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SERA Winter Business Meeting 2006
Summary - Detailed Minutes - Treasurer's Report
SERA Winter Business Meeting - Summary
Hosted by Central Alabama Grotto February 18 2006
- 8:30 Registration
- 9:00 Call to order, introductions, thanks, housekeeping, bathrooms, etc. -Mudpuppy
- 9:15 Announcements
- Photo Salon-Don Hunter
- Map Salon-Brent Aulenbach
- SERA Awards-Jim Wilbanks
- SERA Newsletter-Brian Roebuck
- 10:00 Presentations
- SERA Summer Cave Carnival-CAG
- 11:00 Area grotto activity reports
- 11:45 Area lunch spots and “after the meeting activities-Mudpuppy
- Lunch break-reconvene @ 1 PM
- 1:00 Business meeting
- Call to order-Mudpuppy
- Roll call of attending organizations-Jim Wilbanks
- 1:15 Old Business
- 2005 meeting minutes and treasurers report-Jim Wilbanks
- SERA Awards Committee-Martha Mills
- SERA Attendance Committee-Mark Joop
- 1:30 New Business
- Officer elections
- SKTF committee report-Jim Wilbanks
- Announcement Sunday Russell Cave watershed cleanup-Mudpuppy
- 3:30 Conclusion of business meeting
- Awards committees meet
- 5:30 Special surprise
- 6:30 SERA awards banquet begins
- Followed by the evenings speaker, Chris Clark of Horse Cave, KY with the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA)
SERA Winter Business Meeting - Detailed Minutes
Hosted by Central Alabama Grotto February 18 2006The 2006 SERA Winter Business Meeting was held in Sewanee Tennessee at the American Legion Post. The Central Alabama Grotto hosted the event with assistance from the Sewanee Mountain Grotto. The weather was cold with snow falling and ice forming on the roads and sidewalks. Despite the weather, forty cavers attended the event. The NSS office came and set up.
The meeting was called to order by chairman Peter (Mudpuppy) Michaud at 9:30 AM central. Peter introduced the SERA officers, announced house keeping items and thanked the Central Alabama Grotto (CAG) for hosting. Don Hunter announced the Photo and Art Salon. Brent Aulenbach announced the Map Salon. Jim Wilbanks spoke about the SERA awards. Brian Roebuck introduced the latest issue of the Southeastern Caver.
Michael Gilbert (CAG) made several announcements about the building and lunch options. He also spoke about the upcoming SERA Cave Carnival. He said the grotto wants to put the “carnival” back in the event with attractions for the entire family. He spoke about music options and about CAG’s cleanup target, Manitou Cave.
Next were the grotto reports. Lynn Roebuck reported the Southport Chronic Cavers were doing a lot of exploration. Gerald Moni reported on Nashville Grotto’s project mapping. Brian Roebuck reported that Spencer Mountain Grotto had young leaders and was rebuilding. Jason Stacey reported that CAG had many new members and were focusing on SE RA. This year’s SERA will take place at Buck’s Pocket State Park on June 1-4th. Myrna Attaway reported Birmingham Grotto was partying as usual. Maureen Handler reported on Sewanee Mountain Grotto. She said the grotto was focusing on conservation projects. She spoke about the SKTF cleanup for the next day on Orme Mountain Road. Cheryl Pratt reported that East Tennessee Grotto had been caving and camping together. She reported ETG was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a banquet and slideshow this fall. Marty Abercrombie reported Chattanooga Grotto is also celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year and is planning a celebration. Don Hunter reported Athens Speleological Society is supporting the University of Georgia’s outdoor recreation department and is gaining new members. Anne Elmore reported Upper Cumberland Grotto is not doing much. Martha Mills reported that the NSS Board of Governors is looking for committee chairs. The Great Expectations fund raising was getting matching donations. She appealed for southeastern cavers to run for the BOG. Brent Aulenbach reported that the Georgia Speleological Survey had recorded cave #600 this year. The GSS is supporting the resurvey of Fricks Cave with survey classes, which have been well attended. He reported the GSS together with the Tennessee Cave Survey and the Alabama Cave Survey will have another combined spring meeting in April. The NSS bookstore requested updated address changes from members. Mark Joop reported the Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. had taken possession of Hollow Ridge Cave in Florida. He also spoke about the cleanups in Byers Cave in Georgia.
Chairman Michaud spoke about lunch eateries and the meeting was adjourned at 11:30.
The meeting was reconvened at 1:25. The roll call of grottos revealed the following grottos were present and the voting representative.
Chattanooga Grotto- Marty Abercrombie
Dogwood City Grotto- Jim Wilbanks
East Tennessee Grotto- Cheryl Pratt
Georgia Speleological Survey- Brent Aulenbach
Huntsville Grotto- Avis Moni
Nashville Grotto- Gerald Moni
Sewanee Mountain Grotto- John Attaway
Southport Chronic Cavers- Lynn Roebuck
Spencer Mountain Grotto- Brian Roebuck
Upper Cumberland Grotto- Anne Elmore
Athens Speleological Society- Don Hunter
Birmingham Grotto- Myrna Attaway
Central Alabama Grotto- Jason Stacey
The 2005 minutes were read and approved without correction. The Treasurer’s Report was read and approved (see attachment). The SERA awards committee’s report was read and discussed. (see attachment). Lynn Roebuck moved and Jason Stacey seconded that the report be approved as the awards procedure. The procedure was adopted unanimously. Mark Joop reported that the SERA Attendance Committee was not finished. The same committee was reappointed for another year.
Officer elections were held. For Vice Chairman, Michael Gilbert, Lynn Roebuck and Gerald Moni were nominated and declined. Martha Mills was elected by acclimation. For Secretary/Treasurer, Jim Wilbanks was elected by acclimation. Vice chair Brian Roebuck succeeds to chairman automatically.
Jim Wilbanks delivered the SKTF Report. (see attachment).
Merit Awards were considered next. Merit Awards were given to:
Avis Moni for years of service to the NSS.
Carl Bishop for dedication to the region’s cave resources.
Mark Murrell for dedication to the region’s cave resources.
Peter Michaud for outstanding service and hospitality to the caving community.
Chairman Michaud spoke about the Sunday cleanup on Orme Mountain Road.
The business meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM. Awards committees met then.
The SERA Award results were:
Francis McKinney Award: Keith Filson
Committee members: Brian Roebuck, Marty Abercrombie, and Gerald Moni
Richard Schreiber Award: Anne Ellmore
Committee members: Jim Wilbanks, Mark Joop, and Lynn Roebuck
Larry Adams Landowner Award: Buddy Baldwin and Mark Dunnavant, owners of Southport Saltpeter Cave
Committee members: Avis Moni, Myrna Attaway, Anne Elmore
Alexis Harris Conservation Award: Steve and Rosemarie MacDonell
Committee members: Martha Mills, John Attaway, Cheryl Pratt
The results of the Photo and Art Salon were as follows:
BEST OF SHOW – Tim Curtis “Steven’s Gap Double Entrance”
Color Print, Entrances/Exterior Scenes
1st Tim Curtis “Steven’s Gap Double Entrance”
2nd Cheryl Pratt “Untitled Cave Entrance”
Color Print, People/Animals
1st Cheryl Pratt “Into the Darkness, Cuyler’s Cave”
2nd (tie) Cheryl Pratt “Cricket in Diamonds and Fur”
2nd (tie) Anne Elmore “Gating at Mammoth”
3rd Cheryl Pratt “Walking the Line”
Color Print, Artistic
1st Jerry Wallace “Rimstone Pools and Paddy’s”
2nd Tim Curtis “Steven’s Gap Double Waterfalls”
3rd Lynn Roebuck “An Old Feller in Old Yeller”
HM Anne Elmore “Pretties”
Color Print, Humor
1st Lynn Roebuck “Conservation is Contagious”
2nd Anne Elmore “Waiting Room at Surprise Pit”
3rd John Attaway “Early John”
Electronic Submittals (No significant alteration/enhancement), People/Animals
1st Jerry Wallace “Coral and Camille”
2nd Jerry Wallace “Stream Passage”
3rd Jerry Wallace “PSP and LB in Rusty’s”
Electronic Submittals (No significant alteration/enhancement), Artistic
1st Alan Cressler “Byer’s Cave, Big Room”
2nd Alan Cressler “Alabama/Georgia Cave w/Brent”
The results of the SERA Map Salon were as follows:
There were not enough maps this year to have more than one category,
so all maps were entered in the open category.
Best of Show went to Brent Aulenbach for Little Frick's Cave, Walker
Co, GA (GWK14).
The three other maps all received merit awards by meeting the
required high standards:
Lee Cave, Walker Co., GA (GWK589) by Tom Moltz
Sadi-Gavin Pit, Walker Co., GA (GWK593) by Tom Moltz
Lita's Lovely Line Lead, Walker Co., GA (GWK592) by Tom Moltz
Thanks also goes to the very qualified judges who took a lot of time
and effort in judging the maps. The three judges were: Gerald Moni,
Lynn Roebuck, and Mark Joop, all from Tennessee.
A wonderful banquet was cooked and served by CAG grotto members at the hall. The banquet speaker was Chris Clark of the American Cave Conservation Association in Horse Cave KY.
Respectfully submitted, Jim Wilbanks
Adopted 02-04-07
SERA Treasurer’s Report
Jim Wilbanks
Beginning Balance
$601.59
Income
2005 SERA Cave Carnival
558.00
Interest
4.91
Total Income
562.91
562.91
$1,164.50
Expenses
Award Frames
8.56
Award Money
200.00
Award Plaque update
20.00
Printing SKTF Bylaws
5.73
Printing SERA Newsletter
70.85
SKTF NSS Award balance
59.94
SKTF Grant
250.00
Web Space
12.00
Total Expenses
627.08
627.08
Ending Balance
$537.42
02-18-06
Jim Wilbanks
The SKTF had a great year. The committee received permission from you to incorporate last year. Shortly discussions began with Jay Clark and Bill Stringfellow on the actual incorporation. At convention, the officers signed the documents and had them filed.
