Report to the Board of Governors

National Speleological Society

Department of the Administrative Vice President

22 March 1997 Attachment C

John M. Wilson NSS #: 13112RL FE Report date: 15 Feb 1997

9504 Lakewater Ct Richmond VA 23229-6010 HP 804-740-0339 or 804-740-6905 WP 540-568-2989 Monday - Thur nights 540-234-6056 Farm: 540-944-5828 email: wilso3jm@jmu.edu Fax: 540-568-2933

Administrative Vice President :

See the table of contents at the end of this document on page 36.

Cave and Karst Management

See attachment C-1 for the proposed Cave Acquisition Policy

Land Trust Considerations

The Cave Acquisition guidelines have been developed by Doug Medville. These guidelines primarily deal with the evaluation of acquiring a specific property. This document will help us through the process of future acquisitions.

The next step is to determine the scop of the land trust role the NSS wants to serve. The NSS could do everything from give up its cave ownership role, to becoming a major land trust, to innumerable options in-between. The answers to some of these questions may help us determine what we see as our long tern role as cave managers.

Conflicting Ideas

Several months ago, we were considering some of the issues involved in cave and karst land

ownership. Since then, more information has become available and it now appears that we need to do even more research and have greater participation by the membership in the discussion.

There have been many diverse opinions expressed about the concept of owning caves. I am listing a few as examples of the divergence of opinion on this issue.

Risk Management

Some say owning caves is too risky. Litigation is rampant in our society and sooner or later

someone will sue the pants off of the NSS.

Others respond by claiming that risk can be managed. That is what the discipline of risk

management is all about. The NSS carries liability insurance and the record of other land trusts demonstrates this risk is minimal. There are many other tools that can be used to prevent catastrophic loss.

Organizational Building

Some say that serving as a land trust is the best way to build the organization, that owning land with caves will attract and hold members. It will get people involved in managing caves and thereby increase volunteer participation in the NSS, just as it has in other land trusts. Land trusts are among the most rapidly growing type of nonprofit organizations in the country, both in the startup of new land trusts and the expansion of existing ones. Land trusts have become the most effective tool for conservation in the world.

Critics contend that the NSS is a special case and that there are not likely to be that many more people participating. Besides, the land trust expansion is just a fad that has been going on a little longer than most fads and it will eventually slow down.

Wealth

The NSS will be able to build significantly greater wealth by owning more land and being

receptive to karst land ownership, just as people are far more willing to give to capital fund-

raising campaigns than to operating funds. Some people will more likely donate land than money to the NSS. Land can be used to provide the equity to help do more in the other NSS program areas and to help establish greater credibility as a significant player in the national decision making process.

Others contend that the NSS would be drastically changed by having a lot of wealth, it just would not be the same organization that we now know. Others think wealth building is just wishful thinking.

Management Resources

The NSS just does not have the resources to management many more caves. Look at all the trouble the law suit in New York as caused. The NSS is just not big enough to handle much more work required by cave ownership.

Managing more caves means the NSS will become more experienced in cave management and would gain through economies of experience and economies of size. In fact, it will become more effective and efficient as it owns more caves.

Selective Caves

Three different options are expressed:

The NSS should only own caves that are significant nationally.

2. The NSS should not own any caves.

The NSS cannot own too many caves for the same reason that one cannot have too much money or too much fun.

With so many different opinions being expressed, I prefer that we achieve something closer to a consensus about the NSS's role as a land trust. Therefore, I am proposing the following three recommendations to the Board of Governors.

The NSS should become a supporting member of the Land Trust Alliance, attending the land trust rally. The next year be spent evaluating the role the NSS would like to play in the land trust movement. All relevant issues will be researched and as much hard data as possible about the advantages and disadvantages of being a land trust will be distributed to the Board and members. A comprehensive proposal should be developed by spring, 1998 with evaluation of the consequences of the various options available to the NSS. This should be assigned to the AVP Department.

The NSS will examine its interest in owning caves and karst. This study may even include a workshop at the NSS convention to evaluate the likely changes that will come about if we increase or decrease the land trust role of the NSS.

3. The proposed plan to purchase Tytoona Cave should be handled under our present policy and procedures and that it should not be considered a precedent for future action. Because of the offer that has been made in good faith by the seller and the interested parties in Pennsylvania, it is best that we give them a response one way or the other now at this meeting. Regardless of our future policy, the ownership of one more cave property should not make that much difference in our future land trust policy.

Wavers for Cave Properties

I have informed the NSS Caves Preserves Committee that:

At NSS cave preserves where the NSS is not presently getting waivers signed, and

At NSS cave preserves at which we have no way to get even a small number of waivers signed without spending an unreasonable amount of resources

The committee has defacto authorization not to enforce the signature waver rule at these caves. I am further informing the Secretary Treasurer Department that the requirement is unrealistic in some cases and should be reviewed by their department. Appropriate warning signs may be a far more appropriate risk management tool.

Cave Conservation

The recommendations request by the Board of Governors for conservation guidelines for the salons and publications is attached as C-2. As one can see from the Division report, the NSS conservation Division is continuing its hard work in the never ending battle for cave conservation.

Education

The Education Division is rapidly moving forward toward several significant programs. The Omnimax Cave film being produced by the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History will have advice and assistance from the NSS and its members. I have sent a proposed model of one way a supplemental program could be managed using the resources available from the NSS.

Project Underground has made most of the management and personnel reforms recommended by the NSS. I anticipate that these changes will lead to a long term cooperative relationship that substantially contributes to the mission of the NSS. The present leadership of the NCRC has made great strides in bring effective manage to the Commission. All other education committees are progressing at reasonable speeds.

NSS Conventions

Convention development are progressing to the goal of maintaining a consistently high quality annual convention that provides an excellent service to the members and furthers the societies goals. See the reports under the Convention Division. The concept of permanent committees for some convention functions such as JSS has worked well. This idea should be considered for some other convention areas as well.

AVP Organization

Information on the Management System of the Department of the Administrative Vice President

Several directors have asked for some background information on how the AVP department uses staff positions. A couple of members of the Board were not sure of the definitions of staff and line positions. The following descriptions could help on these matters.

Line and Staff

The difference between a staff and line officer or position is important in understanding how

organizations function.

LINE Position

The Line officer, manager, executive, or chairman holds a hierarchical position.

The two unique characteristics of a line executive are:

The position has structural level of authority in the organizational hierarchy; that is, the person reports directly to a higher ranking person and he or she supervises others. The only exception is when he or she is the highest ranking executive in the hierarchy; in which case, he or she does not report to anyone. Secondly, this person has, within the rules of the organization, the power of hiring and firing. In organizations that severely restrict the authority to fire, he or she may be able to move a subordinate out of a position.

Line position diagram

Position A

Sometimes known as the Big Boss

Position B

B reports to A - It is feasible that this Manager B could be called a middle-manager.

Manager C

C reports to B- Position C usually supervises others.

Some organizations may have more levels, but with a few exceptions, the NSS has no more than three levels.

STAFF Position

The staff officer, executive, manager, chairman or other title is not in a hierarchical position. Staff members report to a boss. Staff level managers do not have the power to hire or fire anyone without approval of the boss.

Staff position diagram

Position A

Sometime known as the Big Boss

Position C

C reports to A - Position C usually supervises others.

What happened to B? In this diagram, B is a staff person and does not show up in a hierarchy chart.

One of the goals of AVP is to demonstrate that it is possible to do a good job as an officer and still have time to have a family life, hold a full time job, go caving some, and have a few other interests. In order to do that, I chose to get some help in the form of assistance and advice from several NSS members whom I call chiefs. This was needed in part to get high quality results and more effective management.

Advantages of having staff management specialists

Specialization

Staff managers provide a person to specialize in one area. This provides economics of experience and specialization to program areas of the NSS.

Development of Future Leaders

Staff managers provide the opportunity to observe a person in a position involving responsibility in the NSS who may be under consideration for some other position in the society. Staff positions are an obvious mentor situation for potential NSS leaders.

Continuity and Involvement

Staff management positions provide a means of retention of past leaders in active roles, thus

providing continuity.

Communication

A visible staff person provides an easy person to find when one has questions about a program division. This visible person is able to help direct members to the proper person or provide the appropriate information.

Flexibility

Staff positions are ideal for serving as division chiefs because damage is minimized if the person does not work out. Staff positions can be changed quickly and with minimal disruptions. Normally, changing duties of a staff person can be done by the supervisor.

Efficient and Inexpensive Executive Help

Staff management provides people to do research and other jobs when they are needed, not after a long and bureaucratic approval process. Staff manager can be put to work quickly to solve pressing problems leading to a more flexible Department of the AVP.

Rules for Defining Staff Positions

Other than the two rules listed previously, there are few rules for staff people. There are several continuum that are useful in describing the roles of staff. By understanding these variables, one may quickly see how the present AVP department is managed.

Control and Autonomy

Some bosses prefer to maintain tight control. On the other end of the spectrum, some bosses allow staff members considerable discretion to carry out broadly defined objectives. This delegation of responsibility is a critical component of how an organization works. The casual observer not experienced in organizational management may even mistake a staff person with a lot of responsibility for a line manager. I prefer the delegation of responsibility approach. I believe if one appoints a good staff person he or she will usually get the best results provided they are allowed some flexibility to accomplish those goals in a way which best suites their abilities.

Yes Men and Leaders

Some bosses prefer to work with people who tell them what they want to hear. At the other end of the spectrum are bosses who want the truth and want good analysis from their staff. "Yes men" sometimes shoot the messenger. I always want the facts and good analysis even if it is not pleasant.

Recognition, Credit and Visibility as Opposed to Invisibility

Some bosses prefer to maintain the fiction that everything done in their departments is theirs and they claim credit for all accomplishments. Often, when major documents and letters are developed in a department, the name of the big boss is on the report even when he did not write it. At the other end of the spectrum are bosses who allow staff members to receive full credit for their work and in many cases speak for the department. I prefer the latter option in most cases. I also prefer for the staff to be seen and known. When staff are visible, they can be more effective in gathering information and getting others to cooperate. I prefer to provide credit and recognition to the staff assistant who did the work, so one will find the staff people who did the work appropriately documented on reports in the AVP department. As the AVP, I will sign off on all significant recommendations from the department.

