The 185th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on June 26, 2000, in the Elkins High School in Elkins, West Virginia. 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 Mike Hood at 9:02 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
1. Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
Mike Hood, President
Ray Keeler, Executive Vice President
Douglas Medville, Administrative Vice President (retiring)
Mike Hood, Operations Vice President (retiring)
Paul Stevens, Secretary-TreasurerDIRECTORS:
Hazel Barton
Linda Baker Devine
Thom Engel
Steve Fleming
Bill Halliday
Cheryl Jones
Douglas Medville
Philip Moss
Dave Taylor
Bill TozerPROXIES:
Ed Sira was proxy for Scott Fee
Dave Lester was proxy for Hazel Barton during the period between 11 AM - 12 noonABSENT:
Bill Bussey
2. Approval of the March 18, 2000 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes
Corrections to the minutes:
Bill Halliday moved the minutes be approved with the word "not" inserted in the last sentence in Item 23. Philip Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
3. Officer's Reports
A. President's Report - Mike Hood - Attachment A
Two of the landowners of Spring Hill Cave in Tennessee (Sharon Todd and Ron Todd) have been dismissed from the suit as a result of a fatality in the cave a year ago. Another landowner (Helen G. Beckner) continues to be threatened by the suit.
B. Executive Vice President's Report – Ray Keeler – Attachment B
We recently published three Speleo Digests and the reprint of Guide to Responsible Caving is at the printers.
C. Administrative Vice President's Report – Doug Medville – Attachment C
The National Park Service has approved a $130K grant for cave education workshops. We expect to work with the National Park Service and Project Underground to set up this program. ACCA will also have a role.
We are working with MacGilvray-Freeman and seek to provide them materials that will support their IMAX film "Amazing Caves".
The West Virginia Cave Conservancy has purchased Billy Clay Pit based in part on a grant from NSS.
Thanks to Dave Jagnow for his efforts as NSS Conservation Chairman.
D. Operations Vice President's Report – Attachment D
Bill Davis was introduced as the new NSS office Operations Manager. Camille Mueller was thanked for her service to the NSS as Operations Manager.
E. Secretary-Treasurer's Report – Paul Stevens – Attachment E
We have yet to receive the report from the first independent audit of the Society's assets and accounting practices.
4. Committee Reports
A. Nominating Committee - Kim Kehs - Attachment F
In the 2000 NSS Directors election 2, 321 ballots were returned of over 11,000 mailed.
B. Travel Policy Ad Hoc Committee - Bill Tozer
C. 2001 Convention - Bill Carr
D. 2002 Convention - Peter Jones & Kevin Harris
E. NSS License Plate Ad Hoc Committee - Phil Roke
F. 2003 Convention - Peri Frantz
OLD BUSINESS
5. E-mail Ballot Reconfirmation
5A. Support for Cumberland Plateau CTF vs. Spencer, TN
Hood moved: A $3000 grant from the Cave Legal Defense Fund be made to the Cumberland Plateau Conservation Task Force to pursue legal recourse to stop a proposed sewage treatment plant in Spencer, TN, that would pollute the Spencer Mountain Cave System. Engel seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
5B. Support for NSS Corporation, Officers, Directors, and Members of the 1999 NSS Convention Staff
Stevens moved: The President is authorized to spend up to $5,000 from the NSS Convention Surplus Fund for legal and other expenses associated with defending the NSS Corporation and its officers, directors, and members of the 1999 NSS Convention staff against suits alleging they violated the copyright of Tom Miller in publishing the 1999 NSS Convention guidebook. The President will work with the NSS Legal Committee to define the legal issues involved, describe our options for defense and estimate the penalties and risk associated with various potential resolutions. The President will report this information and provide his recommendation to the Board in a manner that recognizes its sensitive nature. The Board of Governors will determine further actions to be taken if and when a suit is filed. Medville seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
6. The NSS Board of Governors Manual Review
Hood moved: The report of the NSS Board of Governors Manual Ad Hoc Committee (Attachment A-2) be accepted and that the Secretary to the Board be directed to implement the recommendations. Sira seconded.
Taylor moved to amend by deleting:
"Delete from the manual: Appendix R. Robert's Rules of Order"
Halliday seconded.
