March 15th, Saturday, 8:00 A.M.
Roll Call, Proxies, and Introductions.
1. Approval of the October 3, 2002, Board of Governors Meeting Minutes.
2. Officer’s Reports:
A. President (PRES)
The NSS Board has received a proposal regarding the NSS Library from the Huntsville Grotto Library Development Commission. This proposal and subsequent information can be viewed at http://www.caves.org/grotto/huntsville/
B. Executive Vice President (EVP)
C. Administrative Vice President (AVP)
D. Operations Vice President (OVP)
E. Secretary-Treasurer (S-T)
A. 2002 NSS National Convention (Maine).
B. 2003 NSS National Convention (California).
C. 2004 NSS National Convention (Michigan)
D. Wells Cave Preserve Slide Show Presentation by AVP
E. Shelta Gate Slide Show Presentation by AVP
F. Voting System Demonstration by Jim Olsen
Bussey moved: The FY02/03 NSS capital budget is amended to include $12,000 to publish Sheck Exley's book: "The Taming of Slough." (Act 06-183 (7) is suspended.)
Cheryl Jones seconded.
VOTE: In favor: Rest
Opposed: None
Abstaining: Lera, J Olsen, Medville
PASSED
[Per Act: 06-183 Mail Ballots: (4) The text of any matter
that was the subject of a mail ballot, with the vote of each
member thereon, will be read into the minutes of the subsequent
meeting. Such matters will be subject to reconsideration as if
considered immediately before such reading, or upon the motion of
a member who did not receive timely notice.]
Paquette moves the assets of the Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration be combined with those of the International Exploration Fund to create the International Cave Exploration Fund. The Joe Ivy Endowment for Cave Exploration fund and the International Exploration Fund are terminated.
[Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration Act 18-692 3-23-02, 11-04-00
The purpose of the Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration is to provide grants to young cavers to fund cave exploration trips, primarily to Mexico. The Fund was established by donors and is managed as a temporarily restricted quasi-endowment fund. Annually the NSS withdraws 5.5% of the Fund's total value for this purpose. By a two-thirds vote, the Society's Board of Governors may require the return to the Society of any or all of the Fund that has not previously been distributed to the Society. Grants will be several hundred dollars each, large enough to fund the bulk of a four-to-six-week trip: transportation, food, lodging, maps, special equipment, etc. Grants will be given to individuals for personal expenses, rather than to projects or groups. Grants will be awarded based on the following criteria:
Applicants should have a reasonable amount of caving experience. Experience will be measured by enthusiasm, determination, and quality of caving, rather than number of years caving or a list of caves visited.
Applicants should be vertically competent. Desire to learn will count more than participation in training programs or a list of pits bounced.
Applicants should have skills to contribute to productive exploration. Being a good sport will be considered more valuable than surveying, drafting, photography, or ability to carry group gear.
Applicants should demonstrate the characteristics of a good team member including initiative; positive attitude; open-mindedness; willingness to lead and take direction; ability to amuse one’s self; curiosity to experience new things and eat weird food; desire to find, explore, and document caves
International Exploration Fund Act18-454 3-23-02, 11-08-97, 11-9-91, 11-9-91, 10-26-85
The International Exploration Fund is established to assist Society sponsored speleological expeditions to be supported by contributions raised for this specific purpose. Applications for grants from the International Exploration Fund will be directed to the International Exploration Committee which will develop appropriate guidelines and require an accounting of how money is utilized by expedition organizers. Grants from the International Exploration Fund may be made by the International Exploration Committee with the approval of the Executive Vice President. It is not the intent of this Act that grants will be routinely awarded for expeditions within the United States or Canada. Grants from this fund shall stipulate that the expedition will provide an article on the expedition for publication in the NSS NEWS, or an audio/visual program for distribution for the NSS A/V Library within one year from receiving the grant.]
Paquette moves: The NSS requests the NSF modify the Joe Ivy Endowment Fund For Cave Exploration Contract (Attachment R, Appendix C, NSS BOG Manual) as follows:
<<International Cave Exploration Fund>> <Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration>
1. This attachment to the contract between the Foundation and the Society pertaining to the NSS Trust Funds (the contract) describes the purposes and conditions of the Individual Fund known as the <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund for Cave Exploration>.
2. The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants by the Society to cavers to fund <<international>> exploration trips << including Joe Ivy Grants>><primarily to Mexico>.