On Sunday after the SERA Winter Business Meeting our first cleanup of the year occurred on private land. We were able to practically complete the cleanup in one day.
In the spring we made a triumphant return to Rocky River for another stand-alone cleanup. RR VI completed the Herculean task. In all there were sixteen tons of garbage removed over a three-year period. To cap it off, Warren County installed guard rails around two sides of the sink where the dumping had occurred. A year later the sink is still clean. Spencer Mountain Grotto has taken on the sink and is stabilizing the bluff.
In May we brought back Central Arizona’s graffiti removal trailer. This large capacity sandblaster system takes an industrial approach to graffiti removal.
Also in May we began a long project to remove graffiti and trash from Byers, a newly opened cave under the Fox Mtn. Cave Preserve. We used power grinders to completely clean the worst room in the cave. A significant portion of the garbage was also removed.
Issues involving this cleanup led to standardizing procedures for running a cleanup.
Through out the spring plans continued for our contribution to the Huntsville convention. Members traveled a lot of miles in order to find suitable venues for three workshops. Our graffiti removal seminar was well attended and comprehensive. Different ways of removal were demonstrated. Where to clean and where not to clean were stressed. Our formation repair workshop featured the leaders in the field and included a tour of a cave where repairs had been completed. We also demonstrated trash removal skills in a karst region nearby. The neighbors were impressed and grateful. The SKTF provided an aspect to convention never seen before.
At TAG we continued the cleanup in Byers. Improved communication and planning resulted in a well-run effort. Byers will continue to receive our attention until the project is complete.
We had planned to have a new sink to clean for the Cumberland Caverns Christmas Party. At the last possible minute the owner changed his mind about garbage disposal and the event had to be abandoned.
The best part of 2005 was working with our volunteers. What a fine group of people.
So what’s up for 2006? Attend our first board meeting of the year on Sunday and find out.
Guidelines for Selection of SERA Award Winners
A separate committee judges each SERA Award, except the SERA Meritorious Service Award, which is awarded by the Governing Committee. Each committee is made up of five members. The current SERA Chair is a special member of each committee. She/he is responsible for appointing the committee and scheduling the meeting. She/he shall also report the recipient’s name to SERA at the WBM Banquet. The current Vice Chair is also a special member of each committee. The Chair and Vice Chair serve each awards committee as Awards Committee Leaders and shall approve the nominations prior to submitting them to the committee. They are not required to attend the meetings or vote unless the award committee requests assistance. The remaining three award committee members are “at large members”. They should be from different grottos and preferably states. These members serve a three-year term, which ends at the conclusion of the third SERA Winter Business Meeting of their committee membership. Members may not serve more than one consecutive three-year term on an award committee. They may, however, be appointed to serve on a different award committee. Award committee members cannot serve simultaneously on more than one award committee. SERA awards cannot be awarded to members of the same committee. Committee members cannot nominate for their own committee, however committee members should encourage others to nominate deserving individuals.
An award committee can meet at any time during the year. The final vote is conducted at the SWBM. The winner will be announced at the SWBM Awards Banquet. For the dignity of the nominees, Committee members and Awards Committee Leaders should keep nominee names confidential.
If a committee member cannot make the SWBM where the recipient is to be selected, they may:
1.Appoint a proxy, in writing, or by phone call, to the Awards Committee Leaders, to represent them at the committee meeting held at the SWBM.
2.If nothing is heard from the committee member, the SERA Chair may appoint a one time only proxy from SWBM attendees before the meeting of the committee.
At the conclusion of the SWBM, the new Chair of SERA will appoint any needed new members for each committee and announce it at the Awards Banquet. The new committee’s work begins after the SWBM.
Nominations for SERA Awards will be accepted in writing by the Awards Committee Leaders (Chair and Vice Chair) from any SERA caver or SERA organization on a year round basis. These nominations will be forwarded to the Awards Committee members for review. The nomination must be completed on an award form available on the SERA web site or by mail from the Awards Committee Leaders. The Awards Committee Leaders must receive nominations for awards one month before the SERA Winter Business Meeting. The Awards Committee Leaders are responsible for posting invitations for nominations and the calculated deadline well in advance of the SWBM. The Awards Committee Leaders will send all accepted nominations to the committee members two weeks prior to the meeting for study and questions. It is the job of the committee members to verify facts as well as seeking out further knowledge of the nominee. Nominations may be submitted to the Awards Committee Leaders at the SERA WBM, however, these will be held for consideration during the next year.
Any nominee not that does not win the award will be held over for consideration the next year for a period of two additional years. These names of nominees shall not be published in national, regional or grotto publications.
Adopted 02-18-06