VOTE to amend: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
7. Government Liaison Committee
Hood moved: The Government Liaison Committee is formed in the Department of the President to act as liaison with federal and state agencies to administer and create memorandums of understanding and to act as and contact point for those agencies with the NSS on broad range issues <<and to coordinate NSS/agency-related activities>>. The agencies include, but are not limited to, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Jones moved to amend by deleting the word "committee" and to insert "and to coordinate NSS/agency-related activities" after "broad range issues". Medville seconded.
By unanimous consent the Board agreed to consider the proposed amendment as two separate issues.
VOTE to delete the word "committee":
In favor: Jones
Opposed: Rest
Abstained: Sira
FAILED
VOTE to insert "and to coordinate NSS/agency-related
activities"
In favor: Rest
Abstained: Keeler, P. Moss
PASSED
Halliday moved to amend by adding: "The chairman may not be employed by, nor a consultant to any federal or state agency which administers caves." Jones seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Halliday, Jones
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
VOTE on amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Halliday
PASSED
8. National Park Service Liaison Committee
Hood moved: The National Park Service Liaison Committee in the Department of the President is disbanded. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
9. U.S. Forest Service Liaison
Hood moved: The U.S. Forest Service Liaison Coordinator position in the Department of the Administrative Vice President, Conservation Division, is removed. Flemming seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
10. Non-Electronic Portions of NSS Publications
Hood moved: Copies of photographs and other materials that are not included in the electronic copies of publications shall be forwarded to the NSS Office (labeled for easy identification with publication, caption, and page number) for storage in a fireproof location <at the office>. The copies will be of sufficient quality to allow them to be reproduced as originally printed. Items will be stored until no longer deemed necessary by the Executive Vice President and will be reviewed on an annual basis for currency. Taylor seconded.
Moss moved to amend by deleting "at the office". Flemming seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Abstained: Engel
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, Engel
PASSED
11. Discussion of NSS Buda Expedition
Halliday moved: The Board of Governors discuss the NSS Buda Expedition incident and determine what position the NSS should take.
No second.
12. Recess for Lunch and the Closed Meeting of the Directorate
At 11:30 A.M., President Hood declared the meeting in recess until 9:00 A.M., Friday, June 30th, 2000.
13. Reconvene
The continuation of the 185th regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Friday, June 30, 2000, in the Elkins High School in Elkins, West Virginia.
The meeting was called to order by President Hood at 9:03 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
14. Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
Mike Hood, President
Ray Keeler, Executive Vice President
Scott Fee, Operations Vice President
Paul Stevens, Secretary-TreasurerDIRECTORS:
Hazel Barton
Linda Baker Devine
Thom Engel
Steve Fleming
Bill Halliday
Douglas Medville
Philip Moss
Dave Taylor
Bill TozerPROXIES:
Ted Kayes was proxy for Cheryl Jones (Administrative Vice President)
Dale Green was proxy for Bill Halliday during the period between 3:00 - 3: 30 P.M.
ABSENT:
Bill Bussey
15. Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate
Bill Tozer, Chairman of the Directorate, reported that he had been re-elected Chairman of the Directorate, Hazel Medville had been re-elected President pro tem, Ray Keeler had been re-elected as Executive Vice President, Cheryl Jones had been elected Administrative Vice President, Scott Fee had been elected Operations Vice President, and Doug Medville was selected as Chairman of the Executive Search Committee.
16. Election of Directors to Fill Unexpired Terms
16A. Hood moved Dave Lester will serve as NSS Director to fill the position vacated by Cheryl Jones until a successor is seated as a result of the next Director's election.
(The blank was filled by the name of the candidate selected by majority vote from the following pool of candidates nominated by the Board: Don Shofstall, Barbara am Ende, Jim Wilbanks, Gary Moss, Martha Hendricks, Dave Jagnow, Cindy Heazlit, Dave Lester, Joe Levinson, Kathy Welling, Debbie Johnson.)
Fee seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
16B. Hood moved Dave Jagnow will serve as NSS Director to fill the position vacated by Scott Fee until a successor is seated as a result of the next Director's election.
(The blank was filled by the name of the candidate selected by majority vote from the following pool of candidates nominated by the Board: Don Shofstall, Barbara am Ende, Jim Wilbanks, Gary Moss, Martha Hendricks, Dave Jagnow, Cindy Heazlit, Joe Levinson, Kathy Welling, Debbie Johnson.)
Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Fleming
PASSED
17. Report of the Congress of Grottos
Tom Rea, Chairman of the Congress of Grottos, presented the report which is Attachment G to these minutes.
17A. Stevens moved to refer the issue of posting the Membership List on the NSS Web Site to the OVP for a report at the fall meeting. Flemming seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
REFERRED
18. Change Agenda Order
Moss moved to consider all of the committee appointments after the closed session of the Board of Governors. Taylor seconded.
VOTE :
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville
Abstained: Halliday
PASSED
19. Refusal of Payments over the Budget
Stevens moved to amend Act 16-040 as follows:
The Treasurer is instructed to refuse payment of any amounts over the budget. <<The only exception may be in those instances where refusal to pay an invoice from an outside supplier would negatively impact the NSS Inc. credit rating. In such instances the Treasurer shall inform the Board who incurred the obligation on behalf of the NSS Inc. so the Board can decide if further actions are necessary.>>
Moss seconded.
VOTE :
In favor: Rest
Abstained: Barton
Absent: Medville
PASSED
20. Liability Insurance
Stevens moved: The Society shall maintain liability insurance for members of the NSS Board of Governors and NSS committee chairmen with a minimum coverage of $l million for the aggregate of incidents during a one year term. Such insurance shall cover any act or omission or alleged act or omission arising from their status as an NSS officer, director or committee chairman provided their actions were not taken in bad faith or dishonest. The FY00/01 NSS Secretary-Treasurer Department operating budget is amended to provide an additional $1,200 to purchase liability insurance for members of the NSS Board of Governors and NSS committee chairmen. The EC will review the FY 00/01 budget and propose at the fall Board meeting any changes necessary to balance the budget. Jagnow seconded.
VOTE :
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Keeler
PASSED
21. Budgets and Current "Acts of the Board"
Halliday moved: The Executive Committee shall expose to the Board any conflict between a proposed budget and current "Acts of the Board" and provide the basis for their proposal and any necessary additional Acts or amendments to Acts of the Board so that the Board can make deliberate decisions. <Normally this discussion will occur before the EC develops the budget.> Upon Board approval the budget represents a decision to allocate the Society's scarce resources after considering conflicting goals and requirements. Medville seconded.
Medville moved to amend by deleting "Normally this discussion will occur before the EC develops the budget. Upon Board approval the budget represents a decision to allocate the Society's scarce resources after considering conflicting goals and requirements." Moss seconded.
Stevens moved to amend the amendment by deleting "Normally this discussion will occur before the EC develops the budget." Halliday seconded.
VOTE on amending the amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville, Fleming, Keeler
PASSED
VOTE on the amended amendment:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes
Abstained: Fleming, Engel
PASSED
22. Funds
22A. Schoharie Caverns Preserve Fieldhouse Fund
Engel moved: Act 18-519 (Schoharie Caverns Preserve Fieldhouse Fund) is amended as follows:
The Schoharie Caverns Preserve Fund is established as a restricted fund of the NSS. The fund will consist of donations and camping fees which will be used to <rebuild> <<maintain>> the Schoharie cabin <<and preserve>>. <All donor's names and addresses shall be retained by the NSS Office in the event the cabin is not rebuilt so that the Schoharie Cabin Management Committee can return contributions. In this case, non-returnable donations and the investment income accrued on this fund shall be transferred to the Save-The-Caves Fund>. These funds may be spent by the Chair of the Schoharie Cabin Management Committee subject to the approval of the AVP. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22B. National Cave Rescue Commission Fund
Stevens moved: Act 18-641 is amended as follows:
The purpose of the National Cave Rescue Commission <Fund is > <<funds are>>to support the National Cave Rescue Commission.
