Administrative Vice President Cave Management Division Cave and Karst Acquisition Committee Cave Conservancies Committee Closed Cave Database Committee Contemporary Cave Use Study Committee Land Owner Relations Committee NSS Cave Preserves Committee Conservation Division Conservation Committee Conservation Grants Subcommittee Conservation Task Force Subcommittee Resource Preservation Committee Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission Education Division Environmental Education Committee National Cave Rescue Commission Safety and Techniques Committee Television Video Production Committee IMAX Film Committee NSS Convention Division Convention Development Committee 1999 NSS Convention 2000 NSS Convention 2001 NSS Convention 2002 NSS Convention Junior Speleological Society Salon Coordinator
Attachment C-1: Cave Preserve Reports
Attachment C-2: Management Plan for Billy Clay Cave Preserve, West Virginia
Douglas Medville
11762 Indian Ridge Rd.
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 860-0134
medville@patriot.net
The Department of the Administrative Vice President consists of 16 Committees, two Commissions, and several NSS Convention Committees. Within these are nine Conservation Task Forces, ten Cave Preserves, six NSS Conservancies, and several sub-committees.
In this report, I provide the name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the Chairman of each organizational entity, followed by the Chairman’s report. The information in this report has been provided by the Committee and Subcommittee Chairs although I have made some spelling, formatting, and minor editorial adjustments. Where I feel it is useful to do so, my AVP comments are provided in italics, following the report’s text. In these comments, I add some context-setting remarks, my viewpoint, or additional information.
Copyright Infringement
An NSS member has claimed that the Editor of the 1999 NSS Convention Guidebook printed three copyrighted maps without his permission and is seeking compensation from the NSS for the unauthorized use of these maps. We have referred this matter to the NSS Legal Committee and are in communication with the NSS member involved, the 1999 Guidebook Editor, and the 1999 Convention Chairman in an effort to determine the facts of the matter and to reach a settlement.
National Park Service Cave Education Initiative
We have been contacted by the Chief of Interpretation at Mammoth Cave National Park regarding a proposed two year challenge cost share program involving the education of secondary school students about caves and karst. In this program, the NPS would contribute money and the NSS/PU would contribute volunteers who would make several two hour presentations on cave conservation at local area schools in the U.S.
The volunteers would be paid for their travel and time in attending Regional Workshops prior to giving the presentations. They would also be paid for travel to the schools and the time in giving presentations at a proposed GS-9 rate ($23.97/hr.). Project Underground facilitators and NSS presenters will also be reimbursed for their time and travel in attending an initial Planning Workshop, the Regional Workshops, and in preparing educational materials.
This program, if implemented, is an exciting opportunity for the NSS and its members to become more involved in community outreach and in educating young people in communities near major NPS cave sites about caves, their content, and conservation practices. We would be looking for between 80 and 100 NSS members to attend the workshops and to be trained in giving the presentations. The proposed budget for this activity is $90,00 for NSS and PU personnel, $11,300 for travel reimbursement, and $15,00 for development of learning kits for the NSS Grottos involved.
NSS Participation in Rule Making Committee on Rock Bolting in Wilderness
Federal Register Notice: October 29, 1999: “The Secretary of Agriculture is establishing a negotiated rulemaking advisory committee to assist in the development of a proposed rule regarding the placement, use, and removal of fixed anchors used for recreational rock climbing purposes in congressionally designated wilderness areas administered by the Forest Service.” The Forest Service intends to promulgate a fixed anchor rule that will determine whether or not fixed anchors (bolts) will be allowed in U.S. Forest Service-administered wilderness areas, the circumstances under which these will be allowed, the regulation of use, placement, and removal of bolts, and the process to decide whether the insertion or removal of a bolt should take place. The notice also calls for “nominations for Committee membership from organizations or interests that believe they may be substantially affected by the subject of the negotiations.”
A substantial number of significant caves are found in Forest Service administered wilderness areas in the western U.S. The placement of bolts in these caves has occurred and placement of additional bolts may be necessary in the future to explore, survey, and conduct cave science and resource inventory activities in these caves. Thus the NSS is affected by the Forest Service’s rulemaking process and its ultimate decision regarding bolt placement in wilderness areas, including caves. As a result, I wrote to the Forest Service, stating the NSS’ interest in this matter and requested membership on the Committee. Over 1,250 comments were filed in response to the Federal Register notice and many others requested committee membership as well. I have been informed that as a representative of the NSS, my name will be included in the recommendation to the Secretary of Agriculture for committee membership. Since the Secretary makes the appointments, this isn’t an appointment to the committee but it is a big step in the right direction. Lets see how it works out.
Thom Engel (Chairman)
16 Equinox Ct., Apt. 2a
Delmar, NY 12054-1726
(518) 478-9664
caveman@acmenet.net
Progress: The Mid Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC) is an NSS Conservancy and has decided to purchase Billy Clay Pit in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.. They state: "we do plan to keep the cave open during events like OTR, VAR and convention via the proposed permit system. This would be the second longest cave open to visitation in this area, next to Sharps. Thus, we are asking for any financial assistance the NSS is willing to provide to help us purchase this cave". Kim also sent me a draft management plan for Billy Clay Pit that I will review.
AVP Note: The Management Plan is attached to this report as Attachment C-2.
As per my last report, the status of purchase for Great Ex in Wyoming is currently dormant. Miles Hecker and Bob Montgomery are in touch with the landowner and have expressed an interest in the cave being purchased by the NSS.
Plans: Support the MAKC in its plan to buy the Billy Clay Pit in West Virginia and determine the degree of financial support that they need from the NSS.
Problems: None at present. We need to seek other cave acquisition opportunities.
AVP note: I think that an NSS News article describing the support that we’ve given in the past few years for cave acquisition, would be a good thing. This article can also ask that I.O.s and Conservancies that are interested in buying caves contact Thom.
John M. Wilson (Chairman)
9504 Lakewater Ct.
Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 740 0339 (H)
(804)-262-5249 ext.335 (W)
e-mail: johnw@lewisginter.org
home e-mail: wilsonjmll@earthlink.net
Plans: A Cave Conservancies roundtable and symposium for cave conservancies, land trusts with caves, and related cave management interest is planned for the 2000 NSS Convention in West Virginia. In general, the plans remain the same as in the previous report of the AVP. There are to contact all known cave and cave related conservancies in the US to: inform them of NSS services to cave conservancies and encourage them to become conservancies of the NSS, institutional members or both. There have been three contacts in this last reporting period.
Progress: The proposal from the conservancies round-table of a conservancy list serve has been given to Dave Jagnow and Rob Stitt to develop as a more general list serve. It has become a Cave Conservation list serve and is operational at this time. Subscribe at: Conservation@caves.org
Problems: There are no significant problems at this time.
Everett Carpenter (Chairman)
10138 Avenel Gardens Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20903
(301)-439-1750 (H)
Fax: (202) 404-8849
(202) 767-6098 (W)
carpenter@anvil.nrl.navy.mil
Progress: The database has been set up using the VAR listing as a standard. It organizes the data by county and state. I have also attempted to add survey lengths but this is a slow process. (see problems). Right now I have made contact with the keepers of the restricted caves listing for NRO, MAR, VAR, and TAG. I also have scattered listings for Colorado, Utah, North Carolina (several which were not on the VAR listing).
Problems: The problem with the listing is finding people who know why certain caves are closed or restricted. I suggest changing the name of the committee to "Restricted Access Caves" to help other people understand that the listing is not only for those caves which are closed, but restricted access. I still am having problems getting information from the great lakes area, Ohio river valley, and Mid US. Although it is fairly easy in most areas to gather which caves are closed, it is very difficult to determine why. Many people don't know or have forgotten why. It is also difficult to obtain survey lengths since the surveys have not been linked to the closed listings before.
Plans: I still would like to have an e-mail address: "Closed (or restricted)@caves.org", to add legitimacy to committee. Also I would like to plan for a August article in NSS News detailing the project and hopefully drumming up more information.
Garrett Czmor (Chairman)
Star Route Box 24
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-3067
gccaver@vicon.net
Plans: Notify CCUS attendants who are not in compliance with the project. This includes, making aware that canisters need to be serviced, and data returned on a semi to yearly basis. This is not a problem with everyone but with a few.
Hopefully, to have all data compiled this year and copies sent to attendants as well as the NSS. Currently, there are 4 persons typing in data and some of this information dates back before I become Chair of the CCUS.
To buy supplies and reprint materials as needed. Currently our stock remains in condition.
Try again to find someone with the knowledge that can make the CCUS software Y2K compliant. Perhaps running an ad in the NSS News might help.
Progress: Book data is being typed in the CCUS software as time allows by 4 persons.
The CCUS software manual and the Attendants manual were reprinted because those supplies became exhausted.
I contacted a few people in the NSS who have knowledge of computer programming and asked for help with the CCUS software but they canceled out. A friend of mine is asking help from our local college on this matter and maybe I’ll find the help there.
While one grotto has dropped out of the CCUS project, two have contacted me that are new to the project (one in Virginia and one in Texas) and would like to get into the program.
Problems: We definitely have a Y2K problem with the data crunching CCUS software. I found this out by typing in fake 2000-year data. The result were that the software thinks it is 1900 (and will print that year) and in one spot where it has to calculate years of caving experience, it prints 0 (example: first cave trip 1980 and today is 2000, the software looks at the last two digits and can’t subtract 80 from 00). A quick fix is to have someone with simple knowledge using a compiler called "Clipper" or similar dos program to make the software 4 digit compliant. The best long-term remedy is to have the program re-written as a Windows 98 program. The cheapest programmer I found last year that I reported in a previous 3-P report offered do it for about $600 (as a Windows program). I don’t know if this offer still stands this year in case the Board of Governors would want to go this route.
At any rate, all data typed in now that contains information dated before 2000 still works fine in the CCUS software. But any book data entered that contains 2000 or beyond information will have problems.
Bill Thoman (Chairman)
4905 Ralph Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45328-3801
(513) 251-7357
speleo@juno.com
Report not received.
Gary Bush (Chairman)
2630 Stonegate Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32223-0702
(904) 268-7638
gbush@jaxnet.com
The Preserve Managers reports I've received are presented in Attachment C-1: Cave Preserve Reports. As is my custom, I've also summarized the status of each report in "Property Status" below. Of the ten Managers, eight have submitted a report for this period.
Plans: The repair of the Halls Hole entrance gate at McFails Preserve was not completed in 1999 and is now slated for completion in 2000. The Shelta Cave Management Group will continue to search for outside funds to replace the old entrance gate in an effort to encourage return of grey bats. Comments on the preliminary design, as well as a possible alternative “bat-friendly” fence design, have been received. The annual bat count at the Guilday Preserve is scheduled for February 12th. In the Spring, the fencing project at Barton Hill Preserve will continue. Restoration of the steps and gate at Alachua Sinks is now tentatively scheduled for March 31st.
Progress: All properties are generally doing well. The annual “Conservacation” was held at the John Guilday Cave Preserve this past October. The road widening project at the JGCP was completed. A “neighborhood watch” type of program has been arranged with local residents around the Tytoona Cave Preserve to hopefully prevent any reoccurrence of last winter's vandalism. A Certificate of Appreciation was sent to honor Trooper Bush for doggedly pursuing those vandals. He sent his thanks for our recognition, but insisted he was “just doing his job.” The Tytoona Cave Preserve trails and parking area received some maintenance. An information kiosk was also completed. Fund raising for Tytoona has collected or pledged at least $4,797 this year to repay the NSS for the purchase of the property. The survey for a 3D map of the Alachua Sinks system is nearly complete.
Problems: The original map of New Trout Cave at the Guilday Preserve was loaned to the Editor of the WVaSS Pendleton County Cave Survey Bulletin. The editor has apparently lost that original map.
PROPERTY STATUS:
David H. Jagnow (Chief)
PO Box 93398
Albuquerque, NM 87199-3398
(505) 332-4452 (home)
(505) 332-4889 (work)
djagnow@cybermesa.com
(new as of 12/24/99)
David@Jagnow.com
(permanent)
Cave Conservation Committee: David Jagnow, Chairman (Administration) Al Krause (Conservation Grants Coordinator) Jo Schaper (Conservation Task Force Coordinator) Jim Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker (Resource Preservation Committee) Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee: Karen Dennis, Co-Chair Norm Rogers, Co-Chair Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission: Jay Jorden - Chairman Commissioners: Gale Beach, George Huppert, Tom Rea, John Wilson
Plans: I plan to resign as NSS Conservation Chairman effective as of the West Virginia NSS Convention to devote full time to a new job. I've been Conservation Chairman for 5 years, and it's time for new blood and a fresh perspective. I do plan to coordinate with Ted Kayes in launching a new fund-raising campaign for NSS conservation funds before stepping down.
Progress:
ARIZONA REGIONAL: I attended the Arizona Regional (Winter Technical) in Phoenix on January 22nd, and presented a paper on the "High Guads Restoration Project 1999 Summary: Lessons Learned." The Werkers and I encouraged the Arizona cavers to report their conservation efforts on the volunteer value forms.
BATS NEED FRIENDS BROCHURE: Eugene Vale has written a draft for side one of the new brochure. Side two should be completed soon and will be forwarded to several bat people who expressed a willingness to help edit/write. BCI and the NSS are working cooperatively to update and reprint this new brochure in color. Sorry it's taken so long.
BLM CAVE PROJECT FUNDS: Jim Goodbar, BLM National Cave Specialist, has received $10,000 in operational funds from Washington that is available for cave conservation and management projects. He has put out a call for proposals concerning BLM caves. Please contact him if you are interested in doing a project for the BLM. Yellow Jacket Cave (NM) will be re-gated on March 11 as one of the Southwest Region projects.
CAVE PROTECTION ZONE (NM): On January 18, 2000, Secretary of Interior, Bruce Babbitt, withdrew from mining location and mineral leasing approximately 8,470 acres of public land and mineral estate in an area immediately north of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This will further protect cave systems, including yet undiscovered caves under BLM administered lands. It is a welcome expansion of the Lechuguilla Cave Protection Zone. (See the article by John Lyles in the March, 2000, Special Conservation Issue of the NSS News, p. 69 for further details.)
CONSERVATION ISSUE OF NSS NEWS: I have spent quite a bit of time soliciting and co-editing the March Conservation Issue of the NSS News. That issue should be in your hands by the time you read this report at the March BOG meeting in Denver. Once again, we have good documentation of a tremendous amount of cave conservation work being done throughout the country. A special thanks to everyone who is helping restore our cave resources.
HIGH GUADS RESTORATION PROJECT, NM: The High Guads Restoration Project under the leadership of David Jagnow has completed a very successful year. The HGRP contributed about $80,000 of volunteer value to Lincoln National Forest, and when combined with other independent projects, the total is about $120,000 for 1999. We will continue restoration work the last weekend of every month in 2000. (For details, see the article by David Jagnow in the March, 2000, Conservation Issue of the NSS News, p. 70.)
IDAHO BLM: As of my last report, I mentioned having sent a letter to the State Director of the Idaho Bureau of Land Management complimenting them on the work they have accomplished on their cave resources through their cooperative efforts with the NSS and the Idaho Grottos over the years. I also expressed concerns that these cooperative efforts might be impaired by their decision NOT to fill a dedicated cave management position in Idaho during the next fiscal year. I have NOT received a reply from the BLM, but will continue to work with Jim Goodbar to see that these cave resources are not neglected.
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT: The new Interagency Agreement for Cave and Karst Resources Management between the NPS, BLM, USFS, USGS, and US Fish & Wildlife Service is very near completion. It has been suggested having the formal signing by all agencies at the Elkins Convention this summer. Even though the NSS has nothing officially to do with this Agreement, it represents a strong commitment by all of these government agencies to cooperate in the research (USGS) and protection of cave and karst resources.
KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST, OR: Jerry Trout, USFS National Cave Specialist, reports that the new Cave Management Plan is progressing well. They have received many public comments which are being taken into consideration. Steve Knutson, Klamath Mountains CTF chairman, is not pleased with some parts of the plan, but at least a cave management plan is finally being formulated.
MISSOURI LEAD MINING: The proposed lead mining by Doe Run on National Forest lands within the southern Missouri karst and springs area keeps surfacing. We thought we had this defeated last spring when Doe Run withdrew their lead mining exploration permits that would have impacted the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt then decided to withdraw these lands from mineral leasing. If you'd like to read more about how actually horrible this threat is to Missouri, please read “Letter from the Hampton” (pp 80-95) in the August, 1998, issue of Vanity Fair. The owner of Doe Run has a lengthy history of operating the most polluting plants in the United States, and in the world. Political maneuvering continues on this issue. Stay tuned.
NCKMS 2001 (AZ): I am working with Jerry Trout on the National Cave & Karst Management Symposium for 2001 in Arizona. I am working to line up National Parks Conservation Association as a co-sponsor of this event.
PINNACLES CAVE, NV, THREATENED: Pinnacles Cave, the deepest and perhaps the prettiest cave in Nevada, is being threatened by a proposed $25 million resort being built immediately adjacent to the 150-foot entrance shaft. The cave itself is located on USFS land SW of Las Vegas, and is a “significant” cave. The latest proposal is to build a spa resort on the private land closest to the cave. Plans have been submitted to build a 112 room hotel, convention hall, recreation establishment, museum, and tram (i.e., people mover) on 45 acres adjacent to Forest Service land. Steve Devaney, Southern Nevada Grotto, is keeping us informed. Jerry Trout, USFS Cave Specialist, is giving this top priority and arranging to gate and protect Pinnacles Cave.
ROCK AND MINERAL SHOWS: I have asked several cavers to monitor the Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show (Jan 30-Feb 12, 2000) for the sale of speleothems. There were no reports of major speleothem sales this year. I try to arrange for cavers around the country to monitor the major rock and mineral shows in their vicinity. Please report major sales of speleothems to the NSS Conservation Chairman immediately.
SAVE-THE-CAVES FUND: In the March, 1999, NSS News, I put out an appeal for contributions to the Save-The-Caves Fund. Tulsa Regional Oklahoma Grotto (TROG) has generously donated $500 to this fund, and the Richmond Area Speleological Society (RASS) generously matched TROG's contribution! THANK YOU TO BOTH OF THESE OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS!
SP CAVE, AZ: Jerry Trout reports that NSS members Dave & Phyllis Hamer are once again doing their annual monitoring and restoration of SP Cave on April 1 & 2. The NSS-sponsored maintenance of this USFS cave has gone on for several years now. In February, Jerry took USFS personnel from Idaho and Utah into SP Cave to illustrate bat-friendly gates and cave management techniques. At the time, they also qualified three long-time NSS members as new guides for this beautiful cave.
USFS WEBSITE: Region 3 (AZ & NM) of the US Forest Service will soon have a web site with information on cave resources. The web site will list the contact people for caving in the various National Forests. It will also solicit comments from cavers and seek to standardize the cave permitting procedures throughout the Region.
Problems: None.
Albert A. Krause, Chairman
1721 SW 76th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32607-3418
(352) 332-2276 (res)
(352) 392-7396 (ofc)
aakrause@compuserve.com
Plans: Will continue to respond to all inquiries and evaluate Conservation Grant Applications as received. Will continue to provide input to NSS News for announcement of Grant awards (to keep program visible to membership and promote its projects and availability as a resource and opportunity).
Progress: Two awards have been presented this fiscal year to date (see below). This year's fund has $1,250 remaining. No applications are presently awaiting action.
November 24, 1999: $750.00 award to Andrea Hunter of University of New Mexico for research materials and laboratory testing and analysis of water samples from Lechuguilla Cave in support of basic research into biologic inter-relationships between native low-energy species and introduced species. The basic study, entitled "The environmental disturbance of oligotrophic bacteria and effects on water quality in a deep karstic aquifer," will extend over a two-year period (November 1999 - August 2000) and involves Andrea Hunter, principal researcher, with Dr. Penelope Boston, Diana Northup, and Dr. Laura Crossey, all based at the University of New Mexico. Newly-introduced higher-energy bacteria appear to be thriving off what is believed to be the by-products of low-energy bacteria found in Lechuguilla Cave and elsewhere. The focus of this study will be on the behavior and activities of Hyphomicrobium sp. in its natural habitat and its potential symbiotic relationship with E.coli within Lechuguilla Cave. Results of the study, which will focus on the metabolism and by-products of Hyphomicrobium sp., are expected to shed light on the origins and nutrient sources of low-energy, deep-earth environments and life forms and offer information which might allow visitors to reduce their adverse impacts on pristine cave environments and life forms.
January 16, 2000: $1,000.00 award to Dr. George Huppert of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse to help fund Carbon-14 and Accelerator Mass Spectrometer analyses of materials from Arnold Cave, Wisconsin. Extensive drawings and petroglyphs have been found in Arnold Cave, including some which appear to illustrate animals which have not lived in the region for over 10,000 years. If these early art works can be proven to be that old, they would be among the oldest rock art known in the New World. Proof of the antiquity of the rock art would greatly enhance efforts now being undertaken to preserve the cave as a public trust. Arnold Cave is a three-chamber, collapsed sandstone cave formed in the St. Peters Sandstone. Some 100 individual drawings from various time periods occur in the cave. Many are beyond natural light, and some are nearly 300 feet from the entrance. The cave floor sediments still await a formal archeology study, but bark torches, wood and a partial moccasin found on the floor of the cave attest to the likelihood that more material awaits discovery. The cave is currently in private hands and is not gated.
Problems: None.
Jo Schaper (Chairman)
46 Cedar Drive
Pacific, MO 63069
(314) 271 8380
JoSchaper@aol.com
Progress: After the reorganization and trimming down of CTFs in 1999, those which remain seem to be more active in their respective areas. In keeping with the wording change passed by the BOG in Fall, 1999, the opportunity to segue to other forms of NSS organizations was offered. Xanadu CTF, which is interested only in Xanadu Cave in Tennessee has been put in touch with John Wilson, about changing their status to that of a Conservancy. The Klamath Mts. CTF is in the thick of the emergence of the Klamath NF into cave management. Steve Knutson reports that "When a forest cave management plan finally came, they gave us two days to make input! I raised hell and it was increased to 30 days but REALLY! We are still working hard in the Marble Valley caves and keeping track of other limestone caves in the area for eventual management. We published a Marble Valley feature article in the News."
In Hawaii, Fred Stone reports that the Hawaii Caves CTF "continued working with federal and state agencies to locate and inventory caves and develop plans for their protection and management. The CTF worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to get the Kauai "no-eyed, big-eyed hunting spider" and blind amphipod listed as endangered species. Work has continued on a long term project, involving school and environmental groups in educational trips plus trash pick up and grafitti removal in Kauamana Cave. The CTF continued to work with visiting scientists on research related to lava tubes and their biology."
I think CTFs have a fairly low profile, and in order to remedy this, I have written a short article for the NSS News Conservation Issue. We shall see if this results in any more activity.
Problems: Reporting continues to be a problem. Reports were not obtained from Germany Valley or Lost River Conservation Association. Despite two tries; I did not try any “report or be dropped” tactic this year. Pennsylvania Cave Legislation is inactive on its primary charge, however, since Judi Stack reports activity on behalf of bats in Pennsylvania, I see no problem with continuing this CTF. I will continue to try to get reports from the two CTFs which have not submitted them.
Plans: See if the article in the NSS News results in any interest in people forming CTFs—other than that, carry on as usual.
Val Hildreth-Werker & Jim Werker , Co-Chairs
PO Box 1018
Tijeras, NM 87059
(505) 286-0148
werks@worldnet.att.net
Plans: A Conservation/Restoration Workshop Session is scheduled for Monday during the 2000 NSS Convention in Elkins, West Virginia. Coordination between Val, Jim, George Huppert, and Rod Horrocks has resulted in a combined day for the Workshop, Conservation Session, and Conservation Management Section Meeting/Luncheon. This is the fourth year for the combined Conservation Day at Convention.
Progress: Work is progressing for the NSS publication, On Cave Conservation & Restoration. Almost all manuscript drafts have been completed and sent to us. Editing and selection of illustrations is in process. Publication is planned during the year 2000. A promotional poster has been developed; it was displayed at the Chattanooga Cave and Karst Management Symposium, the NPS Cave Managers Symposium at Mammoth, and various regional events. The advertising piece and pre-sales information is scheduled for display at several upcoming events through the spring as well as the NSS Convention.
The new minimum impact caving booklet for Leave No Trace, Inc., is available for distribution by contacting LNT at 800-332-4100 or through their web site: <www.LNT.org>. Many NSS cavers provided ideas and edits for this publication. It will be updated for the next printing and LNT welcomes caver input.
We attended the National Cave & Karst Management Symposium in Chattanooga, TN during October and made several presentations: Cave Restoration and Conservation-Topics, Methods, and Discussion; Infrared Photomonitoring of the Bat Population at Carlsbad Caverns (poster); Formation Repair Techniques (automated slide show for poster exhibit); and, in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, conducted a full day Cave and Conservation Workshop for federal line officers.
Three simple forms have been designed for recording Volunteer Value. These generic forms can be used for documenting in-kind volunteer labor, expertise, and contribution for any cave project. The forms are designed to complete at the project site (or can be filled in after the event). The value that NSS members contribute to cave protection, conservation and management is immeasurable. However, for any cave project (survey, conservation, science, etc.) VV can be calculated and the information can serve in proposals for grants, matching funds, agency/owner reports, NSS Annual Reports, etc. A national web site and database is under construction and we appreciate David Anderson's work and patience on this project while we confirm procedures. Cavers are also welcome to distribute the VV forms through their own web sites. For forms and information contact Val Hildreth-Werker, werks@worldnet.att.net
Several presentations were conducted including a Restoration/Repair workshop in Texas at Cave Without a Name. Details and photos are printed in The Texas Caver. We are scheduled to present a restoration workshop at Jewel Cave this spring. We attended the Arizona Regional Association Technical and presented Formation Repair Techniques and information on Volunteer Value. Digital video projects are on hold until the book is completed. Congratulations on the new Conservation e-mail list, encouraged by Evelyn Bradshaw, and now provided through Rob Stitt's site. We are pleased that this list has been developed and that it will serve multiple purposes. Thus, we will drop our plans for an advocacy/action list and we thank Ken Ingham and Pat Seiser for their interest and efforts.
Repair, restoration and research projects continue. Investigations have been launched on new epoxies and potential formation repair products, rope strength degradation due to fungal growth, ongoing water quality analysis, and urine mitigation systems. Much of this work focuses on developing restoration techniques that will minimize disturbance to biota, cave atmospheres, and virgin surfaces.
Educational materials on Formation Repair, Cave Restoration, and Leave No Trace Caving Ethics are being refined as we address various workshops. Slide sets, power point productions and videos are being developed.
We urge every NSS member, grotto, and internal organization to stay abreast of cave fee, outfitter-guide, and cave conservation issues in the political arena. Positive comments supporting caver volunteer projects and refuting Cave Fee Demo Plans continue to be useful. Please send copies of your letters and inquiries for archiving to: PO Box 1018, Tijeras, NM 87059 or to <werks@worldnet.att.net>
Problems: None.
Norm Rogers (Co-Chair)
3122 N. Isabell
Peoria, IL 61604
(309)682-1570
nrogers1@juno.com
Karen Dennis (Co-Chair)
PO Box 340547
Beavercreek, OH 45434-0547
(937) 237-0647
kdennis@aol.com
Progress: This coming August 2000 will mark the beginning of the third year that the restoration camp at Mammoth Cave has operated under the Cooperative Agreement between Mammoth Cave National Park and the NSS. I think we can see some goals met, and by the end of 2000, it will be time to set some realistic goals pertaining to completion of the project. I understand that this was forecasted to be a five-year project, but of course, that was a ballpark figure. I believe by the end of the year we could set an actual date.
The most time consuming part of the project was the length of time it took to travel to Cascade Hall and back. That part of the project was completed at the January camp. John Fry pronounced Cascade Hall complete. We may send a few people back there to monitor the area in case some lumber is uncovered by shifting sand or dirt. However, all the light and electrical cable has been removed.
Based on the original measurements for the scope-of-work, we've removed about 145 feet of boardwalk, plus the 40 feet of pier on the Cascade Hall side. This includes all of the lighting & wire, and the aluminum boat landings & steps. With the long distances needed to reach the work sites eliminated, we will see the work move along at a much faster pace.
Financially, the camps are running ahead of budget, but also ahead of the scheduled number of work hours (the NSS ‘matching funds’). As of January 1, 2000, 2,520 hours were budgeted and 3,900 hours have been delivered by NSS volunteers. We have received a total of $80,000 ($75,000 of that is in the mail, and will be deposited by the BOG meeting) from the National Park Service, and have distributed a total of $40,101.94. Some of the checks we have written have never been cashed, and any uncashed checks at least a year old will be written off at the end of the NSS fiscal year.
As of the 1st of January, we have received interest on the account of $423.30 and have paid out bank fees of $ 181.98. The balance in the account is: $40,139.38.
Plans: There are three more field camps planned for this calendar year, two weekend trips in April and October, and a week-long camp in August. . In the event that any camp is ‘filled up’, preference will be given to NSS members. We will continue working on hauling out trash. Disbursements of the grant money will continue as in the past, since projecting the current rate, it is estimated the money will last another year at least, and probably two. At the end of this year, we will make an estimate of how much work is yet to be done, compared to how much of the money is left.
Problems: Any problems that have arisen have been handled as required. Attendance at last summers camp was not as low as we had feared it might be and relations with Mammoth Cave National Park have improved. Awards were presented to camp participants and special recognition was given to a few leaders. So there are no “problems” to report.
Jay Jorden, Chair
jjorden@texoma.net
Members:
Gale Beach raybeach@earthlink.net
George Huppert huppert@mail.uwlax.edu
Thomas Rea tom.rea@caves.org
John Wilson wilsonjmll@earthlink.net
Progress: In the months since the last report, commission members have received no proposals for rewards or information that had earlier led to prosecution and conviction for cave vandalism.
Plans: The commission intends to review all successful prosecutions of cave vandals with an eye toward publicizing the Society's conservation goals and rewarding diligence on the part of those individuals who work in furtherance of those goals. Other means of publicizing the commission's activities are also envisioned. The commission chair also plans to continue contributing to the NSS Conservation and Management Section's publication efforts and to the special conservation issue of the NSS News.
Problems: None noted with the Commission. The chair, however, is in the final (??) stages of building a new house and has a son prematurely (2 1/2 months) born in December who was just this week released from the hospital to home for the first time.
Hazel E. Medville (Chief)
11762 Indian Ridge Rd.
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 860-0134
medville@patriot.net
An ad will be placed in the NSS News for a replacement for the Education Division Chief position. The NSS’ activities in educating the public about cave resources and values is growing. Increasingly, we are contacted by outside organizations that would like us to work with them on cave-related projects that have public education impacts: e.g., the IMAX film on caves, the AGI effort, a proposal for NSS participation in a PBS program about caving, a proposed joint venture with the National Park Service to educate secondary school children about caves, etc. The job of coordinating the NSS’ role in educating both our own members and the public at large is an increasingly demanding one and a Division Chief having an appropriate background is being sought.
Barbara L. Moss (Chairman)
7713 Shreve Rd.
Falls Church, VA 22043-3315
(703) 573-1068
ke4bvq@amsat.org
Plans: Working on getting information together for an A-V /CD project to be used in kiosks in Museums. Web page plans are on hold until the NSS Webmaster has time to give us the information for uploading files.
Progress: I’m still working on gathering the information to prepare promotional materials to aid in fundraising. The Project Underground Activity Book is in the final editing stage for printing a 2nd edition. Ideas for educational materials (should we get requests as a result of the IMAX movie and to share with the IMAX Committee formed at the 1999 NSS Convention) are coming in slowly. A Mammoth Cave Education Initiative project is still a 'work in progress.' AVP note: See AVP News for more information about this initiative.
Problems: Finding enough time in a day.
John Punches (National Coordinator - Nominated)
633 West Hazel St.
Roseburg, OR 97470
Home: (541) 957-5461
Work: (541) 672-4461
e-mail: john.punches@orst.edu
Board of Regional Coordinators (BORC)
John Appleby (Eastern Region Coordinator)
David Ashburn (Training Coordinator)
Mark Bowers (Western Region Coordinator)
Harry Burgess (Southwestern Region Coordinator)
Sam Chewning, MD (Medical Coordinator)
John Evans (Northeast Region Coordinator)
John Gookin (Rocky Mountain Region Coordinator – Interim -
Nominated)
John Green (South Central Region Coordinator – Nominated for
continuation)
Anmar Mirza (Central Region Coordinator)
Henry Nicholson (Diving Coordinator)
Mimi Ortiz (Caribbean Region Coordinator)
Jeff Parnell (Southeastern Region Coordinator)
John Punches (Pacific Northwest Region Coordinator)
Officers and Staff
Harold Chrimes (NCRC Equipment Manager)
James Davis (Education Board Member)
Andy Franklin (NCRC Discussion and Administrative List Manager)
James Hall (NCRC Inventory Officer)
Bryan Lavender (Education Board Member)
Barb Ritts (Education Board Member)
Bruce Smith (Education Board Member/NCRC Curriculum Coordinator)
Susan Thrasher (Assistant National Coordinator)
Kathy Welling (NCRC Recording Secretary/NCRC Financial Officer)
Tricia Daugherty (NCRC Database Manager)
Progress: The NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators (BORC) conducted its Winter Business Meeting Feb 3-5, 2000, at the Walker County (GA) 911 Center.
Three persons were nominated for positions within the NCRC and will require NSS BOG approval.
John Punches was nominated to serve a three year term as National Coordinator, with the term ending following the Winter 2003 BORC meeting.
John Green (currently interim) was nominated to serve the remainder of a three year term as South Central Region Coordinator, with the term ending following the Summer 2002 BORC meeting.
John Gookin was nominated to continue serving in an interim capacity as the Rocky Mountain Region Coordinator until a suitable replacement can be located. John requested this arrangement, and the position will be reconsidered at each BORC meeting until the situation can be resolved.
Two staff positions were filled during the meeting. Tricia Daugherty will serve as Database Manager through the Summer 2001 Meeting and Bruce Smith will continue as an Education Board member through the Winter 2002 Meeting.
Work continues, under the direction of Jeff Parnell, Southeastern Region Coordinator, on a replacement of the NCRC's Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques. Sixteen chapters have been reviewed and numerous others are nearly ready for review. Illustrations and photos are being developed. The BORC voted to adopt the book as the NCRC’s mandatory textbook, pending review and acceptance by a five-person editorial board (including NCRC and outside members).
Regional checking accounts appear to be in compliance with NSS financial policies. The concerns over missing documentation from one of our regions have been resolved.
Numerous regional seminars were conducted. NCRC records indicate that, since receiving its Charter, the organization has delivered 102 seminars and graduated nearly 3000 students.
The NCRC co-sponsored the International Technical Rescue Symposium November 5 - 7, 1999 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bill Putnam spoke at the Symposium on behalf of the organization.
Plans: The next Board of Regional Coordinators meeting will occur on June 27, 2000, during Convention. The NCRC will offer an Introduction to Cave Rescue session, limited to approximately 30 persons, to year 2000 NSS Convention attendees. The next NCRC National Seminar will be held July 15-22 at Camp Pioneer near Beverly, West Virginia.
Numerous regional training activities are being planned for the spring, summer, and fall of 2000. These include:
Central Region: Three Orientation to Cave Rescue sessions plus a modular Level 2
Western Region: Orientation to Cave Rescue sessions in southern CA and Hawaii.
Southwestern Region: Level 1 & 2 weeklong seminar
Eastern Region: Host the national seminar plus a modular Level 1 and an Orientation to Cave Rescue session
Pacific Northwest Region: Orientation to Cave Rescue for Lava Beds National Monument personnel
Northeast Region: Incident Command System class plus an Orientation to Cave Rescue session
Caribbean Region:
The NCRC Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques textbook (compiled by Jeff Parnell) should be in draft form by the National Seminar, and available to national instructors for review at that time. The NCRC will co-sponsor the 2000 International Technical Rescue Symposium. NCRC policies and procedures will be compiled, clarified, and listed on our Web site over the next year, with the intent of making this information more readily available to regional coordinators and other interested persons. Several policy questions discussed at the last BORC meeting may require BOG input.
Problems: Nothing significant.
William Cuddington (Chairman)
3412 Hutchens Ave., SE
Huntsville, AL 35801
(205) 536-2177
miriambl@aol.com
Progress: A brief S.T.C. meeting was held at the “T.A.G. Fall Cave-In.” Also, S.T.C. members helped with two Vertical Section Workshops, held in Huntsville, AL.
Plans: Articles are now being prepared for the S.T.C. column in the N.S.S. News. The S.T.C. will have its annual meeting at this years' N.S.S. Convention. This committee will also assist with the Basic Vertical Workshop held at the convention.
Problems: None at present.
John P. Scheltens (Chairman)
303 North River St.
Hot Springs, SD 57747-1626
(605) 745-4366
102370.2314@compuserve.com
Progress: The IMAX film is well on its way to reality. Two major shoots have now been completed; a year ago the ice caves in Greenland; and this past November under water filming in the Yucatan. The Yucatan shoot was mostly done in Dos Ojos. Underwater film consultant for this segment was Wes Skiles. MacGillivray-Freeman was extremely pleased with the quality of the underwater footage; so much so that as much as 1/2 the final edit may be from the Yucatan. They were also very impressed with the talents and abilities of Wes Skiles and his crew.
During the last week of January I had a business meeting in San Diego. While in southern California I took the opportunity to visit the headquarters of MacGillivray-Freeman in Laguna Beach. I had an opportunity to tour their facility and meet the majority of their staff. I met with Josh Tolover and Alice Casbara. Alice is the Director of Marketing & Promotions. The meeting went extremely well. I had just intended the meeting to be a general hello and did not expect to get into much detail. However, there are several items of notable interest.
First: MacGillivray- Freeman has issued a multi-page, slick colored folder w/inserts to all of its IMAX theater outlets announcing the upcoming release of "Amazing Caves". Release date is March, 2001.
Second: It is now time for M-F to start putting together the educational material and teacher's guides that will accompany the film. They would like the NSS to make them a proposal for developing this material.
Third: Where the film is shown, there will be a free color brochure handed out (or maybe in a rack) that describes the film and has some facts about caves. This would also be a good place to direct viewers who want to know more about caves to the NSS. (Our internet home page; the NSS Office, etc.).
Fourth: M-F is interested in the NSS developing a list of potential speakers. Many museums and IMAX outlets offer lectures, key speakers, training etc. This would be a list of NSS resource people who would be willing to give a lecture at a particular theater. The arrangements would be made between the local theater and the speaker. This might be done as a volunteer or an honorarium may be given. The NSS would provide of list of possible speakers to the theatres.
Overall I spent an unexpected 5 hours at M-F headquarters. The best part was the opportunity to view about 2 hours of the raw footage in their private viewing theater (Very comfortable - like Siskel & Ebert). There is some really good footage to work from. Hazel and Nancy look good on film. (congratulations).
Plans: A follow-up meeting is being planned within the next couple of months. Probable NSS attendees include IMAX Committee members Doug Medville, Hazel Barton, Carol Zokaites, and myself. That meeting is intended to focus on the details of potential NSS involvement as outlined above.
The final shot of the IMAX film will take place in TAG country. The exact caves have not yet been decided. M-F will make a scouting trip in the next 30-45 days. Alan Cressler is helping with possible locations. This final shoot is expected to take place in May.
Problems: The main problem is in preparing the NSS and its members for the impacts after the film is released. There will definitely be an increased interest in caves. How much, nobody knows. Do we want to consider adding more information to our Web Site? Do we want to develop special publications for sale in Museum bookstores?
We should be able to give a heads-up to grottos when and where the film will be shown in their areas. Grottos can either elect to become involved with speakers, training, exhibits, etc. or run the other way.
AVP note: John has been doing the work of the IMAX Committee through the TV/Video Production Committee which he chairs. I’m proposing through an agenda motion that the IMAX committee be disbanded and its members become members of the TV/Video Production Committee. We have many things to consider regarding the forthcoming IMAX film. We need to find out which theatres will be showing the film (and when) and to prepare our members and I.O.s in these areas for the film and its possible impact on their activities (e.g., greater interest in caves, more people coming to meetings, landowner impacts). We also need to see if our members in these areas will be willing to give talks at the theatres about cave related subjects and to help them prepare for such talks. We certainly need to think about producing educational materials that will accompany the film. This material: teachers guides, posters, etc., are required under M-Fs contract with the National Science Foundation and it looks like they would like the NSS (or Project Underground) to produce them. So there are questions about what is to be produced, who pays for the creation and production of the materials, whether the NSS receives any income from doing this, etc. This and more will be the subjects of our next meeting with M-F this spring.
Douglas Medville (Acting Chair)
Members:
John Scheltens,
John Ganter,
Hazel Barton,
David Jagnow,
Carol Zokaites,
Barbara Moss
Progress: In addition to John’s visit as described above, I’ve spoken with Josh Tolliver at M-F twice by phone. We discussed M-F’s obligation to produce educational materials, the NSS’ and Project Underground’s experience in doing this, and possible ways for the two organizations to interact. I also sent him copies of the Project Underground Activity Guide, prepared for educators to use in teaching about caves. This is similar to what M-F will need to provide to educators in conjunction with their film on caves.
Plans: Merge this committee into the TV/Video Production Committee.
Problems: Defining the scope of our involvement, preparing NSS members for the film, deciding how much of the NSS’ resources to commit to preparing materials to accompany the film.
Carol Tiderman (Chief)
7600 Pindell School Rd.
Fulton, MD 20759-9725
(410) 792-0742
ctider@us.ibm.com
Carol Tiderman (Chairman)
Progress: I have been attending the 2000 Convention Planning meetings and providing assistance wherever possible. The JSS had evolved considerably in the last couple of years. I am working with Rick Bowersox (Acting National JSS Committee Chair) and Sharon Brinker-Windle (Convention JSS Coordinator) to help keep them in sync. with each other since they live 2,000 miles apart.
I have communicated the information that Rick had developed as to what he sees is his role and the role of the Convention Staff JSS Coordinator, facility and transportation requirements etc. I’m also communicating with the 2001 and 2002 convention staffs and am checking on their progress and passing along new information and answering any questions that they have.
Plans: Attend convention committee planning meetings (any year's) whenever possible, continue working with confirmed groups and continue to solicit new host groups. Although we have Conventions lined up through the year 2003, I’m writing an article for
the NSS News calling for bids for 2004 and beyond. The focus will be on places we have yet to be invited to go.
Problems: There are gray areas regarding whether or not a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is required for the drivers of the 15 passenger vans used to transport minors on official NSS outings of the JSS. The Photo Salon Committee has indicated that they will need high powered bulbs at a cost of $600 per bulb for the 2000 presentation. They will require 3 bulbs. This is a new development and was not part of 2000's approved budget. These bulbs may also be needed for the 2001 Convention.
David W. Kesner (Chairman)
12567 W. DeMeyer St
Boise, ID 83713-1409
(208) 939-0979
drdave@micron.net
Mike Backe (Co-Chairman)
HC 33, Box 3294
Boise, ID 83706-9768
(208) 336-6878
mikebacke@rmci.net
1999 NSS Convention Lessons Learned Report
David Kesner, Convention Chairman
AVP note: This report is called for under Act 56-616.
This was the first NSS Convention ever held in Idaho. It was also the first time that the majority of staff had ever worked on a convention. In fact it was the first time nearly a quarter of the staff had ever even attended a convention. Because of this a lot was learned the hard way, but it also afforded the opportunity to do a few things differently for lack of "knowing any better". Many of these things turned out great.
I will attempt to go through each area individually and discuss the good and bad of each.
Promotion: It is very important to realize that there is a two-month lead-time on NSS News article submissions and that the deadlines are firm. Our convention was in early July, which meant the final article needed to be submitted by May. Obviously you are not able to have much up-to-the- minute information that far away. What we found, as other recent conventions have, is that a web page is the only way to go to get current information to the membership. News articles should be left to giving general descriptions, providing a registration form, and hyping the convention.
Registration: We were supposed to use a registration software package provided by the NSS. After numerous tries and bug fixes we were unable to make it work and wrote one ourselves. This program worked very well and all of registration went smoothly. Our program was web-based which made it very easy to network on as many computers as necessary. We would highly recommend a system such as this for all future conventions. It could easily be adapted to be used on the NSS server so that members could register and pay on-line and save data entry by the staff. This would also make the registration information available to any authorized person, anywhere in the world through a web browser. As in many previous conventions we received complaints on the name badges, or more precisely the size of the lettering for names. Apparently you can't have the names TOO BIG!
Sessions: There were complaints that there weren't enough papers in the US and International Exploration Sessions. One of the reasons may have stemmed from the fact the Program Chair was unable to get a Session Chair for either and was forced to do it himself. It is strongly suggested that a permanent position be created in the NSS for both a US and an International Exploration Chair. All other sessions had a corresponding position in the NSS that assumed the roll of Session Chair. There were complaints (both public and private) from the special Vulcanospeleologcial Session Chair that very few papers were submitted from the US lava tube states. We assumed that the individual chairs would be responsible for soliciting papers for their respective sessions.
Salons: We came up with a new idea for the salons. We created an "Art Village" at the campground that housed the print salon, cartography salon, symbolic devices, Speleo Art, and NSS museum. This was very well received for several reasons. First, it put everything together in one spot where you didn't have to hunt for each one. Second, we were able to keep it open longer than if it were housed at the session facilities in the High School. This worked especially well when we were able to open it up during the Howdy Party.
Facilities: The only real complaint here was the lack of air conditioning. Most high schools are not built with air conditioning as they are closed during that part of the year. The best we could do was rent fans. We had one person in charge of all the school facilities who really knew what he was doing. There was never a problem finding a room or making a change anytime anyone asked. We did run into a potential problem in the contract with the school. Because of the need to secure the facilities so far in advance you always run the risk of a political change over in the school administration. In our case the superintendent of public education we were dealing with was voted out and a new person voted in. Even though we had a contract signed the new person wanted to get a lawyer involved. Fortunately we were able to work everything out. Just be aware that things can change, even with a signed contract.
Campground: There were only a few complaints about the camping facilities. Some were easily dismissed, such as not having anywhere to plug in a waterpik. Others were taken care of immediately, such as re-routing traffic so as not to compete with pedestrians or campsites. Others were admittedly problems, but nothing could be done, such as having the Howdy Party and campground party band so close to campers. Everyone was pleased that the campground and sessions were so close to one another.
Howdy Party: As stated above there were complaints that the band was too close to some of the campers. We considered this, but thought it was better to have the party here than to have to bus people to some off site place. We used a caterer from a town that was about two hours away. hen we ran out of some food items, they were unable to run back and get more. As there weren't any local catering companies that could handle the job there wasn't much we could do about this. We were told that previous conventions had problems from serving micro-brew beers rather than generic. Because of that we ordered most generic and a few kegs of a local porter. It turned out that everyone liked the porter and we ran out, even after buying the distributor out. The band started playing too soon after the meal. There needs to be a semi- quiet period for socializing before the loud music begins. Grumpy AVP note: Why does the music have to be so loud in the first place? It drowns out all nearby conversations. Fewer decibels are better.
Banquet: Nothing much to say here. Everything went fine. It would have been nice to have wine or beer with the meal, but we were on school property and it was not allowed.
Photo Salon: Everything went fine here as well. All that can be said is that if you can get a real theater it makes all the difference in the world.
Ice Sales: We had a bit of a problem with the ice sales. As is usual we turned this over to a local Cave Search and Rescue Unit as a fundraiser. They thought they should be able to charge as much as they wanted to help raise more money. We thought they shouldn't exceed the normal $1.00 a bag. Apparently they ended up just breaking even as they paid the registration and travel for several of their members to run the concession.
Equipment Rental: We ran into several situations where it was substantially cheaper to buy equipment than rent it. There are several ways to address this. The first would be to pay the higher amount and just rent it. The second would be to buy it and turn it over to the NSS. The third would be for a local group or individual to purchase the item and rent it to the NSS for the purchase price. Needless to say this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the NSS Board.
Signage: All I can say is that you can't have too many signs or have them too big, whether these are road signs showing how to get to the site, on-site direction signs, or location signs.
Daily Newsletter: Providing an on-site copy machine works a whole lot better than having to use an in-town printer.
Cave Trips: The organization and leading of cave trips came off without any real complaints. All that can be said is that each convention will have its own set of problems and ways to deal with them based on what the caving, caves, and cave owners/managers are like.
Vendors: All we kept hearing from the vendors was that they were happier and treated better at this convention than any in recent memory. One of the little things that we did was to deliver all their pre-delivered boxes and packages to their assigned rooms. Apparently this hadn't been done before and they really appreciated it.
Communication: The NSS radios didn't work very well for us. Several of our staff ended up using cells phones. Others used the newer family band radios that worked all the way from the campground into the school. The NSS might consider replacing their current radios with these.
Kelley Deem (Chairman)
167 Blue Ridge Acres
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-9309
(304) 725-9812
deem@mammoth-geo.com
Progress:
Schedule: A lot of work went into developing a very good schedule. It’s very full, with lots of things for people to do, and more activities crop up periodically. Thanks to heavy promoting and networking, a lot of people who wanted activities on the schedule have made sure to get their requests in early. The schedule is just about finalized and is posted on the convention web site.
Registration: The pre-registration program and system is working out just fine. The registration staff have developed an approach to handling incoming registrations, checks, e-mails, phone calls, and assorted other requests in such a manner that all is processed efficiently and effectively. There are approximately 140 people now pre-registered for convention. We’re promoting the convention through the usual methods (NSS News Articles, etc.). Our web site is also doing a terrific job of getting people motivated to come to the convention.
Field Trips: A deposit has been applied to the bus charter for the Geology Field Trip A and trip leader George Dasher has finished his second dry run. Visits to Seneca and Smokehole Caverns are scheduled stops on the Trip A. Field Trip B (the paleo-history trip to Trout Rocks) is already full. The field trip food coordinator sought competitive bids for the lunches and has selected the vendor and menu. Coolers will travel with the busses for Trip A and in a car for Trip B and will be replenished at lunch time. The lunches will be catered on-site for both trips so the food is at its absolute freshest. Busses for Field Trip A are locked in at a reasonable rate. The busses are air-conditioned and hold 47 passengers each.
Campground and High School Food: Arrangements are made for food in the campground and at the high school. The campground food vendor, a restaurant from Elkins, will set up on the Saturday prior to convention week (June 24) for the convenience of early arrivals and will offer a nice variety of hot foods and snacks. A restaurateur from the Canaan Valley ski area will vend the high school food.
Howdy Party: After a long period of searching, involving visits far and wide, a band has been selected for the Howdy Party. Two 40 X 60 foot canopies and one 20 X 40 foot canopy have been reserved for use at the campground, including for use during the Howdy Party. A group of convention staff paid a visit to and ate at the food vendor’s restaurant in Morgantown, WV to determine its suitability for the Howdy Party. A menu has been developed and contract negotiations are underway. We started the paper work for the beer license needed for the Howdy Party, and expect no problems in obtaining this license. We plan on kicking off the Howdy Party with a group panoramic photo and an OTR-style Doo-Dah Parade, to give folks who typically would not come to this event a taste the Old Timer’s Party. We think the photo will be a nice convention collectible souvenir.
Program: Ad sales for the program are ahead of schedule, and we expect to be able to use the proceeds of the sales to subsidize the Program.
Web site: The web site is running extremely well. We’ve heard nothing but praise for its looks, contents, and readability. About 165 people have signed up for the convention news mailings. The mailings do a lot to promote the convention both to convention goers and their friends who might only be thinking about it.
Camps and Trips: There are five pre or post convention trips, and a host of day trips during convention week that are currently scheduled. We have most of the trip leaders needed for a trip-a-day to the Sinks of Gandy for the historical return of the ibinthruthesinksclub.
Campground: Three work weekends have been reserved for preparing the campground for convention. Trash removal, ice, soda, beer, porta-pots, and pumping will be handled by the same vendors that service The Old Timers Reunion. Post convention campground clean-up, a difficult job to staff, has already been arranged.
Guidebook: Work is progressing on the Guidebook and it is scheduled for printing in time for pre-convention mailings. The anticipated size for the Guidebook is about 300 pages.
JSS: We have a strong JSS liaison. The plans for the JSS are moving ahead with several volunteers singing up to lead trips or teach seminars. Included in this is a potential trip through Sinks of Gandy so the JSS members on the trips can be among the first to receive club cards. Our liaison has also arranged for a JSS-only period at the OTR hot-tub and sauna facility on one afternoon.
AVP note: Yes, bathing suits will be required. We don’t want these kids to be foolin’ around.
Pay Phones: There are three pay phones at the school and there will be two at the campground.
Plans: Those activities still needing volunteers will soon be published in regional newsletters and on our web site. There will be a committee meeting each month until convention to make sure all is progressing well. We’re making final decisions regarding the suppliers for t-shirts, pins, and patches. We’re moving to complete contracts as necessary. The Randolph County Commission has offered to help arrange for shuttle busses and we hope to have that finalized by the NSS Board meeting date. Our goal is to have the guidebook at a printer by mid-March. There will be continuing articles in the News about the convention with special emphasis on specific events and attractions.
Problems: The Photo Salon Committee informed us that we will likely need to spend $1,900.00 on special projector bulbs. As this is over $500.00, we will need BOG permission before they can be purchased. If Paul Stevens, or some other photo salon representative, is at the Board meeting, he should be able answer specific questions about the bulbs.
The owner of the Budget Host motel has arbitrarily raised the rates charged to convention attendees. Our best efforts to bring him into compliance with the terms of our agreement have all failed. We understand from a Chamber of Commerce source that they have received complaints about this same person, for the same abuse, from other groups. Unfortunately, we may have no recourse but to use that motel because several other motels in the area are already booked for convention week Friday and Saturday (June 30 & July 1). We plan on notifying convention attendees of this issue through NSS News Articles, list servers, and the web site so that people are aware and can make the best lodging choice possible under the circumstances.
We have not yet found a local day care center or a volunteer for child care during the photo salon or the banquet.
Bill Carr (Chairman)
212 Lyness Ave.
Harrison, OH 45030-1586
(513) 367-5092
robinhd@one.net
Progress: We are in the process of signing contracts and continuing meetings with our facilities at this time. We have set up a web site just for our convention staff in order to improve our communications with each other as a team. We are also working on getting our registration form in time for this year’s convention. We are also working on a video of the grounds and facilities so we can present that as well at this year’s convention.
Another project that we are going to try to complete is online registration with credit cards. We feel this might really boost the number of pre registrations because of the ease of filling in the blanks. It will be set up on a secure web site and should work very well. More to come on this project.
Problems: As of now I see no real problems and will continue our hard work toward having a great convention.
Peter Jones (Co-Chair)
RR1, Box 4011c
Camden, ME 04843-9701
(207) 236-6112
pjcaver@mint.net
Kevin Harris (Co-Chair)
15 Chaucer Rd
Nashua, NH 03062-2424
(603) 888-6946
harris@cairn.zko.dec.com
Progress: We've held two organizational meetings since winning the bid. Short summary: significant progress on all fronts, but lots of work left to do.
Plans: We've scheduled 5 more organizational meetings, spread around the Northeast, for the next year. Our highest priorities are to address the most serious problems (see below).
Problems: Currently, our most serious problems are, in order:
1) No agreement, not even informally, regarding the cost of the school facilities has been reached. While the school construction is in progress (and making excellent progress), the relevant administrators are not eager to finalize the arrangements. Peter Jones is handling this personally, as his highest priority task.
2) There are currently no provisions for shower facilities at the Union Fairgrounds. We've succeeded in recruiting a capable caver (Kevin O'Classen from VT) to be in charge of the Campground, and who is responsible for addressing this problem. We're hoping that a combination of volunteer labor and donated materials, together with pressure on the landowners to build permanent facilities by then, will be adequate. But both approaches involve major difficulties.
3) No Registration Chair. We have a volunteer for Pre-registration (Rocco Stembel from TAG), and a volunteer crew to staff on-site registration (Helderberg-Hudson Grotto), but have been unsuccessful in recruiting someone to be overall Registration Chair. This is Kevin Harris's highest priority task.
4) Recruiting. There are still several important staff positions unfilled besides Registration. We will be getting more aggressive at recruiting for these positions soon.
5) State Taxes. We have just discovered that the State of Maine makes no provision for a general exemption from ME state sales taxes for 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. A wide variety of specific exemptions are granted to the most worthy charities and they comply with federal regulations. As best as we can tell, the only possible, general, exception for the NSS under the present law would come under the heading of a qualified Search and Rescue Organization. While we might make this argument generally, it is unlikely that such a classification would be accepted in Maine, due to its dearth of caves. Exemption from taxes for our major expenses (school, fairgrounds, etc.) will probably not be a problem. But we may need to become very creative at using inter-state commerce to avoid sales taxes for many of our expenses. Our treasurer, Joe Levinson, is working on this issue as his highest priority task, with help from Peter Jones, and our volunteer Maine lawyer, Greg Dorr.
Rick and Faye Bowersox (Acting Co-Chairmen)
321 Pinecliff Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89128-5259
Progress: Convention 2000 is coming together nicely with support from previous years JSS parents. Faye and I have been looking over large amounts of information about above ground sites of interest that have been sent to us by parents in the area. With the aide of the Convention Coordinator, appropriate caves should be identified and trip selections made shortly. A finalized schedule of activities will be completed by the time the Convention Guidebook goes to press.
Transportation details (usually our most difficult subject) are being worked through on a step by step basis with the Convention Development Chair, Carol Tiderman. The outcome of this process will set a standard of operation for all future JSS activities. Vans of the type used at the previous two conventions have been located within the Elkins area for approximately the same price as the Filer, Idaho convention.
Following the production of a schedule, a draft budget will be submitted to the Convention Chair for approval. Tentatively, the Convention Staff has estimated a youth attendance of approximately 100. $30 per child (or $3,000 for 100 children) has been allocated. I believe this to be a workable figure as our Filer, Idaho costs were $29.66 per child for the week.
This year we are selecting adult volunteers prior to convention and assigning time slots to each volunteer. The list of volunteers has already passed ten parents for the week. The volunteers already selected plus core staff now form the minimal operational staff. Further volunteers to assist with the supervision of the children on activities will be selected at convention. Access to the NSS membership lists has been approved for the identification of family units within the Society. This list will provide us with contact information to generate a database for this year and following year’s conventions.
Plans: While our priority has been Convention 2000, contact has been made with the staffs of 2001 and 2003 to help familiarize those conventions with the needs of JSS. A trip to the 2001 convention site will be made this year immediately following the Elkins convention. A date for a pre-convention visit to the area has yet to be selected, but will be completed before the end of April.
Problems: No major problems at present.
Paul Stevens (Chairman)
5964 Seabright Rd.
Springfield, VA 22152-1738
(703) 451-7663
plstevens@aol.com
Progress: An article that covers all of the NSS 200 Salons was published in the January NSS News and posted on the convention web site. It describes the rules and entry deadlines for each Salon. Barbara amEnde will develop a NSS CD of the best entries from the past 10 Cave Ballad Salons and will lead the Cave Ballad Salon in the future. Everything else is on track.
Plans: Bruce Bannerman toured the Davis & Elkins College auditorium that will be used for the 2000 Salon program. It will be an excellent facility, provided that no more than 1,000 or so choose to attend the show. However the facility layout is such that we must place the slide projectors about 75 feet from the screen. To accommodate this longer-than-normal distance Bruce will get special lamps for the slide projectors at a cost about 6 x $311 = $1,866. He is checking into rental costs.
Problems: None.
AVP note: The 2000 Convention has not budgeted for the expense of these bulbs and had no reason to expect that these bulbs would be needed. If the bulbs cannot be rented, I would suggest that the purchase cost be taken from the NSS Salons Restricted Fund (purpose is to support the salons).