3. The Foundation shall reinvest the net income and capital gains distributions from the <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund> in the <<International Cave Exploration Fund>><Joe Ivy Endowment Fund> unless it is transferred to the Society as described in this attachment.
4. <<Each fiscal year an amount equal to 5.5% of the total Fund shall be available for payment to the Society for grants. The Foundation Annual Report, as described in paragraph 7 of the contract, shall specify the funds available. The Foundation shall transfer available funds to the Society upon request for reimbursement from the Secretary-Treasurer. Any funds not requested by the close of the second fiscal year following notification shall be retained in the Fund.>> <At the end of the fiscal year of the Foundation, the Foundation shall, upon written request of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society, transfer to the Society the lesser of the net income from the Fund for that fiscal year or the total amount of grants awarded by the Society during the fiscal year.>
<<5. The Foundation, upon passage of a suitable resolution by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Governors of the Society, shall transfer any part, or all, of the International Cave Exploration Fund to another individual fund(s) held by the Foundation on behalf of the Society as part of the NSS Trust Funds.>>
<<6>><5.>By a two-thirds vote, the Society’s Board of Governors may require the return to the Society of any or all of the Fund that has not previously been distributed to the Society.
7. This attachment has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Society on the ___th day of _____, 20__, and by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation on the ___th day of _______, 20__.
Paquette moves: $12,000 is transferred from the International Support Fund to the International Cave Exploration Fund.
[This would bring the fund principle value to a level that will provide approximately $1,000 annually for International Exploration grants. The NSS International Secretary opposes this motion. Please refer to the NSS President’s report for his comments.]
Lera moves: The Wells Cave Preserve Management Committee is established in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. The committee is responsible for implementing the Wells Cave Management Plan and property management activities.
Fee moves: Patricia A. Bingham (NSS 47983), 118 Autumn Drive, Stafford, VA 540 752-0684; email nssyouth@msn.com is confirmed as Youth Groups Liaison Committee Chairman.
[This position was advertised in the January NSS News in accordance with Act 40-498.]
Fee moves: Kelly Norwood (NSS 43579), 2014 Carthage Rd, Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 723-9040; email kelly_norwood@dnr.state.ga.us is confirmed as NSS/KWI Liaison Committee Chairman.
[This position was advertised in the NSS News last summer News in accordance with Act 40-498.]
Gatland moves: Andy Niekamp (NSS 29094), 1515 Cordell Drive, Kettering , Ohio 45439 937 296-0245; email ajniekamp3@aol.com is confirmed as NSS Information Technology Committee Chairman.
[This position was advertised in the February NSS News in accordance with Act 40-498.]
Lera moves: William O. Palmer, (NSS 8654), 15100 S. Clinkenbeard Road, Ashland, MO 65010, Phone: 573 657-1076, Fax: 573 657-1936, email: palmer1076@aol.com is confirmed as Chairman of the Cave Management Division in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
[This position was advertised in the December NSS News in accordance with Act 40-498.]
Lera moves: Lee Florea, (NSS 37909), 108 Westwood Drive, Lexington KY 40503, Phone: 859 492-5145, email: wellscavecommittee@caves.org is confirmed as Chairman of Wells Cave Preserve Management Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
7f) NCRC National Coordinator
Lera Moves: John Punches, (39211) 633 West Hazel St.,
Roseburg, OR 97470, Phone 541 957-5461, email: national@ncrc.info is re-appointed as NCRC National Coordinator for
a term of three years.
[Recommended by the NCRC Board of Regional
Coordinators at their Winter meeting on February 1, 2003.]
8) Restricted Discussion Period
Fee moves: An open discussion regarding the proposed Arizona NSS National Convention Bid is held for a period of time not to exceed 40 minutes. In addition to a 15-minute presentation, each audience member will have one turn, up to three minutes in length, to address the meeting attendees.
9a) Great Expectations Cave Fund
Stevens moves the establishment of the Great Expectations Cave Fund. The purpose of the Great Expectations Cave Fund is to provide funds for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the Great Expectations Cave property in Wyoming. This includes paying for land swaps and easements, paying expenses associated with the transfer of the property to the NSS (e.g. lawyer’s fees, title searches, land surveys, and closing costs), associated fund raising expenses, and paying back loans. Donors established the fund. The NSS AVP or his designated agents may approve expenditures from these funds.