<<NCRC Operations Restricted Fund - for National NCRC Coordinator office expenses
NCRC Insurance Restricted Fund - for NCRC insurance
NCRC Curriculum Restricted Fund - for NCRC training course curriculum
NCRC Certificate Restricted Fund - for NCRC training course certificates
NCRC Equipment Restricted Fund - for NCRC equipment>>
The National Coordinator of the National Cave Rescue Commission, subject to AVP approval, may spend these funds. Subsidiary funds may be established to support NCRC regions and they may be spent by each region's NCRC Regional Coordinator subject to AVP approval. Subsidiary funds may be established to support NCRC regions and they may be spent by each region's NCRC Regional Coordinator subject to AVP approval.
ACT 18-580 is deleted.
Keeler seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22C. NSS Endowment Trust Fund
Stevens moved: The purpose of the NSS Endowment Fund is to generate income for approved projects and needs of the Society as determined by the Board of Governors. The NSS Endowment Fund is a permanently restricted fund whose principal (along with growth) shall be retained forever. <No more than > <<except that up to>> 5.5% of the fund may be returned to the Society each year as income. Moss seconded.
Lester moved to amend by replacing " No more than" with " except that up to". Halliday seconded. Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22D. Budget for On Caves and Camera
Keeler moved: The Capital Budget is amended to include publishing 1,000 copies (500 hardbound, 500 soft bound) of On Caves and Cameras with the following budget line items:
<$850> <<$0>> Author expenses (postage, telephone, < honorarium,> etc)
<$850> <<$500>> << Honorarium for designing & laying out the issue>>
$0 Editing, proof-reading & indexing
$0 Drawings & illustrations
$75 B/W half-tones, scanned color images, & color separations
$14,000 Printing & binding ($2,000 of this is for hardbound covers)
$0 Shipping
$75 Miscellaneous
__________________________
$15,000 TOTAL
Stevens seconded.
Halliday moved to amend by replacing $850 with $0. Fee seconded.
Keeler moved to amend the amendment by replacing "$0 Designing & laying out the issue" with "$500 Honorarium for designing & laying out the issue". Taylor seconded.
VOTE on motion to amend the amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Halliday
Abstained: Barton, Engel, Medville
PASSED
VOTE on the amended amendment:
In favor: Rest
Abstained: Barton, Engel
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22E. Budget for On Cave Conservation and Restoration
Keeler moved: The Capital Budget is amended to include publishing 1,000 copies of On Cave Conservation and Restoration with << a budget of $11,420>> <the following budget line items:
$500 Author expenses (postage, telephone, honorarium, etc)
$1,150 Designing & laying out the issue
$0 Editing, proof-reading & indexing
$500 Drawings & illustrations
$100 B/W half-tones, scanned color images, & color separations
$8,870 Printing & binding
$300 Shipping
$0 Miscellaneous
__________________________
$11,420 TOTAL>
Stevens seconded.
Stevens moved to amend by replacing "$1,150 Designing & laying out the issue" with "$500 Honorarium for designing & laying out the issue". Fee seconded.
VOTE on amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, Jagnow, Medville, Moss, Tozer
Abstained: Engel, Kayes, Lester
PASSED
Moss moved to amend by deleting everything after "with" and substituting "a budget of $11,420". Engel seconded.
VOTE on amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes, Keeler, Stevens, Tozer
PASSED
Taylor moved to amend by adding "The Executive Committee shall review the text of On Cave Conservation and Restoration and confer with the authors to attempt to insure that the Society policy is clearly distinguished from individual or regional opinion and that the language avoids divisiveness and promotes mutual respect among cavers." Fleming seconded.
VOTE on amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, Jagnow, Halliday, Devine, Keeler
Abstained: Lester
PASSED
Keeler moved to amend by replacing "$11,420" with "$10, 770". Halliday seconded.
VOTE on amendment:
In favor: Devine, Halliday, Kayes, Keeler, Tozer
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
VOTE on motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed:Tozer
PASSED
The amended motion reads as follows:
Keeler moved: The Capital Budget is amended to include publishing 1,000 copies of On Cave Conservation and Restoration with a budget of $11,420. The Executive Committee shall review the text of On Cave Conservation and Restoration and confer with the authors to attempt to insure that the Society policy is clearly distinguished from individual or regional opinion and that the language avoids divisiveness and promotes mutual respect among cavers.
