The opening session of the 191st regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on June 24, 2002, at Camden Hills Regional High School, Camden, Maine. 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 9:00 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
1. Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
OFFICERS:
Mike Hood, President
Don Paquette, Executive Vice President
Thom Engel, Administrative Vice President
Paul Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Hazel Barton-Olsen (seated as noted)
Linda Baker-Devine
Bill Bussey
Cheryl Jones
Bill Klimack
Bill Liebman
Douglas Medville
Gary Moss
Jim Olsen
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
ABSENT:
Scott Fee, Operations Vice President
David Jagnow
PROXIES:
Colin Gatland for Scott Fee
Jim Werker for David Jagnow
Dave Lester for Hazel Barton-Olsen (as noted)
2. Approval of the March 23, 2002, Board of Governors Meeting Minutes
Engel moved: The minutes of the March 23, 2002, Board of Governors Meeting minutes be approved as published. G.Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Hazel Barton-Olsen arrived at this point.
3. Officer’s Reports
A. President –
Mike Hood – Attachment A
B. Executive Vice President
– Don Paquette – Attachment B
C. Administrative Vice
President – Thom Engel – Attachment C
D. Operations Vice President
– Scott Fee – Attachment D
Colin Gatland presented the report for Scott Fee.
E. Secretary-Treasurer
– Paul Stevens – Attachment E
Ted Kayes presented the report for Paul Stevens.
4. Committee Reports
A. 2003 Convention – Peri Frantz – Oral report
The 2003 Convention written report is part of the AVP report.
B. 2004 Convention Proposal – Jean DeVries – Attachment
F
C. NSS Acquisition of Wells Cave, Kentucky – Lee Florea
– Attachment G
D. 2002 Convention – Peter Jones – Oral report
OLD BUSINESS
5. NSS Copyright Policy
Stevens moved: The NSS Copyright Policy be approved and added as Appendix AS of the Board of Governors Manual.
Appendix AS
NSS COPYRIGHT POLICY
The Society shall acquire from all authors written permission to use their work before it appears in any NSS publication for general distribution. NSS publication editors may accept an E-mail from the author authorizing use of their work. SpeleoDigest editors may rely on statements in internal NSS organization publications granting NSS permission to reprint. Authors include originators of written material, photography, cartography, art, music, etc. NSS publications include periodicals, non-periodicals, brochures, exhibits, audio-visual programs, audio recordings, convention publications, NCRC publications, NSS web site, and other NSS publications or media. Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Suspend the Agenda
Bussey moved: The agenda is suspended to hear the report of the Nominating Committee. Paquette seconded.
VOTE to suspend the agenda:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
6. Report of the Nominating Committee
Chairman Montana Spencer reported the results of the recent Directors election. Linda Baker-Devine, Cheryl Jones, Bill Klimack, and Gary Moss were elected to three-year terms. Bill Liebman was elected to fill the remaining two years of an un-expired term. The written Nominating Committee report is part of Attachment A, the President’s report.
7. E-Mail Ballot
An e-mail vote was conducted in May 2002 in accordance with Act 06-183. The result of the e-mail vote is reported here for inclusion in the minutes of this meeting.
Revised printing costs reduced the cost to $15,000. The amount was changed from $23,250 to $15,000 by unanimous consent.
A. Paquette moved: The Capital Budget is amended to appropriate <$23,250> <<$15,000>> for publishing The Hidden World of Caves by Ronal Kerbo.
E-mail ballot requested by Scott Fee, Mike Hood, Don Paquette, and Paul Stevens.
Doug Medville seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Tozer, Bussey, Lester, Jagnow, G. Moss, J.Olsen,
Medville, Fee, Paquette, Barton-Olsen, Taylor, Stevens,
Baker-Devine, P. Moss
Opposed: Engel
Abstaining: None
No vote received: Klimack
PASSED
B. Fee moved: The 12-day period for discussion is closed.
Gary Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Tozer, Baker-Devine, Bussey, Lester, Jagnow, G. Moss,
J.Olsen, P. Moss, Medville, Fee, Paquette, Barton-Olsen, Taylor,
Stevens
Opposed: None
Abstaining: None
No vote received: Klimack, Engel
PASSED
Act 06-183 stipulates a 12-day period for discussion before voting. However, enough votes to pass were received before the 12-day period was up and the act states a motion to suspend the 12 days is permissible.
C. J.Olsen moved: Act 06-183, paragraph 7, is suspended.
Bill Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Tozer, Bussey, Lester, Jagnow, G. Moss, J.Olsen, P.
Moss, Medville, Fee, Paquette, Barton-Olsen, Taylor, Stevens,
Baker-Devine
Opposed: Engel
Abstaining: None
No vote received: Klimack
PASSED
Act 06-183, Paragraph 7, stipulates that an e-mail vote cannot be used if requests for funding exceed one percent of the operating budget. The $15K request exceeded one percent. However, $80K was available for publishing and the Board desired that this book go to press as quickly as possible and therefore voted to suspend this requirement in the best interest of the Society’s publishing endeavor.
D. Taylor moved: The 12-day discussion period is closed upon receipt by the President of the 12th vote in favor of Olsen's motion. Dave Lester seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Tozer, Bussey, Lester, Jagnow, G. Moss, J.Olsen, P.
Moss, Medville, Fee, Paquette, Barton-Olsen, Taylor, Stevens,
Baker-Devine
Opposed: Engel
Abstaining: None
No vote received: Klimack
PASSED
NEW BUSINESS
8. Appointments
8A. Bylaws Committee
Hood moved: G. Thomas Rea, NSS 5683, is confirmed as Chairman of the Bylaws Committee in the Department of the President. J.Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
G. Thomas Rea
8677 S State Road 243
Cloverdale, Indiana 46120-9696
765 653-4423
tomrea@ccrtc.com
8B. Members’ Manual Committee
Paquette moved: Gordon Birkhimer, NSS 42778, is confirmed as Chairman of the Members Manual Committee in the Department of the Executive Vice President. Jones seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Gordon Birkhimer
45372 Woodlawn Dr
California, Maryland 20619
301 862-4619
birkhimergl@navair.navy.mil
8C. Resource Preservation Committee
Engel moved: David Joaquim, NSS 35519, is confirmed as Chairman of the Resource Preservation Committee of the Conservation Division in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. Baker-Devine seconded
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Bussey
PASSED
David Joaquim
8120 E. Mitchell Dr
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
480 970-0979
nssvertical@pcslink.com
Hazel Barton-Olsen left the meeting at this point. David Lester served as her proxy until she returned.
9. Act 12-551, Executive Search Committee
Hood moved: Act 12-551 is amended as follows:
Committee Membership: The Board of Directors shall select the chairman of the Executive Search Committee <and each of its members>. The chairman is responsible for <<selecting members of the committee,>>managing the affairs of the committee and reporting to the Board of Directors. When the Board of Directors is not in session, the Executive Search Committee chairman shall report to the Chairman of the Directorate.
J.Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, Stevens
PASSED
10. Bylaw Amendment
Hood moved: Bylaw IV-A-(3)-(d) is amended as follows:
(d) An Executive Search Committee < , appointed by the Directors,> shall solicit nominations for president-elect, vice-presidents, and secretary-treasurer by inserting suitable notice in the NSS News and other means. It shall distribute its list of candidates for officers at least thirty days before the relevant election by the directors. Additional nominations may be made during the election. Engel seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED
11. Act 15-573 - Signature Authority
Stevens moved to amend Act 15-573 as follows:
<<The Secretary-Treasurer may open and close bank and other financial institutions accounts on behalf of the National Speleological Society Inc. <<, consistent with the Acts of the Board and the budget approved by the Board of Governors,>> as necessary to manage NSS funds appropriately. >> The Board of Governors hereby passes such formal resolutions as may be necessary to establish <bank and credit card> <<these>> accounts on behalf of the National Speleological Society with signature authority granted to the President, Secretary-Treasurer, and agents designated by the Secretary-Treasurer. J.Olsen seconded.
A. J.Olsen moved to amend: Delete "open" and insert "move" in the first line; also insert "non-debt" after "institutions" and before "accounts" in the first line. Lester seconded.
After discussion, Olsen withdrew the proposed amendment with the consent of the assembly.
B. Tozer moved to amend: Insert ", consistent with the Acts of the Board and the budget approved by the Board of Governors," after "Inc." in the second line. Klimack seconded.
VOTE on the motion to amend:
Unanimously in favor:
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville
PASSED
12. Act 15-510 - Financial Audit
Stevens moved to amend Act 15-510 as follows:
The NSS shall engage the services of a certified public accountant or accounting firm to conduct an annual financial audit of the NSS accounting and bookkeeping records <<in conformity with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAS audit). >> Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor:
PASSED
Hazel Barton-Olsen returned to the meeting at this point.
13. Annual Financial Audit of the National Speleological Foundation
Stevens moved: the NSS requests the NSF engage the services of a certified public accountant or accounting firm to conduct an annual financial audit of the NSF accounting and bookkeeping records covering NSF-held NSS Trust Funds in conformity with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAS audit).
Medville seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Barton-Olsen
PASSED
Recess
At 12:05 P.M, President Hood declared a recess for lunch and the closed meetings of the Board and the Directorate.
Reconvene
The continuation of the 191st regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was called to order by President Fee at 9:08 A.M. on June 28, 2002, at Camden Hills Regional High School, Camden, Maine. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
14. Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
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-Olsen
Linda Baker-Devine
Bill Bussey
Cheryl Jones
Bill Klimack
Bill Liebman
Douglas Medville
Gary Moss
Jim Olsen
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
ABSENT:
David Jagnow
PROXIES:
Jim Werker for David Jagnow
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).
15. Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate
Bill Tozer, Chairman of the Directorate, reported that the directorate had elected Tom Lera as Administrative Vice President and Colin Gatland as Operations Vice President. The directorate re-elected Don Paquette as Executive Vice President, Hazel Medville as President pro tem and Bill Tozer as chairman of the directorate.
16. Report of the Congress of Grottos
Bill Jackson, Chairman of the Congress of Grottos, presented a
written report.
(Attachment H to these minutes)
17. Appendix W - NSS Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission
Stevens moved to amend Appendix W as follows:
C. The NSS Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission will <have final authority for granting a reward but would> not grant a reward in the event of fraud, conspiracy, entrapment, etc. For example, when the informant has deliberately encouraged cave vandalism so that he could later become an informant to get the reward.
<<E. All rewards will be reviewed by the NSS Administrative Vice President and are subject to AVP approval. >> Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
18. Review and Approval of Department Expenses
Stevens moved: Each NSS officer is responsible for the review and approval of expenses incurred by activities in their department. The NSS Secretary-Treasurer has fiduciary responsibility for all payments of NSS funds. Jones seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton-Olsen, J.Olsen
PASSED
19. Act 15-019 - Other Financial Operations
Stevens moved to amend Act 15-019 as follows:
Individual committee chairmen may open bank accounts to conduct Society business only with the permission of the Executive Committee. The <<President, >> Secretary-Treasurer and the committee chairman will have signature authority on such accounts. The NSS federal ID number will be used on the account. Checks themselves may be imprinted any way the committee desires. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
20. Income from NSS Library Book Sales
Stevens moved: The net income received from selling books donated to the NSS library shall be deposited in the NSS Library Fund. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
21. NSF Amendment to Attachment J to Contract
Stevens moved: The NSS requests the NSF amend Attachment J of the contract between the NSF and NSS to change the name of the "Endowment Fund for Special Features in NSS Periodicals" fund to "Periodical Special Features Fund". Taylor seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22. Fund Transfer
P. Moss moved: $15,000 is transferred from the Publication Fund to the Endowment Fund.
Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Olsen, Jones, Barton-Olsen, Paquette
PASSED
23. Appendix Z, Outline for Writing a Cave Management Plan
P. Moss moved: Appendix Z, Outline for Writing a Cave Management Plan, is amended by inserting a new section:
"Cave Management –
1. When managing a cave, one must not assume that the management plan is effective. The cave should be monitored for degradation. In order for degradation to be noted, a baseline condition must be established as soon as possible.
2. Managers will evaluate the desirability and practicality of various monitoring strategies which are appropriate to each cave. The strategies include, but are not limited to, photo monitoring, water quality monitoring, and periodic censusing of indicator species.
3. Managers will make all reasonable efforts to sustain an appropriate monitoring schedule, to solicit volunteers, to encourage cave visitors to participate in the monitoring program as appropriate, and to request necessary assistance.
4. If monitoring indicates that the cave is being degraded, the management plan will be revised to minimize degradation.
In addition, the Administrative Vice President is charged with ensuring that existing management plans of NSS-owned cave preserves are brought into conformance within twelve months. The AVP will provide a status report at each meeting of the Board of Governors until all NSS cave preserves are in compliance. Taylor seconded.
Baker-Devine moved to amend: Delete the final paragraph after item #4.
Medville seconded.
Barton-Olsen moved to refer: The new section is referred to the Administrative Vice President for review and a report at the next Board meeting. Bussey seconded.
VOTE to refer:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Baker-Devine
Abstaining: Taylor, Tozer, Lera
REFERRED
24a. Spring 2003 NSS Board of Governors Meeting
Jones moved: The bid by _____________________ to host the Spring 2003 Board of Governors meeting in _______________ is accepted.
The Board will vote on the bids. The motion will then be voted on with the blanks filled with the winning bid.
Bids have been received from:
1. Southern Nevada Grotto to host the meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2. Dave Cowan and a group of central Virginia cavers to host the meeting at Grand Caverns Regional Park, Grottoes, Virginia.
3. The grottos in Utah (Salt Lake, Wasatch, and Timpanogos) to host the meeting in Park City, Utah.
VOTE to select the bid:
Las Vegas – 1
Virginia – 2
Utah – 14
Jones moved: The bid by the Utah Grottos to host the Spring 2003 Board of Governors meeting in Park City, Utah, is accepted. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE to confirm the Park City, Utah, bid:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
24b. Fall 2003 NSS Board of Governors Meeting
Jones moved: The bid by the NSS Cave Diving Section to host the Fall 2003 NSS Board of Governors meeting on October 18, 2003, in Gainesville, Florida, is accepted.
Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Note: This will immediately follow the 2003 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium and be held at the same venue.
24c. Spring 2004 NSS Board of Governors Meeting
Jones moved: The bid by VPI Grotto to host the Spring 2004 NSS Board of Governors meeting in the Radford, Virginia, area is accepted. Bussey seconded.
The southern Nevada Grotto also wished to bid for the Spring 2004 meeting.
Jones moved to substitute: The "fill-the- blank" format shall be used to determine the winning bid. Agreed to by unanimous consent.
Jones moved: The bid by _____________________ to host the Spring 2004 Board of Governors meeting in _______________ is accepted.
The Board will vote on the bids. The motion will then be voted on with the blanks filled with the winning bid.
Bids have been received from:
1. Southern Nevada Grotto to host the meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2. VPI Grotto to host the meeting in the Radford, Virginia,
VOTE to select the bid:
Las Vegas – 9
Radford - 4
Jones moved: The bid by the Southern Nevada Grotto to host the Spring 2004 Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, is accepted. Klimack seconded.
VOTE to confirm the Las Vegas, Nevada, bid:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
25. Objectives and Strategies for Grant Funding
Jones moved: The NSS president will <<appoint an ad hoc committee which will>> provide the Board of Governors <thirty days prior to the Spring 2003 Board meeting> a plan describing objectives for grant funding, and the strategy for obtaining these grants. <The plan should address the amount of funding sought for each objective, candidate entities to be solicited, as well as who would research and write the grants and under what arrangements. Any motions required to implement the plan should be included in the meeting agenda. > Kayes seconded.
Barton-Olsen moved to amend: Insert "appoint an ad hoc committee which will" in the first sentence. Bussey seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Jones
Abstaining: Taylor
PASSED
By unanimous consent the phrase "thirty days prior to the Spring 2003 Board meeting" was deleted from the second sentence.
J.Olsen moved to amend: Delete all but the first sentence of the motion. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Jones, Bussey
Abstaining: Klimack, G.Moss
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
26A. Act 11-695, Officer Travel Budget
Lester moved: Act 11-695, Officer Travel Budget, is amended as follows:
Each NSS officer shall have a discretionary travel budget, not to exceed $500 per year. Money in the discretionary budget shall <only> be used to help reimburse travel expenses incurred by members of the officer's department, excluding the officer, in carrying out NSS business with the <prior> approval of that officer and where such travel expenses <could> <<were>> not <have been> anticipated or budgeted as part of the regular NSS budget process. <<This reimbursement shall be available for any expenses related to travel on Society business, not limited to transportation, restricted to longer distance travel, or to situations where the expense is anticipated in advance. The Officer shall have full discretion to make these funds available to any volunteer of the Society, working in areas related to the Officer's department, when they feel the expense is warranted. >>The officer shall report these reimbursements<<,>> and the business purpose for which they were used<<,>> to the Board at the meeting immediately following the expenditure. Effective< May 1, 2001><<July 1,2002>. << No person shall receive, under this Act, more than 20% of the officer’s discretionary travel budget in non-transportation travel reimbursement in any fiscal year.>> Medville seconded.
Taylor moved to amend: Insert as the last sentence: " No person shall receive, under this Act, more than $100.00 of the officer’s discretionary travel budget in non-transportation travel reimbursement in any fiscal year." J.Olsen seconded.
J.Olsen moved to amend the amendment: Delete "$100" and insert "20%".
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE to amend the amendment:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, Barton-Olsen, Klimack, Kayes, Gatland, Jones
PASSED
VOTE: on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Tozer, G.Moss
PASSED
26B. Appendix AR, NSS Travel Policy
Jones moved: The NSS Travel Policy APPENDIX AR is amended as follows:
<(1) Assistance is limited to the costs of transportation unless established under specific acts and policies. Examples:
(A) The office staff when operating the bookstore off site.
(B) NCRC Training staff at NCRC national seminars funded by
registration fees as per
Policy for NCRC National Seminars.>
<(2)><<(1)>> Travel arrangements should be made at the most reasonable cost. The maximum allowed airfare should be at the coach, economy or similar low cost rate with 14 day advance reservation or driving at the IRS Tax code volunteer or employee rate, as applicable, for not-for-profit organizations.
<(3) Travel> <<(2)Transportation>> reimbursement must be for more than 300 miles. Multiple short trips totaling more than 300 miles within a 30 day period are eligible for reimbursement. Employees are not subject to this limit.
(Next section remains as written)
WHO SHOULD RECEIVE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL:
The NSS will reimburse travel costs incurred by:
(3) Any volunteer or employee of the Society, traveling on the Society business, when reimbursement is authorized in advance by an Officer and whose travel expenses <can> <<are>> be covered by that Officer's travel budget <<or within the Committee's budget.>>< without exceeding the approved budget amounts>. Current examples are:
(Remainder remains as written)
Bussey seconded.
Lera called the question. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE to call the question:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Medville
Abstaining: Liebman, Tozer
PASSED
VOTE on the motion:
In favor: Bussey, Jones, Kayes
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Klimack, Liebman
FAILED
Suspend the Agenda
Barton-Olsen moved: The agenda is suspended to consider the motion on NSS Book Publishing Policy at this time. Taylor seconded.
VOTE to suspend the agenda:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Jones
PASSED
27. NSS Book Publishing Policy
Jones moved: The Executive Committee will develop a NSS Book Publishing Policy that provides our goals for publishing books and the strategies for achieving them.
Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
By unanimous consent, the Board decided to postpone consideration of the convention motions and the NCRC appointments until after lunch.
28. NSS Bookstore Policy
Jones moved: The Executive Committee will develop a NSS Bookstore Policy that provides our goals for operating the NSS Bookstore and the strategies for achieving them.
Kayes seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
29. Section 9 – Executive Policies
Paquette moved: The following distribution policy for the NSS Biennial Report is adopted.
Section 9 - Executive Policies
Executive Vice President
10. Distribution of the Biannual Report
The Biannual Report will be distributed to the end users via the appropriate NSS committees. Each officer will notify their committee chairs of the existence and intended use of the report. A committee chair that requires the use of the report will request the number of reports needed from the department officer. The officer will determine if the number requested and intended use is appropriate for the designed purpose of the biannual report. When the officer is satisfied that the number requested and intended use is appropriate, the officer will notify the NSS office to send the reports to the requesting committee chair and/or designee(s). The office will maintain a spreadsheet that tracks the distribution of reports including recipient(s), number sent, intended use, date sent. The Executive Vice President, in the committee reports, will report a summary of this data to the Board of Governors.
A number of issues, determined by the EVP, will be placed into inventory for sales to collectors and interested NSS members at a price determined by the Operations Vice President. A COA number will be assigned to track and account for these sales. When this inventory begins to get low, the EVP will determine the number to add to the inventory depending the quantity remaining for designed usage and the point in time of the printing cycle.
The priority for distribution is as follows:
1. Fund raising
2. Public relations
3. Sales
Bussey seconded.
Paquette withdrew the motion with the consent of the assembly.
WITHDRAWN
30. Purchase Agreement Between the NSS and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Paquette moved: The NSS enter into a purchase agreement with the National Cave and Karst Research Institute for the following purpose:
The National Cave and Karst Research Institute will provide $5,000, to be added to the previous capital budget for the publication of Cave Conservation and Restoration for the purpose of additional color illustrations. In return the National Cave and Karst Research Institute will be identified on a title page as a co-sponsor, appropriate contact information will be included in the book, and will receive 50 copies for distribution to Regional and Division Libraries, Parks, and other interested parties. Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
31. NSS/CSS Collaboration
Medville moved: The National Speleological Society (NSS) agrees to enter into a collaboration with the Cuban Speleological Society (CSS) in order to further mutual interests in the fields of speleology, hydrology, archaeology, paleontology, and other related sciences. The President of the NSS is authorized to prepare a letter of intention to collaborate and to send this letter to the President of the CSS. J.Olsen seconded.
J.Olsen moved to refer this motion to the NSS President pending further clarification of political issues and other ramifications of entering into this collaboration.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE to refer:
Unanimously in favor
REFERRED
Recess
President Fee declared a recess at 11:58 AM for lunch and the closed meeting of the Board.
Reconvene
President Fee reconvened the meeting at 2:05 P.M.
32. Report of the Board in Closed Session
President Fee reported the Board considered no formal motions in closed session.
33A. Suspend Act 56-624
Medville moved: Act 56-624 is suspended for purposes of considering bids received for the 2004 NSS Convention. Barton-Olsen seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED
33B. 2004 Convention Bid
Lera moved: The 2004 Convention bid by Michigan Interlakes Grotto to host a convention in Marquette, Michigan, in July 2004 is accepted with Jean DeVries as convention chairman.
Baker-Devine seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Liebman, Medville
PASSED
34. NCRC
Lera moved: The following NCRC Regional Coordinators are
approved:
For Northeast Region – John Evans (reappointment of
incumbent)
For Rocky Mountain Region – Marc Ohms (reappointment of
incumbent)
For South Central Region – John Green (reappointment of
incumbent)
For Southwest Region – Bob Rodgers (new appointment)
For Western Region – Mark Bowers (reappointment of
incumbent)
Jones seconded.
Bussey moved: Each regional appointment shall be considered separately.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE on separate consideration:
In favor: Bussey, Werker, Jones, Liebman
Opposed: Barton-Olsen, Klimack, J.Olsen, Gatland, Kayes,
Paquette, Lera, Tozer, Medville
Abstaining: Taylor, Baker-Devine, G.Moss
FAILED
VOTE on the motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
Abstaining: J.Olsen, Liebman
PASSED
35. Cave Fees Legislation Position
Lera moved: The NSS is opposed to S.2607, "Federal Lands Recreation Fee Authority" and S.2473, "Recreational Fee Authority Act of 2002", and future legislation that is similar.
The NSS opposes any and all fees for non-consumptive uses of federal lands in the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture. Kayes seconded.
2002 Fee Legislation in the 107th Congress
S.2607 "The Bingaman Bill" To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to collect recreation fees on Federal lands, and for other purposes.
S.2473 "The Thomas Bill" to enhance the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program for the National Park Service and for other purposes.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Medville
PASSED
36. Open Discussion Period
Bussey moved: An open discussion be held for a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes.
Gatland seconded.
President Fee declared the Board in open session at 2:30 P.M.
The following topics were discussed:
1. Ted Kayes encouraged everyone to apply for an NSS credit card. The Society receives a rebate for each NSS member whose application is approved, regardless of whether or not the card is used in the future.
2. Elaine Hackerman requested and update on the status of the NSS Library. President Fee summarized the status to date: A. The NSS has received a written proposal from the National Cave and Karst Research Institute to house the library in Carlsbad, New Mexico; B. The NSS is considering building it’s own library, however this will cost a considerable amount of money.
3. Elaine also asked why the NSS Library is selling some of the library books. President Fee responded that only excess inventory is being sold. All sales proceeds are deposited in the library’s acquisition fund.
4. Hazel Medville noted her concern about the need for extra copies of books if the library is to be used as a lending library.
5. Ted Kayes encouraged cavers to consider joining the Stephenson Group. It is composed of cavers who have given or are planning to give $10,000 to the NSS.
Kayes moved that the open discussion period be closed. Gatland seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
37. Appreciation
Fee moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the 2002 NSS Convention Committee for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements.
G.Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
38. Adjourn
G.Moss moved: The 191st regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors is adjourned.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Fee declared the meeting adjourned at 2:48 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary