Cave Management
Division
Cave and Karst
Acquisition Committee
Cave Conservancies
Committee
Closed Cave Database
Committee
Contemporary
Cave Use Study Committee
Land Owner Relations
Committee
NSS Cave Preserves
Committee
Conservation Division
Conservation Committee
Mammoth Cave
Restoration Committee
Cave
Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission
Education Division
Environmental
Education Committee
Project Underground
National Cave Rescue
Commission
Safety and Techniques
Committee
Television Video
Production Committee
NSS Convention
Division
Convention
Development Committee
1998 NSS Convention
1999 NSS Convention
2000 NSS Convention
Convention
Registration Software Committee
Congress of Grottos
Junior Speleological
Society
Salon Coordinator
Attachment C-1: NSS Annual Report Synopsis
Attachment C-2: Cave Preserve Reports
Douglas Medville
11762 Indian Ridge Rd
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 860-0134
medville@patriot.net
The Department of the Administrative Vice President consists of 17 Committees, two Commissions, and three NSS Convention Committees. Within these are 17 Conservation Task Forces, ten Cave Preserves, five NSS Conservancies, and several Sub-Committees.
In this report, I provide the name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the Chair of each organizational entity, followed by the Chairman’s report. The information in this report has been provided by the Committee and Subcommittee Chairs although I have made some spelling, formatting, and minor editorial adjustments. Where I feel it is useful to do so, my AVP comments are provided in italics, following the report’s text. In these comments, I add some context-setting remarks, my viewpoint, or additional information.
Missouri NSS Convention Travel Reimbursement
As reported in the last AVP Report, the Missouri Speleological Survey has appointed a three person Investigating Committee to try to resolve the issue of travel expense reimbursement made to members of the 1997 NSS Convention’s Executive Planning Committee. Daryl Greaser, NSS 45614, is Chair of this Committee. This committee is scheduled to deliver to the NSS a proposal for settlement by March 1, 1999. The proposal will be accompanied by a letter of reconciliation that would be signed by both parties. My understanding is that EPC members will make voluntary donations to a fund, the proceeds of which will be turned over to the NSS. The proposal will be sent to each BOG member by MSS President Kenneth Thomson shortly after March 1 and Daryl will be at the BOG meeting to discuss it and to tell the EC’s "side" of the story on Friday evening, March 26.
NSS Annual Report
Several members of the AVP Department, notably Dave Jagnow, have made a persuasive case for the NSS producing an Annual Report, directed at outside organizations such as federal agencies, grant giving foundations, other conservation and scientific groups, and where appropriate, the media. This Annual Report would be a corporate "brag sheet" for the NSS, describing who we are and emphasizing our goals and accomplishments, rather than our internal organizational structure. This report would introduce us to organizations and individuals with whom we interact.
We envision a 20 to 30 page, moderately slick report with graphics and pictures that supplement the text and illustrate our achievements. I’ve circulated a summary of what the content of such a report could be to about a dozen potential contributors and this is attached as Appendix C-1.
At present, this is strictly an informal, ad hoc effort with no budget and no organizational home in the NSS. If a decision were to be made by the BOG to support the production of an Annual Report, then a budget would be sought and hopefully some members found who would like to contribute to this document.
Ray Keeler (Chairman)
22354 N. 68th Drive
Glendale AZ 85310-5239
(602) 561-2917
rkeeler@pcslink.com
Since Ray has assumed the duties of Executive VP, I’ve been looking for a replacement for him. I’ve advertised in the NSS News and have received a reply from Thom Engel, (NSS 13832 FE) in upstate New York. Thom has had experience in managing our New York State Cave Preserves and is currently the manager of our Barton Hill Karst Preserve. I’ve asked that he be nominated and confirmed by the Board for this Chairmanship.
We’ve received a message from Bob Montomery in Wyoming stating that the privately owned upper entrance to Great Expectations in the Bighorns may be available for sale. He’s in touch with the landowner regarding conditions and price and will get back to us with more information. This is certainly a nationally significant cave, and if we were to have an opportunity to acquire it, it would be the first NSS-owned cave in the western U.S.
John M. Wilson (Chairman)
9504 Lakewater Ct.
Richmond, VA 23229-6010
(540)568-2989 (work)
wilsonjmll@earthlink.net
Plans:
Encourage cave related conservancies in the US to become conservancies of the NSS, institutional members, or both.
Improve the Committee Web page.
Sponsor a conference for cave conservancies and land trusts at the 1999 NSS convention.
Clarify the role of Cave Conservancies in the NSS.
Assist people interested in establishing cave conservancies.
Provide information and other assistance to cave conservancies and land trusts.
Progress: I wrote an article for the 1999 conservation issue of the NSS News. This article explains the role of conservancies in the NSS and provides helpful information to potential conservancies. I made several suggestions to Doug Medville, regarding a potential NSS Annual Report.
The Cave Conservancies Web page has had 582 hits since July 7, 1998.
The level of activity among conservancies seems to decrease somewhat during the winter months. Request for information and assistance dropped to imperceptible levels in December and January.
Problems: There are no known unresolved problems at this time.
Vacant
I have advertised in the NSS News for a Chairman for this Committee and have received over eight serious inquiries. I finally selected Everett Carpenter (NSS 44897) of New Orleans, LA to be nominated for Committee Chair. Everett is finishing up his Ph.D. in Chemistry and has experience in building and using databases.
Garrett Czmor (Chairman)
Star Route Box 24
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-3067
gccaver@vicon.net
Plans: To continue the CCUS program with realistic goals to the best of my ability. Much of this may depend on having a budget to sustain the program for the next fiscal year.
To elaborate in a little more detail, my plans are to reprint the CCUS manual, print new register books as needed, make the CCUS software Y2K compliant, and issue status reports to those in the program. I also plan to notify those that have lagged in their abilities to do their part as register attendants. Attendants know that data is due February of each year, although I do realize this is a voluntary effort also.
With some data coming in, I hope to compile a realistic quantitative report in the future. This should be done before we get hit with whatever the Y2K damaging abilities could impose next year.
Progress: Book data continues to come in sporadically and is being compiled on available volunteer time. Some (I'm happy to say) are using the CCUS software but still too few to make a great impact.
I was finally able to get in contact by snail-mail with the originator (Tim Kilby) of the CCUS software and explained the problems associated with making the program Y2K compliant into a Windows format. He replied that he wanted to do this some years back but there wasn't any demand for it until I asked now. Although he doesn't appear to have the time that is required to compile the CCUS DOS-based software into a window format right now, he did send me the source codes. I hope to contact Kilby again and see if his schedule would now permit the possibility of doing the work required. If nothing else, he might be able to recommend some one who can do this.
I also contacted two programmers about the same problem associated with the software. One said he could totally compile the program into a window format, make it Y2K compliant and do any other changes or updating so desired. His cost was around $600. Another programmer looked at it and gave a ridiculous figure of $4500.
I found a software program on the market that is supposed to detect most applications that are not Y2K compliant and claims to be able to fix such programs that aren't. At this point, I don't know if it will work on the CCUS software or not. The advertised software seems too good to be true and coupled with its low price during a time of high demand, it has given me some doubts about its effectiveness.
I have made sure that ample supplies exist for any new participants joining the program.
I continue to track the current participants and provide any help with problems they may encounter with the CCUS project.
Although the order form allows shipment of materials from 4 to 8 weeks after receiving it, I've been able to comply with material orders on a 1 to 3 week schedule. I have kept CCUS expenditures low as not to create a burden on the NSS.
Several grottos have showed an interest in making donations to the CCUS to help defray any costs they create when ordering materials.
Problems: Not much new to report. Data continues to come in sporadically, which slows down the whole process.
Bill Thoman (Chairman)
4905 Ralph Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45328-3801
(513) 251-7357
speleo@juno.com
Plans: Continue to expose cavers to landowner issues. I am working on an article for the NSS News. It should be submitted in the next 30 days.
Progress: An interesting situation took place in January. I received a letter forwarded from the NSS Office. The letter was addressed to The Texas Speleological Society and was from a company in Texas. (I don't have any idea how the NSS Office received the letter, but was glad they forwarded it onto me.)
The gentleman writing was looking for assistance pertaining to a cave the company owns. They wanted information on the cave, caving safety, liability issues, and someone to help them with caving basics training. I contacted the company and spoke to the gentleman the same day I received their letter. In less than a week and with the help of Bill Mixon (thanks for the contact Bill), I was able to provide a contact to the company. Interestingly this contact had been trying to get back in touch with the owners of the property. He had been to the cave a number of years ago when a map had been started and wanted to finish (continue) the work. The file on this is still open and I hope to hear more on how the relationship works out.