Cave and Karst Management Division

Division Chief's Report Cave and Karst Management Division

Chairman: Doug Medville NSS 7073 RL OS,CM,FE,LB 3 Feb 1997

11762 Indian River Rd Reston VA 22091 HP 703-860-0134 email: Medville@patriot.net

Division Chief's Comments:

The Cave Acquisition and Cave Ownership and Management Committees continue to be active in their respective areas and there are no outstanding concerns for either Committee. The Contemporary Cave Use Study Committee may need a new Chair as the existing Chair has indicated an interest in resigning for personal reasons. At present, there is a concern that this Committee may not be making much progress in the placement of registers and questionnaires in caves and in the analysis of the data obtained from cave registers.

The Land Owner Relations Committee continues to be active with an NSS News article possibly in preparation. A Chair is needed for a new Committee in this Division; the Cave Conservancies Committee. The NSS currently has five Conservancies as IOs, at least two others are institutional members of the NSS, and several others have no institutional affiliation with the NSS, evan though their membership is primarily composed of NSS members. Liaison with these Committees is needed. An article was placed by the AVP in the January NSS News calling for candidates for Committee Chairs for this new committee as well as the Caves and Karst Acquisition Committee.

.

Caves and Karst Acquisition Committee Cave and Karst Management Division

Acting Chairman: Doug Medville NSS 7073 RL OS,CM,FE,LB 3 Feb 1997

11762 Indian River Rd Reston VA 22091 HP 703-860-0134 email: Medville@patriot.net

Chairman's Comments:

Progress:

A draft of a document "Acquisition Criteria for NSS Cave Ownership" was written that presents several evaluation criteria to be used by the NSS BOG when a cave acquisition proposal is brought before it. Although this document raises many questions that should be asked by the Board, it does not deal with several, more fundamental cave acquisition issues: what kinds of caves is the NSS interested in considering for purchase in the first place, why do we want to buy these caves, and what will we do with them if we own them? These issues will be addressed in a revision or addition to this document.

I worked with the NSS members who are proponents of the NSS buying a 6.8 acre property in central Pennsylvania containing Tytoona Cave. I recommended revisions to their proposal and management plan, raised questions for them to ask of the current owner, met with the current owner to discuss the terms of sale (the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy), commented on the revised proposal, and mailed copies of their material to the Executive Committee for its consideration. A principal issue in this proposed acquisition is a Conservation Easement to be sold by the NSS to WPC. This easement will help the WPC ensure that the Tytoona property is maintained as a Natural Preserve by the

NSS. As of the date of this report, preparation of a final, mutually acceptable, legally binding Conservation Easement has not been completed and drafts were being reviewed by WPC attorneys and by the NSS Legal Committee. If a satisfactory CE is completed prior to the March 22 BOG

meeting, a proposal package for acquiring the Tytoona Cave property is expected to be presented to the BOG at that time.

I worked with proponents for acquiring a Hawaii lava tube containing significant and unusual fauna (Eppersons Cave); however the property was sold to another party and the proposal writing effort was terminated.

I answered several messages from NSS members interested in leaving properties containing caves and karst-lands to the NSS in their wills and referred them to the NSS Legal Committee for guidance. Since a fair number of NSS members own caves, it appears that the NSS can/will be named as a beneficiary in wills and may find itself receiving cave properties that it is neither prepared to manage nor which meet its acquisition criteria. An NSS policy concerning receipt of caves from the membership should be developed.

I met with members of the Access Fund, an organization of rock climbers (membership 8,000) concerned with loss of access to climbing areas. They too have an acquisition program and I met with the head of that Committee to discuss common concerns, e.g., acquisition criteria, liability issues, and management of the properties purchased. To reduce their liability risk, they formed a legally separate organization to own and manage the properties acquired.

I met with and discussed acquisition criteria with the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Lands. I also contacted and received information from the Land Trust Alliance about their liability insurance program and the potential for NSS membership in the LTA.

Plans: I intend to pursue the Tytoona Cave acquisition to a conclusion, focusing on the Conservation Easement and will meet with the proponents and with WPC, as needed. I intend to prepare a discussion draft of a document that addresses future NSS cave acquisitions and the screening criteria that will be used by the BOG in making decisions about the kinds of caves it is receptive to acquiring. This document should clearly state what the NSS' position is regarding cave purchases and should enable the members of the NSS to understand what kinds of cave acquisitions will be considered

by the BOG before a proposal is written. Following discussion and acceptance by the BOG, this document, or a condensed version of it, can also become an Act of the Board since with the repeal of Act 26-335 (Cave Acquisition Policy), the NSS no longer has one. Following adoption of such a policy, an NSS News article can be written that communicates this to the NSS membership and tells acquisition proponents what they should take into consideration before preparing a proposal.

I would also like to expand the Committee membership to include NSS members who are interested in and knowledgeable about cave property acquisitions, the legal issues involved, the ownership implications of the properties we buy, etc.

Finally, the NSS Cave Acquisition Fund (Act 18-367) provides for "the purchase or lease of caves or to obtain easements on cave property". I would like to look into the ramifications of modifying this Act to allow the use of fund monies for loans to NSS Internal Organizations that wish to buy caves. This can reduce the burden and risks of additional cave property ownership and management by the NSS and may facilitate such acquisitions by those NSS IOs that are prepared to repay the NSS and to assume ownership responsibilities themselves.

Problems:

There are no major long term problems that the Committee has to deal with. The only substantial short-term problem is completing the Tytoona Cave Acquisition package for consideration by the NSS BOG and reaching a satisfactory resolution of the Conservation Easement for this proposed acquisition.

NSS Cave Preserves Committee Cave and Karst Management Division

Chairman: W. Gary Bush 17697 RE,FE 8 Feb 1997

2630 Stonegate Dr Jacksonville FL 32223-0702 HP 904-268-7638 WP 904-359-5151 email "gbush@southeast.net

Chair's Comments:

I. GENERAL:

The Preserve Manager reports I've received to date are attached, for the record. As is my custom, I've also summarized the status of each property in Section II of this report. I would like to Thank Bill Mobley for his dedicated service as Co-Chair of the McFails Cave and Barton Hill Karst Preserves Committees. Bill has moved to Colorado and must resign from these posts. Emily Davis Mobley will continue as Chair of both these Committees.

Plans:

I'm addressing the issue of late reports with the Preserve Managers, with a reminder to be on time. For the last 2 years, I've tried to send a postcard reminding them of the due date as soon as I'm notified what that date is. Most respond promptly.

Progress:

I'm still awaiting updated copies of Preserve documents from the NSS Office. I've sent two reminders in the last 3 months. This isn't a high priority item, but I won't let it go uncompleted. I'll send another reminder shortly.

Problems:

• I'm still awaiting the Board's response on how to handle waivers at the John Guilday Preserve. Dave West is willing to put waivers out in the Information Kiosk, but both he and I feel that's not really workable. In addition, that practice may hurt our position, should litigation arise. The lawyer in the Norman Cave case has told Dave West that West Virginia's "permissive use" statutes do protect us from liability. In his opinion, waivers are unnecessary there. As this issue has languished for several years, perhaps some of the Board of Governors require an update on all the facts. I'll be glad to provide a complete summary, if necessary. However, the salient points are noted above.
• As noted in Emily's report attached below, Mr. Neil Baumann (the adjoining property owner to the Barton Hill Karst Preserve) requested a summary judgement against the NSS. The judge denied the request. Further action is up to Mr. Baumann.

II. PROPERTY STATUS: (See attached reports for more details)

• McFails Cave (NY): No real problems this period. There were 20 trips into the cave, totaling 94 cavers, for the last half of 1996.
• Shelta Cave (AL): Property is in good shape. One trip into the cave in November.
• John Guilday Cave Preserve (WV): The "Conservacation" was held in November. Clean-up, maintenance, and graffiti removal was performed by more than 20 volunteers. The New Trout Cave survey is essentially completed. Total length about 3 miles. Maps of all caves on the Preserve will be published by WVASS.
• Kingston Saltpeter Cave Preserve (GA): (No Report Received)
• Barton Hill Karst Preserve (NY): The Bauman suit has taken a favorable turn. The judge refused to issue a summary judgement for Mr. Bauman. We're awaiting any further action. Meanwhile, there have been 33 trips (with 195 visitors) into the cave in the last 6 months.
• Warrens Cave (FL): Very low visitation this Summer. Although Warrens is a completely dry cave, a group of visiting cave divers encountered more water than they expected, when a Summer squall sent a rush of water through the entrance and down the 35-foot drop inside. A nylon handline, donated by PMI, has spent several years aging in the cave. It's been replaced, so it can be returned to PMI for testing.
• Donald R. Russell Cave Preserve (OK): Lands and cave are in good condition. Bat populations are apparently increasing.
• Schoharie Caverns (NY): Little visitation into the cave, due to the cold Winter. Beautiful ice formations in the entrance. Work to unblock the drainage pipes at the entrance are planned, once the weather warms.
• Alachua Sinks (FL): Visibility in the cave improved late in the year, allowing 15 trips (of 35 divers total). An active survey of the system is underway. The committee is currently debating how many guides are to be 'qualified' for the cave.

III Attachments to the NSS Caves Committee Report

McFails Cave Preserve 1996-97 Winter Report

I was not able to complete a detailed report in the Fall so I will include statistics for both fall and winter seasons. We had no real problems on the property but we did have one close call which has caused us to review our emergency exit policy . We also wonder if the water flow patterns could have changed. I'm sure there will be more discussion of this later. Thom Engel and Bob Addis were great assistants per usual this year. We also owe a Vote of Thanks to Bill Mobley for his help over the last ten years. He has moved to Colorado and will no longer be co-chairing the committee.

Emily Davis Mobley, January 26, 1997

Shelta Cave Report for Feb. 1997

Everything is ok at Shelta cave. We still have one tree half down As it is hung up in the tops of other trees, will try to get it down in the Next few months. One group of NSS members went into Shelta back in the end of November. Still keeping small litter picked up mostly along the streets. That is about it.

BILL TORODE

John Guilday Cave Preserve 27 January 1997

The annual "Conservacation" was held at the preserve in November. Participation was good, with over 20 volunteers helping to clean graffiti and remove trash in the three major caves, as well as performing maintenance on the trail, information booth and signs. Visitation continues at its usual high level, as indicated by the constant consumption of educational brochures provided at the booth. Fortunately, these do not reappear as litter elsewhere on the property, so they seem to serving their purpose. The survey of New Trout Cave is essentially complete, with the length of the cave settling out at about three miles. This completes all of the surveys on the property, with the exception of a couple very tight leads in New Trout and Trammelton Caves, either of which could connect that cave to Trout Cave as exploration continues. Maps of all the caves on the preserve will be included in the upcoming Pendleton County Survey publication from WVASS. David West, Chairman

Barton Hill Karst Preserve Winter 1996-97 Report

Yes, Neil Bauman is still at it. He requested summary judgment on his case and lost. I sent the Judge photos proving that we have a maintained road and he has put the ball back into the Bauman's court. We await the next step. I have found proof that he has been ignoring our property markers and if the temperature gets above 10 and it doesn't snow I'll take pictures. Jim Serach is continuing his work on bat body fat studies and will present an updated report this Summer. Thom Engel and Bob Addis continue to help with management when I am out of town. We owe a vote of thanks to Bill Mobley for his help since we acquired this property. He will no longer be co-chairing the committee.

Warren Cave Quarterly Report for Feb. 1997

William H. Oldacre, Manager

A quiet fall/early winter caving period at Warren's has given way to a gradual increase. Four of the five NSS affiliated caving groups in Florida have visited, generally in larger groups (five to seven individuals instead of the usual three or four). Often, they bring guests. "Hard Core" exploration has been scant. There was one trip past the cave's "pit area" which did last three days, however. The main effort was to find some way to push, or possibly circumnavigate, the "gun barrel," a horizontal bore hole passage slightly smaller than our smallest caver. The principal attraction here is what may be on the other side: one of the largest lime rock ridges in all of central Florida. The passage is described as almost perfectly round (of course ---- like a gun barrel), and about thirty feet long merging into sudden blackness at the other end. Let's back up a little. Warren's Cave lies in a ridge approximately 175 feet above sea level. Believe it or not, it's almost desert like inside. Except for a small area near the entrance, there is no water available anywhere inside (which hampers exploration since it all must be portaged). To the South, the ridge falls off somewhat, but is joined by a small "saddle" to a ridge which is truly enormous by Florida standards. The best view of it is looking West from the State Road 222 exit at Interstate 75 (the Northernmost Gainesville exit). Those not familiar with this part Florida are usually stunned to see the massive karst feature rising in the haze in front of them. It looks more like something from Tennessee. Central Florida is not as flat as many suppose. When the current (none too accurate) map of Warren's is superimposed onto a topographic map, the "gun barrel" passage is just a little past the middle of the saddle connecting into the huge ridge to the South. Despite the map's deficiencies, there is good reason to believe that portion is correctly drawn. There is breakdown, and a large clay flow, right where a sink hole appears in the saddle. The connection is presumed, not proven, but this hypothetical correlation is difficult to doubt.

Caves in Florida are not usually carved into ridges by rapidly flowing stream water, as they often are up North. They appear to have been formed by acidified surface water collecting on top of the aquifer. Where ever the surface of the water table has historically resided there is potential for a cave system. And the systems are often flat, existing only in a single plane. The water table in Florida was once much higher than it is now. When it receded, it left numerous cave systems where it's surface had been. By now you are probably beginning to deduce the reason for all of the excitement over this region in Warren's. That monster ridge to the South was subjected to the very same conditions, by the same water table, that formed the four miles of passage in Warren's. And air just rockets out of the gun barrel passage whenever the barometric pressure changes. Air flow studies, using the same equipment and techniques as at Lechuguilla, indicate there should about eighty (that's right, 80, see my Sept., 1994 report) miles of passageway present. Gads. Even if only half that amount is really there. Warren's represents the best potential for an important breakthrough of any cave in Florida. When it happens, it could be colossal.

Donald R. Russell Preserve Report for Feb. 1997

Everything is normal or better. Bat count on Plecodus T. is holding strong on the plus side. Transient traffic of Myotis G. is definitely on the increase. Surface flora & fauna seem to be flourishing on the hill - deer, squirrel, and the feeders at my cabin are overflowing with birds. Saw a magnificent Eastern Diamondback rattler just outside the cabin (Sept.). It was heading South - still going, I guess. The only thing I unmercifully dispatched was a large pack-rat, which only met its demise because of making a nest with material acquired from my $100+ double hammock. Compatibility with nature does have a limit. Donald R. Russell

Schoharie Caverns Preserve Report for Feb. 1997 Bob Addis

In a nutshell, little or very little occurs at this Preserve over the winter. Hardy souls are continuing to visit Schoharie Caverns and stay at the Cabin. It was fifteen degrees below zero on New Years Eve when a couple stayed there, braced with a fire in the stove! Drainage of Schoharie Caverns. During the commercialization efforts of the 60's, about 300' of 24" pipe was installed from the cave entrance down a ravine. Over the years it has slowly clogged, making the water level noticeably deeper in the first 500-600' of the cave. In 1996, cavers crawled up that pipe to assess a cure and to map and photograph the blockage. It is blocked very close to the cave inlet) end and a tentative solution is in mind for slightly warmer weather. Opening the drain pipe will make cave trips much more pleasant. The Committee does not think that the water level acts as a deterrent to the party cavers. They are a continuing, although decreasing, problem. Meanwhile the ice formations at the entrance are stunning.

Alachua Sinks Cave Report for Feb. 1997

We have had some diving this quarter at Alachua Sink and a committee meeting. Conditions at the sink began improving about Christmas time, visibility in the basin is only about 3 feet, the down stream tunnel five feet and the upstream tunnel about 70 feet. Water temperature in the basin is a cool 67 - 68 degrees combined with the low visibility contribute to making short dive trips to avoid extended decompression. The conditions should remain this way until we get a flood, in the summer when the water temperature reaches 73 +, algae bloom will reduce the visibility to nearly zero in the basin. There have been approximately 15 dives into the system this quarter (a total of 35 divers), many of these dives were for recreational purposes (tours). However, we have began replacing some more of the 'old' main line and we have an active survey of the system in progress now. This is being conducted by myself, Tom Morris, and two local cave surveyors John Mosely and Bob Messersmith. The product of this endeavor will be a detailed map of the system that I will mail to you when complete. I also have a short video of the Alachua Sink property in the making and I will send that too off soon.

We had a committee meeting on the 17th of January to discuss development of our access to the sink, updating of the guides and guide system, discussion also included; a research proposal, 'liability waivers' and a fence/gate issue. I have spoken to the City of Alachua about access to the property from the highway, they indicated that they will issue us the permits and the state will coordinate/regulate the construction of the drive from hwy 441 to our property (approximately 50 feet). If you have feedback regarding this project it would be appreciated. Also, we discussed a fence along the front of the property and a gate to limit access to a parking area, do you have any insight into fences, gates, posting, and liability issues??

Our next meeting will be scheduled for the first week in March as committee members were not all in agreement regarding how many guides are needed for Alachua Sink. Myself and other committee members would like to limit the number of guides to 10 (the number we agreed upon during our first committee meeting) other members would like an open or unregulated number of guides. We do have 2 or 3 opening now and are taking 'applications' to fill the vacant slots. This issue will be resolved in March. I will be getting the map and video together to send off with the next report. Gary, though I physically live at the same place, the city has given me a new address: Jim C. Taylor 15507 NW 149 th Terr. Alachua, Fl. 32615-9346

AVP Comments:

Cave Conservancies Committee Cave and Karst Management Division

Chairman: Vacant new committee

Chair's Comments:

Contemporary Cave Use Committee Cave and Karst Management Division

Chairman: Vacant Ronnie Burns resigned for personal reasons.

Chair's Comments:

Land Owner Relations Committee Cave and Karst Management Division

Chairman: Bill Thoman NSS # 13725 RE 30 August 1996

4905 Ralph Ave Cincinnati OH 45328-3801 HP 513-251-7357 WP email:

Chair's Comments: See Division Chief's Report.Cave Conservation Division

Division Chief's Report Cave Conservation Division

Chairman: David H. Jagnow NSS #8177 LF 8 Feb 1997

1300 Iris St. #103 Los Alamos, NM 87544-3140 HP 505-662-0553 (phone & manual fax) email djagnow@roadrunner.com

Chief's Comments:

Conservation Committee Members:

Chris Hacker -Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission

David Jagnow (Administrative Division)

David A. Ek (Conservation Volunteer Coordinator)

Ron Kerbo (Underground Wilderness Subcommittee)

Al Krause (Conservation Grants Coordinator)

Don McFarlane (Fauna Protection Coordinator)

Jim Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker (Resource Preservation Division)

Vacant (Government Affairs Division)

Dianna Polidori (Conservation Task Force Division)

Rob Stitt (Conservation & Management Section Chairman)

Conservation Committee Cave Conservation Division

Chairman: David H. Jagnow NSS #8177 LF 8 Feb 1997

1300 Iris St. #103 Los Alamos, NM 87544-3140 HP 505-662-0553 (phone & manual fax) email: djagnow@roadrunner.com

Chairman's Comments:

Administrative Division (David Jagnow)

Plans:

NSS News Column -- I plan to write a monthly column for the NSS News, entitled Conservation Action, starting with the April issue.

Progress:

• Committee Reorganization -- David Ek is the new Conservation Volunteer Coordinator <karst@seasurf.com> who will be featured in an article in the March Conservation Issue of the NSS News. Ron Kerbo, NPS National Cave Specialist, has volunteered to replace Dr. George Huppert as chairman of the Underground Wilderness Subcommittee.
• Educational Materials -- I am spending quite a bit of time helping Project Underground with their national expansion. I have started writing a chapter on cave conservation for the American Geological Institute (AGI) Karst Primer, "Living On Karst." First draft and illustrations are due June 1. I am also writing the introduction to Werker's book on Cave Restoration Techniques.
• Cave-Climbing -- The rock-climbing access vs. cave protection issue is being actively debated with the cavers and the Access Fund. If we are not careful, this could expand into a national problem. We are helping Garry Petrie, Cindy Heazlit, Larry King, and others establish a Central Oregon CTF to address the climbing impact on lava tubes in Central Oregon. I am also mobilizing Native Americans concerned about damage to rock art panels that are about 800 years old. Ron Kerbo plans to develop a cave-climbing policy for the NPS that can be expanded to BLM and USFS caves.
• USFS (NM & AZ) Cave Fee Demo -- On January 29, 1997, Forest officials held a closed meeting in Alamogordo, NM, to activate a Cave Fee Demo. On Feb. 6, I distributed their White Paper, Southwest Cave Fee Demonstration Project. It appears that Lincoln National Forest in the Guadalupe Mountains (NM) and Coronado NF (AZ) will be designated as a three-year test site for collection of recreational fees associated with caving. I believe this proposal is unwise due to 1) increased liability to the USFS, 2) it is not cost effective, and 3) it discourages volunteerism, which also impacts the cost effectiveness of this program. This is a very hot issue right now, and threatens to expand nationwide to all National Forest caves. I have arranged a meeting with the Forest Service and Dave Luckins has appointed an ad hoc committee to address the concerns of the NSS.
• BLM (NM)/Yates Energy Settlement -- The Yates Energy Diamondback Fed.#1 well, drilled just NW of Lechuguilla Cave, turned out to be a dry hole. Yates Energy is not planning any additional drilling, and has dropped their other drilling applications (APDs).
• National/Regional Cave Specialists -- USFS has approved the position of National Cave Specialist, with funding available 10/1/97, and should have that position filled by the March BOG meeting. BLM has decided that Jinx Fox is the National Cave Specialist, even though she has essentially no experience. This decision is unacceptable to me, and will require a lot of working with the BLM. We need to write letters again
• Conservation Volunteer Coordinator -- David Ek has filled this new position on the Conservation Committee. His article in the March NSS News will explain how this program works, and will ask for cave science and conservation volunteers. (see below)
• Missouri Lead Mining -- I am organizing a letter-writing campaign to prevent Doe Run Company from being permitted to do exploration drilling for lead on State Forest lands near Round Springs and Round Spring Cave. The Missouri Conservation Commission voted to rescind an earlier order allowing the exploratory drilling, but Forest lands are still in jeopardy. Letters are URGENTLY needed, or else lead mining development will likely contaminate the groundwater flowing through many of the spring caves along the Ozark Scenic Rivers. Entire populations of blind cave fish and other cave life are threatened.
• NSS News Conservation Issue -- The response for conservation articles this year was overwhelming, and will fill much of the March and April issues. This occupied a lot of my time in January. A big "Thank You" to everyone who contributed!
• Other Projects -- Other projects during this report period include urine mitigation research; Hawaii Volcanos National Park Cave Management Plan being revised by 10/97; removal of cave locations from USGS GNIS; Papoose Cave, Idaho; Shelta Cave, Alabama; Backcountry TV; Conservation Guidelines for salons & publications; bat studies; possibility of a cave restoration project at Little Scott Cave during Convention; and lots of Convention planning.

Problems:

1) Government Affairs Division -- Need a replacement for Janet Thorne.

2) BLM is really falling behind in quality cave management.

Conservation Volunteer Coordinator (David A. Ek)

Plans:

I plan to develop a database of the various cave-related conservation expertise within the NSS. A major use of this database is to more professionally respond to cave conservation and specialized expertise needs of land managing agencies. Once the database structure is developed, solicitation to the caving communities requesting knowledge, skills and abilities relating to cave conservation and science will be performed in order to populate the database. Once a fair number of volunteers have been entered into this database, we can then begin to advertise to the various land-managing agencies that we now have this tool that would better enable the NSS to respond to cave conservation needs. Not only the caves will benefit, but hopefully we can broaden and strengthen our professionalism.

Progress:

The database structure has been developed. With the assistance of David Jagnow, a letter and dataform was written and developed for the upcoming Conservation Issue of the NSS News. The letter explains the intent and need for this database, and solicits people with specialized expertise to complete and submit a dataform.

Problems:

No problems encountered, but slight modifications to the database structure is anticipated once completed data-form start to be entered, and potential problems encountered.

Underground Wilderness Subcommittee (Ron Kerbo)

No Report (Dr. George Huppert resigned as chair of this subcommittee in December--just not enough time. Ron Kerbo is the new chair, and plans to publish the 300-page manuscript on Underground Wilderness. Rob Stitt has the manuscript on his computer, and needs some rewriting done by Dr. William Halliday.)

Conservation Grants (Al Krause, Coordinator)

Plans:

No special projects or innovations at present. Couple of potential grant applications are yet expected this fiscal year, but Research Grant funds are essentially no longer available until next fiscal year.

Progress:

Since the last BOG, grants have been awarded to the following recipients:

• $750 Conservation Grant to Emily K. Smith supporting the conduct of water quality testing, pollution assessment, and faunal evaluation within a karstic region of Wythe County, Virginia, for the purpose of supporting cave (and cave fauna) conservation efforts in an area subject to intensive logging, pollution and sedimentation damages.
• $550 Conservation Grant to Carol Zokaites/Project Underground, Inc. in support of their emerging teacher-student programs on the nature and sensitivity of cave/karst environments.
• $480 Conservation Research Grant to Richard N. Kappel III for research on Myotis grisescens habitat utilization.

Problems:

None ... $350 remains available for Conservation Grants, though only $20 remains unexpended in the Conservation Research Grants fund.

Fauna Protection Committee (Don McFarlane, Coordinator)

(Nothing new to report.)

Resource Preservation Division (Val & Jim Werker)

Plans:

• Restoration Workshop At Convention -- Arrangements have been made with the Missouri Convention for scheduling the workshop that will address conservation, ethics, and restoration techniques. Logistics are not good for a hands-on demonstration in a cave. We are working with Missouri cavers on the idea of scheduling restoration trips as caving trips throughout the week of convention.
• Speleothem Repair Video -- We are working on a video of speleothem repair to show at Convention. As this repair video comes together, there will be plenty of other applications.

Progress:

• Restoration Book -- Work is progressing on the NSS publication addressing Techniques for Cave Conservation, Ethics, and Restoration. We have received draft outlines from contributors. Schedule for deadlines has been sent to contributors. Meanwhile, we are compiling resources and editing information on techniques used across the country.
• Interagency Video -- Scripting has been initiated for a professional video addressing cave conservation, safety, and ethics. The production is designed to use as a companion piece with the NSS/NOLS/interagency brochure entitled, Caves...Conservation & Ethics. Team members include representatives from the NSS, NOLS, BLM, NPS, and USDAFS. Work is progressing slowly.
• Display on Restoration, Ethics, Conservation -- A Conservation Grant was awarded for the development of a traveling display addressing restoration techniques. The exhibit is finished and will be on display at Convention in Missouri. It illustrates proven methods for speleothem restoration, formation repair and cave trail management. Content is aimed at a general audience of people interested in caves and provides educational material on conservation, ethics, and cave restoration techniques. The exhibit is designed to allow new sections to be added as updated techniques are developed. Additional funding from the Guadalupe Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest helped complete this stage of the museum quality project. The joint NSS/Forest Service restoration exhibit will be housed by the Guadalupe Ranger District, who keeps the display set up in various places at least 50% of the year. Al Krause requested that we also put together a restoration slide show for the NSS library as part of this project.
• Slide Show Demo -- As we coordinate the slide show on restoration and repair for the NSS library, workshops continue with various groups in the Southwest.
• Lechuguilla Restoration -- Restoration projects continue in Lechuguilla Cave. We led 6 expeditions in 1996, and have scheduled 4 for 1997. The trips are focusing on the development of restoration techniques that avoid disturbing microbiota and virgin surfaces. Ideas are being discussed to reduce future impacts as cavers explore and study the cave.
• NSS News -- Articles and announcements on the restoration book, Convention restoration workshop, conservation display, and Lechuguilla restoration have been sent in to the NSS News.

Problems: None

Government Affairs Division (Vacant)

No Report--Position Vacant

Conservation Task Force Division (Dianna Polidori)

Plans:

• I plan to write a column which will appear in the NSS News each month show casing one of the eighteen active CTFs. Hopefully this will accomplish several very good things. First of all, it will allow the NSS membership to recognize the members of the Task Force showcased each month and the important work that they do. The members of the Task Forces are often battling against incredible odds. This much warranted "pat on the back" would be a good motivator for the task forces that are becoming less productive due to low levels of morale. In addition it would encourage other members to take an active role in conservation by demonstrating the positive effects of the work done by the task forces.
• I plan to make some changes in how I obtain annual reports from the various task forces in the hopes that we can GET annual reports from ALL of the task forces. I plan to keep in touch with the task forces through several memos annually in an attempt to condition them to communicating without having to spend several weeks harassing them into responding and sending in their reports. I also plan to design a form that each task force coordinator can use to report on their plans, progress, and problems as well as updating the more general information all in an attempt to make it as easy as possible for each coordinator to report on their task force.

Progress:

• There have been five "official" inquiries concerning obtaining CTF status since I took over the files at the convention in Salida, CO. Of those inquiries it appears that we will be adding at least one new Conservation Task Force (Central Oregon CTF) and revitalizing an existing one (Bat Education CTF). Purgatory Karst CTF as it appeared in the May 1996 members manual has been disbanded. This should bring the total number of active CTF's to eighteen.
• Fourteen of the seventeen CTF's that were required to submit an annual report have done so, some in a more timely manner than others. In a further attempt to obtain the remaining reports and under the direction of the Committee Chair, Dave Jagnow, these task forces will be contacted with a diplomatic ultimatum of "Report or Else...". Many of the CTF's that are currently active have been around for a while and that will most likely continue for some time. However, the continuation of this division and subsequently the protection of many caves depend on the origination of new task forces. I wrote a short article about Conservation Task Forces for the NSS News Conservation Issue in an attempt to educate the membership about what a task force is and to encourage members to take an active role in conservation by forming a task force themselves.

Problems:

Three of the seventeen CTF's that were required to submit an annual report have NOT done so for various reasons. As I was informed when I took over as the coordinator for this division, getting reports from some of the task forces requires persistence. Hopefully the changes that I have planned for the coming year will prove helpful in avoiding this seemingly recurring problem in the years to come.

Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission Cave Conservation Division

Chairman: Chris Hacker 17 September 1996

113 Crane Street Apt 4 Somerset, KY 42501 HP 606-678-2205 WP 606-679-5034 email: Expected by 1 April 1997

Chairman's Comments:

Plans:

Since attaining the position as chairman of the commission, I have spoken with several commission members about the direction the reward commission should go. I am still obtaining ideas and opinions and will summarize these in an informal session at the Missouri Convention. The future plans I intend to emphasize are that of education in several professional fields outside of the caving community. There has been much interest in education by local and state prosecutors to educate themselves regarding cave protection laws, as a result of the recent Mammoth Cave National Park prosecutions in Crystal Cave. Several local city and regional Chambers of Commerce and local newspapers in cave areas have expressed interest in signs in business and advertisements in papers for vandalism deterrence. I would like to explore the possibility of establishing a commission seat for each NSS region to ensure complete coverage of the caving areas of the U.S. I would also like to explore the potential of a local or regional vandalism reporting system to better understand the scope of the problems. (Geography grad student, I hope)

Progress:

Several local grottos have requested signs for caves or caving areas in Kentucky. A letter regarding signs about the reward and plans for installation in or around caves is being sent to all NSS internal organizations by April 1st. An expanded article for the Members Manual is being prepared, depending on space allowances. An informal planning session at the NSS Convention is being planned as soon as I can obtain a schedule and set a convenient time for everyone there.

Problems:

Nothing major. I am still in the process of being computerized, and should have e-mail access by April 1st. Until then, there are some caver BBS in the Ohio/Central Kentucky area that I have access to.

AVP Comments: None

Conservation and Management Section (For Information only, not a committee)

Chairman: Rob Stitt NSS # 5403 RL OS,CM,FE,CO 17 September 1996

1417 9th Ave. W Seattle WA 98119-3224 HP 206-283-2283 email rstitt@wingedseed.com

Chairmen's Comments:

Plans:

The Underground Wilderness Book languishes in the bowels of my computer waiting for someone to get a publisher and a definite deadline. After the Symposium is complete, it will rise in the priority list (unless someone else raises it). I will try to get Halliday to redo the sections missing copyright permission.

Progress:

• I have two issues of the Cave Conservationist 15-2 and 15-3 ready to go to the printers, except for the missing cover photo for 15-3. I have enough material for 15-4 so we can finish out last year, and by the time it comes out will have enough for 16-1.
• Effort for the last month has been directed at the Cave Management Symposium, with some minor web page updating. The Symposium is proceeding well, with the First mailing and call for papers probably to be mailed by February 15.
• I have procured a copy of Front-Page 97 for Web Page maintenance. A new Cave Related Land Trusts page will be the next addition to the Web site (at the suggestion of Rane Curl) and I plan to upgrade to frames sometime this spring.

Problems: (None)

AVP Comments: This report is included as a convenience and a courtesy to the section. Mixon: it is not necessary to point out that this report does not belong here. JohnEducation Division

Division Chief's Report Education Division

Chief: Wayne Marshall NSS #: 20373 RL Report date:

2623 Tulip Tree Cir Seffner FL 33584 HP 819-681-3629 email: soswayne@combase.com

Chief's Comments:

Educational Opportunities Education Division

Chairman: Steve Stokowski NSS #: 14425 RE Report date:

10 Clark St Ashland MA 01721-2145 HP WP 508-881-6364 email: CaverSteve@aol.com

Chairs Comments:

AVP comments: The Chair sent some data during this reporting time.

Environmental Education Education Division

Chairman: Barbara L. Moss NSS #: 13678 RL Report date: 9 Sept 1996

7713 Shreve Rd. Falls Church VA 22043-3315 HP 703-573-1068 WP 301-372-0100 Sept June Fax: (Staples)(703)534-8133 email: KE4BVQ@amsat.org

Chair's Comments:

The Board of Directors of Project Underground, Inc has selected a new National Coordinator: Carol Zokaites of Christiansburg, Virginia. One of the first projects Carol Zokaites has planned is to attend a Grant Writer's workshop in January 1997: participants average $177,000 in grants within two years. Revision of the Project Underground Activity Guide and plans for national distribution are also in her plans. NSS Board members will have, or soon will have, copies of her resume and Project Plans. The EEC has received several comments from Activity Guide reviewers: for the most part reviewers really like the book and activities. Additional comments were minor language usage/ grammar corrections, some clarification of definitions, and layout ideas. Hazel Medville and I attended a local task force meeting at the U.S. Forestry Service. The USFS is interested in hearing from educationally affiliated organizations for ideas on how to improve or change the USFS educational focus. These task force meetings will be held between now and next June, all over the country. Each participant is grouped with other organizations to develop ideas, told to prioritize the ideas, and to select priority audiences. Hazel and I stressed karst and groundwater awareness for any recreational and educational plans the Forestry Service is contemplating. The USGS K-3 Caves Teacher Packet will be field-tested between February

and April. If all follows the original time-line: the packet will be available from the USGS by Summer.

Plans

>Project Underground's National Effort is in need of start-up funding. It now has a National Coordinator with a track record of completing assignments on time (1995 NSS Convention Guidebook for one). I submitted a request for funding for Project Underground for the amount of $6,000. This money is start up costs, administrative costs, perhaps conditional matching

funds needed by some grant-giving foundations. The NSS EC has recommended a one time grant, available in May, pending BOG approval. Project Underground plans: Convention Plans -1) Workshop from 8:30 - 1:30 in morning; 2) Facilitator training to continue in the afternoon -

1:30-5:00 (These will be either Wed. or Thurs. of Convention week June 23-27); 3) Poster Sessions in the Biology and Geology sections; 4) Update the Congress of Grottoes on Project Underground. Other plans for Project Underground 1) Hoping to schedule a Project

Underground Board meeting sometime March 22-24 in DC or Pittsburgh; 2) National Coordinator, Carol Zokaites, will attend a Grantsmanship workshop in Northern Va. March 31-April 4th.; 3) Carol is to meet with National Park Service Officials in DC sometime this spring; 4) Working with Tina Hall in W.Va. to start Project Underground workshops there; 5) Carol will give a short talk on Project Underground at the VPI Cave Club Banquet on Project Underground, Feb. 15; 6) Carol plans to attend the Facilitators Training for the Va. Program in Front Royal, May 6,7 and 8; Carol has been invited to the American Cave Conservation Association's (ACCA) Board meeting on March 8th to discuss a working relationship between ACCA and Project Underground.

Progress with Project Underground

1) Developed a National Flier for Project Underground and printed 150 of them. Sent Fliers to Evelyn Bradshaw, NSS internal organization committee, to pass out to NSS organizations. 2) Responded to e-mail and written inquiries about PU from various states including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ill., and Minnesota. Invited everyone to the Missouri workshops. 3) National Park Service- Received copies of book - "More Than Skin Deep, A teacher's Guide to Caves and Groundwater", from Bill O'Donnell, Resource Education Specialist, Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 4) Talked to Ron Kerbo, Cave Specialist, Colorado. He is willing to help sponsor the workshops at convention with @ $2,000. Also wants me to meet with him in DC. 5) Missouri Convention-Looking for funding match to Park Service Money. 6) Dianna Polidori, the volunteer who has been working so hard on Project Underground, is working as the Missouri state coordinator. Have teachers and state officials reviewing Project Underground. Considering some kind of state support. Also collected information from each board member to include in memo on Project Underground's National Board of Directors. This was requested by the President of the Environmental Education Committee in Missouri. Sent registration information and PU fliers to be passed out at a science teacher convention. Developed registration forms, including NSS convention registration for Missouri workshop. Asked about poster sessions. Project Underground has been asked to give a short talk on PU to the Congress of Grottos at convention. 6) W.VA. U Tina Hall is interested in Project Underground and has person in mind to help and possible funding source. 7)Grants Applied for and received a $550.00 grant from the NSS conservation committee to attend the Grantsmanship Workshop in DC the first week in April. Will try to send in an EPA grant application for educational funding. She did not receive the information until Feb. 1 and the deadline is Feb. 21 so it could be a little tight. 8) Groundwater Guardian Program U Carol will be the Project Underground representative on the Va. Department of Conservation and Recreations Groundwater Affiliate Team. This team is a collection of interested people in Va. Karst counties to encourage committee support for groundwater issues. 9) Project Underground in Va. U Carol has offered to help with Karst content information at the Facilitator Training in Front Royal, and has been asked to help with Karst Content at a workshop in Blacksburg, March 6. She received permission from the NSS to copy 3 articles out of the NSS guidebook "Underground in the Appalachians" to give out at workshops as supporting karst information. Terri Brown has agreed to make these copies at her office. Established a working agreement with Terri Brown and Va. Karst Project. 10) Va. Karst Project U Working Agreement between Project Underground and the Va. Karst Project. Carol Zokaites, National Coordinator of Project Underground, will be the contact person from Project Underground Terri Brown will be the contact person for the Va. Karst Project, Va. Dept. Of Conservation and Recreation. By teaching Project Underground workshops in Va. Karst counties, Project Underground will help the Va. Karst Project meet its goals of educating the public about karst environments. The Va. Karst Project can help Project Underground by: a) Putting communities and individuals interested in karst education in contact with Project Underground; B) Helping with supporting karst content information to be given out at workshops; c) Providing a slide show on groundwater and the karst and caving environment to be used at workshops; d) Working together on the Groundwater Guardian Affiliate Team; e) Providing some small funding for materials for use in the karst counties of Va. Handled individually by the facilitators giving the workshops and the Karst Project. This can be knowing which businesses in the communities will also be willing to help sponsor workshops. 11) Carol is helping Terri put out a reprinting of "Living On Karst" that was handed out at the last Facilitators training and can be given out at future training. A good resource in Karst Content. Survey plans of NSS Educators, and reports for the NSS News were sent to the Education Division Chief, and will be reported upon by him as appropriate. Plans for trunk' activities available for educators to borrow are underway. The EEC needs $400 to facilitate initial start-up cost (reproductions, mailing cost, sturdy containers).The EEC is still responding to student and teacher requests for additional information beyond what the NSS Office sends. The EEC needs to be reimbursed for mailing costs (envelopes, reproductions, stamps) in order for us to respond to inquiries, and to send pen-pal packets to member of the JSS. Costs: $200.

Progress

The committee has received a few comments back from reviewers of the Project Underground Activity Guide. USGS Packet updates will come as they occur.

Problems

The Committee Chairs, like the EEC, need to see in writing just how much money, if any, is allocated to the Committees / EEC this year.

Project Underground Attachment

I thought you would like to see a copy of the monthly report I sent to the Project Underground Board members. It's a good way to keep up with what is going on with the educational program. Let me know if there are others in the NSS I should send this to, or feel free to forward this yourself if that is better.

Carol Zokaites

Monthly report on Project Underground by the National Coordinator. Feb. 7, 1997

PLANS

Convention Plans for Project Underground have grown. We are now doing the following

1) Workshop from 8:30 - 1:30 in morning

2) Facilitator training to continue in the afternoon - 1:30-5:00 (These will be either Wed. or Thurs. of Convention week June 23-27)

3) Poster Sessions in the Biology and Geology sections

4) Update the Congress of Grottoes on Project Underground

As you can see I will probably need help from Board members in covering these things if double scheduling occurs (or anything else comes up!)

Other plans

Project Underground Board meeting sometime March 22-24 in DC or Pittsburgh I am attending a Grantsmanship workshop in Northern Va. March 31-April 4^th. I am to meet with National Park Service Officials in DC sometime this spring. I am to meet with Diane and Susie in Richmond the end of Feb. or beginning of March. Working with Tina Hall in W.Va. to start Project Underground workshops there. To give a short talk on Project Underground at the VPI Cave Club Banquet on Project Underground, Feb. 15. Plan to attend the Facilitators Training for the Va. Program in Front Royal, May 6,7 and 8. I have been invited to the American Cave Conservation Association's (ACCA) Board meeting on March 8th to discuss a working relationship between ACCA and Project Underground.

PROGRESS

1)Office Joe has spent a lot of time trying to get the new printer, fax, copier to work correctly with the phone line. It does print nicely. Developed a National Flier for Project Underground and printed 150 of them. Tried to keep in touch with people as needed. Talked to Diane. Kept filing!!! Sent Fliers to Evelyn Bradshaw, NSS internal organization committee, to pass out to NSS organizations.

Responded to e-mail and written inquiries about PU from various states including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ill., and Minnesota. Invited everyone to the Missouri workshops.

2) National Park Service

Received copies of book - More Than Skin Deep, A teacher's Guide to Caves and Groundwater. From Bill O'Donnell, Resource Education Specialist, Ozark National Scenic Riverways . Talked to Ron Kerbo, Cave Specialist, Colorado. He is willing to help sponsor the workshops at convention with @ $2,000. Also wants me to meet with him in DC.

3)Missouri

Continue to work on convention. Looking for funding match to Park Service Money.

Dianna Polidori, the volunteer who has been working so hard on Project Underground, is working as the state coordinator. Have teachers and state officials reviewing Project Underground. Considering some kind of state support. Collected information from each board member to include in memo on Project Underground's National Board of Directors. This was requested by the President of the Environmental Education Committee in Missouri. Sent registration information and PU fliers to be passed out at a science teacher convention. Sent information to the other Project State Coordinators. Developed registration forms, including NSS convention registration for Missouri workshop. Asked about poster sessions. Project Underground has been asked to give a short talk on PU to the Congress of Grottos at convention.

4)W.VA.

Tina Hall is interested in Project Underground and has person in mind to help and possible funding source. Will get back to me in a couple of weeks.

5) Grants

Applied for and received a $550.00 grant from the NSS conservation committee to attend the Grantsmanship Workshop in DC the first week in April.

Will try to send in an EPA grant application for educational funding. I did not receive the information until Feb. 1 and the deadline is Feb. 21 so it could be a little tight.

6) Groundwater Guardian Program.

I will be the Project Underground representative on the Va. Department of Conservation and Recreations Groundwater Affiliate Team. This team is a collection of interested people in Va. Karst counties to encourage committee support for groundwater issues.

7) Project Underground in Va.

I have offered to help with Karst content information at the Facilitator Training in Front Royal.

I have been asked to help with Karst Content at a workshop here in Blacksburg, March 6. I received permission from the NSS to copy 3 articles out of the NSS guidebook "Underground in the Appalachians" to give out at workshops as supporting karst information. Terri Brown has agreed to make these copies at her office. Established a working agreement with Terri Brown and Va. Karst Project.

8)Va. Karst Project

Working Agreement between Project Underground and the Va. Karst Project. Carol Zokaites, National Coordinator of Project Underground, will be the contact person from Project Underground Terri Brown will be the contact person for the Va. Karst Project, Va. Dept. Of Conservation and Recreation. By teaching Project Underground workshops in Va. Karst counties, Project Underground will help the Va. Karst Project meet its goals of educating the public about karst environments. The Va. Karst Project can help Project Underground by: Putting communities and individuals interested in karst education in contact with Project Underground. Helping with supporting karst content information to be given out at

workshops. Providing a slide show on groundwater and the karst and caving environment to be used at workshops. Working together on the Groundwater Guardian Affiliate Team. Providing some small funding for materials for use in the karst counties of Va. Handled individually by the facilitators giving the workshops and the Karst Project. This can be knowing which businesses in the communities will also be willing to help sponsor workshops. I am helping Terri put out a reprinting of "Living On Karst" that was handed out at the last Facilitators training and can be given out at future training. A good resource in Karst Content. Outside Projects I am working on. I am still working on a project for CCV and the Va. Karst Project, as a consultant. A Karst land use guide. This keeps me in contact with people

working in karst areas.

PROBLEMS

Communications with Diane Barns of the Virginian Project Underground Program. Knowing what is going on with the Budget and accounting for things like the EPA grant. Catching myself up on the development of Project Underground before I came on board. I have been asked how the lessons where developed, who reviewed etc. Susie has been helping me here. Teachers want to know the grade levels of the teachers who reviewed the lessons and not just what ages they were recommended for. Also what review process was used. In other words I need more information than what is listed in the front of the activity guide. E-mail - email is a tremendous communication tool. It saves a lot of money in long distance phone bills. It also saves time on every ones part. Some of you are very comfortable with e-mail and respond in a timely fashion. Some of you do not. What I need to know is to who is not comfortable with e-mail and would like a fax or a phone call.

National Cave Rescue Commission Education Division

Chairman: Bernard M. Feldhaus NSS #: 22036RL Report date: 6 Feb 1997

5416 Hunter Village Drive Ooltewah, TN 37363-7004 Hp: 423-238-7009 Work: 423-751-8549 email: bfeldhaus@compuserve.com

Chairs Comments:

John Appleby (Eastern Region Coordinator)

David Ashburn (Training Coordinator)

Sam Chewning, MD (Medical Coordinator)

John Evans (Northeast Region Coordinator)

John Gookin (Rocky Mountain Region Coordinator)

John Green (South Central Region Coordinator)

Henry Nicholson (Diving Coordinator)

Bill Maher (Western Region Coordinator)

Mimi Ortiz (Caribbean Region Coordinator)

Jeff Parnell (Southeastern Region Coordinator)

John Punches (Pacific Northwest Region Coordinator)

Mike Summers (Central Region Coordinator)

Harry Burgess (Southwestern Region Coordinator - PROPOSED)

Harold Chrimes (NCRC Equipment Manager)

Nancy Chrimes (Education Board Member/NCRC Seminar Registrar)

Tricia Daugherty (Education Board Member/NCRC Database Manager)

Andy Franklin (NCRC Discussion and Administrative List Manager)

Tony McGee (NCRC Inventory Officer)

Bruce Smith (Education Board Member/NCRC Curriculum Coordinator)

Marla Steele (NCRC Financial Officer)

Barb Ritts (Education Board Member)

Kathy Welling (NCRC Recording Secretary)

Vacant (Education Board Member)

Vacant (Education Board Member)

Progress

The National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) Board of Regional

Coordinators (BORC) conducted its Winter Business Meeting on January 25, 1997, in the Walker County (GA) Civic Center. The meeting was attended by all but three of the Regional Coordinators (who were represented by proxies). The meeting was very productive. Highlights of this meeting include:

1. Harry Burgess (NSS 32789) of Carlsbad, NM, was nominated to fill the position of Southwestern Region Coordinator. His name has been forwarded to the NSS President for appointment and the NSS Board of Governors for approval.

2. The NCRC Education Board (EB) was expanded by two "at-large" members. These two positions will be filled during the 1997 Summer BORC Meeting at the NSS Convention. These positions will be advertised in the NSS News with the added emphasis of filling them with persons from the western United States.

3. The positions of Seminar Registrar and Database Manager were changed from appointed positions (by the NCRC Training Coordinator) to elected positions (voted on by the BORC). At this time all the positions on the NCRC EB are elected as opposed to some elected and some appointed.

4. A large portion of the Levels I, II and III curriculum dealing with medical, hauling, lowering, highlines, vertical work and anchoring as well as student check sheets and the acceptance criteria for these checksheets was revised and approved by the BORC for pilot testing at this summer's National Seminar. This pilot testing was also extended to the regions with the approval of the NCRC Training Coordinator.

Since the NCRC's last report to the NSS BOG, the following training has been completed:

Caribbean Region - Orientation El Venado, Costa Rica, January, 1997.

Western Region - Levels I and II Weeklong Seminar, Sequoia NP, CA, October 1996.

Eastern Region - Basic Orientation to Cave Rescue Weekend, Clinton, NJ.

Eastern Region - Vertical Weekend Training using the Vertical Sections program.

Eastern Region - Trip Leader (Outing Programs, etc.) Orientation (2 each).

Northeastern Region - Cave Rescue Workshop, Gallupville, NY.

Rocky Mountain Region - Weekend Cave Rescue Workshop, Manilla, UT.

Central Region - Vertical Training Workshop, September 1996.

General Liability Insurance

As of February 1, 1997, a General Liability Insurance Policy has been put in place to cover all NCRC related training activities. This policy covers training both above and below ground, something we have never been able to obtain in the past. To reimburse the NSS for the advance funding of the policy, a student fee of $1.00-per-DAY-per-EVENT has been adopted by the BORC for all NCRC training activities. The NCRC is grateful to Ted Kays of the NSS Insurance Committee for all the work he did in arranging this policy for us.

Financial Procedures

Marla Steele, the NCRC Financial Officer, has issued a set of guidelines to be used as the NCRC Financial Procedures. These procedures will help align the NCRC more closely with the accounting practices of the NSS and assist the NCRC Regions to do the same. A copy of these procedures can be

found in the minutes of the NCRC BORC meeting of January 25, 1997.

NCRC Administrative List

A new (closed) Internet Forum has been established by the NCRC National Coordinator: The NCRC Administrative List. The purpose of this forum is for the NCRC BORC and EB to be able to debate and discuss many of the issues facing the NCRC prior to its meetings, and to be able to do so in a reasonably confidential setting. This should expedite problem resolution and enable more issues to be addressed during our business meetings. It is also an attempt to reduce photocopying and postage costs by sending out and receiving agendas, reports, etc., electronically, rather than by US Mail.

Plans

The National Summer Weeklong Seminar will be conducted June 14 - 21, 1997, at the Rockcastle County High School near Mt. Vernon, KY. (This is the week before the NSS Convention.) The 1997 Summer NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators meeting is scheduled for Tuesday of the week of the NSS Convention. Once again the plan is to closely follow the mandate of the NCRC Charter for this meeting, which stipulates: "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. . ." Last summer we followed this mandate and had a very successful and well attended meeting.

After discussing the Drivers, Objectives, Deliverables and Schedules, at the 1997 NCRC Winter Business Meeting, the National Coordinator will appoint teams to address the following areas of concern for NCRC: Documentation of Training, Publishing NCRC and Cave Rescue contacts in the NSS News, Technical Research Publication, Grants and Contribution Solicitation and Self-Rescue Curriculum Development. Many of these teams will be following up on the work of previous teams or will be investigating areas of the NCRC Charter which have not been fully addressed yet. Beginning this spring and continuing for the next year (or more), a team will be establish to develop a Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives for the NCRC. It is not the intention of this team to do away with the NCRC Charter, rather it will more simply and accountably delineate the mandates of the NCRC.

At this summer's meeting, terms of four Regional Coordinator will expire. They are: Eastern Region (currently John Appelby), Central Region (currently Mike Summers), Diving (currently Henry Nicholson) and Pacific Northwest (currently John Punches). Advertisements for input on nominations on these positions will start in March.

Regional Training Plans include:

Eastern Region - Basic Orientations to Cave Rescue (3 each)

Eastern Regions - Week long 97, 2 - 10 August.

Eastern Region - Instructor Update, 22 March 1997.

Northeastern Region - Weekend Orientation, Fall 1997.

Northeastern Region - Week long, Fall 1997.

Rocky Mountain Region - TWET's at Wind or Jewel Cave, April 1997.

Rocky Mountain Region - Federal Agency Training Idaho BLM. May 1997.

Rocky Mountain Region - Weekend Workshop, Idaho, May 1997.

South Central Region - Cheve Project Rescue Training, February 1997.

South Central Region - Orientation Course at EMS Conference, November 1997.

Caribbean Region - Two Workshops focused on Agencies, Puerto Rico, 1997.

Pacific Northwest - Two Workshops, Spring/Summer 1997.

Central Region - Basic Cave Rescue Orientation Carter Caves State Park,March 1997.

Central Region - Basic Cave Rescue Orientation Sullivan, MO, April 1997.

Central Region - Basic Cave Rescue Orientation Eastern Kentucky University,April 1997.

Problems

None that aren't the usual, reasonable and customary problems that come up when working with volunteers who feel very strongly about the cause they have dedicated themselves to.

Safety and Techniques Committee Education Division

Chairman: William Cuddington NSS #: 2177RL (OS, FE) Report date: 18 Feb 1997

3412 Hutchens Ave. Huntsville AL 35801 HP 205-536-2177 e-mail: miriambl@aol.com

Chairs Comments:

I have formed a safety committee. The people serving on it are: Bruce Smith, Chuck Henson, Miriam Cuddington, Bill Cuddington (Chair). As I see it, our job is to publish articles concerning safety and techniques in the NSS News. Also, as the need arises, be ready to "talk safety". We also plan to have a safety and techniques meeting at this years' convention.

Television Video Production Education Division

Chairman: John P. Scheltens NSS #: 10886RE CM OM Report date: 20 Feb 1997

303 North River St. Hot Springs SD 57747 HP 605-745-4366 WP 605-745-3135 email: 102370.2314@compuserve.com

Chairs Comments:

Plans: I have not heard much since Christmas on the progress of the film. A meeting of the Science Advisory Committee is tentatively scheduled for this spring in Cincinnati. A date has not been set that I am aware of. When it is scheduled, I plan on being there.

Progress: With funding commitments from the National Science Foundation and the National Parks Foundation, the museum is continuing to put together the remainder of the funding package. It is hoped that filming can begin later in 1997 if all comes together. When the exact roll of the NSS is defined ( one of the outcomes planned for the spring Science Advisory Committee meeting), we will then have a clear understanding of what resources (manpower & money) we will need to commit. In the meantime, we are in a waiting mode.

Problems: None that I am aware of at the present time.

AVP Comments: The Omnimax Cave Film project of the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History may require an additional budget appropriation sometime during the year for the NSS Committee to help with the project. If an additional appropriation is needed and how much can not the determined at this time.

NSS Convention Division

Division Chief's Report NSS Convention Division

Chairman: Carol Tiderman NSS # 10640 RL 15 Feb 1997

7600 Pinedale School Rd Fulton MD 20759 HP 410-792-0742 WP email: Tiderman@pop.erols.com

Chief's Comments:

• The Convention Division has been working closely with the Idaho group in developing their bid and in offering support and clarification to any questions they have had regarding NSS policy and processes regarding conventions.
• The Convention Division has also been keeping in touch with the Missouri group and offering any assistance and suggestions in response to their inquiries.
• The Convention Division has also been involved with the disposition of the trailer purchased in Salida and in suggesting alternative means for transporting materials to events when they are needed.
• The Convention Planning Guide recently received the material offered by the 1998 Convention regarding detailed job descriptions they have developed. This material will be reviewed and a determination will be made if it should go into the main test area or be included as an appendix. The information provided by the 1996 convention, regarding publicity, is being incorporated into the Appendix of the document.

Problems

Despite repeated requests for updates, no information has been received from the COG regarding their status and if a call for issues will be or has been sent out.

AVP Comments: None

Convention Development Committee NSS Convention Division

Chairman: Carol Tiderman NSS # 10640 RL 15 Feb 1997

7600 Pinedale School Rd Fulton MD 20759 HP 410-792-0742 WP email: Tiderman@erols.com

Chair's Comments:

The Convention Development Committee has been actively working to provide the BOG with competitive bids for the year 2000. The West Virginia group is alive and well and trying to secure a location for sessions. The other group is working on a location approximately 60 miles south-east of Pittsburgh. Both groups have a lot to offer, including a wealth of experienced people and a lot of "Young Talent" available for development.

Continue to work with all approved Convention staff's. Continue working with the two groups working to develop bids for the year 2000, and to pursue acquiring bids for Conventions for 2001 and out.

AVP Comments: None

1997 NSS Convention NSS Convention Division

Co-Chair: Joe Walsh NSS #: 9729RE FE

660 Green Hedge Dr. Fenton MO 63026-3465 HP 314-343-6875 WP email: jolowal@aol.com

Co-Chair: Pamela F. Saberton NSS #: 21536RE FE Report date: 15 Feb 1997

3820 Juniata Saint Louis MO 63116-4814 HP 314-772-6956 WP email PamS107326@aol.com

Chairs Comments:

Our last NSS planning EPC meeting was Jan 25. Meeting dates have been set for the remainder of the time until convention. They are: March 1, Sullivan, April 12, Sullivan, May 17, Rolla, May 31, Sullivan and Jun 16 Sullivan. We are in high gear now.

Steve Every is working with his cave selection committee. We have found more than 60 volunteers to help him with leading cave trips. He is meeting regularly with his people now. His dates are Feb, 1, Mar 1, 15, 29, Apr 12, 26, May 3, 10, 24, 31, Jun 7, 14, 21. The Meeting are at the Golden Corral, Sullivan, 10:00 a.m. Field trips are then conducted.

Pete Chulik has found legal answers concerning the liquor license, credit cards, etc. He needs input from Ted Keyes concerning NSS convention Insurance.

We think we have the contact worked out with the busses for the Geology and Biology Field trips. Pam, Rob Tayloe, Jo Schaper, Jerry Vineyard, and Jim Van Dyke met Feb 8, and nailed down all the details for the Geology and Springs trips. It looks very good.

Lois has the Howdy Party fairly well finalized with Richard Risor at Onondaga Cave. The Paper work is done. She is waiting to hear from her second band contact. She is working with Jill Reed on child care.

Tues Feb 11 Pam, Don Dunham, John Duenwold, and I met for a long session on Program. Some major decision still need to be made before we can do the schedule. Don needs papers from all of the Session chairs. I believe t=his deadline is April 1? John needs lists of required items from all of te Session chairs. He has sent out letters to all those Section heads that we know.

Mon Feb. 17 Pam myself, and several others will be meeting with the Sullivan Chamber of commerce for the second time. We will also meet with the Superintendent of Schools to work out some problems with the use of their facilities that day. We will meet with the Sherif, Fire Department Major next week. It looks good.

Steve Every and I will meet to discuss the caving situation next Thurs. Feb 20. Tim Harrison, Cave Selection Chair for the '69 Club MVOR will also be in attendance. We will be coordinating our efforts. They will help us lead cave trips at the convention.

Bob Taylor is collecting material for the guide book, and is about to finalize the content. I believe that March 1 is his deadline. It looks good.

So many other things have happened that it would require several more pages to report on all of it. We are on track and doing well, we believe.

AVP Comments: None

1998 NSS Convention NSS Convention Division

Chairman: Wm Shrewsbury NSS #: 22677RE Report date: 19 Feb 1997

PO Box 4444 Chattanooga TN 37405 HP 615-886-3296 WP (423) 886-3296 email hardcore@utc.campus.mci.net or nss98@caves.org

Chair's Comments:

Plans: To start advertising in the NSS News ASAP based on prior publication schedules. Another full Convention Planning meeting will take place in March to touch base with current projects. The logo will be selected by then end of this month, and distributed to everyone as needed. We have decided to create the additional 'job description' of Sessions Chair. This person would be a single point coordinator for the other Chairs who have the actual functions under their positions.

Progress: Geary Schindel of the Nashville Grotto is now our Publications Chair. John Hickman will do the guidebook, Debby Johnson will do/be in charge all other publications to maintain consistency. Avis VanSwearingen has made a lot of progress toward organizing pre/registration. Many 'organizational' items were talked through at a recent meeting in Huntsville. All of our job descriptions were forwarded to Carol Tiderman to assist her in rewriting the NSS Convention Planning Guidebook. Carol has spent some time with Phil Winkler on his efforts to change the terms in MeetingTrak and turn it into ConventionTrak. An e-mail from Phil indicates he has been swamped since their last meeting and has not had time to work on it as of yet. I will create a simple Access database to tide us over for the time being. We can export this data and import it into ConventionTrak when Phil has it up and running. Most Chairs do not have a lot to report. They are mainly working on organizational items and coordinating their workers.

Problems: As usual, none to report. More solutions on the way.

AVP Comments: None

1999 NSS Convention NSS Convention Division

Chairman: David W. Kesner NSS #28258 Report date: 4 Feb 1997

12567 W. Demeyer St Boise ID 83713 HP 208-939-0979 email drdave@micron.net

Co-Chairman: Mike Backe NSS #18670 Report date: 4 Feb 1997

HC 33 Box 3294 Boise ID 83706 HP 208-336-6876 MABacke@aol.com

Chairman's report:

Committee members:

"Tom Miller" <millert@computer-depot.com>, "Brian Hagen" <bhagen@sparc1.itd.gov>,

"Cheryl Figurski" <fig@micron.net>, "Chris J. Anderson" <cja31497@magiclink.com>,

"Tom Kline" <tckline@iccom.com>, "Jeff Rohr" <jr12958@aol.com>, "Peggy Kesner" <pegasusk@micron.net>, "Kevin and Dianna Bentley" <kevinb@globaltrav.com>,

"Sam Lair" <sideways@aol.com>, "Mike Backe" <MABacke@aol.com>, "Jim Hathorn" <parkswestside@rmci.net>,"Jennifer Dorman" <idahocaver@aol.com>,"Gene Kyle" <rkyle@pnhyd0.pn.usbr.gov>, "Eric Zechmann" <zechmann@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu>,"Carol Tiderman" <tiderman@erols.com>, "Carl Edgerton" <ccaver@aol.com>, "Barry Siskin" <bsiskin@trex.idbsu.edu>, "Debbie Allen" <102142.2232@compuserve.com>,

"John Jones" <johnjones@micron.com>, "Hal & Lu Smith" <hallu@utah-inter.net>, "Paula K. Perletti" <pperlitt@id1546wp.idso.id.blm.gov>

It has been decided to refer to the convention as the 1999 NSS Convention in Filer, Idaho. The larger area is referred to as the Magic Valley and that will be incorporated into the slogan in a yet undetermined manner. The Guide Book will focus on the caves, geology, and history of the immediate area only. The surrounding areas have been covered in previous Guide Books or may yet be covered in future ones. It was felt that there is enough information locally to produce an excellent Guide Book.

Local vendors will be used in all areas unless they are either not available or their cost is excessively high. This includes printing of the Guide Book, symbolic devices, catering, etc. It will also be required to get a minimum of two separate bids on all items or services. Preliminary contracts for facilities will be signed within the next few months. A new and novel idea was presented and approved. We will have a mascot to help in the promotion of the 1999 Convention. To make the impact more dramatic we will not be releasing any more information on this until the 1997 Convention. The reporting structure was changed slightly. The Promotion Committee Chair (Sam Lair) will now report to David W. Kesner rather than Mike Backe.

Two previous problems have been, or will be resolved. One concerns the location of the Photo Salon. It will now be in an air conditioned 900+ seat auditorium at the College of Southern Idaho rather than the Filer High School Gym. Buses will be provided for the approximate eight mile trip. There should be adequate parking for those driving their own vehicles, but exact figures and requirements have not been worked out yet.

The other concerns the lack of maps for the Guide Book. A major mapping effort has been under taken by the Gem State Grotto with Tom Miller in the lead. Several other Grottos in the area have expressed interest in helping with the project. It is now felt that there will be a sufficient amount of maps available by the time the Guide Book needs to be done.

One previous problem remains. There is still no Chair for the Publication Committee. Several people are actively soliciting volunteers. Tom Kline remains editor of the Guide Book. Two new problems has arisen. First, there are two facilities available for the Convention: the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds and the Filer High School. Alone, neither one is ideal for all sessions, classes, vendors, and displays. Two solutions were suggested. One would be to have all activities in one area or the other, but in less than ideal conditions (i.e. smaller, more crowded rooms rather than larger but noisier ones, swamp cooled rooms rather than air conditioned, hallways rather than buildings designed to display art, etc.). The other would be to split the activities between the two facilities. This would necessitate determining what has to be kept together and how to appease the most people. Input from NSS officials, previous Convention staff, and vendors and session chairs will be needed to adequately resolve this problem.

Second, there appears to be some confusion on the time line for certain activities. Such as when pre-registration should be offered (one or two years in advance) and when a promotional slide show should be presented (at just the 1998 Convention or both the 97 and 98). All in all we feel that 1999 NSS Convention Committee is working well together. There are no major obstacles to over come as yet and we are progressing at an anticipated rate.

AVP Comments: .

Congress of Grottos NSS Convention Division

Carol S. Jackson 20127RL Report date: 8 Jan 1997

4784 Silver Lake Drive Evans GA 30809-9758 HP 706-863-7019 email: olebat@aol.com

Chair's Comments:

• The board of the Congress of Grottos, perplexed by the perceived apathy to its mission, reviewed past methods of soliciting issues for discussion. They determined that the issues are indeed present, but few people care to express them in the "political format" previously established by the Congress. In 1994 the issues chair collected verbal issues from local and regional organizational meetings and from hot issues on a couple of electronic forums. These issues were formatted into questions, sent to all internal organizations for consideration, then discussed at the annual meeting of the COG.
• This method was greeted with mixed emotions concerning the method of obtaining issues. In 1995 the COG committee resumed the prior method of calling for issues, with little success. The 1996 committee felt that general issues broached in electronic forums, open discussions at events, and letters to the editors of NSS publications were currently the most effective means of determining the real issues afloat in the hearts and minds of the NSS membership. Therefore, the committee decided to return to the 1994 method, with slight modifications.
• The following form was sent to all I/Os with the 1996 Annual Report:

Special COG Issues Memorandum Speak out! Nov. 1996

What do you want NSS to do now, as we enter another century?

The bylaws of NSS allow for a democratic structure in the governance of the Society. Article V, Bylaws, paragraph B: There shall be a congress held at least once a year for the purpose of affording the membership an opportunity to present their views on all problems relative to the operation of the Society. (1) The Congress shall provide for representation of both internal organizations and individual members and shall be conducted in such a manner prescribed by the Board of Governors until formal rules for governing are adopted by the Congress itself. (Such rules were adopted in 1969). (2) The Congress shall have the power to pass resolutions, which resolutions must be considered by the Board of Governors at its next regular meeting. (3) The Congress shall meet at the annual convention and at such other times as its rules may provide.

Perception has grown in the last few years that the membership is not fully represented by the Congress, and therefore its resolutions carry little weight. Active participation in COG includes delegates from the fairly large grottos and beyond that mostly from small grottos located near the area of the national convention. Collecting and circulating issues, with informed pros and cons, has been difficult if not impossible within the time frame of about six months. How can the situation be improved? Perhaps by changing the NSS bylaws? Note that the constitution of the NSS provides that "Amendments may be proposed by either the Board of Governors or by petition of five percent of the regular or higher membership of the Society. Proposed amendments will be mailed to all regular or higher members of the Society and will be adopted by a two-thirds favorable vote of all ballots returned within ninety days of the mailing." Obviously amendments could be initiated by the Congress.

The Congress of Grottos two years ago circulated questionnaires first determining the relative importance of various issues and subsequently asking grotto reactions to various actions to implement change in important areas. This year, the Congress Issues Committee is interested in learning what is important to the membership. Pursuant

to this, the Internal Organization chairman is giving grottos this opportunity to help the Issues Committee by returning with your annual report (or separately if you wish) your rating of issues that are in the forefront of many letters to the News editor or comments in the Cavers' Digest.

"---------"---------"---------"-------detach here-------"---------- "--------- "------ "

Please rate in the order of their importance to your local group the

following general issues, with (1) being the issue of greatest

importance. Brief comments may be added below or on separate sheet.

More clout for Congress of Grottos

Membership - Member retention

Membership - Membership growth

Education - Expanding public relations policy to cover focus on educating young people

Secrecy - The Internet - Cave Lists

Insurance (liability)

Other (please describe)__________________________________________

Name: (group or individual):__________________________________________

Address__________________________________________________

Please return not later than January 17, 1997, to Evelyn W. Bradshaw,

10826 Leavells Road, Fredericksburg VA 22407-1261. Concrete suggestions for COG issues may be attached.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As of the suspense date, the results of the issues' call were:

Twenty-four returned.

9 rated education #1

4 rated member retention #1

4 rated secrecy No. 1

4 rated more clout for COG #1

2 rated insurance/liability #1

0 rated member growth #1

6 put more clout for COG as least important

5 rated insurance/liability at the bottom

4 rated either member growth or secrecy at least important

1 rated either member retention or education least important

(Few giving a low rating indicates it was generally given a higher rating)

With a set of current priorities, these issues will be formulated into statements for discussion that will be sent to the I/Os for consideration and absentee voting prior to the annual meeting. Discussions continue among the committee to determine ways of revitalizing the Congress, including establishing qualifications and functions for the chair and vice chair. Reviewing budget needs, the COG has determined that two annual bulk mailings and incidentals amount to $75. AVP Comments: None

Convention Youth Activities (JSS) NSS Convention Division

Chairman: Duane A. Vore NSS # 20170 Report Date: 20 January 1997

em328 Jenny Lane, Centerville OH, 45459-1737 HP : 513-433-1787 e-mail: d.a.vore@erinet.com

Chair's Comments:

Plans:

1. Creation of a separate schedule for teen "TSS" activities. This will reduce programming confusion, and should encourage teen participation by recognizing them as a distinct group.

2. Legitimization of the JSS "Strike Force," older teen volunteers who are effectively too old for the program, yet too young to be given regular volunteer status for legal reasons. I have two such teens lined up to help in Sullivan, and hope that this official status would encourage other older teens to contribute.

Progress:

1. Completed a planning trip to Sullivan in November. In a meeting with the Convention staff, many of the logistics questions have been resolved, although I am still awaiting some information from the staff. Details on those logistics issues are described in my letter to the JSS Committee members dated 13 December 1996. The text of this letter is available if required. During that trip we evaluated two caves for JSS use. Including the caves, four activities are currently planned, and 17 others were submitted to the JSS Committee in the above mentioned letter for evaluation. To date, not all replies are in.

2. The JSS document "Program Standards and Guidelines" and associated forms have been submitted to the NSS Legal Committee for review. Since that submission is nearly concurrent with this report, no reply can be expected at this time. The submitted material reflects the changes suggested by our experiences in Salida.

3. The current JSS Committee members are as follows: Lysa DeThomas, Kathryn Sisson, Diane Barns, Laura Luckins, Lucas Peerman, Meghan Lilly, Melissa Lester (accidentally omitted from last report), Errik Hood (added since last report).

Problems:

1. The issue of communications with JSS field trips has not been satisfactorily resolved. That fact that pay telephones are more abundant in the St. Louis area than they were in the Salida area will help, but that does not address the need to contact the field trips in the event of an emergency. The donation of cellular service remains a possibility, but has not been fully investigated.

AVP Comments: None

Photo Salon NSS Convention Division

Chairman: Paul Stevens NSS #: 13049RL OS Report date: 1 Feb 1997

5964 Seabright Rd. Springfield VA 22152-1738 HP 703-451-7663 WP email: PLStevens@aol.com

Coordinator's Comments:

1) The 1997 Salons announcement will be printed in the NSS News distributed in 2/97.

2) Don Martin will replace John BazDresch as Graphic Arts Salon chairman.

3) We're distributing a joint NSS/IUS packet of Photo Salon announcements in 1/97 directly to those NSS members most likely to enter both.

4) All Salon chairman have been reminded they should not accept salon entries that depict actions in flagrant disregard of our current NSS Conservation Policy. They have also been informed the BOG may revise this policy this spring to be more stringent and update the NSS Conservation Policy. Everything is on schedule for next summer.

AVP Comments: None