Attachment A-1
President’s Report
Annual Report Committee
Awards Committee
Board Arrangements Committee
Bylaws Committee
Executive Grant Search Committee
Fund Raising Committee
Government Liaison Committee
Grants Committee
International Secretary
Legal
Committee
Logistics Committee
Membership Committee
National Cave and Karst Management
Symposium Coordinator
Nominating Committee
NSS/KWI Liaison
NSS/NCKRI Liaison
NSS/TNC
Liaison
Planning Committee
Public Relations Committee
Recording Secretary
Secretary to the Board
Show Caves Liaison Committee
2009 International Congress Organizing
Committee
Ad Hoc Committee Office Software
Bill Tozer (765) 778-3259, president@caves.org
There are 23 committees, commissions, publications, etc in the Department of the President (PRES). In this report, I provide the name, phone number, and e-mail address of the chair of each committee or organization, followed by their report. The committee and sub-committee chairs have provided the information in this report, although I’ve made some spelling, formatting, and minor editorial adjustments.
For detailed address information of any committee chair, please refer to the NSS Members Manual or go to: http://www.caves.org/nss-business/bog/table-4d.html#President.
The presidents department still is in need of volunteers. An announcement has appeared on the web page and in the NSS NEWS and a new announcement will appear in an upcoming issue. The Annual Report Committee was transferred to the president’s department at the past spring board meeting. The Executive Grant Search Committee has been without members for 2 years. The Fundraising committee is still looking for a permanent chairman. Scott Fee has stepped forward to help with this committee. Hazel Medville has expressed her desire to step down as Government Liaison Committee Chairman and the Office Software ad hoc committee. The planning committee has a member, but is without a chairman,. The president’s roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday, 4:00p to follow the Congress of Grottos meeting. The purpose of the roundtable is to look to the future of the NSS, which of course looks at the present. The panel will consist of Eric Weaver, Keith Wheeland, Bill Jackson, George Veni, Dave Bunnell, and John Pearson. Audience participation will be encouraged.
Most of the committees are functioning well. I encourage you to read their reports. The fundraising committee is continuing to work to pay off the Great X debt. The BLM MOU signing is scheduled for Friday of the convention. The membership committee has been active in getting membership material to MVOR, Cave Capers, and Karst-O-Rama. The project will expand to the other regional events. Membership packets will again be given out at the convention. The exit interviews, with limited sampling, show that people mostly forget or delay paying dues due to financial reasons. Those not rejoining are out of caving because of moves, or lost interest. No one has expressed dissatisfaction with the NSS services. A membership application has been inserted in the NSS NEWS in the April and June issues. We are evaluating the effectiveness of this initiative. The National Cave and Karst Research Institute is undergoing changes in leadership. Several prominent NSS members are still involved.
Lee Stevens, Recording Secretary, will not be able to attend the Bellingham Convention. She does plan to attend the upcoming fall and spring board meetings. Janet Thorne will be the acting recording secretary in Bellingham.
Chairman, Vacant
The Biennial Report has turned into an annual report. This committee was transferred to the president’s department in March in Dallas. The committee has not had a chairman for over a year. A recent act has changed the nature of the committee to an annual report to be posted on the Web. This is consistent with the need for documentation for grants and the Combined Federal Campaign Fund. I expect to have the report in time to meet next years CFC report.
Scott Fee, Chairman, 205-856-9177, scottfee@caves.org
Committee Members: Barbara am Ende, Mike Bachke, Gale Beach, Evelyn Bradshaw, Bill Bussey, Carolyn Cronk, Donald G. Davis, Michael Dyas, Dr. Daniel Fong, Jr., Mike K. Hood, Roy Jameson, Pat Kambesis, William Mixon, Gary Moss, Dr Diana Northup, G. Thomas Rea, Geary M. Schindel, Gordon L. Smith, Jr., Linda Starr, Lee Stevens, Bill Tozer, Dr. George Veni
Progress: The Awards committee recommendations were presented to the Board at the March meeting. These recipients have been notified so that they may attend the convention. Everything is on schedule for the convention awards program .
Plans: The Power Point program of award winners will be prepared for the awards presentation. The annual Awards committee meeting will be held at the convention.
A call for 2007 nominations will be sent to the NSS NEWS.
Problems: As always, the awards committee needs support of the Society by providing good nominations for all awards.
Mike Hood, Chairman, mhood@caves.org
Progress: The Battlefield Area Troglodyte Society is hosting the fall 2006 meeting on November 4th, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the Escabrosa Grotto will host the spring 2007 meeting on March 17th, in Tucson, Arizona, and Philip Moss will host the fall 2007 meeting on October 13th, in Waterloo, Illinois. The next open meeting is spring 2008, so I have plenty of time to find hosts. I do have a bid from the Williams Canyon Project to host the spring 2009 meeting at Cave of the Winds, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The formal bid should be on the agenda.
Plans: I will continue to seek hosts for meetings by posting announcements on the various e-mail groups, NSS Discussion Board and NSS News. I will also stay in frequent contact with those groups hosting meetings to make sure they are moving along and to assist them if needed.
Problems: None.
Tom Rea, Chairman, 765-653-4423, tomrea@caves.org
Progress: Nothing has been referred to the Bylaws Committee during this period.
Plans: To respond to inquires in a timely manner.
Problems: none
Executive Grant Search Committee:
Chairman, Vacant
The executive Grant Search Committee has no chairman. The act required two board members are to be members of the committee. This committee has been empty for two years. The purpose of the committee is to search for grant ideas to be used by the grant writing committee. A broad understanding of the NSS structure and function is needed.
Scott Fee (Interim Chairman), 205-856-9177, scottfee@caves.org
Progress: The NSS's Combined Federal Campaign application was approved on May 13th. This will allow federal and military employees to donate to the NSS through their workplace campaign. The CFC identification number Donors will use the CFC identification number #9256 to designate their contribution to our Society.
The National Speleological Foundation (NSF) offered a matching grant of up to $2,500 to the National Speleological Society to help with the acquisition of Great Expectations Cave Nature Preserve in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. This grant will match funds raised by the Society for this purpose between January 1 and June 30, 2006. The Grant was awarded in March as a result of our memberships generous donations that occured in January and February.
During the 2006 NSS Convention, the Richmond Area Speleological Society agrees to donate 50 cents to the NSS Endowment Fund, for every dollar donated to the NSS. The limit on this matching grant is $5,000. RASS hopes that the members will donate at least $10,000 to the Society during the Convention.
Plans: Continue to make the membership aware of the Great X debt.
Problems: The committee needs a permanent chairman.
Hazel Medville, Chairman, 703-860-0134, hazelmedville@verizon.net
Progress: Attended AGI Congressional Visit Days and visited with the staffs of Moran (VA), Warner( Senate VA), Allen (Senate VA), and the Senate Energy Committee. Most of the visits were taken up with the science and research appropriations but two staffers actually wanted to talk to the "caver". Handed out Biennial Reports to various other offices.BLM MOU is reported as through the director's staff at BLM and will be signed at the Convention. The BLM Director will be invited to attend the sessions and banquet on Friday.
Plans: None
Problems: Other commitments on my time have led me to ask Bill Tozer to find a replacement as chairman.
Hazel A. Barton, chairman, hazel@cavescience.com
Progress: Absolutely none, but then I'm not technically off the board yet!
Plans: The first plan is to recruit members to the grant writing committee - initial contacts fell through, so I'm going to have to pester a few folks whowould be good in this capacity. 'We' then plan to create a web resource for interested NSS members to provide information on grant programs and information on how the application process works, how to prepare a proposal and management of funds. The next aim would be to determine a policy for the Executive Committee and selected members of the board to approve proposal applications that require NSS oversight or commit the society to project. Finally, I aim to write some boilerplate material that describes the society, it's membership, etc. This material can then be used by applicants directly.
Problems: As anticipated, summer is hectic and I have absolutely no free time to commit to this project. Things should ease up in the fall.
John L. Moses (Secretary),
915-755-7716, johnmoses@excite.com
Eleanor Larson (Committee Member) Santa Barbara, CA
Tom Lera (Committee Member) Falls Church, VA
Plans: Provide assistance with visa invitations for UIS (International Union of Speleology) Bureau members attending 2007 meeting in Puerto Rico.
Progress: Reviewed current online BOG Manual for acts of relevance to International Secretary and provided Cheryl Jones (who had requested the review) with update/revisions on BOG Manual items relating to International Secretary.
A grant proposal was reviewed and approved by the NSS International Participation Grant Committee (NSS President, William Tozer, NSS Research Committee chair, Dr. Donald McFarlane; International Secretary, John Moses) for $1850 to the Karst Research Group at the University of South Florida. The group, sponsored by NSS member Lea Florea, was to conduct field work with speleologists in Romania during May and June 2006.
A recent grant recipient, NSS member Jason Gulley, wrote that Nepal Glacier Cave expedition was a "huge success" and that presentation would be made at the NSS Convention and publication for the NSS News.
Dr. George Veni attended the 2006 International Union of Speleology Bureau meeting in Lebanon. The 2007 UIS Bureau meeting will be held in Puerto Rico on 5-6 August 2007. The next UIS meeting will be held in conjunction with the FEALC (Speleological Federation of Latin America & the Caribbean) Congress. Veni invited interested Bureau members to travel to Texas to inspect the 15th ICS facilities in Kerrville. Bureau members will be provided accommodations and all needed transportation for that period.
Problems: None
Joel B. Stevenson, Chairman 828-669-0126, cavelaw@jbs-law.com
Progress: Tue 28 Feb 06: Receive e-mail from P Moss expressing concerns re: conflict of interest question. Draft reply & send
2d e-mail from P Moss, clarifying his concerns on above. Draft reply & send, explaining why I am not concerned with the hypothetical question presented in prior e-mail.
27 Mar. 06 Review & respond to e-mail from B Ashbrook re: NSS registration with Alabama Atty Gen for solicitation of funds in connection with International Congress.
11 April 06: e-mail from Bert Ashbrook w/ attached proposed contract re: cave conservation book. Review document & alternate proposal suggested by Ted Lee. Response to Ashbrook agreeing that the proposed contract is not sufficient to protect society's interests. Suggest adopting some form of Lee's document.
e-mail from G Birkhimer requesting review of proposed contract on cave conservation book. Review proposed contract again, e-mail response that contract is not ok, suggesting that an IP attorney be retained to draft the contract.
Additionally there has been e-mail correspondence from Lee, Ashbrook. Birkhimer and Rea concerning revision to the Society Copyright policy and revision of the form contracts. This is also discussed under "Plans."
Plans: As Legal Committee Chairman I have been asked to participate in the review of the copyright policy and a telephone conference is planned for the near future [date not yet set] in which Stevenson, Lee, Ashbrook, and Birkhimer will discuss copyright policy and contract revisions Rea has pointed out areas in which contract provisions will need to be modified to accommodate the needs of the Society.
Problems: There are no pressing problems to report.
Rowswell Jones, Chairman, 412-367-3522, wrj48221@comcast.net
Progress: The voting machine has been tested and is ready for another summer convention of Board meetings. I have also created a CD with the software needed to record the Board on a Windows machine running XP.
Plans: I am also open to any ideas on building a computerized voting machine.
Problems: None.
Eric Weaver, Chairman, weaverem@uc.edu
Progress: The Membership Committee sent out a letter to grottos to insert into their newsletters an invitation for non-NSS Members to join. This seemed to be received well and was sent out to many newsletters, placed on grotto websites and listservs. The Membership Committee’s website has been fully developed and is now accessible by a link from the NSS website. We have also begun to encourage caving events to provide membership applications at their registration site. This has happened at MVOR, Cave Capers and Karst-O-Rama. The Membership Committee will continue this by handing out Membership packets at Convention after the COG meeting. This seemed to be regarded with great enthusiasm last year. In the past two months, we have been using a web-based survey to conduct exit interviews for members who have not renewed in the past 90 days. The response rate for those with e-mail addresses has been 15% (bad/blocked e-mail addresses were not removed from these calculations) or 25 responses /196 attempted. A 15% response rate for this type of survey is about average to above average. This survey is an extension of the phone call exit interviews. The initial findings are very similar to what we had found by doing the phone calls: most people plan to renew, but haven’t done so yet. Over half (14/26) of those that responded indicated that they planned to renew shortly. Another portion that responded indicated that they would renew but were currently under considerable financial constraint at the moment. In general, there were no significant complaints regarding the NSS as an entity, even among those that were not planning on renewing. Most, who were not renewing, had stopped caving either due to health or re-location. Of those not renewing, the majority had never joined a grotto. The remainder had dropped out of their grotto (usually due to re-location). Not one of the "not renewing membership" respondents was currently a member of a grotto. There did not seem to be a significant (or even mild) trend to indicate an actual dissatisfaction with the NSS. However, this survey truly does not have enough data to make any judgments at this time. The results of the survey can be viewed at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=94670586407 .
Plans: We will continue to recruit NSS members internally through the caving community (i.e. caving events, grottos word of mouth) through the availability of membership packets. We want to work on a way to provide incentives to encourage grottos, sections, caving events, etc. to promote NSS membership. From the retention standpoint, we may be able to reduce a portion of our losses by streamlining the renewal process. We will continue the exit interview and survey as a method for assessment and as a reminder to renew membership.
Problems: None. A special thanks to Dawn Ryan for following through when I became otherwise pre-occupied.
National Cave and Karst Management Symposium Coordinator:
Cheryl Jones, Coordinator, 703-442-8499, Cheryl.caver@verizon.net
Progress: Budget is finalized and plans are progressing for the 2007 NCKMS (St. Louis).
Plans: I will chair NCKMS Steering Committee meeting on Tuesday morning of the NSS Convention. The Steering Committee is pursuing a means to digitize all past issues of the NCKMS Proceedings.
Problems: 2005 Proceedings progress is stalled, because a member of the 2005 NCKMS host committee has not passed on to the editor the papers he has received.
Montana Autumn Spencer, chairman, 260-982-7792, Cavrbab@earthlink.net
Brent M Grist, 50247, Verification Teller, David D. Seng, 24371RE, Committee Member
Progress: Eligibility of all candidates was successfully confirmed with the NSS Office.
Ballot layout, composition, and proofing were completed such that printing and mailing concluded allowing 45 days between mailing and receipt deadline. Ballots were mailed out of Huntsville, AL using the NSS bulk-mailing permit.
Committee Expense Report and request for reimbursement were submitted to the NSS Office in April and reimbursement has been received.
All valid and invalid ballots were received and accounted for on tally sheets by the receipt deadline. 10,801 domestic and 335 international ballots were mailed. Out of the 11,136 ballots mailed, 1781 were returned for a 16% return rate, down 1% from last year. Two ballots were invalid due to USPS damage and four for in excess of maximum allowable votes cast or zero votes cast. 38 tardy ballots were also invalid. There were 32 unique names submitted as write-in candidates with only one receiving over two votes. Power Votes=ballots containing ONLY one cast vote and we received 150 power vote ballots representing 9% of all valid ballots.
Vote tallies are listed alphabetically below:
Linda Baker Devine Maryland
940
Rick Bowersox Nevada 622
Jay Clark Alabama 1019
Timothy Comer Texas 448
Lee Florea Florida 881
Ted Kayes Virginia 819
Kathy Lavoie New York668
Eric Weaver Ohio 553
Linda Baker Devine, Jay Clark, Lee Florea, and Ted Kayes were each elected to three-year terms.
Notification of the NSS President, all candidates, and the Board et al., was completed before the 40-day pre-Convention notification deadline stated in the Bylaws.
Election summation article submitted to Dave Bunnell to serve as membership notification of election results via an August NSS News article. (Posts were also made to NSS Discussion Board, Caver's Digest, TAG-Net, IFO-Net, and several other grottos and caving groups w/permission to republish to other caving forums in its entirety.)
Nominating Committee Web site has been updated with election results and ballot return rate stats.
I sent and received 342 e-mails regarding this year's election and an additional 135 e-mails regarding our NomComm Web site.
To process and mail each ballot costs the following:
US $.39 each, Canadian $1.02 each, and all other countries $1.06 each.
Completed as much as I could of draft ballot cover pages for 2007 election.
Completed draft of Call for Candidates 2007 article for December 2006 NSS News.
Plans: Deliver to Convention all ballots and final tally sheets for inspection by the candidates and/or delivery to the NSS Archivist.
Problems: No problems at this time.
Kelly Nowood, Chairman, 770-723-9040, kelly_norwood@dnr.state.ga.us
Progress: The KWI hosted their Annual Award Dinner on March 11, 2006, in Denver, Colorado. This year’s honoree is Mr. Ronal Kerbo, and he received their Annual KWI Award. I was unable to attend this year’s meeting, but I heard it was excellent as usual! The annual KWI meeting was held directly before the banquet dinner.
By KWI vote, the NSS has been accepted as an affiliate with the KWI per their written request of last year. The NSS is not posted on the web page yet, however, Carol is looking into this to ensure we will be listed soon.
The KWI-sponsored "Climate Change, The Karst Record" conference was held on May 26-30, 2006, in Baile Herculane, Romania. The KWI is looking forward to their next conference, "Time in Karst", mentioned above.
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts a site where up-coming classes, symposiums, conferences, work shops, etc. and recent documents are listed. I am planning to post announcements to this EPA web site for the up-coming conferences to be held in the United States. Karst is often overlooked as an issue by our environmental regulatory agencies. I feel a big part of my job (being an environmental geologist and NSS-KWI liaison) is to promote some of these conferences to the environmental community for the purpose of gaining karst awareness.
Plans: The KWI is co-sponsoring a new symposium, "Time in Karst," which is scheduled for March 14-18, 2007 in Postojna, Slovenia, at the Karst Research Institute. The conference will cover topics such as ‘Age of Karst Landscapes,’ ‘Age of Animal Lineages,’ ‘Cosmogenic Dating Methods.’ ‘Historical Biogeography,’ ‘Paleokarst,’ and ‘Sediment Records.’ Dr. David Culver is the contact person for this symposium. He is listed in the NSS Members’ Manual.
The KWI is co-sponsoring another conference, "International Conference on Karst Hydrology and Ecosystems (Karst2007)," on August 13-19, 2007, at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This conference will not only include papers on some of the latest studies in karst geology, hydrology, biology, etc. but will also serve as a joint meeting for four of the major international karst research entities. I attended the last conference of this sort in Kentucky in 2002, and have to say I never knew there was so much research going on internationally for karst. If you want to meet and discuss karst science issues with many people throughout the world, this is the place to be in 2007.
The KWI is also co-sponsoring the "Second Appalachian Karst Symposium," on September 12-15, 2007, in Johnson City, Tennessee. This symposium will focus on and foster communication related to karst systems in the Appalachian area of the United States.
The KWI is still working on the Benchmark book, Carol has told me it is ready to go to the printers, and should be out soon.
KWI has added a "Research Directions" meeting to their agenda that they will hold in May 2007. Jon Martin is the lead organizer.
As always, my plans are to continue to forward all KWI information out to the NSS membership, and to promote open communication between NSS scientists (of which KWI persons are included) about their science projects. As soon as the conferences are announced, I will have the announcements posted on EPA conference, session, and continuing education web boards/lists.
Problems: None.
NSS/National Cave and Karst Research Institute Liaison:
Patricia Seiser, Liaison, 505-887-7356, pseiser@plateautel.net
Progress: Due to philosophical differences in the view for NCKRI’s future, Louise Hose is no longer serving as Director for NCKRI. She has been re-assigned duties within the Geological Division of the National Park Service. Her position ends October 1, 2006, the start of the Federal Government’s new fiscal year. Ron Kerbo, NPS, Denver office, is currently serving as interim director. Needless to say, this has not been a pleasant situation for all concerned.
NCKRI is in a holding pattern until NMT brings on a new director. (at which time NCKRI will be transferred to NMT for day-to-day operations, the NPS will still have overall control). The job announcement closed on July 1. The time line for reviewing resumes, interviewing of selected candidates, and subsequent hiring of a director will be dependent on the number applications received, as well as, the schedules of the search committee. The hope is that a new director will be on board no later than October.
The NCKRI Inc, board of directors was voted on at the May 15, 2005 meeting. It includes numerous NSS members. Hazel Medville is serving as the Chairman of the Board.
Plans: It is my hope that with a new director that the NCKRI will be able to develop a closer working relation with the NSS.
Problems: None
Rane L. Curl, Liaison, 734-995-2678, raneculr@umich.edu
Progress: There have been no new developments re NSS-TNC Liaison since my last report.
Plans: To stay in touch with the TNC
Problems: None
Chairman, Vacant
Kathleen Levoie has agreed to serve as a member of the committee. She is not able to serve as chairman due to demands on her time. We have the NSS Survey results which have been published in the NSS NEWS. The president’s roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday at 4:00p after the COG. Hopefully this will also provide some future direction for the Society.
Jay Jordon, Chairman, 214-202-6611, jjorden@texoma.net
Committee Members: Matt Bowers, David McClurg, Jack Hissong, and Sandra Hissong
Progress: The Public Relations Committee has continued to field information requests from media organizations, prospective authors and others. Other projects include working with the 2009 Congress Organizing Committee, the Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission, 2006 NSS Convention organizers and the Awards Committee.
Details: Committee members assisted a publicist in connection with another in a series of cave-related movie thrillers. The committee provided information on conservation and safety.
President Bill Tozer was interviewed by Dave McGowen for his cavebiota.com web site. The interview was in relation to restoration of Buckner cave, which was vandalized.
The committee worked with organizers of the 2006 convention in Bellingham, Wash., on pre-convention publicity.
The committee worked with the webmaster to fix remaining problems as a result of the late summer server crash, including online availability of the backgrounder or "press kit" for reporters. The PR material had been posted to: http://www.caves.org/press … . The media@caves.org address is working again.
Plans: The committee is preparing a draft of a communications plan for the NSS. It includes working with the Awards Committee, board members and officers to raise awareness to members and to journals and organizations in the communities appropriate for each recipient. Channels include journals and other publications in science and conservation as well as government agencies and media representatives. A media response protocol for cave rescues will be included.
Problems: Please let me know of any specific PR concerns or needs.
Lee Stevens, Chairman, lee_stevens@comcast.net
Progress: The draft minutes of the March 2006 Board of Governors meeting have been circulated, corrected and posted on the web. Thanks go to Vince Kappler, Secretary to the Board, who promptly provided data for the draft meeting minutes in accordance with the new requirements approved at the March 2006 Board meeting.
Problems: Although the design specifications for the new voting system for NSS Board of Governors meetings exist, its implementation is still in limbo since no advertisements for someone to build the system have been run.
Plans: Timely production of the Board of Governors meeting minutes. Draft and circulate an advertisement for the new voting system.No Report
Vince Kappler, 10 Hollyhock Way, Newton NJ 07860, 973-579-2116, vkappler@nac.net
Progress: All Board actions regarding the Board of Governors Manual, adopted at the March meeting, have been implemented beginning with the manual updates prepared from the March meeting minutes.
One correction was made to an Act since my last report:
I was advised by a Director that Act 64-586 appeared to reference a Bylaw that did not exist. A review of the Act and the Bylaws concluded that there was an incorrect reference to a Bylaw in 64-586. Act 64-586 was corrected as necessary in all versions of the manual. The corrected Act follows:
64-586 Internal Organizations 3-22-97
The Internal Organizations Committee is instructed to interpret strictly the requirement in Bylaw VII. E that the common interest of members of a Section be related to speleology.
I contacted the new Directors and explained the several BOG Manual options offered in Executive Policy: Department of the President: 1) BOG Manuals 8-05, 10-81 ( http://caves.org/nss-business/bog/part-91.html#BOG Manuals )
Plans: Prepare and circulate manual updates as quickly as possible.
Problems: None at this time.
Gordon Smith, Chairman, 812-945-5721, glstis@aol.com
Progress: Visited several show caves in Germany. Visited many show caves in the US including the new Cub Run Cave north of Mammoth Cave. Working on new methods of lighting to lessen power consumption and algae growth in show caves. I also serve on the Insurance Committee for the NCA and answer many questions re cave liability insurance.
Plans: I will be attending the NCA annual convention in Bermuda as well as the International Show Cave meeting. Will coordinate show cave visits during the 2007 NSS Convention in Indiana.
Problems: None that I am aware of.
George Veni, Chairman, gveni@satx.com
Progress:
(1) The International Union of Speleology met in April 2006 and approved its new guidelines for the organization of international congresses of speleology. These have been distributed to the Organizing Committee for implementation.
(2) Contract negotiations with Schreiner University have begun. No major problems are currently foreseen.
(3) The Congress website (www.ics2009.us) has been completely revised and posted. It is attracting positive attention with people wanting to be added to the e-mail information list and others offering to help. One goal of the website is to stay as current as possible, so that if the information someone seeks isn't there, then there is a good chance that information is not yet available.
(4) Leaflets about the Congress have been distributed at two international conferences. They have been translated into French, German, and Spanish, with an Italian translation in progress.
Plans:
(1) Complete contract negotiations with Schreiner University and sign the contract by the end of the summer.
(2) Provide complete translations of the Web site into French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
(3) Develop a detailed schedule for every member of the Organizing Committee that outlines all major tasks and deadlines for their completion.
The above are just some key immediate plans. A complete list of goals and deadlines as required by the International Union of Speleology's guidelines are available upon request. When the work schedule for the Organizing Committee is completed, it will also be available upon request.
Problems:
(1) A hard drive crash with the computer system planned to drive our e-mail list has postponed its activation. We are currently waiting for an estimated activation date, and a re-evaluation on if this system will be reliable enough for our needs.
(2) Fundraising activity has been stalled. The Chairman of the Funding Raising Committee has been unable to work on the committee due to her father's terminal illness and now recent death. She expects to resume committee work in mid-late June.
(3) Two committee chairmen resigned when they discovered a scheduling conflict. One of the positions has been filled and someone else is being interviewed for the other position.
Office Software ad Hoc Committee:
Hazel Medville, Chairman, 703-860-0134, hazelmedville@verizon.net
Progress: The research portion of the task was very fruitful. A lot of material was found defining the current system. Some Standard Operating Procedures are still need to be written for the office staff but the level of existing documentation of procedures was quite good. We should be able to write a requirements document for a new system with very little additional material; Karen Dennis had written a document several years ago which can be used as the basis for it.
Plans: none
Problems: Other commitments on my time have led me to ask Bill Tozer to find a replacement as chairman.
7/25/06