It was gratifying to work on something where a landowner was requesting assistance and not a situation where relations had already been strained. Some of the research I did on the cave has given me material for the article I'm working on. Maybe I can get the cavers involved in Texas to write something for the NSS too. We'll see.
Problems: None to report. However, I do have a question I've asked several times. Does the BOG feel we should have a policy on Landowner Relations. Relations always seems to be a hot topic of conversation but there doesn't seem to be anything very strong in print or with much meat. What do you think? Do we have a strong enough statement? Is the issue just too hard to address? Is addressing the issue akin to legislating morality? Keep me posted.
Gary Bush (Chairman)
2630 Stonegate Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32223-0702
(904) 268-7638
gbush@jaxnet.com
I. General: The Preserve Managers reports I've received are attached for the record. As is my custom, I've also summarized the status of each report in Section II of this report. A more detailed description of activities at each of our Cave Preserves is provided in Attachment C-2: Cave Preserve Reports.
The NSS Preserve web pages were completed in November, 1998. Overall reception of the information provided has been generally positive. Photos and updated information are being provided by the Preserve Managers. To date, three Preserves have sent photos to enhance their pages. The updated information now on the web pages will also be used to update the same information in this year's NSS Member's Manual.
Plans: Expansion of the Preserve web pages to include local activities and additional history information is planned. Requests to the Managers to collect and provide this information have been made.
Progress: All properties are doing well. Web page information is being expanded.
Problems: No significant problems have been reported with the properties during this period. Due to outside time constraints, I've made no significant headway on the guidelines document to assist Managers in handling rescues that may occur on their Preserves.
II Property Status:
McFails Cave (NY): Five trips, totaling 26 people, occurred in October, before Winter closed the cave. The Hall's Hole entrance gate still hasn't been replaced. A new brochure is being drafted to provide additional information to visitors. Fence repairs are planned for the Winter months. Photos were received, scanned, and instituted on this Preserve's web page.
Shelta Cave (AL): Increased waterfall activity in the cave has been traced to leaking city water pipes above the cave. The city has fixed some, but apparently not all, of the leaks at this point. Clean-up and fallen tree removal around the property continues as time permits.
John Guilday Cave Preserve (WV): The annual clean-up occurred on November 17th. Dave West met with the WV Highway Department staff to discuss their potential roadwork adjacent to the property. No final plans are available, so far.
Kingston Saltpeter Cave Preserve (GA): Activity at the Preserve has been minimal in the latter half of 1998. The adjacent property has been sold. The previous owner had been very helpful in watching over our property. There was a teacher's trip from the Weinman Mineral Museum last June. A single sport trip did take place in December. An entomologist from Clemson University has inquired about studying the troglobitic millipede in the cave.
Barton Hill Karst Preserve (NY): Sixteen trips, including 94 cavers, occurred at the cave this Fall. No answer has yet been received from Mr. Baumann, concerning our offer to exchange land to improve access to the cave through his land. No fallout has surfaced from last July's rescue at Keyhole Cave. Thom Engel is considering instituting access restrictions to that cave, in light of the potential difficulties in rescues there. A fence is also being considered along the access road.
Warrens Cave (FL): Everything is generally stable at the Preserve. Visitation recently has been light to medium. A new gate lock has been purchased and will be installed when keys have been cut. A private resource web page has been put up to allow potential visitors to get information about the cave and to download the liability waiver, prior to their visit. Once it's all operational, we'll consider moving this information to the NSS Preserves website.
Donald R. Russell Preserve (OK): All's well on this property. Guano levels from Gray bats in a cave on adjacent land were found to be particularly high this season. Photos of this Preserve were received, scanned, and installed on its web page.
Schoharie Caverns (NY): Visitation during this period has been very light. The access road and outhouse have deteriorated significantly. Replacement quotes from the contractor failed to materialize, so work has been postponed through the Winter. A 20-page booklet of historical information with photos has been received from Bob Addis. I'm in the process of scanning all this for addition to the Preserve's web page.
Alachua Sink Preserve (FL): This past quarter has seen numerous work trips to the property. Surface repairs and clean-ups have taken place. In-cave work to replace dive lines was completed successfully. About 15 divers have been led in dives this quarter. A possible gate to the road entrance is being considered. New steps down into the sink were scheduled to be installed this month.
Tytoona Cave Preserve (PA): The property is generally in good condition. A fence was damaged by a fallen tree during an ice storm. Repair of the fence is scheduled. If additional funds are budgeted as requested, the construction of an informational kiosk is also planned. A recent sump dive confirmed the inner cave is in good shape, however some old dive lines needing removal were discovered. Informational brochures were printed and distributed to most Eastern grottos. While Liability Waivers are required for dive trips into Tytoona Cave, waivers aren't being used for trips into the novice, dry cave areas. Garrett Czmor has asked such waivers not be used, as they aren't required at the John Guilday Preserve, under very similar circumstances. He's attached a copy of the Pennsylvania Landowner Liability Act to his report to support the validity of his request. I agree that our exposure to liability is probably minimal or non-existent, as with the John Guilday Preserve. Garrett will check with a local attorney for a legal opinion.
David H. Jagnow (Chief)
1300 Iris St., #103
Los Alamos, NM 87544-3140
(505) 662-0553
djagnow@roadrunner.com
Conservation Division Structure:
Cave Conservation Committee: (Dave Jagnow, Chair)
Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee (Norm Rogers and Karen Dennis,
Co-Chairs)
Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission:
Jay Jorden- Chairman
Commissioners: Gale Beach, George Huppert, Tom Rea, John Wilson
Cave Conservation Committee
David Jagnow, Chairman (Administration)
Al Krause (Conservation Grants Coordinator)
Don McFarlane (Fauna Protection Coordinator)
Jo Schaper (Conservation Task Force Coordinator)
Jim Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker (Resource Preservation)
Plans: Fundraising is a major concern at this time. I have written a major appeal for contributions for the Save-The-Caves Fund, which will appear in the March 1999 NSS News (Special Conservation Issue). I am also cultivating a source of grants for conservation funding. As part of this grantsmanship, I will continue to encourage the NSS to publish a formal Annual Report that is necessary for most grant applications. I greatly appreciate Doug Medville's efforts to work up an Annual Report.
Progress: Most of my progress is covered in my article for the March NSS News, "1998 Cave Conservation Overview" and those items will not be discussed further here. I have spent LOTS of time in December through February soliciting, writing, editing, and proofing articles for the Special Conservation Issue of the NSS News. Please read the NSS News for the latest on:
National & Regional Issues:
Cave Fee Demo
Interagency Agreement
National Cave and Karst Institute
National Cave Specialists
Ozark Lead Mining Threat Averted
Speleothem Protection
Local Issues:
Allegany State Park Caves, NY
El Malpais National Monument, NM
French Creek Cave, MT
Klamath Mountains Conservation Task Force, OR
Landgon's Cave Vandalism, IN
Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee, KY
Shelta Cave Studies, AL
Projects & Publications:
Annual Report
Anyplace Wild Television
Bats Need Friends Brochure
Belize Caves
California Cave Resources, Oakland Museum of California
Cave Conservationist
Caves: Conservation & Ethics Video
A Guide to Responsible Caving
NOLS LNT Caving Booklet
Restoration Book
Websites
Progress on other projects not discussed in the NSS News:
British Columbia Cave Threatened: This was brought to my attention by Dr. William R. Halliday on January 28, 1999, I posted "Quarry Threatens Delicate Cave in SW British Columbia" to Cavers Digest that same day, providing all the addresses to write for the protection of Iron Curtain Cave. On February 1 I wrote a letter on behalf of the NSS to all concerned parties, requesting that any applications for further quarry activities at this site be rejected. I have not, to date, received any response.
eBay Auction of Speleothems: In November and December, I received several complaints of speleothems for sale on the eBay online auction house. I complained to eBay. They are willing to place us on their Buddy Program, which immediately notifies us if certain key words (stalactite, stalagmite, cave formations, cave pearls, etc.) turn up on the seller's description of the item for sale. I have neither the time nor the computer capacity to monitor this, and am looking for a volunteer to review the eBay cave-related items that come up for auction. Please contact me if you would like to help.
Graffiti Remover: I have received a sample of a soybean-based graffiti remover from an outfit in Houston, Texas. It IS good at removing spray paint from dry cave walls, and is supposedly totally biodegradable. Jim Werker has someone perform toxicity tests on the product to see if it SHOULD be used in caves. I will post results as soon as test results are available.
IMAX Movie: John Scheltens, chairman of the NSS Television/Video Production Committee, has been meeting and corresponding with MacGillivray-Freeman Films, who are in the preliminary phases of shooting an IMAX movie, tentatively titled "Journey Into Amazing Caves." Congratulations to NSS Board of Governors member Nancy Aulenbach, and to British caver Hazel Barton who were selected to participate in the filming. With a tentative release date of March, 2001, this IMAX movie has the potential to be a tremendous educational tool for the NSS. The key to cave conservation is education, and if done correctly, this IMAX movie can educate millions of people around the world about the delicate and non-renewable nature of most cave and karst resources (ice caves being the exception). This IMAX movie has also stirred some concerns about potential destruction of cave resources while filming, and concerns about increasing the number of spelunkers that visit these non-renewable cave resources. As requested by the Board of Governors, I have conveyed the concerns of the NSS (primarily concerning Lechuguilla Cave) to Frank J. Deckert, Superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I feel, at this time, John Scheltens and others are doing everything we can to assure that the IMAX movie will be a positive educational experience, that will help protect cave and karst resources around the world. (I did NOT include this paragraph in the NSS News, because it is a very controversial issue. It is being discussed on Cavers Digest at this time, with both sides having solid arguments.)
Oklahoma Caves: In late December I worked briefly with Claude Sumner, a Choctaw, who is a consultant for business development and tourism development for the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations in southeastern Oklahoma. He was seeking a cave near Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, OK, that could be commercialized. I referred him to Sue Bozeman of Central Oklahoma Grotto.
Speleothems For Sale: On February 5, I received a phone call from one of our Pajarito Grotto members reporting the sale of speleothems at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. The Jaberwook, in Room 145 of the Rodeway Inn, had a full table of cave formations (speleothems) for sale, as well as a display case. I immediately posted the description and contact information for the Show Manager on Cavers Digest, CaveTex, New Mexico cave list, to the Conservation Division, and the NSS Executive Committee (who were meeting in Phoenix that weekend). A large number of protest letters from NSS members were faxed and emailed to the show manager within hours. Most called for the immediate removal of the speleothems from the Show. I have not yet received a reply from the show manager.
Texas Cave Vandalism: On December 26, 1998, I received email from Martha McArthur, Wichita Falls, TX, requesting information to assist a local cave owner and game warden who caught three men spray painting the gypsum cave on his property. I mailed the appropriate portions of the Texas Cave Law, and mailed her a copy of the complete law. North Texas Speleological Society will probably do the cleanup. They are a non-NSS grotto.
PROBLEMS: Budget -- Not enough funding to do all the conservation work that really needs to be done. This will in part be solved if the NSS publishes an Annual Report.
CONSERVATION GRANTS COMMITTEE REPORT:
Prepared by: Albert A. Krause, Chair
Plans: Continue as now headed. Recent BOG consolidation and expansion of Conservation Grant Awards Program was well-received and progressive. Believe the changes will help revitalize interest in (and good use of) this important program.
Progress: Good interest in program and quality of projects seeking support are up from prior years. Two excellent projects have been awarded $750 Conservation Grants thus far in FY 1998-99 (see below), leaving $1,500 available. Two solid requests for $750 grants are pending follow-up and final decision. Several additional requests for application materials were answered, though no other applications have yet arrived. An article explaining the program was prepared for (and included in) the March Conservation Issue of the NSS News.
Awards (no change from last BOG meeting):
(1) $750 Conservation Grant to the Partners in Parks in support and sponsorship of public education on the cave resources of the El Malpais National Monument as part of the El Malpais National Monument 10th Anniversary Resource Stewardship Symposium, October 1-3, 1998.
(2) $750 Conservation Grant to the Oakland Museum of California in support of its January 1999 - January 2000 special exhibition "California Underground: Our Caves and Subterranean Habitats."
Problems: None.
FAUNA PROTECTION SUBCOMMITTEE
(Don McFarlane, Chairman)
(No report)
RESOURCE PRESERVATION SUBCOMMITTEE
Val Hildreth-Werker & Jim Werker werks@worldnet.att.net
Plans: Convention: The Conservation & Restoration Workshop is scheduled for Monday during the 1999 NSS Convention in Idaho. Coordinating with Rob Stitt, George Huppert, Dave Jagnow, and Jay Jorden, the Conservation Session and Conservation Management Section Meeting and Luncheon will probably be included and scheduled as part of the workshop day.
Progress: Book: Work is progressing for the NSS publication, "On Cave Conservation, Restoration, and Repair." The outlines for the book and style sheet have been distributed. Section outlines have been submitted by various authors. Manuscript drafts are now rolling in. Contributors are interacting and submitting their work. David McClurg has provided assistance on guidelines, schedules, and tips. Ray Keeler is targeting publication for the year 2000.
Video: Partial funding has been awarded to produce an interagency video to be used as a companion piece for the brochure entitled "Caves: Conservation & Ethics. We are working with the USDA Forest Service to develop the outline, script, and schedule and to meet National Forest Foundation funding requirements. Deadlines are scheduled over the next 12 months. An outline has been sent out for review. The following Cooperators have agreed to participate in outline and script review: NSS, NPS, BLM, NOLS, ACCA, CRF, BCI, USFS. We continue to seek additional funding for this professional educational video designed to address cave conservation, safety, and ethics. We need information concerning potential NSS funds designated for this type of educational video. Cooperators expect this video to be suitable for national distribution.
Display: Arrangements did not work out for the Guadalupe Ranger District to transport the display on restoration techniques to the 1998 NSS Convention in Sewanee. The Forest Service did take the display to the National Karst and Cave Management Symposium in Bellingham, Washington, October 7-10, 1997. Illustrating proven methods of speleothem restoration, formation repair and trail management, display content is aimed at a general audience of people interested in caves and provides educational material on conservation, ethics, and cave restoration techniques. The joint NSS/Forest Service restoration exhibit is housed by the Guadalupe Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest. The display was designed and produced by Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim Werker. An article on the project has been submitted to the NSS News.
LNT: Provided consultation and editing on the new caving booklet for Leave No Trace, Inc.
Conservation Chapter for NSS Photo Book, On Film: Val H-W submitted photos and wrote a chapter entitled "Cave Softly, Photograph Gently - and Leave No Trace."
Workshops/Projects:
- Eight workshops were conducted around the country between July and December, 1998. Cave Restoration, Formation Repair, and Conservation Ethics workshops were presented at Mammoth Cave, the NSS Convention in Sewanee, Carlsbad Caverns, and Forest Service Guadalupe caves. Additional workshops will be held during the spring in the Guads for several restoration groups. Spring workshops are also scheduled in Texas and Utah.
- Mock speleothems for repair demonstrations have been designed; fabrication needs to be initiated.
- During July, we spent a week at Mammoth Cave National Park repairing vandalized formations in Floyd Collin's Crystal Cave. Our work included development of techniques for repairing gypsum crust formations and helictites.
- Repair and restoration projects continue in Southwestern US Caves, including Lechuguilla. This work focuses on development of restoration techniques designed to avoid disturbing microbiota and virgin surfaces. Research is being conducted to reduce future impacts as cavers explore and study; investigations have been launched on rope strength degradation due to fungal growth, ongoing water quality analysis, and urine mitigation systems. (At the National Cave Management Symposium in Washington, October 1997, we presented a paper addressing concerns in Lechuguilla with comparison to applicability in other cave systems, "Microbial Preservation, Trail Definition and Restoration."
- Work is progressing on a techniques video for speleothem repair.
- Cave Friendly Video Technique—initiated R&D efforts in conservation- minded, light-weight, high output lighting techniques for digital video shooting in caves, thus facilitating more efficient means for cave inventory, documentation, and caver education through videography.
- Infrared photo-monitoring project on the Mexican free-tail bat colony of Carlsbad Caverns continues; we presented techniques and results during the Bat Session at the Sewanee Convention.
Convention: The Conservation & Restoration Workshop was conducted on Wednesday during the 1998 NSS Convention in Sewanee. Through coordination with Rob Stitt and George Huppert, the Conservation Session and Conservation Management Section Meeting and Luncheon were included and scheduled as part of the workshop day.
