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SERA Winter Business Meeting 2005
Minutes for the 2005 SERA Winter Business Meeting 3/12/05
SWBM for 2005 was convened at 09:15 Central at the Stevenson Church of Christ in Stevenson Alabama. Executive committee members Mark Joop, chair; Peter Michaud, vice chair; and Jim Wilbanks Sec/Treas were all present. Birmingham Grotto was thanked for hosting the event. Special recognition was offered for Scott Parvin, who brought AV equipment, Scott Fee, Martha Mills and Myrna Attaway.
Announcements began as Scott Fee announced the NSS office was open until lunch. Brent Aulenbach announced the map salon and asked for judges. Don Hunter announced he would be sponsoring the photo salon along with an art salon. Jim Wilbanks announced award forms were out and talked about the newly refurbished plaques, which were on display. Gerald Moni announced the spring TCS meeting for April 30. Nancy Aulenbach announced the GSS was also meeting that day. Sharon Faulkner announced the ACS would meet April 16th. Paul Aughey announced the formation of the Florida Cave Survey was the NSS’ newest. Michael Gilbert announced Central Alabama Grotto would host the SWBM and SERA Cave Carnival for 2006. Scott Fee and Sharon Faulkner talked about the upcoming NSS convention in Huntsville.
Presentations were all PowerPoint. Scott Fee reported on 2005 SERA. Bill Stringfellow reported on the development of the new TAG site. Jim Wilbanks showed the Rocky River presentation he showed at the 2004 convention. Brent Aulenbach reported on the Fricks survey.
Reports from Grottos began with Sharon Faulkner for Birmingham reporting on work on SERA, SWBM, BOG meeting, and NSS convention. Smoky Mountain Grotto reported they were surveying according to Chris Kerr. Athens Speleological Society member Eric Crisp said they were working on outreach to newcomers. They have been working with the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Program teaching caving. Brent Aulenbach reported for the GSS. He said the Vulcan quarry threatening Pigeon Mountain had pulled its exploration request. Paul Aughey reported the Flint River Grotto’s activities with the Glory Hole project. Glenn Mills and Maureen Handler reported on the Sewanee Mountain Grotto. They have participated in the cleanup at Neversink and are taking over the detailing of Cedar Ridge Cave. They are sponsoring recycling at TAG. Mike Hopkins reported the Pigeon Mountain Grotto had been working on a cleanup of Byers Cave and they were working with Georgia Department of Natural Resources to reopen Case Cave and the Sittons parking area. Lynn Roebuck reported the Spencer Mountain Grotto was doing a lot of eating at meetings. They were taking over Rocky River and various members tend to work on their individual mapping and exploration efforts. Brian Roebuck reported the Southport Chronic Cavers were in their tenth year and recently finished working on surveying Hubble’s Post Office Cave. They have been involved in protecting Bishops cave from a road widening. Michael Gilbert reported Central Alabama Grotto was in its 13th year. He showed a short cut of a Turner South Ad they had worked on and stated they were hard at work on the 2006 SERA and SWBM. Bill Stringfellow reported on the TAG site work, and their roadside cleanup. He reported that DCG has given $110,000 in grants since 1986. Anne Elmore reported the Upper Cumberland Grotto had worked on a bat count at Capshaw Cave. Gerald Moni reported the Nashville Grotto was still involved in the Spencer sewage treatment plant controversy. Residents of the area where the treated sewage was to be pumped are fighting the plan. Jim Wilbanks reported the Chattanooga Grotto was going to host a Munchy Stand at TAG this year again.
Maureen Handler spoke on Graff Off. She reported on the laboratory analysis. The report showed there were no dangerous chemicals in the remover. She reported there would be a presentation at the conservation section at the NSS convention this summer.
The meeting broke for lunch at 11:30 AM
The business meeting began at 1:15 PM. Grottos present were: Alabama Cave Survey (Scott Fee), Athens Speleological Society (Eric Crisp), Birmingham Grotto (Sharon Faulkner), Central Alabama Grotto (Michael Gilbert), Chattanooga Grotto (Jim Wilbanks), Dogwood City Grotto (Bill Stringfellow), Flittermouse Grotto (Nancy Aulenbach), Georgia Speleological Society (Brent Aulenbach), Huntsville Grotto (Avis Moni), Nashville Grotto (George Plumlee), Pigeon Mountain Grotto (Mike Hopkins), Sewanee Mountain Grotto (Glenn Mills), Smoky Mountain Grotto (Chris Kerr), Southport Chronic Cavers (Brian Roebuck), Spencer Grotto (Lynn Roebuck), Tennessee Cave Survey (Gerald Moni), Upper Cumberland Grotto (Anne Elmore).