9b) Great Expectations Loan Payment
Fee moves that a $5,000 payment be made from the NSS Cave Acquisition Fund toward the balance of the Great Expectations Loan balance.
[The fund balance was approximately $15,500 in November, 2002.]
9c) Great Expectation Cave Management Plan
Lera moves: The Great Expectations Cave Management Plan is approved.
Lera moves: The Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Committee is established in the Department of the Administrative Vice President. The committee is responsible for enforcing the access guidelines in the Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Plan and property management activities.
Lera moves: Bob Montgomery, (NSS 15643), P.O. Box 2102, Casper, WY 82602-2102, Phone: 307 266-6929, email: wyocaver@aol.com is confirmed as Chairman of Great Expectations Cave Preserve Management Committee in the Department of the Administrative Vice President.
10. Saturday PM (about 12:00 for 1 to 3 hours).
Note: During this period there will be a closed meeting of the Directorate to elect the President. The board will meet in closed session discuss pertinent issues as well as select the NSS Award recipients for 2003.
11. Report of the Closed Session of the Directorate
12. Report of the Closed Session of the Board
13. Youth Group Liaison Committee
Lera moves Act 86-231 is amended as follows:
The Youth Groups Liaison Committee in the Department of the <<Administrative Vice>> President shall be <concerned with organized caving by youth groups> <<responsible for acting as a liaison between the NSS and Scout and other youth groups that may include caving in their programs. >>
14. NSS Web Page Award
Gatland moves: The NSS Web Page Award is established to recognize two caving-related web sites quarterly. The NSS Web Page Award Sub-Committee of the NSS Information Technology Committee will administer the award. The NSS Information Technology Committee Chairman will select the sub-chairman. The award consists of a distinctive logo that winning pages may display on their page. Pages may only win the award once during a calendar year. The sub-committee will establish criteria for the award. Web pages will be nominated via a link from the NSS home page.
15) 2005 NSS National Convention
Lera moves: The bid by Lynn Ott (NSS 15257) and Rick Bowersox (NSS 19885) to host the 2005 Convention in Flagstaff Arizona is accepted.
[The proposal was presented at the Fall 2002 BOG meeting.]
16) NSS Library Goals
Stevens moves: It is the goal of the NSS to make the NSS Library more accessible and valuable to NSS members by providing members internet access to:
1. A digital catalog of all books, periodicals and other items in the NSS Library with a on-line search engine that allows internet users to search the resulting data base for key words in the publication's author, title, subject, publisher, date of publication/copyright fields to determine what publications may have the information sought and whether those publication are in our library.
2. A searchable index of topics covered in each issue of the NSS News, NSS Bulletin, Journal of Caves and Karst Studies, and Speleo Digest
3. A search capability for “A Guide to Speleological Literature of the English Language” (with permission of copyright owner).
4. A digital (pdf, Adobe e-book, etc.) collection of publications for which the NSS has copyright permission (Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, NSS News, Speleogenesis, Cave Minerals, On Call, On Rope, On Station, Caving Basics, etc.) which members can download and view for a specified period of time.
[See http://www.caves.org/pub/on-line-library/ for demonstration]
Stevens moves: The NSS Library collection guidelines are, in priority order:
1. NSS publications.
2. NSS Internal Organization publications.
3. Scientific and technical publications on cave related topics and caving activities.
4. Publications on caves and karst in the United States and related activities.
5. Publications on caves and karst in North America and related activities.
6. Other publications and documents on caves and karst and related activities.
The principle focus is collecting publications in the English language.
The NSS Library Committee Chairman or his designated agent is responsible for deciding which specific publications to acquire.
18) NSS Office/Library Fire Suppressant System
Stevens moves: An “earth friendly” fire suppressant system (similar to halon) be installed in the NSS office and library building. The OVP is authorized to spend up to $55,000 from the Headquarters Fund for this purpose.
[Fund 4/30/02 balance = $129,584]
19) NSS Library Restricted Fund
Stevens moves to amend Act 18-525 [NSS Library Fund]:
The purpose of the NSS Library Restricted Fund is to provide
funds for NSS Library purchase and reservation of cave and
karst-related publications <<,
library cataloging, storage, protection, library services to
users, and internet access.>>
<and library capital equipment>. The Fund was
established and will be maintained by transfers of unrestricted
funds. <<All expenditures shall be
>> <These funds may be
spent by the NSS Library chairman> subject to the
Operations Vice President’s approval.
[The FY03/04 budget assumes all NSS Library annual operating expense is paid through the NSS Library Fund. The motion broadens the purpose of the Fund to reflect this.]
20A) FY03/04 Operating and Capital budgets
Stevens moves: The FY03/04 Operating and Capital budgets are approved.
[Attachment A (See Sec/Treasurer Report)]
20B) International Cave Exploration Fund
Paquette moves: The FY03/04 NSS Operating Budget is amended by adding $ 1,000 in the department of the NSS EVP to be awarded by the International Exploration Committee with the funds coming from the International Cave Exploration Fund.
[The funding of the proposed “International Cave Exploration Fund” could not be incorporated into the proposed budget unless motion 5 was passed.]
21) Project Underground Directors
Fee moves to amend Act 57-571:
The <President> <<Administrative Vice President>> shall appoint three NSS representatives to the Project Underground Board of Directors. The Board of Governors shall confirm such appointments and they shall be listed as part of the <President’s> <<Administrative Vice President’s Education>> Department.
22) NSS National Convention Vendors
Lera moves to amend Act 56-267:
A policy concerning vendors at NSS or NSS member-sponsored activities is established: (1) The organizing committee of an NSS or NSS member-sponsored activity may, at the committee's discretion, welcome vendors at the activity as providing a service to the participants. Vendors will abide by any reasonable monetary and regulatory edicts. (2) No vendor may use the name of the National Speleological Society or any of its member organizations for any purposes, without the permission of the NSS or respective member organization(s). (3) The National Speleological Society or its representatives are not responsible, in any manner, for merchandise sold by vendors at NSS or NSS member-sponsored activities. (4) It is recognized that the NSS and its member organizations have the authority to charge reasonable fees and establish certain regulatory measures for vendors operating at their activities. <<(5) non-profit 501(C)(3) organizations whose purpose is related to caves or caving activities will be allocated space at no cost to promote their organization provided their activities do not compete with vendors who paid for space.>> The following recommendations are to be policy for NSS activities and are suggested guidelines for member sponsored events… [Remainder of Act deleted for brevity.]
[This addition to Convention Vendors clarifies the NSS position on 501(C)(3) organizations.]
Jones moves: The initial printing of Taming of the Slough will be 3,000 copies.
Fee moves: Act 83-282
(Authors Liaison) is deleted.
[The act appears to have provided oversight for NSS books to ensure that the NSS “party line” was presented in the text and photos. It would appear that between the EVP and the Special Pubs committee we wouldn't need to involve the PR committee for this task.]
25) Mail Ballots
Fee moves: Act 06-183 is amended by deleting paragraph (2) and (7). The remaining paragraphs will be renumbered accordingly.
| 06-183 | Mail Ballots | 4-7-01, 8-24-68, 11-16-68 |
An action requiring approval of the Board of
Governors may be voted upon by mail between regularly scheduled
Board meetings, subject to the following provisions. Mail
includes any means of transmission capable of producing a
verbatim written instrument in the hands of the recipient,
including email and facsimile, as well as original hard-copy via
U.S. Postal Service or private courier. No action regarding legal
or personal matters appropriate to closed session will be
conducted by electronic means.
(1) Mail ballots may be conducted only by the President. The
President may call for a vote by mail if need for the ballot is
(a) agreed at the prior Board meeting after discussion of the
issue and upon a stated contingency, or (b) at the request of
four members of the Board.
(2) To be adopted, an
action voted upon by mail requires a two-thirds affirmative vote
of the entire Board of Governors.
(3) Neither bylaw changes nor matters for
which the Bylaws or the Acts require a meeting of the Board may
be acted upon by mail ballot.
(4) The text of any matter that was the subject of a mail ballot,
with the vote of each member thereon, will be read into the
minutes of the subsequent meeting. Such matters will be subject
to reconsideration as if considered immediately before such
reading, or upon the motion of a member who did not receive
timely notice.
(5) When presenting an issue for mail ballot, the President will
announce a deadline for the end of discussion and receipt of
votes which allows time for deliberate discussion and for the
participation of any Board member who must be contacted by postal
mail or courier. The President shall facilitate the exchange of
comments among such members and those using electronic means. In
no case shall the deadline be less than 12 days; provided, the
President may entertain a motion to close debate and advance the
deadline. Votes are subject to each member's reconsideration
until the approved deadline.
(6) Unless the issue concerns legal or personal matters
appropriate to closed session, the President shall post notice of
the proposed action to the Society web site not later than the
day following the transmission of the call for the vote, and is
encouraged to post additional notices to national and regional
caver mail lists and discussion groups.
(7) No expenditure in
excess of one percent of the Society's operating budget may be
approved by mail ballot unless the expenditure is from a
restricted fund.
(8) This Act is adopted as Special Rule of
Order, and is subject to amendment only in a regular meeting of
the Board of Governors.
[Comments provided by Paul Stevens and Tom Rea:
You cannot restrict a future Board from passing a motion by simple majority if our Bylaw IV.K. "Robert's Rules of Order, as Revised, shall govern all procedural questions arising at meetings of the Board of Governors." allows it.
You cannot restrict a future Board from passing a budget motion by simple majority if our Bylaw IV.K. "Robert's Rules of Order, as Revised, shall govern all procedural questions arising at meetings of the Board of Governors." allows it.
If the Board wants to set Act 06-183 as policy they need to change the Bylaws.]
Lera Moves: The Cave Conservancy of Hawai`i is approved as an NSS conservancy.
[Please see AVP Report for the Application information.]
Lera moves: The Administrative Vice President is authorized to accept the Potter Unit donation following his approval of the donation documents. The proposed cave preserve is located in Cherokee County, Oklahoma.
Lera moves: The National Cave Rescue Commission Charter is
adopted.
[Attachment B
follows this aginda.]
Fee moves: The NSS tentatively agrees in principle with the "Statement of Work" in Attachment One to the President's Report dated February 15, 2003, that describes a potential future relationship among the National Parks Service, National Caves and Karst Research Institute and the National Speleological Society. The NSS will reconsider the Statement of Work at its 2003 convention meeting. No agreement shall be consummated or NSS Library items be decided upon or transferred without the knowledge of the NSS membership and explicit approval of the NSS Board of Governors.
[The Government Liaison and Legal committee would like the Board to indicate that they are interested in further development as indicated by the Statement of Work contained as Attachment One to the President’s report. From Hazel Medville: "My guess is that we will see an MOU similar to the NPS MOU first then maybe a joint committee to determine what part of the library is to be considered for loan, followed later by a loan agreement. Each step will be a separate document to be considered by the Board before it is signed. The step for March is to review the preliminary agreements (or statement of work) on what each party would do if the NSS were to loan NCKRI part of its library; if we don't like these agreements then why waste any more time in negotiating a possible loan agreement?"]
Fee Moves: The President is directed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Caves and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) similar to previous NSS MOUs with US Government agencies. The proposed MOU will be presented for NSS Board approval at a subsequent meeting.
[See discussion regarding motion 29 for background information.]
Gatland moves: A maximum of $19,000 is authorized to be spent from the Headquarters Fund for repair of the NSS office building roof.
32) Huntsville Grotto NSS Library Proposal
Stevens moves: The NSS gratefully accepts the offer from the Library Development Commission of the Huntsville Chapter of the NSS, Inc. to work with the NSS Library Committee and the NSS Ad Hoc Library Infrastructure Committee to improve the NSS Library and library services for NSS members. The NSS would appreciate the Commission's recommendation as to what NSS Library items might be lent to NCKRI in the event the NSS agrees to such a loan.
Fee moves: An open discussion is held for a period of time not to exceed ____ minutes.
34. Appreciation.
Bussey moves: The Board of Governors expresses its appreciation to the Utah Grottos for hosting our meeting and providing excellent meeting arrangements.
35. Adjournment:
_______________ moves: The meeting is adjourned.
A. The National Cave Rescue Commission (Commission) is located in the Administrative Vice-President's Department and is charged with the following responsibilities:
1. To act as spokesman for the Society regarding cave rescue <policy and operations>. (It shall be understood that it is the policy of the Society to maintain a low profile during rescue operations to the extent possible and to avoid bringing awareness of ongoing rescue activities to public notice.)
<<2. To serve as a technical resource for the Society on matters of cave rescue.>>
<2><<3>>. To develop and maintain a professional level liaison with federal, state, and local authorities whose resources or mission may affect cave rescue< capabilities>. In addition, to develop and maintain an active liaison with <all cave related> organizations interested in cave rescue.
<3. To develop minimum standards for those members or organizations wishing to associate with the Society as a “Cave Rescue Resource.”>
4. To develop a national standard curriculum in cave rescue operations and systems for the <benefit of> Society <membership><<members>>.
5. To develop certification standards for NCRC Instructors to provide qualified persons to teach Commission approved training <under the direction of a Course Coordinator>.
<6. To develop certification standards for NCRC Course Coordinators who will conduct or supervise Commission approved training according to curriculum and testing standards.>
<7><<6>>. To assist Internal Organizations and cave rescue organizations in general with the education and training of their members in cave rescue operations and systems.
<8><<7>>. <To solicit, publish, and distribute research and technical papers on cave rescue, and to present these papers and cave rescue demonstrations at the annual Society convention. ><<To coordinate with the Cave Rescue Section to present current cave rescue information to Society members.>>
<9><<8>>. To establish and maintain a <roster> <<database>> of individuals with training <and expertise> in cave rescue.
<10><<9>>. To establish and maintain an inventory of specialized rescue equipment, owned by the Society or otherwise available, which may be used by the Commission for training <and> <<or used for>> rescue<. The status of Society owned rescue equipment will be reported annually to the Executive Vice-President.> <<and to report the status of Society owned equipment to the Society upon request of the Administrative Vice President.>>
<11><<10a>>. To hold at least one <business> meeting of the Commission each year at the annual convention. This meeting will be open to the public and provide a forum for the Commission to present recent accomplishments and future plans to the Society membership and solicit membership feedback.
<<10b. To hold at least one business meeting per year. The agenda of any business meeting shall be distributed to all members of the Board of Regional Coordinators at least 30 days prior to the meeting. A copy of the agenda shall be available to any NSS member upon request.>>
<<10c>>. Minutes of all meetings will be taken and these minutes shall be submitted <as part of> <<to>> the Administrative <Vice-President's Report to the Board of Governors no later than the subsequent meeting of the Board of Governors> <<Vice President and to all members of the Board of Regional Coordinators within 30 days of the meeting’s conclusion. A copy the minutes shall be available to any NSS member upon request.>>
<12><<11>>. To conduct periodic National Cave Rescue Seminars (Seminars), separate from the Society convention, and to encourage <and sponsor> regional and local cave rescue seminars.
<13><<12>>. To perform other duties relating to cave rescue as assigned by the Administrative Vice-President or the Board of Governors.
B. The Commission shall be governed by a Board of Regional Coordinators <(Regional Coordinators)>, <<which shall consist of a National Coordinator, Training Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, Cave Diving Coordinator, and several Regional Coordinators>>. <Additional> Regional Coordinator<s> <<positions>> shall be <appointed> <<established or modified>> by the <President of the Society (President)> <<Administrative Vice President upon recommendation of the Board of Regional Coordinators, subject to the>> <and approved by> <<approval of>> the <<NSS>> Board of Governors.
C. The terms of <the> Regional Coordinators shall end on a staggered basis such that approximately the same number of positions become vacant each year at the start of the opening session of the Board of Governors meeting held at the national convention.
D. <<Members of the Board of>> Regional Coordinators shall serve for <a term> <<terms>> of three years. <After that time they shall be recommended for reappointment (or not) by the Board of Regional Coordinators. The President may either reappoint a Regional Coordinator for another three year term or replace him. Initial appointments and reappointments shall be approved by the Board of Governors.> <<The NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators shall recommend a candidate for each open position to the Administrative Vice President. The Administrative Vice President shall appoint or reappoint members of the NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators subject to Board of Governors approval.>> There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms a member of the Board of Regional Coordinators may serve.
E. <The Regional Coordinators shall nominate a National Cave Rescue Coordinator (National Coordinator) who must be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Governors.> The National Coordinator will <be a member of the Board of Regional Coordinators,> act as executive officer and director of the Commission<,> and will preside at all meetings of the Commission. He will also be responsible for appointing a Financial Officer <and> , committees <<and/or staff>> to accomplish the various tasks and goals established by the Commission<<,>> and shall regularly report the status of Commission activities to the Administrative Vice-President. <The National Coordinator shall serve for a term of three years. There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms a National Coordinator may serve.>
<<F. The Training Coordinator will oversee the Commission’s cave rescue training activities and implement training policies and procedures as developed by the Board of Regional Coordinators.>>
<<G. The Medical Coordinator will advise the Board of Regional Coordinators on matters of patient care and medical protocols, and oversee medical aspects of the Commission’s cave rescue training curriculum and activities consistent with the policies of the Commission.>>
<<H. The Cave Diving Coordinator will advise the Board of Regional Coordinators on matters of cave rescue/recovery diving and serve as primary liaison to organizations involved in cave rescue/recovery diving.>>
<F><<I>>. The National Coordinator<<, Training Coordinator, Medial Coordinator, Cave Diving Coordinator,>> and all Regional Coordinators shall be members of the National Speleological Society on the date of their appointment and shall remain Society members for their entire term.
<G><<J>>. The National Coordinator<<, Training Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, Cave Diving Coordinator,>> or any of the Regional Coordinators may be removed by the <President> <<Administrative Vice President (subject to Board of Governors approval)>> or by a vote of two-thirds of <<the members of>> the <<Board of>> Regional Coordinators.
<H><<K>>. The financial operations of the Commission shall be governed by a budget developed by the <<Board of>> Regional Coordinators, subject to amendment by the NSS Executive Committee and approval by the Board of Governors. The National Coordinator, or the National Coordinator's designee, shall approve all expenses. All financial accounting and disbursements for the Commission shall be handled in accordance with the Acts of the Board of Governors and financial processes and reporting requirements established by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society.
<I><<L>>. The Commission is authorized to solicit contributions and grants to the Society to support programs and activities of the Commission. Such contributions and grants shall be used in accordance with any stipulations attached to them and shall be managed in such a way as to provide a detailed accounting of their use. All such contributions become the property of, and will be under the control of, the Society. They will be accounted for in the Society financial statements and can be disbursed only under the rules for financial management established by the Board of Governors for the Society.
<J><<M>>. The Society and the Commission will sponsor a periodic National Cave Rescue Seminar. The <National Coordinator> <<Board of Regional Coordinators>> will appoint<, subject to the approval of the Administrative Vice President,> a chairman of the seminar whose duties will be to coordinate the organization of and to conduct the seminar. The chairman of the seminar will appoint a treasurer of the seminar, subject to the approval of the National Coordinator and the <<NSS>> Secretary-Treasurer, whose duties will be to handle all seminar funds, keep adequate records, and provide financial reports to the <<NCRC>> Financial Officer and<,> National Coordinator <<and to the NSS>><,> Administrative Vice-President<,> and <the> Secretary-Treasurer.
<K><<N>>. The budget of the seminar must be submitted to and approved in advance by the <<NCRC>> National Coordinator, <<NSS>> Administrative Vice-President, and the <<NSS>> Secretary-Treasurer. All funds received or disbursed for the seminar will be accounted for separately from other Society or Commission funds. No funds designated for the seminar shall be used for other Commission activities or functions< without the approval of the Administrative Vice-President>. <<Any excess of revenue over expenses generated in the operation of a National Seminar shall accrue to the national NCRC account and shall be subject to the rules governing that account. Any deficit resulting from the operation of the seminar shall be absorbed by the NCRC national account provided the budget was approved in advance as described above. In the event the Society directs the Commission to operate a seminar determined by the Commission to be likely to result in a deficit, any resulting deficit shall reimbursed to the Commission by the Society.>>
<L><<O>>. The Commission may receive an advance from the Society to aid in the organization of <the> <<a>> seminar. Such advance shall be repaid to the Society following the seminar. <Any excess of revenue over expenses in the operation of the seminar will accrue to the Society regardless of the nature and number of other organizations cooperating in the seminar. Any deficit resulting from the operation of the seminar will be absorbed by the Society if the budget was approved in advance as required by "H" above.>
<M><<P>>. Neither the National Cave Rescue Commission nor any of its committees <<or staff members>> shall be a rescue team. A rescue team trained or supported by the Commission is not an NCRC rescue team and may not use “NCRC” in its name. <<No individual is authorized to represent himself as an “NCRC rescuer” or as a member of an “NCRC rescue team” or to otherwise imply that they are performing a rescue under the auspices of the Commission.>>
3/10/03