Slide shows: Slide shows on Formation Repair, Cave Restoration, and Leave No Trace Caving Ethics are being refined as we address the needs of various workshops.
NSS News: We continue to submit articles and announcements to the NSS News. We have initiated a series of conservation/restoration articles.
Volunteer Value Agreement Signed: Action against cave fees during the past year eventually resulted in a compromise with the Forest Service. Region 3 USFS agreed to set aside cave fee demonstration projects if cavers could make significant in-kind volunteer contributions. Cavers agreed to contribute at least $100,000 in volunteer value to the Region 3 cave programs. Work projects were initiated. Cavers were volunteering. However, we had no agreement in place to determine how volunteer value would be calculated or tallied. Jim & Val collected data from previous cost-shares, volunteer projects, e-mail discussions, forest volunteer programs, and other agencies and presented a draft proposal to Jim Miller (USFS, Washington contact) at the Sewanee Convention. After making additions and edits, Jim Miller approved and signed the document as an agreement between the USFS and the NSS. Jerry Trout, USFS National Cave Coordinator, Fred Wefer, and Doug Medville also reviewed and signed the document. The signed agreement is now included in the BOG Manual.
Forms for Calculating Volunteer Value: Three simple forms have been designed for recording volunteer value. These generic forms can be used for documenting in-kind volunteer labor, expertise, and contribution for any cave project. The forms are designed to be completed at the project site (or can be filled in after the fact). The forms will facilitate initiation of a national database that will handle volunteer information for the proposed NSS Annual Reports. An article on Volunteer Value has been submitted to the NSS News and is slated for the April Conservation Issue.
Website for Volunteer Value: David Anderson of Tennessee has stepped forward with expertise and equipment to develop the national database for Caver Volunteer Value. (We hope it eventually can be accessed through the NSS Home Page. Josh has been contacted. Earlier, Rob Stitt agreed to work with us on this project through his websites.) This is an ambitious project; the intent is to generate interest in documenting volunteer efforts for caves so the information can be tallied and presented in the proposed NSS Annual Reports. NSS members contribute currently immeasurable value to cave protection, conservation, and management. The Volunteer Value of any cave project (survey, conservation, science, etc.) can be calculated through this database and the information will then serve in proposals for grants, matching funds, agency/owner reports, NSS Annual Reports, etc.
Advocacy /Action: During the past few years, many of us have discussed that an action e-mail list would be useful. Information can still be sent to Cavers' Digest and other forums; however, a list for people who really will get on it and send timely letters will be beneficial. Two cavers have stepped forward. Ken Ingham (technical) and Pat Seiser (administrative) are developing this project. The intent of this e-mail list is very simple: gather e-mail addresses of people who are willing to take a few minutes to send letters on urgent action items; set up an electronic subscription list; and distribute occasional messages requesting action. To facilitate writing and time, we will suggest that anyone requesting action send a sample letter that can be easily revised.
We urge every NSS member, grotto, and internal organization to stay abreast of cave fee, outfitter-guide, and cave conservation issues in the political arena. Positive comments supporting caver volunteer projects and refuting Cave Fee Demo Plans continue to be useful. Please send copies of your letters and inquiries for archiving to: werks@worldnet.att.net
Problems: (None)
CONSERVATION TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE
Jo Schaper, Chair JoSchaper@aol.com
Plans: We have completed a review of all NSS CTFs. Those who responded with either a report or acknowledgment, were:
Xanadu
Central Oregon Caves
Klamath Mountains
Teton
Sloans Valley Karst
Hawaii Caves
Germany Valley
Pennsylvania Cave Laws
Lost River Conservation Assn.
We initially called for reports late in November, for response by early January. Those who did not respond at that time were sent a reminder with a 3 week deadline, indicating that no response would result in dropping them from listing in the Member's Manual. The response to this second call picked up a few CTFs. Those remaining will be dropped for the 1999 Member's Manual: (NR is no response.)
Bats -NR
Channel Islands -NR
Shascade- NR
Sequoia Forest- NR
Yucca Karst disbanding
Boone's Karst disbanding
NW Cave Research Institute inactive (decided to be taken out)
Sullivan Co. (NY)- NR
I put return addresses and instructions to return on the envelope the person had moved; I got no addressee unknown or bad email bounce backs, so I have to assume, after two contacts, that they no longer are in existence as CTFs.
The only other "plans" at this time is to carry on as we have. For 1998, I received only one query to form a CTF—the fellow from Georgia who sponsors Cave Stock, and after talking over his needs, he decided a CTF wasn't appropriate. I get very little inquiry traffic; most of the work is dealing with existing CTFs.
Approximately half of the CTFs are being dropped for 1999. We did not feel this was a hardship, as they can reorganize at any time, but there is no point carrying deadwood on the books. I have rather low standards for a "report,"—but it seems to me that anyone unwilling to even respond with a "hi there" isn't interested in continuing to be a CTF.
Progress: Among the CTFs thinking about converting to conservancy status are Xanadu and Sloans Valley Karst. Since these are long standing relationships and problems, it is our thought that such caves and regions would be better served by conservancy status, since fundraising would not be such an issue. Concurrent with this, the Board should think about what financial aid, if any, should be available to NSS and affiliated conservancies, especially in regards to startup costs. We will review any new applicants for CTF status with this in mind. Since I am on the board of the Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy, I have a good grasp of the different needs served by a CTF and a conservancy.
Problems: Just the usual—trying to get reports is like pulling teeth. Gently warning people if they did not report, they would be dropped from the members manual has resulted in progress on this front. Some CTF contacts are not current NSS members. While I don't see a problem with non-NSS people serving on CTFs, I think the contact should be someone we can get hold of, and cross reference as a member. I think CTFs and their reasons for being need a higher profile--it might result in more CTFs, with more appropriate issues being attacked by this method. Funding mechanisms for the CTFs should be reviewed. The CTF loan category exists under the Save-the-Caves Fund, yet no one seems to be able to give an example of it actually being used. Times and attitudes may have changed since it was established, and there do not seem to be financial parameters for suggesting its use. Also, I suspect many cavers do not know of this CTF advantage, or may be leery of asking for loans on transient projects. A matching grant program might be more feasible. I will continue to think on possible ways to address this.
Norm Rogers (Co-Chair)
3122 N. Isabell
Peoria, IL 61604
(309)682-1570
nrogers1@juno.com
Karen Dennis (Co-Chair)
PO Box 340547
Beavercreek, OH 45434-0547
(937) 237-0647
irving@infinet.com
Mammoth Cave Restoration Committee Report, January 1999 - Norm Rogers
To understand the scope of this project, one must first understand the logistics involved, and the burden of hand-carrying material from the cave. Although Echo River is one stream, the work areas are at opposite ends of what used to be the boat ride on the Echo River tour. When the term "Historic side " is used, it refers to the end of the river reached by tourist trail from the Historic Entrance. When the term "Silliman side" of the river is used, this refers to Cascade Hall, via the Elevator Entrance and Silliman Avenue.
Even though volunteers use only tourist trail, many parts of the trail are unused and in poor repair. After seasonal flooding of the Echo River, camp participants must shovel mud and sand off the stairs and trail to make them passable. Patching holes in the rotting planks of the bridges is an on-going activity. This is just to get to the work-site. Once there, the infrastructure of wooden walkways and lighting systems is being removed.
The wooden bridge and walkway are dismantled by hand or by using small hand tools such as hammers, shovels, and pry bars. The wood is cut, put into plastic bags, then placed into nylon "grass sacks" for hauling to the surface. The plastic bags prevent spreading wood debris along the trail. Lights are removed from the walls and ceiling and electrical cable is cut and tied into loops, to be hauled away. All wood is removed from the cave for ecological reasons, both because of the creosote contamination and because the wood is an "unnatural" food supply in the cave environment.
Because it is too far to walk carrying a load from the work-site to the entrance of the cave, a system of cache sites at points along the trail has developed. Since it is over a mile from the Historic Entrance to the work-site near Echo River, a cache was established at Vanderbilt Hall, just up the stairs from River Hall. This is approximately a halfway point. On the Silliman side, a cache is established at Valley Way Side-cut, and another at Ole Bulls Concert Hall. This breaks the two-mile walk from the work-site to the elevator entrance, roughly into thirds. This caching system also allows work to be done when the water may be too high to reach the river. For example, material is moved from Echo River to cache sites during low water events, then moved from the cache sites to the entrance during floods.
