> have a surcharge added to reflect the additional cost of mailing their NSS publications over what is <accrued> <<incurred>> for members residing in the United States and its Territories. Keeler seconded.

Fleming moved to amend deleting "may" and inserting "shall" in the first line. Medville seconded.

VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
Abstaining: Aulenbach
PASSED

By unanimous consent, the Board agreed to delete "accrued" and insert "incurred" in the third line.

VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

35. Executive Committee

P. Moss moved: Act 01-287 is amended as follows:

For the purpose of facilitating the transition between <administrations> <<Presidents>> the immediate past President, <<the President pro tem or >> the President-elect shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the Executive Committee, and may attend meetings and shall be included in correspondence. Fleming seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

36. NSS NEWS Photographic Endowment Trust Fund

Gary Moss moved: The NSF is requested to amend the NSS NEWS Photographic Endowment Trust Fund as follows:

Each fiscal year an amount equal to 5.5% of the total fund value shall be available for payment to the Society. The Foundation Annual Report, as described in paragraph 9 of the contract, shall specify the funds available. The Foundation shall transfer available funds to the Society upon request for reimbursement from the Secretary-Treasurer. Any funds not requested by the close of the second fiscal year following notification shall be retained in the fund. Bussey seconded.

VOTE
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: None
Absent: Halliday
PASSED

Note: The revised NSS NEWS Photographic Endowment Trust Fund is provided as Attachment H to these minutes.

37. Proposed NSS Periodical Publication Trust Fund - II

G. Moss moved: The EVP is requested to place a notice in the NSS News which states our intent to amend the NSS News Photographic Endowment Trust Fund such that it may be used to cover the cost of special features in any NSS periodical and asks donors to the fund if they object. Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville, Keeler, Engel
Abstaining: P. Moss
PASSED

Recess

President Wefer declared a recess at 12:20 P.M. for a closed meeting of the Board.

Reconvene

President Wefer reconvened the meeting at 1:05 P.M.

Suspend the Agenda

By unanimous consent, the agenda was suspended to consider a motion presented by Director Halliday.

38. Cave Management Plan for the State of Idaho

Halliday moved: The National Speleological Society strongly encourages the Idaho Bureau of Land Management to fill the Recreation Planning position vacated by Paula Call, and to finalize and implement the Cave Management Plan for the State of Idaho.
Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

39. Advertising Policy and Rates

Jones moved: The EVP is requested to review the Society’s policy for advertising in NSS periodicals (Act 80-467, Appendix V) and current advertising rates and report at the Fall 1999 Board meeting:

Does the current rate (with discounts) paid by each advertiser cover the cost to publish their ad?

How do the advertising rates of periodical publications with equivalent circulation and other relevant attributes such as use life, target audience, etc. compare with the advertising rates for NSS periodicals?

Should advertising revenue cover more than the cost of including the advertising in the publication?

Stevens seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville
PASSED

40. Officer Responsibilities

Jones moved: The President and Vice Presidents provide a motion for the fall 1999 Board meeting agenda that defines detailed responsibilities of each of their positions (Similar to that provided in Act 01-618 for the Secretary-Treasurer.)

No second, the motion died.

41. Pautler Cave

P. Moss moved: The NSS shall donate up to $5,000.00 from the Cave Acquisition Fund towards the purchase of Pautler Cave, Monroe County, Illinois, by the Karst Conservancy of Illinois.
Hood seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: P. Moss
PASSED

42. Report of the Closed Session of the Board of Governors

President Wefer reported that during the closed sessions of the Board on Monday and Friday the Board considered action against a member for conduct detrimental to the Society. The issue was successfully resolved and no action to remove the member was taken.

43. Suspension of the Agenda

Wefer moved: In accordance with Act 04-472, the agenda is suspended for informal discussion among all present for 45 minutes. Stevens seconded.

VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Aulenbach, Bussey, Levinson
PASSED

President Wefer declared the session open at 1:40 P.M.

Topics discussed during the open session were as follows:

1) Evelyn Bradshaw urged the Board to aggressively pursue the recruitment of new members and the retention of existing members.

2) Methods of soliciting donations from NSS Life Members were discussed.

3) Dave Jagnow and Doug Medville discussed the publication of an NSS Annual Report and urged the Board to support it.

4) The position of Chair of the Fund Raising Committee is still vacant. There was a discussion of the qualifications for the job. Several members expressed a desire to see someone in the position that has expertise in raising serious money, especially from external sources.

President Wefer declared the open session closed at 2:00 P.M.

ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS

44. Reconsideration of Item # 31 - Policies for Society Activities

Taylor moved: Appendix P: Definitions and Policies for Society Activities (Act 60-226: Society Activities) is amended:

<8. Except in the case of conservancies, the Board of Governors of the Society shall be the ultimate arbiter of policies and plans of these NSS Activities. Ordinarily, however, those will be established by cooperation between the group and committees and officers of the Society. The separate and independent nature of conservancies is recognized, although those groups may bring problems to the Board for arbitration if they wish. >

<<8. Policies and plans of NSS Activities will be established by cooperation between the group and the officers of the Society. The separate and independent nature of conservancies is recognized, although those groups may bring problems to the Board for arbitration if they wish.

9. The Board of Governors may elect to review the official status of any NSS Activity at any time.

10. The designation of NSS Activity shall not confer upon the Society any right of control over, or responsibility for, the equipment, methods, or techniques employed by the group, or the acts, omissions, or decisions of any of the participants. >>

P. Moss seconded.

Halliday moved to amend, deleting "officers" and inserting "Board of Directors" in the first sentence of section 8.

No second, the motion died.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

45. Cave Rescue Insurance

Jones moved to refer Congress of Grottos issue #1, Cave Rescue Insurance, to the Executive Committee for a recommendation at the fall 1999 Board of Governors meeting. Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

46. NSS Mammoth Cave Restoration Project Participation

Jones moved to refer Congress of Grottos issue #2, NSS Mammoth Cave Restoration Participation, to the Administrative Vice President for a recommendation at the fall 1999 Board of Governors meeting.

Aulenbach seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

47. Appreciation

Wefer moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the staff of the 1999 NSS National Convention for our excellent meeting arrangements. Aulenbach seconded.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

48. Adjourn

It was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned.

VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED

President Wefer declared the meeting adjourned at 2:10 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary