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SERA Winter Business Meeting '96

Minutes for the 1996 SERA Winter Business Meeting

The 1996 Southeastern Regional Association Winter Business Meeting was held on April 13, 1996 at the Marion Community Center in Marion, North Carolina. Around forty cavers attended the meeting which was hosted by the Flittermouse Grotto.

Chairman Jack Thomison called the meeting to order at 1:28 PM. The roll was called with sixteen member organizations represented. The 1995 Meeting Minutes were summarized.

Kenneth Huffines reported that the Pigeon Mtn. biological inventory which SERA had contributed $250 to had been completed. The final report is still in preparation. Ellison's, Pettijohns, Case, Sitton's and other caves on the mountain were inventories. Several new species came out of it. Also, a number of assisting cavers learned a lot about biology.

Secretary/Treasurer Bill Bussey reported $1319.66 Total Income and $478.03 in Expenses. The Ending Balance was $1380.65.

Old Business

Brent Aulenbach reported that the Map Salon was happening. The judges are Gerald Moni, Richard Blackburn, and Laurie Adams. Winners will be announced at the banquet. Chairman Thomison encouraged people to enter maps in the future.

The proposed SERA Photo Salon was discussed. Nothing had really happened on it.

Michael Gilbert reported the Birmingham Grotto will host the 1996 SERA Summer Cave Carnival on July 19-21, 1996 at Camp Jackson, Scottsboro, AL. Cavers can't camp there until Thursday afternoon. The Central Alabama Grotto will run the munchie stand. The Chairman is Dave Howell, (205) 591-5127. Contact Scott Fee (205) 854-7487 for registration info.

New Business

Bill Bussey asked for cavers to serve on the four SERA awards committees. After prodding, he managed to fill the committees.

The 1997 SERA Summer Cave Carnival will be hosted by the Central Alabama Grotto in May 1997.

So far no host for the 1997 SERA Winter Business Meeting. Later in the year, the Georgia Speleological Survey agreed to host the 1997 WBM.

Bill Bussey asked for discussion about whether SERA should encourage groups not chartered by the NSS, to join SERA as voting organizations. He noted these groups are largely composed of NSS members, and they could bring a lot of good to SERA. They should have a voice in SERA. John Hoffelt read Article IV of the SERA Constitution which states that:

IV. The government of SERA shall be by a Governing Committee composed of one representative from each Internal Organization of the NSS within the Region and one representative from members not belonging to an Internal Organization, but in no time shall the Committee consist of less than three active members of the NSS. The Governing Committee shall hold at least one meeting per year.

Discussion focused on whether groups would want to become members of SERA, as they chose not to become affiliated with the NSS. Also, the groups would receive representation by their members being members of NSS affiliated groups. It was determined that groups would decide for themselves whether to join SERA.

As an aside, Jack Thomison said he sees SERA's mission to encourage interaction between the grottos and to get them to work together.

There was discussion about a recent major fuel oil spill on Lookout Mountain. Due to the karst topography of the mountain, most of the oil had disappeared. Mystery Hole was closed because of it, and a fuel smell had been detected in several other caves on the mountain. John Hoffelt thought since we had lost a cave area, that caving groups might consider filing a class action to replace this lost area with another cave area.

After discussion, it was determined that local grottos and the NSS were keeping updated on the situation. At this time, SERA doesn't have the information, funds, or the will to pursue this matter further. However, SERA needs to do something.

Triangle Troglodytes moves and Nashville seconded:

SERA is concerned about the Colonial Pipeline spill on Lookout Mountain. We support the efforts of the Chattanooga Grotto and other caving organizations in determining the best approach for remediation of damages to cave resources.

Gerald Moni spoke on the Tennessee Cave Survey need for a new computer to improve service to the region.

Tennessee Cave Survey moves and Triangle Troglodytes seconded:

SERA grant the Tennessee Cave Survey $200 toward a computer.

Chattanooga moved and Nashville seconded:

SERA donate $250 to the Southeastern Cave Conservancy toward the purchase of a piece of Neversink Pit.

Carol Jackson on behalf of the Spa Association requested a grant from SERA for Speleo spa facilities at regional events. There are a lot of expendables such as fuel, sheet plastic, filters and other items which need to be replaced before each event. They are also trying to build a permanent cache of gear so they don,t have to borrow other peoples equipment.

Triangle Troglodytes moved and Augusta seconded:

SERA grant $100 to the Spa Association for Speleo Spa functions at SERA and NSS events.

In elections, Brent Aulenbach and Richard Blackburn, both of Atlanta, were nominated for Vice Chair to serve through the 1997 Business meeting. In the election, Brent Aulenbach was elected SERA Vice Chair. He will become SERA Chair in 1997. Bill Bussey was re-elected SERA Secretary/Treasurer.

The meeting adjourned at 3:14 PM.

At the banquet that evening, Brent Aulenbach reported the following winners of the SERA Map Salon.

Winners of the 1996 SERA Map Salon

Small Cave	Carl Anderson	Catfish Cave
Medium Cave	Mike Rogers	Fairview Cave, TN
Large Cave  & New Cartographer	Andy Porter	Walking Fern Cave, AL

And at the banquet that evening, Laurie Adams was presented the Francis McKinney award. Brent Aulenbach was awarded the Richard Schreiber award. The SERA Conservation Award was presented to Chattanooga Grotto. And Martha Eblen Brashears, owner of Eblen Cave was honored with the SERA Larry S. Adams Landowner Appreciation Award. All awards committees are requesting nominations for future awards.

Respectively Submitted,

Bill Bussey, Secretary/Treasurer

1996 Southeastern Regional Association Treasurer's Report

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