The 2004 minutes were amended and approved. The treasurer’s report was approved (see attachment). The SERA awards committee reported no progress and chair Jim Wilbanks, recommended someone with the time take it over. Martha Mills volunteered to chair a new committee. Appointed to the committee were Brian Roebuck, Myrna Attaway and Jim Wilbanks.
The SKTF annual report was delivered by Jim Wilbanks and is attached.
Officer elections were held. Peter Michaud succeeded Mark Joop as chairman. Brian Roebuck was elected the new vice-chair. Jim Wilbanks was re-elected sec/treas. All elections were by acclimation.
A motion from the SKTF was approved unanimously. The SKTF committee moved that SERA authorize the committee the right to become incorporated as a non-profit corporation with its own treasury. The proposal is attached.
Sec/Treas Jim Wilbanks moved the SKTF be given the remainder of the NSS group conservation award in the amount of $59.94. Alabama Cave Survey (Scott Fee) seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Wilbanks then moved the SKTF be allotted $250 in expenses for 2005. TCS (Gerald Moni) seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Wilbanks then moved that the SERA surcharge be raised from $1 per attendee to $1.50 with the additional $.50 going to the SKTF treasury. Birmingham (Sharon Faulkner) seconded. The motion passed with one no vote from Smoky Mountain Grotto.
Alabama Cave Survey (Scott Fee) moved the $100 set aside passed 02/23/02 be abolished. Birmingham (Sharon Faulkner) seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Mark Joop then opened the floor for a discussion on ways to boost attendance at the SERA Cave Carnival. There was no consensus. A committee was formed to study ideas. Mark Joop will chair and the committee will be staffed by Bill Stringfellow, Jim Wilbanks, and Eric Crisp.
Merit Awards nominations were then received. Chattanooga Grotto (Jim Wilbanks) moved and Upper Cumberland Grotto (Anne Ellmore) seconded that Brent Aulenbach receive a Merit Award for the Fricks Cave resurvey.
Birmingham (Sharon Faulkner) moved and Chattanooga (Jim Wilbanks) seconded that Andy Zellner receive a Merit Award for his work on the closed cave list and the cave directions booth at TAG.
Dogwood City Grotto (Bill Stringfellow) moved and Chattanooga Grotto (Jim Wilbanks) seconded that Chuck Henson receive a Merit Award for providing the new site of the TAG Fall Cave In.
Vice-chair Peter Michaud announced the cleanup for the following day.
Award Committees were established. They were:
Francis McKinney: Chris Kerr, Brian Roebuck, and Glenn Mills
Richard Schreiber: JimWilbanks, Scott Fee, Eric Crisp,
Larry Adams Landowner: Avis Moni, Myrna Attaway, George Plumlee
Alexis Harris Conservation: Martha Mills, Sharon Faulkner, Paul Baggett
The Business meeting was adjourned at 3:15 PM
Awards Committees met with the following results:
Francis McKinney: Maureen Handler
Richard Schreiber: Ryan Moran
Larry Adams: Chuck Henson
Alexis Harris: John Noel
A banquet of barbeque was enjoyed in the same room. Awards were presented and Alan Cressler presented his pictures from a trip to Puerto Rico.
ART SALON
Painting or Other Media on Board
1st Place Jerry Wallace “Formation Study No. 5”
2nd Place Jerry Wallace “Formation Study”
Graphic Arts
1st Place Jerry Wallace “Voyage of the D-230, Passage to the Inner Sea”
2nd Place Jerry Wallace “Voyage of the D-230, Descent Into the Spired Abyss”
3rd Place Brian Houha “Psychedelic Pup”
The banquet concluded at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted
Jim Wilbanks
Beginning Balance
$742.97
Income
2004 SERA Cave Carnival
500.00
Floor donation SWBM 2004
283.00
Interest
5.80
NSS Conservation Award
100.00
Total Income
888.80
888.80
$1,631.77
Expenses
Award Frames
8.56
Award Money
200.00
Award Plaque update
248.54
Bank Service Charge
1.00
Event Guide printing
44.13
Glory Hole Gating Project
200.00
Miscellaneous
5.10
Newsletter printing
160.79
Postage
-
SKTF Supplies
140.06
Web Space
22.00
Total Expenses
1,030.18
1,030.18
Ending Balance
$601.59