22F. Budget for Leave No Trace Caving Ethics Booklet
Medville moved: The NSS will purchase $1,000 worth of Leave No Trace Caving Ethics booklets from the U.S. Forest Service. The funds for purchase of these booklets shall be taken from the Save-the-Caves Fund. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
23. Clarification of "Mail"
Taylor moves: The Board of Governors understands the word "mail" in Section XII, Paragraph A(2) of the Bylaws of the Society to include any means of transmission capable of producing a verbatim written instrument in the hands of the recipient, including email and facsimile as well as original hard copy via the U.S. Postal Service or private courier. The Board further understands that the one-month notice required runs from the date of transmission. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
24. Recess for Lunch and the Closed Meeting of the Board of Governors
At 11:50 A.M. President Hood declared the meeting in recess until 1 PM, Friday, June 30th, 2000.
25. Reconvene
The meeting was called to order by President Hood at 1:05 P.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
26. Closed meeting
President Hood reported that no formal actions were taken by the Board during the closed meeting.
27. Appointments:
27A. Internal Organizations Committee
Hood moved: Keith D. Wheeland, NSS 2878LF, is confirmed as co-chairman of the Internal Organizations Committee. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Keith D. Wheeland
2191 Mountian View Ave
State College PA 16801-7214(814) 238-2057
kwheeland@home.com
27 B. Conservation Committee and Conservation Division
Hood moved: Jim Werker, NSS 31653F, and Val Hildreth-Werker, NSS 28963F, are confirmed as Co-Chairs of the Conservation Committee and as Co-Chiefs of the Conservation Division in the Administrative Vice President's Department. Devine seconded..
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Fleming
PASSED
Jim Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker
PO Box 1018
Tijeras NM 87059(505) 286-0148
werks@worldnet.att.net
27C. Project Underground
Hood moved: Barbara Moss, Peg Sorensen, and Dave Jagnow are confirmed as NSS members of the Project Underground Board, as per the MOU with Project Underground. Barton seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstained: Fleming
PASSED
27D. NCRC Regional Coordinators
Hood moved: The following are appointed NCRC Regional Coordinators for the term 2000-2003:
Anmar Mirza – Central Region
Steve Meyer – Eastern Region
John Punches – Pacific Northwest
Fleming seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
27E. Director of the Education Division
Medville moved: Charles Acklin is confirmed as Director of the Education Division in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. Fleming seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Charles Acklin (NSS 27465)
C/o VOLTI
PO Box 980531
Park City Utah 84098
28. Bylaw Changes
28 A. Membership Classes
Halliday moved: The following Bylaw is adopted:
Persons eligible for Regular Membership but not able to afford annual dues may apply annually for Low Income Membership and receive the privileges of Regular Membership.
Dues for Low Income Membership shall be whatever the applicant can pay at the time of application, but not less than five dollars. Medville seconded.
Halliday moved to refer to the Membership Committee for evaluation and a report at the spring Board meeting. Taylor seconded.
VOTE on motion to refer:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
28 B. Amendment of Bylaw IV. - Binding Referenda
P. Moss moved: Section IV of the Bylaws of the Society is amended by addition as follows:
<<M. If three percent (3%) of the voting members of the Society have signed a petition within a 13 month period requesting a referendum on a proposed Act, the Act must be submitted to the voting membership along with the next NSS election of Directors that has a deadline of at least 30 days after the signed petition has been given to the President of the Society, unless the Act has been approved by the Board of Governors since the circulation of the petition. If the proposal receives a majority favorable vote of ballots returned and marked concerning the proposed Act, the Act will become effective when the elected Directors are seated.>> Taylor seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes, Medville, Stevens
Abstained: Fee
PASSED
(Sixteen Board members were present. Eleven voted for the proposed amendment, or 68 percent of those present)
28C. Amendment of Bylaw IV. - "Eligible" Definition
P. Moss moved: Section IV.A.(2)(a) is amended by adding as the final sentence:
<<Persons ineligible to run for reelection shall not be appointed to Director vacancies under Bylaw Section IV.A.(1)(b) nor as proxies under Bylaw Section IV.G.>> Fleming seconded.
Medville moved to amend by deleting "nor as proxies under Bylaw Section IV.G". Barton seconded.