To get material out of the Historic Entrance, it must be taken up an 80-foot "fire tower." At least 30 people must participate in a "bucket brigade," hand passing each piece of wood and wire from the bottom of the tower to the top-all between tour groups that use the same tower. Because of several sets of stairs, uneven trail surface, and narrow spots in the trail, the use of carts or wagons on the Historic side is prohibitive. Everything must be carried by hand from Echo River to the top of the fire tower in Mammoth Dome. At that point, wheelbarrows or wagons can be used to move the material to the entrance of the cave, where it must be unloaded and hand-carried up another flight of stairs to be loaded onto a truck at the entrance.
Twenty-eight people were in attendance at the August 1998 camp. Work was concentrated on the Historic side. The last bridge before Echo River was completely dismantled. What was planned on taking all week, took only one day, with help of an invention of John Vargo. He designed and fabricated a lever device that would pull the main bridge support posts from the ground in a matter of seconds. These 4 x 4 posts, some three or four feet in the ground, used to take an hour apiece to dig out and remove. With the Vargo device, it takes only seconds. It would have been impossible to dismantle the bridge in just a day without this device. Electrical cable and light fixtures were also removed. In addition to moving an estimated 12,000 pounds of debris from the cave, by the end of the week the cache at Vanderbilt Hall was full.
The work at the October 1998 camp was on the Silliman side at Cascade Hall. Twenty-one people participated. Wet suits had to be used to retrieve wood from the riverbed. Electrical cable and light fixtures were also removed. Workers took advantage of the low water, and concentrated on moving as much material from the river to the Valley Way Side-Cut cache as possible.
At the January camp, forty-one people participated. Work was done on both the Historic and the Silliman side of Echo River. However, because of high water, they could not reach the river itself. On the Historic side, the cache of material at Vanderbilt Hall was taken to the entrance and hauled away by truck. An electric tractor that is currently being used in the Houchins Narrows restoration aided the effort, once material reached the top of the tower. This was the material that had been cached at the previous August camp. This work was completed by noon on Saturday. At present, the Vanderbilt Hall cache is empty.
Saturday afternoon, workers entered the elevator entrance and began moving the cache of wood and wire at Valley Way Side-cut, to the next cache area at Ole Bull’s Concert Hall. Sunday, those who were left in camp, began moving the Ole Bull’s cache to a waiting truck at the elevator entrance. There is still material at both caches on the Silliman side of the river.
Mammoth Cave Restoration Project (MCRP) Financial Report – Karen Dennis
Financially, the camps are slightly ahead of budget, but also ahead of the scheduled number of work hours (the NSS "matching funds"). We have received three checks for $12,500 from the National Park Service, for the first three quarters of FY98 money. We will apply for the last of the FY98 money and the first quarter of FY99 money in April (government FY quarters do not coincide with NSS FY quarters).
We have mailed out reimbursements for the August ($6,062.34 to participants and $460 to MCNP) and October ($3,053.06 to participants and $104 to MCNP) camps, for a total of $9,679.40 outlay to date. We have not reimbursed the January camp yet, except for $484.84 to the camp director for tools and expenses he incurred before the camp. However, since there were 41 participants, and the contract budgeted for 18, we will be way over budget for the January camp.
Jay R. Jorden (Chairman)
11201 County Road 132
Celina TX 75009-2527
(214) 382-2458
jjorden@texoma.net
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Gale Beach raybeach@earthlink.net
George Huppert huppert@mail.uwlax.edu
Tom Rea tom.rea@caves.org
John Wilson wilsonjmll@earthlink.net
Progress: In the months since the last report, commission members have considered, voted upon and approved a $1,000 reward for information leading to prosecution and a conviction involving the Langdons Cave vandalism in Indiana.
The recipient, Aaron Atz, NSS 43492, of Corydon, Ind., provided detailed information to the commission, which based its decision on the award largely on the strength of that data from the case beginning in 1997 and continuing into 1998 with court proceedings. The same information was the basis for the material that was provided in article form to the NSS News, —which is running a special cave conservation issue where it's appropriate to mention such developments as the award. Smaller conservation-related newsletters will also carry such mention. Atz was cut a check from the NSS Office. With it, we enclosed a congratulatory letter. All were sent to his home address in late January.
Plans: The commission intends to review all successful prosecutions of cave vandals with an eye toward publicizing the Society's conservation goals and rewarding diligence on the part of those individuals who work in furtherance of those goals. Other means of publicizing the commission's activities are also envisioned. The commission chair also plans to continue contributing to the NSS Conservation and Management Section's publication efforts and to the special conservation issue of the NSS News.
Problems: The same traits of the commission's award recipient that prompted him to pursue the vandalism prosecution and gained our consideration—persistence, aggressiveness, even being a gadfly—have proven problematic. First, he inundates us with information on how he took on the state Department of Natural Resources, fought its incompetence, and turned the tide. Now that we're trying to chronicle all this so that others can learn from his good works, he wants to hide his light under a bushel. Go figure . . . Dave Jagnow has requested that he update the information he originally provided us by Feb. 15 so that it can be included in the second installment of the News conservation dispatches.
Hazel E. Medville (Chief)
11762 Indian Ridge Rd.
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 860-0134
medville@patriot.net
Barbara L. Moss (Chairman)
7713 Shreve Rd.
Falls Church, VA 22043-3315
(703) 573-1068
ke4bvq@amsat.org
Plans: Finish web site; finish two slide programs for A-V Department; help Project Underground apply for more grants.
Progress: Learning FTP (File Transfer Protocol) for web site; finalizing slide shows; trying to get appropriate addresses to apply for foundation grants; got a report from the U.S. Forest Service: "Vision-to Action Strategy" Task Force.
Problems: Understanding FTP; getting slides.
Carol Zokaites
620 McDaniel Drive
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-5437
Although Project Underground, Inc. is a separate educational, non-profit organization, it has an MOU with the NSS under which three of its six Directors are appointed by the NSS BOG. Project Underground provides teacher training workshops and karst education materials to educators for classroom use. A large number of these teachers are cavers and NSS members.
The three NSS members who have been designated by the NSS BOG to be Directors of Project Underground are: Dave Jagnow, Barbara Moss, and Carol Zokaites, National Coordinator of Project Underground.
Project Underground is requesting a Grant of $3,000 from the NSS to help it update and reprint its Activity Guide for educators. The money would come from the Save the Caves Fund.
Butch Feldhaus (National Coordinator)
5416 Hunter Village Drive
Ooltewah, TN 37363-7004
Home: (423)238-7009
Work: (423)751-8549
e-mail: bfeldhaus@csi.com
Board Of Regional Coordinators (BORC):
John Appleby (Eastern Region Coordinator)
David Ashburn (Training Coordinator)
Harry Burgess (Southwestern Region Coordinator)
Sam Chewning, MD (Medical Coordinator)
Amanda Clark (Central Region Coordinator)
John Evans (Northeast Region Coordinator)
John Gookin (Rocky Mountain Region Coordinator)
John Green (South Central Region Coordinator)
William E. Maher (Western Region Coordinator)
Henry Nicholson (Diving Coordinator)
Mimi Ortiz (Caribbean Region Coordinator)
Jeff Parnell (Southeastern Region Coordinator)
John Punches (Pacific Northwest Region Coordinator/ Assistant
National Coordinator)
Officers and Staff:
Harold Chrimes (NCRC Equipment Manager)
Tricia Daugherty (NCRC Database Manager/NCRC Inventory Officer)
James Davis (Education Board Member)
Andy Franklin (NCRC Discussion and Administrative List Manager)
Bryan Lavender (Education Board Member)
Barb Ritts (Education Board Member)
Bruce Smith (Education Board Member/NCRC Curriculum Coordinator)
Susan Thrasher (Assistant National Coordinator)
Kathy Welling (NCRC Recording Secretary)
James Hall (NCRC Inventory Officer)
Vacant (NCRC Financial Officer)
Progress: John Punches and Susan Thrasher have been appointed as Assistant National Coordinators. These are new positions that will report directly to the National Coordinator. They will be assigned areas from the NCRC Charter that are currently not being completely addressed and be asked to implement them as fully as possible as time and resources allow. John Punches is also the Pacific Northwest Region Coordinator.
The NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators (BORC) conducted its Winter Business Meeting February 13, 1999, at the Walker County Georgia 911 Center. Highlight of this meeting include:
The BORC decided to end its partnership with Chuck Hempel and his forthcoming book On Call and instead rely on Programmed Notes for conducting its training. The Programmed Notes are more timely, are easily revised, and can be tailored to each training event, whereas a book will become outdated quickly. This does not mean that On Call, or any other text, cannot be used as a reference for NCRC training; it only means that rather than relying on a textbook during the training, the Programmed Notes will be the reference of choice.
Jeff Parnell, the Southeastern Region Coordinator, has asked the he be allowed to parallel the NCRC Leveled Curriculum with a book he is writing and has asked that the NCRC endorse it as the replacement of the NCRC's Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques. Approval was given for this project.
The revisions to the NCRC Level's I, II, III and IQ curriculum pilot tested at last summer's national seminar were adopted. The Course Coordinator Course will be pilot tested again as it will be substantially revised (shortened to two days rather than four). The "Orientation to Cave Rescue" weekend training course was also adopted.
A job description for the position of Regional Coordinator was adopted by the BORC. It is based on the NCRC Charter and what the Regional Coordinators have traditionally seen as their roles. This will be used as a reference to inform potential candidates for these positions as to what the expectations are, and as a yardstick to measure sitting Regional Coordinators.
The BORC recommended that Butch Feldhaus be appointed to a three-year term as National Coordinator.
Plans: Most of the effort of the BORC and the Education Board will be directed toward the NCRC Seminar 1999 which will be held the week before the NSS Convention (July 3 - 10) at Lava Beds National Monument, California. The team putting together this event is doing an outstanding job and we are looking forward to a great seminar.
After a rather long stagnant period, the NCRC Website will be upgraded. Joshua Abdulla, the NSS Webmaster, will be authorized to head-up the project.
After pilot testing this summer, the NCRC's registration software has been revised and upgraded. It will be tested at this summer's seminar and hopefully be ready for mass distribution this fall. Plans include attaching a financial package, which will make complying with the NSS financial reporting and procedures easier.
There is considerable training going on in the regions. There will be at least thirteen Orientation to Cave Rescue weekends and four leveled seminars in either the modular or weeklong format. Two of the leveled seminars will include all three levels. Should all this training go as planned, it will tally up to about 4,860 student-days of cave rescue training.
The NCRC will co-sponsor the Technical Rescue Symposium November 5 - 7, 1999 in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is hoped that the NCRC will also be able to present a paper or two specific to cave rescue at this event.
The next meeting of the BORC will be on Tuesday (July 13) the NSS Convention. At this summer's meeting, the following positions will be up for consideration: Southwestern Region Coordinator (currently Harry Burgess), Northeastern Region Coordinator (currently John Evans), Western Region Coordinator (currently Bill Maher), Rocky Mountain Region Coordinator (currently John Gookin), South Central Region Coordinator (currently John Green), Database Manager (currently Tricia Daugherty), and an Education Board at large position (currently Bryan Lavender).
Problems: Complying with the financial procedures of the NSS has been a problem for many years. It is a very big job coordinating the finances of the NCRC National Organization and its Regions. The most recently appointed Financial Officer resigned when presented with this overwhelming workload.
Safety and Techniques Committee
William Cuddington (Chairman)
3412 Hutchens Ave., SE
Huntsville, AL 35801
(205) 536-2177
miriambl@aol.com
Progress: S.T.C. articles are still being published in the NSS News. Two S.T.C. members, Bill Cuddington and Bill Davis, went to Mexico in December 1998 and were safety officers for a Sotano de las Golondrinas trip. Both members "rope accessed" the shaft’s bottom. Also, S.T.C. members held a short meeting at the Fall 1998 T.A.G. Cave-In.
Plans: S.T.C. members will help with the Spring Workshops. They will also continue to produce articles for the NSS News.
Problems: None.
John P. Scheltens (Chairman)
303 North River St.
Hot Springs, SD 57747-1626
(605) 745-4366
102370.2314@compuserve.com
Progress: As everyone probably already knows, the first film segment of the IMAX film has been completed. This was done in the ice caves in Greenland. Talking with the producer, he is very happy with the results. MacGillivray-Freeman is also very happy with both Nancy Aulenbach and Hazel Barton. I am glad they were selected. Both are quality people who will represent cavers and the NSS in a very professional manner.
Plans: The film debut date has been postponed till the Spring of 2001 instead of 2000. This is because the producer is working on another film at the same time. This film, which is about dolphins, is first on his agenda to complete which is scheduled for debut in the spring of 2000. Regardless, production on the caving film will continue.
The next scheduled shoot is for July and August this summer. The location has not yet been decided. This is supposed to be the "Expedition Cave" which I believe will occupy most of the film. They have been looking at caves in Mexico, but my most recent conversations with them show a very strong interest in caves in New Zealand. I am trying to guide them to the appropriate caver contacts in whichever area they finally decide one.
They told me that Lechuguilla will not be the expedition cave. They are not even sure if they will attempt any filming there at all. They have not applied for a permit. If they do decide, and if a permit is granted, it will only be for a few "pretty shots."
Problems: The IMAX cave film will be a reality. The question is whether it will be a good film on caves or not and whether it will have a positive or negative impact on caves. I do believe the producer is trying to do a good job on presenting the subject matter. However, this is not an NSS project. Like all private ventures, whether it is film, television, books, or newspapers, we do not have the final say in what is produced. We can however influence the results of these productions in a positive way by encouraging them to do the right thing. That is what I am attempting to do by directing them to the right people within the caving community. It is also good that 3 of the 4 science advisors for the film are respected members of the NSS science community.
A larger concern that needs to be raised is this: Is the NSS ready? If the viewing audience of this film reaches 100 million viewers as expected, a certain percentage of these viewers will want to know more about caves. Many will want publications, some will want to caving. What do we need to be ready?
I might suggest that we have a meeting with NSS officers and other interested parties at convention. I don't think we are ready and it is obvious that this is just beginning to dawn on the membership.
Carol Tiderman (Chief)
Carol Tiderman (Chairman)
7600 Pindell School Rd.
Fulton, MD 20759-9725
(410) 792-0742
tiderman@erols.com
Progress: I visited the proposed site for the 2002 Convention (Camden, Maine) in November. We met with school board personnel and reviewed architectural drawings. We visited the school site (which was being excavated), the campground, the Howdy Party site, and the surrounding area. We identified sites for JSS central and other activities. I saw no major problems. Minor problems had already been identified and are bring addressed. I am also continuing to work on bid development with groups having accepted bids and groups preparing bids.
I visited the proposed site for the 2001 Convention site (Mt. Vernon, Kentucky) in early February to review the school and campground facilities. I also intend to check out the local area (eateries, hotels, activities, etc.). (Comment: I expect that Carol will be at the March BOG meeting to describe her impressions of the facilities in Kentucky and in Maine).
Plans: I am updating the Convention Manual with all the recently passed Board Acts. I want to add this Manual to the NSS web site. I am trying to obtain more bids
Problems: No bids have been received from the west, aside for the group looking to have a convention in 2003. Software on my home computer has killed modem access.
William Shrewsbury (Chairman)
PO Box 4444
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 886-3296
(423) 842-8962 - fax
taglite@bigfoot.com
Progress: Bill Stringfellow has been diligently working with refunds, payments, and overall finances to finalize our books. I will have a more in depth report of actual cash and assets at the NSS BOG meeting.
Some additional functionality has been added to the NSS registration software. I am still in contact with the original programmer, Michael Quinn, and Jennifer Dorman, 1999 Registration Chair to help solve any problems and expand the software where feasible.
Plans: Stringfellow is continuing to contact people who have not cashed their refund checks yet. He is also finalizing numbers in his spreadsheet. I will have hard copies at the NSS BOG meeting.
I will continue to work with Michael & Jennifer to solve any problems with the NSS Registration Software.
Problems: As noted above, quite a number of people have not cashed their refund checks. Despite having 1,700 attendees, we had an unusually large number of people who couldn't make it. I have made the supposition that if the percentage of attendees to refunded attendees is comparable between Conventions, then the 1998 NSS Convention, if based on this percent, should have a larger than normal amount of refunds.
Bill Stringfellow is making every effort (e-mail, phone, work phone, writing) to get all checks cleared so that we can close our accounts. We have two accounts: one in Atlanta (close to Stringfellow for deposits) and one in Sewanee (using a local bank during the week for deposits and check writing). We hope to have them cleared out soon.
David W. Kesner (Chairman)
12567 W. DeMeyer St.
Boise, ID 83713-1409
(208) 939-0979
drdave@micron.net
Mike Backe (Co-Chair)
HC 33, Box 3294
Boise, ID 83706-9768
(208) 336-6878
mikebacke@rmci.net
Progress: The last meeting of the 1999 NSS Convention Committee was held January 23, 199 at the Idaho Pizza Company in Meridian, Idaho.
Peggy Kesner, Treasurer, (in absentia) – Balances are $651.40 in checking and $9,264.30 in savings. Total expenditures have been $3,162.40.
Jim Hathorn, Facilities Chair – Another site visit was made in October to complete room mapping and video taping all the facilities. It was determined that the largest room in the High School will be able to seat about 250-300 people. However it was brought up that no one knew if the fire code would allow that many. This is being investigated. Many of the room assignments have been made both at the school and the campground. It was decided to have an "Art Village" at the campground near the outside vendors. This would include print, cartography, and symbolic devices salons, Speleo-Art, and the NSS Museum as well as the facilities for the 3D slide shows and open projector slide shows. The Fairground has added a new "building" that will be available at no extra cost. It is a fabric covered "quonset-hut" style with open ends that measures 30 feet high and 75 x 150 feet. It was decided that this would be used for the Howdy Party. Revised vendors packets are being put together and will be sent out very soon. Eric Zechmann has been appointed campground facilities coordinator.
Charlie Wilkerson, Social Chair – The previous caterer was not able to do both the Howdy Party and Banquet so a new caterer was chosen. Sample menus were presented. The Howdy Party will be a potato bar. (gonna be a strange Howdy Party- DMM) The banquet menu was not finalized but we are leaning toward the following menu: roast pork, vegetable stir-fry, wild rice, new red potatoes, orange dill ginger carrots, pasta salad, green salad, baguettes, and dessert. The static window decal was presented. After many, many nights of auditioning, the Howdy Party band has been selected. It is a Boise band named Rat Race that plays very danceable rock and roll. Pre-band entertainment was also discussed with options like a cowboy poet, hypnotist, etc. No decisions were made other than acts such as the hypnotist probably wouldn’t work. A cowboy poet seems the most likely. We will be offering patches and pins, but only as an on site option while supplies last. It was decided to provide two t-shirts at no cost to each staff member with any additional available at cost. One t-shirt will be given to anyone who volunteers for at least four hours. Volunteer shirts will be different from convention shirts and will most likely be adorned with Speleo-Spud and the wording "I helped Speleo-Spud at the 99 Convention". Charlie requested that anyone needing signage to let him know as soon as possible. Small informational signs will be computer generated on site. Mike Backe has agreed to coordinate and MC the awards ceremony.
Jennifer Dorman, Registration Chair – We have now topped 100 pre-registrants. We still need COA’s for several items. Peggy Kesner has requested these. There was discussion on whether to have laminated name badges or stay with the pouches like last years. The majority favored laminated. Because of the problems with the NSS Registration Software (see below) Owen Jones offered to write a program. A basic beta version will be available very soon and the final will be done and usable by the end of February. We will have at least three computers networked for on site registration with another as a dedicated server. We should also have one more as a stand alone for sign printing. Michelle Groothof talked Airtouch into donating a cell phone and free air time to be used as the emergency contact number in exchange for displaying a banner.
Brian Hagen, Logistics Chair – Two busses for the Geology Field trip and five busses for the Photo Salon have been reserved. Rodney Mulder has sent a letter to the local sheriff’s department asking if they would be interested in providing security. All the groundwork for first aid has been laid, but staffing is still an issue. Charlie Wilkerson’s business (Denco Sales) will provide storage space for items before Convention. Mike Compton (Cascade Grotto) just recently offered assistance in setting up radio communications.
Sam Lair, Promotion Chair – The web page is up and running and has received close to 2000 hits already. Sam is doing a great job at keeping it up to date. Maps and directions will be added soon as well as several photos of the facilities. John Lyon submitted the first article on the Convention to the NSS News. It will be a copy of the registration form and basic information and should be in the March issue (we are way behind see below). Additional articles will be in each issue up to Convention time. Copies of the promotional slide/video tape show are now in the hands of the NSS AV Library and should be available for check out.
Ken Storey, Publication Chair, (in absentia)– Jennifer Dorman received copies of the refund form and on-site registration form. Several names were suggested for the daily rag. It was decided that Norma Peacock needs to see these and have input. Arrangements for printing the rag are still being worked out. The Program will have advertisement sponsors. Peter Ruplinger will be handling this. Requests were made for Program including maps of the facilities, letters from the Mayor and Governor, and Convention schedule.
Tom Kline, Guide Book Editor – The geology manuscript and first aid section have been received. The first aid section needs serious editing to make it more relevant to local conditions. It was decide to include large foldout maps separately in a pocket (as opposed to being bound in). Paula Call and Peggy Kesner will work on a section about bats. A section on the Eastern Snake River Plain will be added. Additional stock line art and photos are needed. Deadline for submissions is February 28. Publication is expected to be in May.
Hal Smith, Program Chair – A preliminary schedule should be available very soon. It will be published on the web site and in the News for everyone to pick apart and complain about. We will definitely be having a special session on vulcanospeleology that will be coordinated by Stephen Kempe. A call for papers should be in the next issue of the NSS News as well as be announced on various Internet discussion groups.
Val Schmidt, Caving Coordinator – Rodney Horrocks is moving and will no longer be able to coordinate pre and post trips. Sam Lair has offered to take over those duties. They will consist of acting as a contact source for anyone wishing to host a pre or post trip. The information provided will be placed on the web page. Several people have already offered to host trips. Several methods of how to relay cave locations were discussed. The two most likely methods will be to post a single copy on a bulletin board for individuals to write down and to form caravans to central areas dropping off groups along the way. Because of the publishing deadline and the fact that a lot of the caves are closed for bat hibernation until May 1st there probably won’t be any additional survey work. The will be plenty of opportunity for surveying during Convention.
Miscellaneous – It was decided to use up to $1,200.00 of the Honorarium to pay for airfare for the Chair and Co-Chair to attend the NSS Board meetings.
Plans: The next meeting of the 1999 NSS Convention Committee will be decided at a later date. Individual committees will continue to meet as needed.
Problems: We have been unable to get the NSS Registration Software to work. Several patches have been provided as well as what was supposed to be a complete rewrite. The main problem is that the software will not automatically and sequentially assign registration numbers. There is also no way to remove the previous 98 Convention test data. We have no problem with the actual program and believe it could be very effective if the bugs are worked out. However, we can’t wait any longer for it to be fixed. We will be writing and using our own program. We would gladly provide this to the NSS if wanted. (Comment: This has been a disappointment. Kathy Welling, Chair of the Convention Registration Software Committee, will continue to try to get the registration software from the Tennessee Convention to work for others. If this is not possible, then we may abandon it and take a look at the software being developed by the Idaho folks).
We have fallen way behind on our promotion of the Convention in the NSS News. No excuse other than I failed to take the publishing deadline seriously and follow through appropriately. The NSS Convention Manual states that promotion in the NSS shouldn’t start more than six months before Convention. That means our Convention in July should start in the February News. I assumed we could send in the first announcement in January. I would suggest that Manual be changed to recommend that the first announcement be in the November or December issue of the News regardless of the actual date of the Convention. You would then have the time and ability to skip an issue or two (such as the March issue that is filled with conservation articles) and still get all the information in that you need.
We have received several complaints that we will not be providing day care. Idaho has very strict laws for operating a day care and we have not been able to find anyone who is willing to jump through all the hoops. If anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with this situation we would love to hear them.
1999 NSS Convention Staff:
David W. Kesner (Chairman)
12567 W. DeMeyer St.
Boise, ID 83713-1409
(208) 939-0979
drdave@micron.net
Mike Backe (Co-Chair)
HC 33, Box 3294
Boise, ID 83706-9768
(208) 336-6878
mikebacke@rmci.net
Peggy Kesner (Treasurer)
12567 West DeMeyer Street
Boise, ID 83713
208-939-0979
pegasusk@micron.net
Jim Hathorn (Facilities Chair)
1227 Vivian
Boise, ID 83704
(208) 378-9601
hathorn@rmci.net
Russ Whale (Spa)
3333 West Ambrosia Lane
Kuna, ID 83634
(208) 922-1300
rwhale@simplot.com
Jennifer Dorman (Registration Chair)
10650 Alliance
Boise, ID 83713
(208) 321-1239
idcaver@micron.net
Charlie Wilkerson (Social Chair)
10650 Alliance
Boise, ID 83713
(208) 321-1239
cavedvr@micron.net
Dale Green (Program help, surveying)
4230 Soverign Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(801) 277-6417
bajgreen@burgoyne.com
Richard Downey (NSS Bookstore)
380 North 600 East
Orem, UT 84097
(801) 224-6678
rldowney@ci.orem.ut.us
Valerie Stratford (Program help)
76 Ellison Street
Layton, UT 84041
(801)544-9639
ms.dragonfly@utah-inter.net
Dave Stratford (Program help)
76 Ellison Street
Layton, UT 84041
(801) 544-9639
ms.dragonfly@utah-inter.net
Hal Smith (Program Chair)
202 5th East
Copperton, UT 84006
(801) 565-0719
hallu@utah.inter.net
Lu Smith (Mascot; recycling)
202 5th East
Copperton, UT 84006
(801) 565-0719
hallu@utah-inter.net
Emery George (Speleo-Olympics)
PO Box 702
Kamas, UT 84036
(435) 783-2104
jorge@allwest.net
Peter Ruplinger (Program Advertising)
8695 South 910 East
Sandy, UT 84094
(801) 561-8571
pk-is-ok@integrityonline3.com
Curtis Parker (Staff Photographer)
5641 Croospark Drive
Taylorville, UT
(801) 293-0647
curtiswood@aol.com
Jim Bulkeley (Aviation)
9185 South Quail Hollow Drive
Sandy, UT 84093
(801) 942-7527
jbulkeley@sisna.com
Janis Bulkeley (Auction)
9185 South Quail Hollow Drive
Sandy, UT 84093
(801) 942-7527
jbulkeley@sisna.com
Jeff Johnson (Building Materials)
PO Box 9352
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
(801) 272-6415
jmjbuilder@aol.com
John Lyon (NSS News Announcements)
2456 East Sundown Ave.
Salt Lake City UT 84121
(801) 943-7802
no email
Rodney Mulder (Security, Ice Sales)
6684 South 3380 West
West Jordan, UT 84084
(801) 982-0958
caveman@burgoyne.com
Michelle Groothof (Vendors, Bands)
7879 Grubstake Dr.
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 362-9176
mgroothof@idahopower.com
John Jones (School Facilities)
7879 Grubstake Drive
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 362-9176
jejones@micron.net
Sam Lair (Promotion Chair)
6438 Morris Hill Rd.
Boise, ID 83704
(208) 322-7518
sideways@aol.com
Val Schmidt (Cave Coordinator)
6438 Morris Hill Road
Boise, ID 83704
(208) 322-7518
valnomo@aol.com
Julie Backe (Speleo Art)
HC 33, Box 3294
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 336-6878
mikebacke@rmci.net
Tom Kline (Guide Book)
5172 Southeast Logus Road
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 786-0592
tckline@iccom.com
Ken Storey (Publications Chair)
110 Sweetbrier Ct.
Winterville, GA 30683
(706) 742-5305
kstorey@athens.net
Terry Shannon (Photo Salon, A/V Equipment)
3701 West Ambrosia Lane
Kuna, ID 83634
(208) 922-3518
tshannon@micron.net
Brian Hagen (Logistics Chair)
PO Box 448
Star, ID 83669
(208) 286-9246
bhagen@micron.net
Gene Kyle (Registration Help)
3996 Daisy Way
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 362-6513
rkyle@pnhyd0.pn.usbr.gov
Robi Hathorn (Registration Help)
1227 Vivian
Boise, ID 83704
(208) 378-9601
hathorn@rmci.net
Norma Peacock (Daily Rag)
2544 Pinewood Street
St. Jenison, MI 49428
(616) 669-3572
no email
Kelley (Deacon) Deem (Chairman)
167 Blue Ridge Acres
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-9309
(304) 725-9812
deem@mammoth-geo.com
Progress: Our last meeting was held on January 16, 1999 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Bob Gulden has signed on as our pre- and post-convention caving camp coordinator. Our agreement with the school has been finalized and a deposit has been issued. Bill Jones will be doing a post-convention hydrology field trip in the Friars Hole area. Don Humpfrey and Alan Carpenter will be preparing our convention maps.
Plans for the Howdy Party and the banquet are coming along well. The gyms at the school are large enough for the banquet. Copies of our session schedule will be at this year’s convention in Filer for review and comment. We do not intend to offer delivery of Section lunches. Sections wishing to have a luncheon will have the opportunity to use the cafeteria. The possibility of breaking up major (all day) sessions into two smaller (i.e. shorter) sessions on different days was discussed.
A draft text for George Dasher’s geology field trip to the South Branch Valley was presented. We are attempting to rent busses with intra-bus radio communication.
Tom and Gretchen Williams are helping to prepare our scenic drives. The video crew has a script and music for the long video to be shown at this year’s convention in Idaho.
PSC has offered to open their field house for pre- and post-convention caving. Charlie Williams has started work on the convention web site.
Plans: Bob Hoke will continue to price A/V equipment , arrange for transportation between the campground and the school, and continue to work on all aspects of the day to day operation of convention.
Problems: To this point we have been fortunate in that no problems of note have occurred.
Kathy Welling (Chairman)
8679 S State Rd. 243
Cloverdale, IN 46120-9696
(765) 653-6352
kathyd@ccrtc.com
Progress: Got the latest version of the Registration software from William Shrewsbury, about a month ago, along with renewed contact from 1999 Convention folks (they got their copy about the same time.) (Comment: if it doesn’t work for others, then not much progress is being made.)
Plans: Install this version and finish up the "Users Guide", may be even in time for the March meeting here in Indianapolis.
Problems:
1) William has had to withdraw as chief contact. I've heard from Jennifer that she has had some problems getting in touch with the programmer, Mike Quinn. Hopefully, this has been resolved by now.
2) Dave has indicated that he feels the software is still unusable. I'm not quite sure why, since 1998 DID use it. He is talking about having someone there "grow their own." I thought this was what we were trying to stay away from. Jennifer's last e-mail to me indicated that there are two major problems—they still can't get the credit card report, and they can't get the numbering to work right—it reverts to the numbers from the 1998 registrations. The credit card report is a pain in the neck, but certainly no worse than if we were still doing it all manually. The numbering problem, in my view, is more serious. It makes it impossible to use the software for all subsequent conventions, until this is fixed. I had not noticed this when I was playing with the software, but will see if I can recreate the problem on my version.
Gary D. Storrick (Chairman)
609 Penn Drive
Trafford, PA 15085-1444
storrig@h01.pgh.wec.com
AVP note: A motion will be on the agenda to change the Act that requires that the Congress of Grottos must report at every Board meeting to one in which they report only at the BOG meeting that follows the COG meeting at the NSS Convention.
Duane A. Vore (Chairman)
328 Jenny Lane
Centerville, OH 45459-1737
(513) 433-1787
davore@erinet.com
Progress: The 1999 JSS Program is being organized. I have been in contact with Rick Bowersox, although that has been as sluggish as everything else. Since he lives "only six hours from Filer" (his words) he will doing most of the legwork and interfacing with the convention staff. Rick was instrumental to JSS last year in the absence of Klaye Lilly.
Plans: Rick Bowersox is planning a trip to Filer during the weekend of Feb 20 to scout out the site, evaluate locations for the rappelling workshop, investigate the possibility of rafting or other river activity, find out about local caves, and take photographs. The "traditional" JSS activities and those that can take place on site are tentatively scheduled. Field trips are awaiting Rick Bowersox's investigation of options. The 1999 Convention staff has been notified of our requirements and recommendations. The JSS Convention Web site has been updated for 1999 and the convention staff asked to add a link to it. Rick and Faye Bowersox are expected to accept appointment to the JSS Committee. My information package for Convention Committees is nearly complete.
Problems: Nominally, I am behind schedule because of personal problems. This concerns me but does not alarm me because we are actually ahead of where we were at this time last year with the exception of field trips to scout out local attractions. Rick has more available free time to do this than I did for Sewanee, so I expect this portion to progress rapidly. We are still short on confirmed volunteers, but that has been the case every year.
Paul Stevens (Chairman)
5964 Seabright Rd.
Springfield, VA 22152-1738
(703) 451-7663
plstevens@aol.com
Report not received.