The 193rd regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on March 15, 2003, at the Richins Municipal Building, Park City, Utah. 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 Scott Fee at 8:05 A.M. Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
1. Roll Call and Announcement of Proxies
OFFICERS:
Scott Fee, President
Don Paquette, Executive Vice President
Tom Lera, Administrative Vice President
Paul Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer*
DIRECTORS:
Hazel Barton
Linda Devine
Bill Bussey
David Jagnow
Cheryl Jones
Bill Liebman
Douglas Medville
Gary Moss
Jim Olsen
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
PROXIES:
Ted Kayes for Secretary-Treasurer Paul Stevens*
Tom Rea for Operations Vice President Colin Gatland
Geary Schindel for Bill Klimack
*Paul Stevens 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 (ALS).
1. Approval of the October 3, 2002 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes
Bussey moved: The minutes of the October 3, 2002 Board of Governors meeting are approved as published. Lera seconded.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
2. Officer’s Reports
A. President – Scott Fee
Scott announced the formation of the NSS Software Ad Hoc Committee. The primary charge of the committee is to research and recommend appropriate upgrades to
the software used by the NSS office. Jim Olsen has been appointed as chairman.
B. Executive Vice President – Don Paquette
The 2002 Speleo Digest will be sent to the printer in the next two weeks.
Don stated he has received an e-file of the next issue of American Caving Accidents. It is ready to be printed and he expects publication early this year.
Don said that he and Sandra Poucher, author of Taming of the Slough, have received PDF files of the first part of the book. Once again, picture quality is unacceptable. Don said he would do what is necessary to ensure publication of a quality product.
C. Administrative Vice President – Tom Lera
Tom stated that the deed to the Wells Cave Preserve has been signed and it is now an NSS Cave Preserve.
D. Operations Vice President – Colin Gatland
In Colin’s absence, President Fee announced that quotes have been obtained for the necessary repairs to the NSS Office and Library roof. The contract will be initiated once the Board passes motion # 31.
E. Secretary-Treasurer – Ted Kayes for Paul Stevens
Ted reported that the NCRC insurance policy has lapsed and it is unlikely that they will be able to obtain more coverage.
He also stated that the NSS General Liability policy would expire in several weeks. He is actively seeking new coverage since the old insurer will not renew the policy. The premium cost is likely to rise.
3. Committee Reports
A. 2002 NSS National Convention (Maine)
Tom Lera reported that he had received recent E-mail from Convention Co-chairman Kevin Harris stating that the financial reconciliation for the convention was almost finished.
B. 2003 NSS National Convention (California)
Convention Chairman Peri Frantz said that convention planning was on schedule, however there are still some internal accounting issues to be resolved. She also noted that insurance coverage is critical for all the convention contracts.
C. 2004 NSS National Convention (Michigan)
Chairman Jean DeVries reported that planning activities are going well.
D. Wells Cave Preserve Slide Show Presentation by AVP
E. Shelta Gate Slide Show Presentation by AVP
E1. Potter Cave Slide Show Presentation by AVP
F. Voting System Demonstration by Jim Olsen
G. National Cave & Karst Research Institute
Dr. Louise Hose, Director of NCKRI, gave a presentation regarding the NCKRI.
Bussey moved: The FY02/03 NSS capital budget is amended to include $12,000 to publish Sheck Exley's book The Taming of Slough. Act 06-183(7) is suspended.
Cheryl Jones seconded.
VOTE: In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lera, J Olsen, Medville
PASSED
The motion was recorded as passed in the mail ballot with no further reconsideration.
[Per Act: 06-183 Mail Ballots: (4) The text of any matter that was the subject of a mail ballot, with the vote of each member thereon, will be read into the minutes of the subsequent meeting. Such matters will be subject to reconsideration as if considered immediately before such reading, or upon the motion of a member who did not receive timely notice.]
President Fee declared a recess at 10:00 A.M.
President Fee reconvened the meeting at 10:10 A.M.
OLD BUSINESS
5A) Joe Ivy Fund & International Exploration Fund
Paquette moved the assets of the Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration is combined with those of the International Exploration Fund to create the International Cave Exploration Fund. The Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration fund and the International Exploration Fund are terminated. Jagnow seconded.
[Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration Act 18-692 3-23-02, 11-04-00
The purpose of the Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration is to provide grants to young cavers to fund cave exploration trips, primarily to Mexico. The Fund was established by donors and is managed as a temporarily restricted quasi-endowment fund. Annually the NSS withdraws 5.5% of the Fund's total value for this purpose. By a two-thirds vote, the Society's Board of Governors may require the return to the Society of any or all of the Fund that has not previously been distributed to the Society. Grants will be several hundred dollars each, large enough to fund the bulk of a four-to-six-week trip: transportation, food, lodging, maps, special equipment, etc. Grants will be given to individuals for personal expenses, rather than to projects or groups. Grants will be awarded based on the following criteria:
Applicants should have a reasonable amount of caving experience. Experience will be measured by enthusiasm, determination, and quality of caving, rather than number of years caving or a list of caves visited.
Applicants should be vertically competent. Desire to learn will count more than participation in training programs or a list of pits bounced.
Applicants should have skills to contribute to productive exploration. Being a good sport will be considered more valuable than surveying, drafting, photography, or ability to carry group gear.
Applicants should demonstrate the characteristics of a good team member including initiative; positive attitude; open-mindedness; willingness to lead and take direction; ability to amuse one’s self; curiosity to experience new things and eat weird food; desire to find, explore, and document caves.
International Exploration Fund Act 18-454 3-23-02, 11-08-97, 11-9-91, 11-9-91, 10-26-85
The International Exploration Fund is established to assist Society sponsored speleological expeditions to be supported by contributions raised for this specific purpose. Applications for grants from the International Exploration Fund will be directed to the International Exploration Committee which will develop appropriate guidelines and require an accounting of how money is utilized by expedition organizers. Grants from the International Exploration Fund may be made by the International Exploration Committee with the approval of the Executive Vice President. It is not the intent of this Act that grants will be routinely awarded for expeditions within the United States or Canada. Grants from this fund shall stipulate that the expedition will provide an article on the expedition for publication in the NSS NEWS, or an audio/visual program for distribution for the NSS A/V Library within one year from receiving the grant.]
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
5B) International Cave Exploration Fund
Paquette moved: The NSS requests the NSF modify the Joe Ivy Endowment Fund For Cave Exploration Contract (Attachment R, Appendix C, NSS BOG Manual) as follows:
<<International Cave Exploration Fund>> <Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration>
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 <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration>.
The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants by the Society to cavers to fund <<international>> exploration trips << including Joe Ivy Grants>><primarily to Mexico>.
The Foundation shall reinvest the net income and capital gains distributions from the <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund> in the <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund> unless it is transferred to the Society as described in this attachment.
<<Each fiscal year an amount equal to 5.5% of the total Fund shall be available for payment to the Society for grants. The Foundation Annual Report, as described in paragraph 7 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. >> <At the end of the fiscal year of the Foundation, the Foundation shall, upon written request of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society, transfer to the Society the lesser of the net income from the Fund for that fiscal year or the total amount of grants awarded by the Society during the fiscal year.>
<<The Foundation, upon passage of a suitable resolution by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Governors of the Society, shall transfer any part, or all, of the International Cave Exploration Fund to another individual fund(s) held by the Foundation on behalf of the Society as part of the NSS Trust Funds. >>
By a two-thirds vote, the Society’s Board of Governors may require the return to the Society of any or all of the Fund that has not previously been distributed to the Society.
This attachment has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Society on the ___th day of _____, 20__, and by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation on the ___th day of _______, 20__. Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
5C) International Fund Transfer
Paquette moved: $12,000 is transferred from the International Support Fund to the International Cave Exploration Fund. Kayes seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The Wells Cave Preserve Management Committee is established in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. The committee is responsible for implementing the Wells Cave Management Plan and property management activities.
Jagnow seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
NEW BUSINESS
7. Appointments
7A. Youth Groups Liaison Committee
Fee moved: Patricia A. Bingham (NSS 47983), 118 Autumn Drive, Stafford, VA (540) 752-0684; email nssyouth@msn.com is confirmed as Youth Groups Liaison Committee Chairman.
7A.1. Barton moved: Items 7b through 7e are considered as a group. Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE to confirm the appointments in items 7b through 7e:
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
7B. NSS/KWI Liaison Committee
Fee moved: Kelly Norwood (NSS 43579), 2014 Carthage Rd, Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 723-9040; email: kelly_norwood@dnr.state.ga.us is confirmed as NSS/KWI Liaison Committee Chairman.
7C. NSS Information Technology Committee
Gatland moved: Andy Niekamp (NSS 29094), 1515 Cordell Drive, Kettering, Ohio 45439 (9370-296-0245; email ajniekamp3@aol.com is confirmed as NSS Information Technology Committee Chairman.