VOTE on proposed amendment:
In Favor: Halliday, Barton, Engel, Medville
Opposed: Rest
Abstained: Devine, Lester
FAILED
VOTE on original motion:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, Engel, Medville
PASSED
(Sixteen Board members were present. Twelve voted for the proposed amendment, or 75 percent of those present)
28D. Grottos
Hood moved: The Bylaws, Section VII, Paragraph B, is amended as follows:
A chapter (Grotto, Student Grotto, <<Travelling Grotto>>) is an internal organization made up of individuals who reside in the same general locality <<or maintain community by means of electronic or other communications.>> Kayes seconded.
By general consensus, the Board agreed to delete "Traveling Grotto."
Taylor moved to amend by inserting "or who cave together and" after "locality" and deleting "or" such that it would read:
A chapter (Grotto, Student Grotto) is an internal organization made up of individuals who reside in the same general locality or who cave together and maintain community by means of electronic or other communications.
Lester seconded.
VOTE on motion to amend:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Jagnow
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Moss
PASSED
29. Cave Registers
Engel moved Act 26-466 (Cave Registers) is amended as follows:
The Administrative Vice President shall monitor the use of NSS owned caves by using cave registers supplied by the Contemporary Cave Use Study <and><<or>> other appropriate means. Fleming seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Moss, Tozer
Abstained: Kayes, Lester
PASSED
30. Audio-Visual Library Programs
Hood moved: Act 97-397, Programs for Non-NSS Organizations, is amended as follows:
<The NSS Office may distribute, at a nominal charge, materials in the library to NSS members and non-NSS individuals for use in programs conducted for non-NSS organizations. The Audio-Visual Aids Library Committee will identify those programs which are considered suitable for viewing by such groups and has the authority to refuse distribution of programs for showing to non-NSS organizations when it considers that the programs requested tend to promote or glorify the sport of caving, or when it believes that the quality of the program is such that it will reflect poorly on the Society.>
<<The NSS Audio-Visual Library is a member-only benefit and slide and video shows will only be lent to NSS members in good standing. Exceptions to this policy may only be granted by the Operations Vice President and will be on a case-by-case basis.>>
Keeler seconded.
Kayes moved to amend:
<<NSS Membership shall not be a prerequisite for renting or borrowing programs from the NSS Audio-Visual Library, and library loans or rentals will be offered as for educational resource as opportunities arise, including on the NSS web page, in the A-V Library material, and in NSS public relational packets. A differential rental rate that favors NSS members may be established by the OVP.>>
Barton seconded.
Moss moved to substitute:
"The NSS Office may distribute, at a nominal charge, materials in the library to NSS members and non-NSS individuals for use in programs conducted for non-NSS organizations. The Audio-Visual Aids Library Committee will identify those programs which are considered suitable for viewing by such groups and has the authority to refuse distribution of programs for showing to non-NSS organizations when it considers that the programs requested tend to promote or glorify the sport of caving, or when it believes that the quality of the program is such that it will reflect poorly on the Society. The NSS office may distribute to non-NSS organizations selected materials in the library and shall charge a differential rental rate favorable to NSS members." Stevens seconded.
Barton moved to postponed to the Fall Board meeting. Keeler seconded.
VOTE to postpone:
Unanimously in favor
POSTPONED
31. Speleo Digest Committees
Fee moved: Act 82-366, Speleo Digest Committees, is amended as follows:
Current issues of the Speleo Digest (beginning with the 1978 issue) shall be published by a Speleo Digest Committee in the Executive Vice-President's Department. This committee shall have responsibility for editing, producing, and publishing each year's issue within two years of the calendar year date, as well as encouraging the sales of all issues of the Speleo Digest through cooperation with the Bookstore, the NEWS, and other committees as appropriate.
<Responsibility for the publication and reprinting of back issues of the Speleo Digest shall be vested in a Speleo Digest Back Issues Committee in the Executive Vice-President's Department. Initially, this responsibility shall extend to issues for the years previous to and including 1977. If any issue for the years 1978 and forward is not published within three years of its calendar year date, responsibility for its publication may, at the option of the Executive Vice-President, be transferred to this committee. In the event that there are no unpublished back issues the Executive Committee may extirpate this committee and transfer responsibility for reprinting of back issues to the Speleo Digest Committee.> Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
32. Karst Waters Institute
32A. Memorandum of Understanding
Hood moved: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Karst Waters Institute (KWI) and the National Speleological Society (NSS)(Attachment A-3) be approved and added as Appendix AQ to the Acts Section of the Board of Governors Manual. Barton seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Lester
PASSED
32B. KWI-NSS Liaison Committee
Hood moved: The KWI-NSS Liaison Committee be established in the Department of the President, per the Memorandum of Understanding between the KWI and the NSS. Fee seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
33. NSS 60th Anniversary
Kayes moved: The President will appoint an ad hoc committee to plan and organize articles for various publications and web sites, events and other methods and activities to celebrate and commemorate the NSS 60th anniversary (2001). Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Lester, Fee, Engel, Medville, Moss
Abstained: Taylor, Tozer
PASSED
34. Continuing Service Award
Engel moves the creation of a Continuing Service Award.
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 already awarded a Fellowship who, over a number of years since the award of Fellow, 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 names being submitted as candidates. Upon confirmation by the Board of Governors the names of the recipients shall be announced at the annual convention and the recipients will receive an appropriate certificate, signed by the President and the Chairman of the Awards Committee, announcing their Continuing Service Award. Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Engel, Stevens
Opposed: Rest
Abstained: Fee, Kayes, Lester
FAILED
35. NSS Non-Periodical Publications
Stevens moved: NSS non-periodical publications shall be managed in accordance with Act 83-329, Act 83-628 and Act 83-647.
The Executive Committee is responsible for recommending which NSS non-periodical publications we should publish, the quantity to be printed, the selling price, and the publication budget, for approval by the Board of Governors. The Executive Committee shall provide the following information to the Board in advance of the meeting at which the Board will be asked to approve the publication and its budget.
Motions seeking approval of a new NSS book or other non-periodical publication, and/or funding for it, shall be presented separate from other budget items. Upon approval, the motion shall be a numbered "Act of the Board."
Lester seconded.
Lester proposed "book" be replaced by "publication" throughout. Agree to by unanimous consent.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Opposed: Fleming, Keeler, Medville
PASSED
36. The Karst Conservancy of Illinois
P. Moss moved: The Karst Conservancy of Illinois (KCI) is approved as an NSS Conservancy. Fee seconded.
VOTE:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Moss
PASSED
(Dale Green served as proxy for Bill Halliday during the remainder of the meeting)
37. American Geological Institute
Medville moved: The NSS shall grant $6,500 to the American Geological Institute to support a national karst environmental awareness publication. The Society will receive 2,500 copies of the publication for distribution or sale as it chooses. The Executive Committee will determine the source of funds for this grant and report to the Board at the fall meeting. Fee seconded.
Moss moved to amend by adding: "The NSS will reimburse the NSS Geology & Geography Section $2000 from any income it receives from sales of this publication." Kayes seconded.
VOTE to amend:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Engel
PASSED
38. Puerto Rico Land & Conservation Act (HR4668)
Hood moved, contingent upon a favorable review by Thom Engel, the Board of Governors of the National Speleological Society urges the passage of a new bill, titled "Puerto Rico Land & Conservation Act" (HR4668) now being introduced to the U.S. Congress by Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero Barcelo. The bill will protect through purchase, 10,000 to 30,000 acres of vital karst land in Puerto Rico. This valuable limestone area is the largest source on water for Puerto Rico. Fleming seconded.
Keeler moved to amend inserting "HR4668" after the name of the bill. Accepted as a friendly amendment.
Stevens moved to amend, inserting "contingent upon a favorable review by Thom Engle," in the first sentence. Kayes seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In Favor: Rest
Abstained: Engel
PASSED
VOTE on amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
39. Open Discussion Period
Moss moved an open discussion be held including the audience for up to one-hour. Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
The topics discussed were as follows:
A) Evelyn Bradshaw - we should encourage foreign grottos
40. Appreciation
Hood moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the 2000 Convention Staff for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements. Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
41. Adjourn
Fee moved the meeting be adjourned. Stevens seconded
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
President Hood declared the meeting adjourned at 3: 35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary