The 181st regular meeting of the NSS Board of Governors was held on Saturday, March 27, 1999, in the Greenwood Community Center, Greenwood, Indiana. These minutes, when accompanied by corrections accepted by the Board, constitute the official record of the meeting.
President Fred Wefer called the meeting to order at 9:10 A.M.
Lee Stevens was present as Recording Secretary.
1. Roll Call
OFFICERS:
Fred L. Wefer, President
Ray Keeler, Executive Vice President
Douglas Medville, Administrative Vice President
Mike Hood, Operations Vice President
Paul J. Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
Nancy Holler Aulenbach
Dave Belski
Bill Bussey
Stephen Fleming
Louise Hose
Dave Lester
Bob Liebman
Gary Moss
Philip Moss
Ed Sira
Dave Taylor
Bill Tozer
2. Approval of the November 7, 1998 Board of Governors Meeting Minutes.
Lester moved that the minutes of the November 7, 1998 Board of Governors Meeting be approved as published. P. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
3. Officer's Reports
A. President’s
Report – Fred Wefer - Attachment A
President Wefer noted that there are two committees still without
chairmen in his department, the Fund Raising Committee and the
Outreach Committee. He is actively seeking volunteers to fill
these positions.
B. Executive
Vice President – Ray Keeler - Attachment B
EVP Keeler reported that the next issue of American Caving
Accidents will be published in June 1999 and will cover
1996-1998. He also noted that publication of the proposed U.S.
Cave Management Manual is on hold. At this time there is no money
in the Capital Budget to print the book and there is no editor.
C. Administrative Vice President – Doug Medville - Attachment C
D. Operations
Vice President – Mike Hood - Attachment D
OVP Hood reported that progress is being made on constructing a
traveling NSS display.
E. Secretary-Treasurer – Paul Stevens - Attachment E
4. Committee Reports
F. 1998 NSS National Convention (Tennessee) — WM
Shrewsbury, Convention Chairman
WM presented a check to the NSS for $3,000.00 that represented
partial payment of the anticipated 1998 convention surplus. The
remainder will be forwarded when the convention books are closed.
The Board and the audience gave WM a round of applause in
appreciation for the great job performed by the 1998 NSS National
Convention Committee.
G. 1999 NSS National Convention (Idaho) — David Kesner
and Mike Backe, Convention Co-chairmen
David and Mike reported that to date 160 cavers have
pre-registered for the convention and the preparations for this
year’s event are going well.
H. 2001 NSS National Convention Bid (Kentucky) — Bill
Carr, Convention Chairman
Bill Carr presented the bid for the 2001 NSS Convention, sited in
Mount Vernon, Kentucky. Board Act
56-624 stipulates that a convention bid may not be voted upon
at the meeting, at which it is presented, therefore a decision on
this bid will be made at a future Board meeting.
I. 2002 NSS National Convention Bid (Maine) – Carol
Tiderman
Carol Tiderman, Division Chief of the NSS Conventions Department
in the AVP department, reported that she had visited the proposed
convention site and is working with the 2002 convention committee
to refine their bid.
J. 2003 NSS National Convention Bid (California) — Peri
Frantz
Peri Frantz presented the bid for the 2003 NSS convention, sited
in Porterville, California. Board Act 56-624 stipulates that a
convention bid may not be voted upon at the meeting, at which it
is presented, therefore a decision on this bid will be made at a
future Board meeting.
L. Other Reports
Mr. Norris Brock, a documentary filmmaker, gave a short
presentation to the Board about a television series on caves that
he has proposed to The Learning Channel. If this series receives
funding, Mr. Brock would like the assistance of the NSS to ensure
that all aspects of caving are accurately presented.
OLD BUSINESS
5. Board Meeting Presiding Officer
Stevens moved: Bylaw IV.E (1) is amended as follows: ". . . <The President of the Society, or in his absence, the vice-presidents in order of cumulative seniority in office, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Governors. > <<The President of the Society, or in his absence the attending officer whose current continuous tenure as an officer of the Society has been longest, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Governors. >> Sira seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: P. Moss, Hose, Lester
Abstaining: Fleming, Taylor, Wefer
FAILED
Note: In order to pass, this By-law change required approval by two-thirds of those Board members voting.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Dues Structure
Wefer moved: Act 28-389 (Dues Structure) is amended to read as follows:
"Effective 01 January 2000 the dues structure of the Society will be as follows:
| Number of Years Paid | Regular | Associate | Family |
| One | $33.00 | $22.00 | $6.00 |
| Two | $64.00 | $43.00 | $11.00 |
| Three | $94.00 | $63.00 | $16.00 |
Institutional Dues will be $70.00, Regular Life Membership will be $600.00, and Family Life Membership will be $300.00.
Family Members in the immediate family of a member accepting the prepayment option must prepay at the same time for the same number of years."
Aulenbach seconded.
Note: A change in dues may be approved only at a meeting of the Board at least thirty days later than the Board Meeting at which it is moved, i.e., this proposed dues change effectively cannot the
Passed until the Board Meeting at the 1999 NSS National Convention. See NSS Bylaw I. B. (2).
Stevens moved to refer the motion to the President with instructions that it be placed on the agenda for the Board Meeting at the 1999 NSS National Convention. Lester seconded.
VOTE to refer:
Unanimously in favor
REFERRED
7. Overseas Postage Surcharge-1
Stevens moved: "The dues of members with a mailing address outside of the U.S. and U.S. territories may have a surcharge of $10.00 added to reflect the additional cost of mailing their NSS publications over what is accrued for members residing in the USA." Hood seconded.
Stevens moved to substitute Item #8 for Item #7. P. Moss seconded.
VOTE on the motion to substitute:
Unanimously in favor
PASSED
8. Overseas Postage Surcharge-2
Stevens moved: Bylaw I.B. is amended to add: "(14) The dues of members with a mailing address outside of the U.S. and U.S. territories may have a surcharge added to reflect the additional cost of mailing their NSS publications over what is accrued for members residing in the USA."
Hose moved to refer Item #8 back to the Executive Committee for further consideration.
Bussey seconded.
VOTE on the motion to refer:
In favor: Hose, Bussey
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Hood
FAILED
Fleming moved to amend, deleting the word "may" in the second line and inserting "shall." Medville seconded.
After discussion, by unanimous consent, the proposed amendment was withdrawn.
VOTE on Item #8:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose
FAILED
Note: In order for a Bylaw change to pass on the first reading, it must be unanimously approved. This motion will be placed on the 1999 NSS National Convention Board Meeting Agenda for reconsideration.
9. Subscription Rate
Keeler moved: Act 80-179 (Subscription Rate) is amended to read as follows: "Effective 01 January 2000, a year's subscription to the NSS NEWS will be $20.00 (domestic) and $30.00 (international), and a year's subscription to THE JOURNAL will be $22.00. P. Moss seconded.
G. Moss moved to refer the motion to the Executive Committee for reconsideration to establish subscription rates to match the actual costs of producing and mailing the publications. Liebman seconded.
VOTE to refer:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lester
REFERRED
Recess
President Wefer declared a recess for lunch and the closed meetings of the Directorate and the Board at 12:31 P.M.
Reconvene
President Wefer reconvened the meeting at 3:30 P.M.
10. Suspend the Agenda
President Wefer asked if there was any objection to suspending the order of business in order to consider agenda Item # 21, Travel Reimbursement Issue, at this time.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
11. Travel Reimbursement Issue
Medville moved: The proposal by the Investigating Committee of the Missouri Speleological Survey regarding settlement of the travel reimbursement issue resulting from the 1997 NSS National Convention is accepted. P. Moss seconded.
Daryl Greaser, Chairman of the Missouri Speleological Society’s Investigation Committee, gave a short presentation on the proposal to settle the 1997 NSS Convention Executive Committee financial dispute.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Liebman, Fleming, Belski
Abstaining: Hose, Medville
PASSED
Nancy Aulenbach expressed the thanks of the Board to Daryl Greaser and the members of the MSS Investigation Committee for their efforts to help achieve the resolution of this issue.
Note: The proposal reads as follows:
Proposal for Solution of 1997 NSS Convention Executive Committee Financial Dispute
The Missouri Speleological Survey proposes this compromise to resolve the issue of disputed reimbursement, and possible sanctions against the 1997 NSS Convention Executive Committee. (Numerical values have been rounded to whole dollars to make it easier to deal with, and all figuring has been based on the administrative travel detail submitted by D. Quamen and which was reimbursed at 25 cents per mile.)
1) That the funds to be repaid to the NSS be reduced by the amounts repaid by Jon Beard, the exoneration of Matt Marciano, and the irretrievability and justification of that billed by Blue Springs Ranch.
2) That the remaining funds be further reduced from the claimed 25 cents per mile to 12 cents per mile. IRS rules for travel reimbursements for volunteers for 501(c) 3 corporations for the period in question accepted travel reimbursement at the rate of 12 cents per mile. It is our conclusion that most, if not all of the 1997 EC were unaware of the NSS prohibition against travel reimbursement and therefore, they are entitled to travel reimbursement to the extent allowed by law. In our investigation, we found no evidence of, nor attempt to defraud, but only to claim what they believed they were owed. This deficiency in convention rules has already been rectified by the NSS as pertains [sic]future conventions.
3) That the 1997 EC and other Missouri Cavers, in hopes of ending this conflict, will turn over, on acceptance of this proposal the contents of a fund established for that purpose by the Missouri Speleological Survey, Inc.
This fund is a combination of our successful attempts at obtaining reimbursements from the 1997 EC, plus other monies collected to defray the shortfall due to hardship on the part of some EC members. The total value of this fund is over $5000 as of our preliminary count on March 1. Any additional amounts received for this purpose between March 1 and March 27 will be added to the final tally."
4) That there will be a statement of information, mutual regret and apology published in the NSS News, and agreed to by both parties, in an attempt to explain to the general membership the closure of this affair, and to help reestablish the reputations of the 1997 EC.
5) That the turning over of the MSS fund money and the News publication will bring this unfortunate chapter to a close on behalf of both the NSS and the 1997 EC, and neither side will pursue any action against the other after this time.
6) Having undertaken this attempt at reconciliation, the MSS believes it has made the best offer possible, and does not intend to drag this out even longer by accepting major counterproposals. We find this solution to be totally acceptable to neither side, but that it is the only solution which both sides perhaps could live with long enough for this incident to fade into memory.
Respectfully submitted,
The MSS Investigation Committee
12. Discussion Limit
Lester moved to limit discussion to no more than five minutes per agenda item due to the length of the remaining agenda and the lateness of the hour. Sira seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: P. Moss, Stevens, Medville
PASSED
13. Closed Meeting of the Directorate
Dave Belski, Chairman of the Directorate, reported that Fred Wefer had been re-elected President of the NSS.
14. Closed Meeting of the Board of Governors
President Wefer reported that the NSS Award recipients for 1999 had been selected/approved.
15. Approval of Operating Budget
Stevens moved: The NSS Fiscal Year 1999/2000 Operating Budget is approved.
Belski seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
16. Approval of the Capital Budget
Stevens moved: The NSS Fiscal Year 1999/2000 Capital Budget is approved.
Belski seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
17. NSS Support Fund
Medville moved: The second sentence of Part D of Act 18-367 (Conservation Funds) is changed to read: "The income earned by the Fund may be given on an as-needed basis to the NSS for conservation purposes upon request of the NSS Administrative Vice President or the Chairman of the Conservation
Committee." Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Lester, Bussey
PASSED
18. Conservation Support Fund
Medville moved: Part E of Act 18-367 is deleted. Liebman seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
19. Conservation Chairman Honorarium
Medville moved: Act 50-416 (Honorarium) is repealed. Keeler seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
20. Resource Preservation Committee
Medville moved: The Resource Preservation Committee is established in the AVP Department.
Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: P. Moss, Hose, Taylor, Fleming, Belski
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
21. Examination of Potential Convention Sites
Medville moved: <The Chairman> <<A representative>> of the Convention Development Committee may receive an honorarium for travel expenses incurred, up to the amount budgeted by the Board, for travel to and examination of potential sites for future NSS National Conventions. A report on the suitability of the sites visited will be provided by the Convention Development Committee Chairman to the Board following visits to these sites. << The honorarium will come from the Convention Surplus Restricted Fund.>> Sira seconded.
P. Moss moved to amend, inserting: "The honorarium will come from the Convention Surplus Restricted Fund." Accepted as a friendly amendment.
Liebman moved to amend, deleting "The Chairman," and inserting "A representative" in the first sentence. Accepted as a friendly amendment.
VOTE on the amended motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Hose
PASSED
22. Congress of Grottos
Medville moved: Act 04-203 Congress of Grottos is amended to read, "A report from the Chairman of the Congress of Grottos shall be an official part of the agenda of the closing session of the Board Meeting at each NSS National Convention." Stevens seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lester
PASSED
23. NSS Annual Report
Medville moved: The NSS Board of Governors supports the preparation of an NSS Annual Report. The purpose of this report is to communicate our goals, accomplishments, and activities to non-NSS organizations with which we interact. The report is directed to federal and state agencies, grant awarding foundations, other conservation and scientific organizations, and any other individuals or groups with which the NSS needs to communicate. Aulenbach seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
24. Closed Cave Data Base Committee
Medville moved: Act 46-608 (Closed Cave Data Base Committee) is amended as follows:
The last sentence is replaced with:
"Information obtained by the Committee will be used for statistical and analytical purposes and will be used to assemble a list of closed caves (without cave locations) that can be accessed on the NSS web site. Those closed caves that are on regional lists and already accessible on the NSS or other publicly accessible web sites will be included in the closed cave database. In all cases, permission will be obtained from the preparers of regional closed cave lists for use of their information in the NSS closed cave database."
Hood seconded.
The motion was withdrawn by unanimous consent.
After brief discussion, the Board reached a consensus that a national NSS closed cave list was not required. The NSS, with the permission of those providing the cave data, could easily provide links to existing regional and state closed cave databases through the NSS web site.
25. Project Underground
Medville moved: Act 86-545 (Project Underground) is amended as follows:
"The Society will co-sponsor, with the Richmond Area Speleological Society (RASS), 'Project Underground', (sic) a supplemental environmental <<education>> program. < with Diane Barns a project Director>. Any contract or financial obligation must be further approved by this Board. The NSS agrees to work with RASS to solicit donations and grants and expand the program nationally." G. Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
26. The Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy
Medville moved: The Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy is confirmed as a Conservancy of the NSS.
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
27. NSS A/V Library Restricted Fund
Hood moved: Act 18-524 (NSS A/V Library Restricted Fund) is amended to read as follows: "The purpose of the <'NSS A/V Library' restricted fund><<NSS A/V Library Restricted Fund>> is to provide funds for NSS A/V Library programs, equipment, or equipment maintenance. These funds may be spent by the A/V Library chairman subject to OVP approval. <<All funds (fees in excess of postage costs) raised through the A/V Library rental program will go to this restricted fund. >>" Bussey seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Hose
PASSED
28. NSS Bookstore Manager
Hood moved: The part-time paid position of NSS Bookstore Manager is established in the Department of the Operations Vice President. The NSS Bookstore Manager shall report to the Operations Manager. Sira seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
29. Mailing List Availability
Hood moved: Act 25-388 (Mailing List Availability) is amended to read as follows: "Whenever the NSS mailing list is made available to organizations <outside the NSS>, it will be at a rate of <$.04> <<$0.10>> per label to a non-profit organization, and a flat rate of $2,000.00 to a for<<->>profit Organization. These rates may be adjusted for a specific use at the discretion of the Executive Committee."
Sira seconded.
Bussey moved to amend, deleting "$0.10" and inserting "$0.07."
The motion died for lack of a second.
VOTE on the motion:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED
30. Operations Manager
Hood moved: Act 25-560 (Operations Manager) is amended to read as follows:
"The paid position of Operations Manager is in the Department of the Operations Vice President. The Operations Manager shall <report to> <<be supervised by>> the Operations Vice President. <<The Operations Manager shall report to the Operations Vice President for the overall operations of the NSS Office and to the Secretary-Treasurer for NSS accounting and fiscal reports. >>" P. Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
31. Market Analysis Committee
Hood moved: The Market Analysis Committee is in the OVP Department. The committee conducts market research for proposed non-periodical publications to be published and sold by the NSS. The committee develops an estimate of how many copies of each proposed publication the NSS bookstore will sell over a three-year period at various prices based upon a description of the publication provided by the EVP. The committee considers both wholesale and retail sales using a discount policy and an advertising strategy provided by the OVP. A detailed discussion of the assumptions and logic for each estimate is provided for review along with comparisons with sales of similar publications. The committee works closely with the NSS Bookstore Manager and Special Publications Committee. The NSS Bookstore Manager is responsible for providing past NSS bookstore sales data. The Special Publications Committee is responsible for estimating the total cost to produce each proposed NSS publication at various quantities with a detailed discussion of the assumptions and logic for their estimate. The Executive Committee considers the recommendations of the Market Analysis Committee and the Special Publications Committee when determining the scope of a proposed NSS non-periodical publication, the quantity to be printed, and the selling price as they develop the NSS capital budget for approval for the Board of Governors.
Keeler seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
32. Cave Education Restricted Fund
Stevens moved: The NSS Cave Education Restricted Fund is established. Its purpose is to promote cave and karst education programs for primary and secondary students. The Executive Committee may fund grant proposals from this restricted fund. G. Moss seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey
PASSED
33. Repair Funds
Stevens moved: Act 18-270 (Repair Funds) is amended to read as follows:
"A Building Repair Fund is established for the purpose of financing major maintenance and repairs on the office building. An office equipment fund is established for the purpose of financing maintenance or replacement of office equipment <<or software>>. Money will be included in the annual budget to maintain these funds." Sira seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
34. Board Meeting System Ad Hoc Committee
Wefer moved: The Board Meeting System Ad Hoc Committee is in the Department of the President. Its function is to investigate improvements to, or replacement of the "voting machine" currently used in NSS Board Meetings, including hardware and software. Aulenbach seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
35. Agenda Timing and Completeness
Wefer moved: Act 04-197 - Timing and Completeness — is amended to read,
"<Final Board meeting agendas shall be prepared and distributed to the
Board a minimum of three weeks prior to the meeting and every effort shall be made to have all motions presented in the agenda. > <<A preliminary Agenda shall be prepared and distributed to the Board a minimum of one month prior to the meeting. A final Agenda shall be prepared and distributed to the Board a minimum of two weeks prior to the meeting, and every effort shall be made to have all motions presented in the Agenda. >>" P. Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
36. Advance Copies of Agenda
Wefer moved: Act 04-421 (Advance Copies of Agenda) is amended to read as follows:
"Advance copies of the agenda for meetings of the Board of Governors shall be sent to the Editors of the NSS NEWS and the Administrative Memo, and the chairmen <<or their designated representatives>> of the following committees: Conservation, Internal Organizations, <<Internet,>> and Membership."
P. Moss seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
37. Single Signature Limit
Lester moved: All accounts of NSS funds, be they checking, savings, certificate, stock, or other accounts, shall be set up to require two separate authorized signatures for any withdrawal or transfer of funds to non-NSS accounts, exceeding an amount to be set (Single Signature Limit), from time to time, by a majority action of the Board of Governors. Said amount(s) shall initially be $1,000. At least one of the required signatures shall be that of the Officer or Manager (or their authorized proxy) responsible for the Department or budget item for which the withdrawal or transfer is being made. Sira seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Lester, Sira, Hose
Opposed: Rest
Abstaining: Aulenbach
FAILED
38. Other Financial Operations
Lester moved: Act 15-019 (Other Financial Operations) is amended to add:
"Two authorized signatures shall be required for all withdrawals in excess of the Single Signature Limit, and the financial institutions holding the funds shall have written instructions to that effect.
The motion died for lack of a second.
39. Independent Payroll Service
Lester moved: All payroll for NSS employees and affiliates is to be handled by a third party, outside, independent, nationally recognized payroll or accounting firm. Liebman seconded.
Stevens moved to refer the motion to the Secretary-Treasurer. Hood seconded.
VOTE to refer:
In favor: Rest
Opposed: Bussey, Hose, Medville, Keeler, Lester
REFERRED
40. 1999 Peruvian Expedition
Fleming moved: The 1999 Peruvian Expedition is approved as an NSS Expedition. Steve Knutson (NSS 5433) is the expedition leader. Liebman seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
41. Suspend the Agenda
President Wefer asked if there was any objection to suspending the order of business in order to consider Items # 42-51, Committee Chairman Confirmations, as one motion. Doug Medville objected, and the order of business was resumed.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CONFIRMATIONS
42. Confirmation of Board Meeting System Ad Hoc Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: G. Thomas Rea (NSS 5683) is confirmed as Chairman of the Board Meeting System Ad Hoc Committee in the President's Department. Hood seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
43. Confirmation of Bylaws Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Jim Borden (NSS 14153) is confirmed as the Chairman of the Bylaws Committee in the President's Department. Bussey seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
44. Confirmation of International Exploration Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Joel D. Despain (NSS 23136) is confirmed as Chairman of the International Exploration Committee in the EVP Department. Liebman seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
45. Suspend the Agenda
President Wefer asked again if there was any objection to suspending the order of business in order to consider Items # 46-51, Committee Chairman Confirmations, as one motion.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
46. Confirmation of Research Advisory Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Aldemaro Romero, Ph.D. (NSS 22734) is confirmed as Chairman of the Research Advisory Committee in the EVP Department.
47. Confirmation of NCRC National Coordinator
Wefer moved: Bernard "Butch" Feldhaus (NSS 22036) is confirmed as National Cave Rescue Commission National Coordinator for a three year term in the AVP Department.
48. Cave and Karst Acquisition Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Thomas D. Engel (NSS 13832) is confirmed as Chairman of the Cave and Karst Acquisition Committee in the AVP Department.
49. Confirmation of Closed Caves Database Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Everett E. Carpenter (NSS 44897) is confirmed as Chair of the closed Caves Database committee in the AVP Department.
50. Confirmation of Resource Preservation Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Jim Werker (NSS 31653) and Val Hildreth-Werker (NSS 28963) are confirmed as co-chairmen of the NSS Resource Preservation Committee in the AVP Department.
51. Confirmation of Library Committee Chairman
Wefer moved: Richard L. Downey (NSS 40910) is confirmed as Chairman of the Library Committee in the OVP Department.
Wefer moved to approve the confirmation of the committee chairmen listed in Items #46-51.
Sira seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
52. Suspend the Agenda
President Wefer announced that there were four motions of Omega Business and asked if anyone objected to considering the motion on Speleo Art at this time and postponing the remaining three motions to the 1999 NSS National Convention Board Meeting Agenda. Agreed to by unanimous consent.
OMEGA BUSINESS
53. Speleo Art
Fleming moved: The Speleo Art Coordinator is authorized $500.00 from the General fund for the purpose of developing, organizing and presenting the Speleo Art display at the 1999 NSS National Convention. Sira seconded.
VOTE:
In favor: Aulenbach, Sira, Bussey, Fleming, Belski, Tozer, G.
Moss, Medville, Keeler
Opposed: Liebman, P. Moss, Hose, Hood, Stevens
Abstaining: Lester, Taylor
PASSED
54. Suspend the Agenda
Liebman moved: In accordance with Act 04-472, the agenda is suspended for informal discussion among all present for 15 minutes. Taylor seconded. Agreed to by unanimous consent.
The topics addressed were as follows:
1) David Kesner asked for clarification regarding the tax liability incurred with spending the honorarium given to the NSS Convention Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer provided clarification.
2) David Kesner requested the NSS President write a letter to a group of Croatian cavers inviting them to attend the 1999 NSS National Convention. The cavers requested the letter to assist them in obtaining visas to visit the U.S.
3) Tom Pollock, Board Arrangements Committee Chairman, reported that he received bids to host Board meetings from Arkansas for spring 2000 and Northern New Jersey Grotto for fall 2000. David Lester asked the status of the bid submitted by the Colorado Grotto for the spring 2000 Board meeting. Hazel Barton, Chairperson of the Colorado Grotto, had submitted the bid in November 1998. Tom said that he had not received a bid from Colorado and promised to research the matter.
4) EVP Ray Keeler announced the initiation of a new NSS program designed by Cheryl Jones to receive member donations. Members will now be able to make periodic donations to the Society through their credit card. Members may choose the fund to which they wish to contribute to and how often they wish to donate. The minimum donation amount is $10.00. The donation form and instructions will be posted on the NSS web site or members can contact the NSS Office for details.
5) Keith Dunlap of the Central Indiana Grotto reviewed the Saturday night dinner and party logistics.
6) President Wefer thanked the three retiring Board members; Louise Hose, Dave Belski, and Bob Liebman; for their service to the NSS. The Board and the members present gave them a standing ovation.
President Wefer declared the informal discussion session closed at 6:10 P.M.
55. Appreciation
Liebman moved: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the Central Indiana Grotto of the NSS for our excellent meeting arrangements. Hose seconded.
VOTE: Unanimously in favor
PASSED
56. Adjourn
It was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned.
Agreed to by unanimous consent.
President Wefer declared the meeting adjourned at 6:18 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Stevens
Recording Secretary
Motions, in addition to those postponed by the Board, to be placed on the 1999 NSS National Convention Board Meeting Agenda:
NSS A/V Library Use
Liebman moves: The use of the NSS A/V Library is limited
to NSS members.
E-Mail
Liebman moves: NSS Directors and Officers are not
required to have e-mail or Internet.
Research Committee
Medville moves: A Research Committee is established in
the Department of the President. The committee shall study issues
of interest to the Board of Governors and shall report to the
Board on its findings.