7D. Cave Management Division Chief
Lera moved: William O. Palmer, (NSS 8654), 15100 S. Clinkenbeard Road, Ashland, MO 65010, Phone: 573-657-1076, Fax: 573-657-1936, email: palmer1076@aol.com is confirmed as Chairman of the Cave Management Division in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
7E. Wells Cave Preserve Chairman
Lera moved: Lee Florea, (NSS 37909), 108 Westwood Drive, Lexington, KY 40503, Phone: 859-492-5145, email: wellscavecommittee@caves.org is confirmed as Chairman of Wells Cave Preserve Management Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
7F. Great Expectations Cave Preserve Chairman
Lera moved: Bob Montgomery, (NSS 15643), P.O. Box 2102, Casper, WY 82602-2102, Phone: 307-266-6929, email: greatxcommittee@caves.org is confirmed as Chairman of Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
7G. NCRC National Coordinator
Lera Moved: John Punches, (39211) 633 West Hazel St., Roseburg, OR 97470, Phone 541-957-5461, email: national@ncrc.info is re-appointed as NCRC National Coordinator for a term of three years. Paquette seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, Liebman
PASSED
Fee moved: An open discussion regarding the proposed Arizona NSS National Convention Bid is held for a period of time not to exceed 40 minutes. In addition to a 15-minute presentation, each audience member will have one turn, up to three minutes in length, to address the meeting attendees. Kayes seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
The discussion period was declared open at 10:30 A.M.
The pros and cons of holding an NSS convention in Flagstaff, Arizona were discussed.
At 11:03 A.M. the discussion period was closed.
9A. Great Expectations Cave Fund
Stevens moved: The Great Expectations Cave Fund is established. The purpose of the Great Expectations Cave Fund is to provide funds for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the Great Expectations Cave property in Wyoming. This includes paying for land swaps and easements, paying expenses associated with the transfer of the property to the NSS (e.g. lawyer’s fees, title searches, land surveys, and closing costs), associated fund raising expenses, and paying back loans. Donors established the fund. The NSS AVP or his designated agents may approve expenditures from this fund.
Barton seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
9B. Great Expectations Loan Payment
Fee moved: A $5,000 payment be made from the NSS Cave Acquisition Fund toward the balance of the Great Expectations Loan balance. Barton seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
9C. Great Expectation Cave Management Plan
Lera moved: The Great Expectations Cave Management Plan is approved.
Liebman seconded.
Barton moved to amend:
1. Page 2, Underground Resources, Caves, third paragraph, last sentence, delete "Most" and insert "Half."
2. Page 7, Visitors, item b, delete the comma after "members" and insert "and qualified cavers," after "NSS members" in the second line.
3. Page 8, Visitors, item a, delete "or" before "fishing" and insert "or trespassing" after "fishing" in the first line.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the amended management plan:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
9D. Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Committee
Lera moved: The Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management
Committee
is established in the Department of the Administrative Vice
President. The committee is responsible for <enforcing the
access guidelines in the Great Expectations Cave Preserve
Management Plan and property management activities. >
<<effectively managing the preserve according to the Great
X Management Plan.>> Jagnow seconded.
Jones moved to amend: Delete "enforcing the access guidelines in the Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Plan and property management activities." and insert "effectively managing the preserve according to the Great X Management Plan."
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
9E. Great Expectations Cave Preserve Chairman
Lera moved: Bob Montgomery, (NSS 15643), P.O. Box 2102, Casper, WY 82602-2102, Phone: 307-266-6929, Email: greatxcommittee@caves.org, is confirmed as Chairman of Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. Devine seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
At 11:25 A.M., President Fee declared a recess for lunch and the closed meetings of the Board and the Directorate.
President Fee reconvened the meeting at 2:30 P.M.
Chairman of the Directorate, Bill Tozer, announced that Scott Fee had been re-elected NSS President.
President Fee reported that the recipients of NSS Awards for 2004 had been selected and/or approved. He also announced the date of the spring 2004 Board meeting, March 20, 2004. The location, Las Vegas, Nevada, was approved at the June 2003 Board meeting.
Lera moved Act 86-231 be amended as follows:
The Youth Groups Liaison Committee in the Department of the <<Administrative Vice>> President shall be <concerned with organized caving by youth groups> <<responsible for acting as a liaison between the NSS and youth groups that may include caving in their programs. >> Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Gatland moved: The NSS Web Page Award is established to recognize two caving-related Web sites quarterly. The NSS Web Page Award Sub-Committee of the NSS Information Technology Committee will administer the award. The NSS Information Technology Committee Chairman will select the sub-chairman. The award consists of a distinctive logo that winning pages may display on their page. Pages may win the award only once during a calendar year. The sub-committee will establish criteria for the award. Web pages will be nominated via a link from the NSS home page. Bussey seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The bid by Lynn Ott (NSS 15257) and Rick Bowersox (NSS 19885) to host the 2005 Convention in Flagstaff, Arizona, is accepted. Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Jones, Devine, Bussey, Schindel, Kayes, Rea, Lera, Moss
Opposed: Taylor, Barton, Olsen, Tozer, Medville, Liebman, Jagnow,
Paquette
FAILED
Stevens moved: It is the goal of the NSS to make the NSS Library more accessible and valuable to NSS members by providing members internet access to:
1. A digital catalog of all books, periodicals and other items in the NSS Library with a on-line search engine that allows internet users to search the resulting data base for key words in the publication's author, title, subject, publisher, date of publication/copyright fields to determine what publications may have the information sought and whether those publication are in our library.
2. A searchable index of topics covered in each issue of the NSS News, NSS Bulletin, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, and Speleo Digest
3. A search capability for "A Guide to Speleological Literature of the English Language" (with permission of copyright owner).
4. A digital (pdf, Adobe e-book, etc.) collection of publications for which the NSS has copyright permission (Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, NSS News, Speleogenesis, Cave Minerals, On Call, On Rope, On Station, Caving Basics, etc.) which members can download and view for a specified period of time. Taylor seconded.
[See http://www.caves.org/pub/on-line-library/ for demonstration]
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Tozer
PASSED
Stevens moved: The NSS Library collection guidelines are, in priority order:
1. NSS publications.
2. NSS Internal Organization publications.
3. Scientific and technical publications on cave related topics
and caving activities.
4. Publications on caves and karst in the United States and
related activities.
5. Publications on caves and karst in North America and related
activities.
6. Other publications and documents on caves and karst and
related activities.
The principle focus is collecting publications in the English language.
The NSS Library committee chairman or his designated agent is responsible for deciding which specific publications to acquire. Jones seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Stevens moved: << The NSS OVP is directed to seek quotes for >> an "earth friendly" fire suppressant system (similar to halon) << that could >> be installed in the NSS office and library building. <<All detailed quotes for this system will be submitted to the Executive Committee for comment and review. >> <The OVP is authorized to spend up to $55,000 from the Headquarters Fund for this purpose. > Taylor seconded.
A. Paquette moved to amend inserting as the second sentence: "All detailed quotes for this system will be submitted to the Executive Committee for comment and review."
Kayes seconded.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
B. Moss moved to postpone consideration of the motion and pending amendments to the August 2003 Convention Board meeting. Devine seconded.
VOTE to postpone:
In favor: Tozer, Moss, Schindel
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Liebman
FAILED
C. Kayes moved to amend inserting in the first line "The NSS OVP is directed to seek quotes for" and "that could" in the second sentence; and delete "The OVP is authorized to spend up to $55,000 from the Headquarters Fund for this purpose." Olsen seconded.
VOTE to amend:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Tozer
PASSED
Stevens moved to amend Act 18-525 [NSS Library Fund]:
The purpose of the NSS Library Restricted Fund is to provide funds for NSS Library purchase and preservation of cave and karst-related publications <<, library cataloging, storage, protection, library services to users, and internet access.>> <and library capital equipment>. The Fund was established and will be maintained by transfers of unrestricted funds. <<All expenditures shall be >> <These funds may be spent by the NSS Library chairman> subject to the Operations Vice President’s approval.
Jones seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
[The FY03/04 budget assumes all NSS Library annual operating expense is paid through the NSS Library Fund. The motion broadens the purpose of the Fund to reflect this.]
20A. FY03/04 Operating and Capital Budgets
Stevens moved: The FY03/04 Operating and Capital budgets are approved.
Liebman seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
20B. International Cave Exploration Fund
Paquette moved: The FY03/04 NSS Operating Budget is amended by
adding $ 1,000 in the department of the NSS EVP to be awarded by
the International Exploration Committee with the funds coming
from the International Cave Exploration Fund.
Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: Act 57-571 is to amended:
The <President> <<Administrative Vice President>> shall appoint three NSS representatives to the Project Underground Board of Directors. The Board of Governors shall confirm such appointments and they shall be listed as part of the <President’s> <<Education Division in the Administrative Vice President’s >> Department.
Jagnow seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
22. NSS National Convention Vendors
Lera moved: Act 56-267 is amended:
A policy concerning vendors at NSS or NSS member-sponsored activities is established: (1) The organizing committee of an NSS or NSS member-sponsored activity may, at the committee's discretion, welcome vendors at the activity as providing a service to the participants. Vendors will abide by any reasonable monetary and regulatory edicts. (2) No vendor may use the name of the National Speleological Society or any of its member organizations for any purposes, without the permission of the NSS or respective member organization(s). (3) The National Speleological Society or its representatives are not responsible, in any manner, for merchandise sold by vendors at NSS or NSS member-sponsored activities. (4) It is recognized that the NSS and its member organizations have the authority to charge reasonable fees and establish certain regulatory measures for vendors operating at their activities. <<(5) non-profit 501(C)(3) organizations whose purpose << aligns with NSS goals and >> is related to caves or caving activities will be allocated space<<, as available, >> at no cost to promote their organization provided their activities do not compete with vendors who paid for space.>> The following recommendations are to be policy for NSS activities and are suggested guidelines for member sponsored events… [Remainder of Act deleted for brevity.] Jones seconded.
Olsen moved to amend: Insert "aligns with NSS goals and" after the word "purpose" and ", as available," after "allocated space" in item #5. Liebman seconded.
VOTE to amend the motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
23. Taming of the Slough Printing Quantity
Jones moved: The initial printing of Taming of the Slough
will be 3,000 copies.
Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Barton, Rea, Olsen
Abstaining: Taylor, Devine
PASSED
24. Authors Liaison Act
Fee moved: Act 83-282
(Authors Liaison) is deleted. Olsen seconded.
83-282 Authors Liaison 8-5-77, 6-27-75, 8-16-74
The Public Relations Committee is directed to furnish all aid and information necessary to insure the inclusion of NSS conservation, safety, and scientific philosophy in publications and, if necessary, seek out those already committed to publishing and work with them.
[The act appears to have provided oversight for NSS books to ensure that the NSS "party line" was presented in the text and photos. It would appear that between the EVP and the Special Pubs committee we wouldn't need to involve the PR committee for this task.]
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: Act 06-183 is amended by deleting paragraph (2) and (7). The remaining paragraphs will be renumbered accordingly.
| 06-183 | Mail Ballots | 4-7-01, 8-24-68, 11-16-68 |
An action requiring approval of the Board of Governors may be
voted upon by mail between regularly scheduled Board meetings,
subject to the following provisions. Mail includes 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 U.S. Postal Service or private
courier. No action regarding legal or personal matters
appropriate to closed session will be conducted by electronic
means.
(1) Mail ballots may be conducted only by the President. The
President may call for a vote by mail if need for the ballot is
(a) agreed at the prior Board meeting after discussion of the
issue and upon a stated contingency, or (b) at the request of
four members of the Board.
(2) To be adopted, an action voted upon by mail requires a
two-thirds affirmative vote of the entire Board of Governors.
(3) Neither bylaw changes nor matters for which the Bylaws or the
Acts require a meeting of the Board may be acted upon by mail
ballot.
(4) The text of any matter that was the subject of a mail ballot,
with the vote of each member thereon, will be read into the
minutes of the subsequent meeting. Such matters will be subject
to reconsideration as if considered immediately before such
reading, or upon the motion of a member who did not receive
timely notice.
(5) When presenting an issue for mail ballot, the President will
announce a deadline for the end of discussion and receipt of
votes which allows time for deliberate discussion and for the
participation of any Board member who must be contacted by postal
mail or courier. The President shall facilitate the exchange of
comments among such members and those using electronic means. In
no case shall the deadline be less than 12 days; provided, the
President may entertain a motion to close debate and advance the
deadline. Votes are subject to each member's reconsideration
until the approved deadline.
(6) Unless the issue concerns legal or personal matters
appropriate to closed session, the President shall post notice of
the proposed action to the Society web site not later than the
day following the transmission of the call for the vote, and is
encouraged to post additional notices to national and regional
caver mail lists and discussion groups.
(7) No expenditure in excess of <one percent> <<five
percent>> of the Society's operating budget may be approved
by mail ballot unless the expenditure is from a restricted fund.
(8) This Act is adopted as Special Rule of Order, and is subject
to amendment only in a regular meeting of the Board of Governors.
Bussey seconded.
A. Lera moved to divide the question, considering item #2 and item #7 separately.
Moss seconded.
VOTE to divide the question:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
Abstaining: Taylor
PASSED
VOTE to delete item #2:
In favor: Jones, Bussey, Rea, Lera, Jagnow, Medville
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Kayes, Liebman
FAILED
B. Olsen moved to amend item #7: Delete "one percent" and insert "five percent" in line one. Kayes seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED
C. Fee moved: Act 06-183 is amended by deleting item #7 as amended. Bussey seconded.
VOTE to delete item #7:
In favor: Rea
Opposed: Rest
FAILED
Lera moved: The Cave Conservancy of Hawai`i is approved as an NSS conservancy.
Barton seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
27. Potter Cave Preserve
Lera moved: The Administrative Vice President is authorized to accept the Potter Unit donation << as an NSS Cave Preserve >> following his approval of the donation documents. The proposed cave preserve is located in Cherokee County, Oklahoma.
<<Mr. Dennis Potter will be made a Life Member of the NSS. >> Liebman seconded.
A. Kayes moved to amend: Insert "Mr. Dennis Potter will be made a Life Member of the NSS." Rea seconded.
VOTE to amend:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Tozer
PASSED
B. Jones moved to amend: Insert "as an NSS Cave Preserve" after "Potter Unit donation" in the second line. Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the amended motion:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The National Cave Rescue Commission Charter is adopted.
A. Jones moved to amend as follows:
1. Item 10a – insert "NSS" before "annual convention."
2. Item 10b - insert "and posted on the NCRC web site." after "upon request" in the last line.
3. Item 10c - insert "and posted on the NCRC web site." after "upon request" in the last line.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
B. Lera called the question.
VOTE to call the question:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
VOTE on the motion as amended:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Kayes, Bussey
Abstaining: Liebman
PASSED
Fee moved: The NSS tentatively agrees in principle with the 'Statement of Work' in Attachment One to the President’s Report dated February 15, 2003 that describes a potential future relationship among the National Park Service, the National Speleological Society and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute. The NSS will reconsider the Statement of Work at its 2003 convention meeting. No agreement shall be consummated or NSS Library items be decided upon or transferred without the knowledge of the NSS membership and explicit approval of the NSS Board of Governors. Medville seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: The President is directed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) similar to previous NSS MOUs with U.S. Government agencies. The proposed MOU will be presented for NSS Board approval at a subsequent meeting. Jagnow seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Tozer
PASSED
Gatland moved: A maximum of $19,000 is authorized to be spent from the Headquarters Fund for repair of the NSS office building roof. Liebman seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Stevens moved: The NSS gratefully accepts the offer from the Library Development Commission of the Huntsville Chapter of the NSS, Inc. to work with the NSS Library Committee and the ad hoc NSS Library Infrastructure Committee to improve the NSS Library and library services for NSS members. The NSS would appreciate the Commission's recommendation as to what NSS Library items might be loaned to NCKRI in the event the NSS agrees to such a loan. Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Lera moved: The Western Cave Conservancy is approved as an NSS
conservancy.
(Attachment C-6 to these minutes) Barton seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Fee moved: An open discussion is held for a period of time not to exceed 20 minutes.
Barton seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Fee declared the session open at 5:28 P.M. The following topics were discussed:
1. Marianne Russo thanked the Board for approving the Western Cave Conservancy.
2. Cindy Heazlit thanked the Board for approving the Cave Conservancy of Hawai’i.
3. Jim Olsen announced the details of the Saturday night dinner and party.
4. Beth Halliday of Central Arizona Grotto thanked the Board for considering the Flagstaff, Arizona convention bid.
5. Tom Lera stressed the need to include the value of the volunteer hours provided by the NSS in our fiscal reports. FASB regulations #116 and #117 require that this value be included in our financials. Tom recommended an ad hoc committee be established to develop a mechanism for tracking this information.
6. Jagnow encouraged those interested in an NSS Museum expand the scope of their ideas. Grant funds would be one avenue to explore to build a large multi-purpose museum.
7. Geary Schindel thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as Bill Klimack’s proxy for this meeting. He suggested that the Board might be interested in holding a future Board meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
8. Bill Liebman thanked all those in the audience who attended the meeting.
President Fee declared the session closed at 5:43 P.M.
Bussey moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the Utah Grottos for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements. Olsen seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
Rea moved: The meeting is adjourned. Taylor seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
President Fee declared the meeting adjourned at 5:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary