SERA Organizations

Constitution, Bylaws, and Acts

Officers of the Governing Committee

SERA Events

• Winter Business Meeting 
• Summer Cave Carnival 
• Map Salon 
• Photo Salon 
• Ridgewalks 

SERA Newsletters

Calendar of Caving Events in the Southeast

Cave Conservation

Cave Safety

Closed Cave Lists

SERA Winter Business Meeting '99

Minutes for the 1999 SERA Winter Business Meeting

I. Morning Session:

A. Order

1045am Don Hunter Chair called the session to order. Thirty people were in attendance
representing 23 Grottos/Organizations. The Role Call represented the following:

Alabama Cave Survey
Athens Speleological Society
CACA
Central Alabama Grotto
Clayton County Cavers 
Cumberland Speleo Association
Dogwood City Grotto
East Tennessee Grotto
Flittermouse Grotto
Georgia Speleological Society
HR3
Huntsville Grotto
Lost Mountain Grotto
Middle Georgia Grotto
Nashville Grotto
Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc.
Southport Chronic Cavers
Tennessee Cave Survey
Tennessee Central Basin Grotto
Upper Cumberland Grotto
NCS 
SCS
ETCR

Lost Mountain Grotto Chair Jessica Griffey for hosting the event. The Fifth Annual Map Salon by Brent Aulenbach. The Photo Salon by Dan Barnick. Thank You to Brent Aulenbach for setting up the Website for SERA.

C. Reports from SERA organization represented:

Southport Chronic Cavers by Rob Robbins reported the Cavers Resource Workshop will be held in the near future. The event will last 2 days with lectures and two cave field trips. There will be eleven speakers and most probably will be held at Fall Creek Falls. The proceeds will go to the SCCI and Nature Conservancy.

Upper Cumberland Grotto by April Hanna reported that the grotto was working on a management plan with the Nature Conservancy for Fentress County Cave. The Mayor of Cookeville is also verbally supporting action to prevent further contamination of caves via groundwater due to some local hydrology research. The Greenways program is also being asked to help local cavers to protect the caves in the area.

Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. by Kenneth Huffines reported 27 caves with over 700 acres. The DNR inventory and studies may allow for Frick's to tolerate cave trips in the next year. The Fox Mountain Cave Preserve has two remaining w/e of overland survey so contact Jim Wilbanks if you can help.

Huntsville Grotto by Tim White via e-mail in his absence read by Don Hunter reported the SERA Cave Carnival will be held June 11-13 in Scottsboro,AL at Camp Jackson. The plans are well underway and they are trying to line up a band and power. The t-shirts and guidebook are being printed in the near future. The Landowners for Cathedral Caverns and Lower Sauta have been contacted for cave trips during the event. A local Deputy will be at the event to help with Huntsville's Security team.

Georgia Speleological Society by Brent Aulenbach reported Georgia's survey hit the 500 mark on the list. Membership is $5.00 which includes newsletter and listing. T-shirts are still available with the Jerry Wallace art work for $10. The maps are on CD-Rom if you so desire a copy. The DNR is picking up the biological inventory up following studies by Holsinger, Peck,and Buhlmann. This is to protect Georgia's natural resources. Brent is doing a dye trace on Fox Mountain which is showing the same results at Jeff Harris's glitter trace done previously with a dye in Rusty's coming into Hurricane and a surface spring.

Central Alabama Grotto reported by Michael Gilbert work is underway with printing of a brochure on hydrological contamination of water/caves via sinkhole dumping. The search is on for a QUALITY Black & White photo that can illustrate this point and yet be copied over and over again. He has scheduled a meeting with ACCA in a few weeks who do similar projects and education. If anyone knows of existing photos contact Michael.

Southport Chronic Cavers by Rob Robbins reported the Hubbard's Cave in McMinnville,TN gating and refurbishing project is continuing. The state has agreed to assist with funding. The project will start Sunday August 1 and last thru for 15 days to hopefully complete the World's largest bat friendly Northgate. Also repair on the Southgate to improve its bat friendliness.

Tennessee Cave Survey reported that their annual meeting will be April 24 in Sewanee,TN at the Blackmon Auditorium on the University of the South's Campus.

Alabama Cave Survey reports their annual meeting will be on April 18 in Huntsville,AL.

D. Newsletter

Don Hunter as Chair has been doing the last two newsletters. He did suggest if enough information was submitted two newsletters could be done per year v. the single issue. Don would welcome any submissions pictures, articles on conservation, exploration, and history. He thanked the EPA for donating the copying services to defray the cost of production.

E. Break for Lunch and Judging

11:45am Motion to resume meeting at 1:30pm to allow for lunch and jugding of photo and map salon's.

II Business Meeting Afternoon Session

A. Role Call

No new organization's present

B. Minutes from 1998

Brent Aulenbach motioned that correction be made to the last line of the first page so it would read " on track with the newsletter." otherwise were accepted. Nancy Holler-Aulenbach 2nd motion Unanimously carried for this correction to the minutes be passed as submitted. See attachment A Minutes, 1998 SERA Winter Business Meeting.

C. Treasurer Report

by Don Hunter reading submission by Bill Bussey who could not be present today. See attachment B Southeastern Regional Association Treasurer's Report. Don Hunter made motion to pass treasurer report as submitted and passed unanimously.

D. Old Business

The Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. presented the $270.00 check as approved in the 1998 budget but was carried out today during the meeting and accepted by Kenneth Huffines.

Upper Cumberland Grotto reported by April Hanna on Scott's Gulf that only a portion of Bridgestone/Firestone's property was donated to the state. This did include some caves but did not include Rose Cave. April also, reported the road that leads to Rose Cave is no longer a County Road/Public it is now on private land and is gated. Numerous rumors abound about what will be done with the remaining property but it is hoped the state will recieve it too. April in addition, reported that "Liability" is a major concern of Bridgestone/Firestone.

E. New Business

Rotation of Grottos and Hosting Grotto for the upcoming years.
The SERA Cave Carnival and Winter Business Meeting take place annually providing a rotating organization verbally agrees to host this event of which there are 39.

1. Don Hunter presented current list of organizations (see attachment C) and discussion of who is on the list ensued over the next several minutes.

Nashville Grotto by Rob Robbins suggested that both bids go back to Chattanooga Grotto due to them swapping last year due to Chattanooga hosting the NSS Convention in 1998.

Athens Speleological Society and SERA Chair by Don Hunter asked if all the organizations belonged on list for rotating i.e. some organizations may not even be in existence or aware they are even part of SERA? A specific example being the JUST Cavers who are up for hosting the Cave Carnival from Mississippi.

Georgia Speleological Society by Brent Aulenbach reported that the SERA Charter states that Mississippi is included in SERA. The two grotto's from Mississippi are JUST Cavers and Northeast MS Underground Society.

Lost Mountain Grotto by Jessica Griffey reported the preregistration information for the SERA Winter Business Meeting was returned from the JUST Cavers due to no address available along with a handful of other organizations.

East Tennessee Grotto by Lee Trowbridge asked who is being maintained on the list ?

Central Alabama Grotto by Michael Gilbert asked who makes the contact about hosting the events?

SERA Chair by Don Hunter reported that the contact is done via the secretary of SERA. However, it does seem uncertain which organizations are still in existence. ??????

Lost Mountain Grotto by Jessica Griffey reported also returned in the SERA Winter Business Mtg mailouts was the Bon Aqua Cave Rats.

Central Alabama Grotto by Michael Gilbert Motioned to have a Committee to check the viability of those organizations on the list. Is this a committee? if so who second?

2. Don Hunter presented the idea that maybe the order should be changed in the SERA Cave Carnival hosting list to ensure a affirmitave response quickly due to problems in 1998/99. A lengthy discussion then ensued over several minutes.

Athens Speleological Society by Don Hunter suggested the SERA Cave Carnival go to Chattanooga in 2000(due to them passing in 1998 due to hosting the NSS Convention) and East Tennessee Grotto 2001 (due to them passing in 1999 because they were asked on short notice in January of 1999).

Central Alabama Grotto by Michael Gilbert reported on the Montgomery Grotto had twelve people at their last meeting he attended and they were having a caving trip via video at someone's residence. He suggested that it would not be a realistic expectation to have this grotto host a SERA Cave Carnival.

Middle Georgia Grotto by John Klayer reported that due to his size unless in conjunction with another grotto they would have great difficulty in putting on such an event.

Lost Mountain Grotto by Jessica Griffey reported that similarly they were too small to host a Carnival but if combined with another grotto they would be willing to tackle the event.

East Tennessee Grotto by Jayson Stephens asked how would combining organizations for hosting the event change the rotation on the list?

Lost Mountain Grotto by Jessica Griffey asked is there a current budget and list of items to be handled for such an event (being the SERA Cave Carnival)?

Central Alabama Grotto by Michael Gilbert reported that after hosting a recent SERA Cave Carnival he had a database of complete records. In addition, he reported that CAG did make money off the event which was unexpected and that having a preexisting Campground facility was key in their being able to host the event.

East Tennessee by Jayson Stephens was concerned that the host for 2000 would be expected to have a extraordinary event for the this YEAR 2000 for the Carnival.

East Tennessee by Mark Joop suggested no special favors and that rotation should start with them in 2000.

Central Alabama Grotto by Michael Gilbert reported that in a recent conversation Jerry Parker Chair of Chattanooga was considering hosting for 2000 the Carnival.

Lost Mountain Grotto by Jessica Griffey asked if changes above mentioned made in rotation list where would this place Lost Mountain Grotto?

SERA Chair by Don Hunter asked if there was motion on floor to change the order of the current list to request host for SERA Cave Carnival?

Georgia Speleological Society by Brent Aulenbach Motioned that the 2000 list of organizations requested to host the SERA Cave Carnival start with the Flint River Grotto and East Tennessee and Huntsville Change positions on the current list. (This is due to Huntsville hosting the 1999 SERA Cave Carnival on short notice which the few proceeding grottos may have passed on due to short notice i.e. East Tennessee). Motion 2nd by Flittermouse Grotto Nancy Holler-Aulenbach. The motion was unanimously passed by those organizations present.

3. SERA Chair Don Hunter asked if a change in SERA Winter Business meeting rotation of current list to host event needed changing. No further discussion the majority of the group negatively answered in brief discussion.

4. East Tennessee Grotto by Helen Galloway asked for minimum of three months notice for date of SERA Winter Business Meeting in the future. The group agreed this would help everyone attend and plan for in the future. Clayton County Caver by Larry Blair reported it had historically been held in February.

Grant Request from Alan Cressler

See attachment D Dear SERA Officers

SERA Chair by Don Hunter read the proposal due to absence of Alan. Alan is working on documenting Prehistoric Cave Art with the University of Tennessee and would like $200 to defray cost of film and processing.

East Tennessee Grotto by Helen Galloway asked if the money goes to UT Anthropology or Alan? Does UT not give $ to this documentation?

Clayton County Caver by Larry Blair asked who had access to data?

Middle Georgia Grotto by Varie Rustin asked how is this art being preserved if locations are not to be provided with the data? and how will developers near these caves be prevented from destroying art that may be unknown to them?

Dogwood City Grotto by Glenn Mills reported he had mixed feelings and had previously thought that all caves should not be gated. However, after seeing the art in a slide presentation to DCG earlier in the week he though now they should all be gated too.

Southport Chronic Cavers by Rob Robbins stated that cave art found can be near handholds and so we should approach every cave as if they all have art that needs to be protected.

Georgia Speleological Society by Brent Aulenbach answered for Alan. Alan is not a paid staff member of UT and he would prefer the check due to tax reasons be made out to the UT. Money is provided from the UT for radiocarbondating items but not the film documentation. Scientific journals will publish the data and it is thought the UT will have it as part of their records. Initially it was thought that gating all known caves with art be done but now after visiting the caves by the Anthropology Dept. opinions on preservation has changed. It is suspected that gating will only be done on a case by case basis.

Southport Chronic Cavers Rob Robbins made motion to grant $200 for art documentation and Nancy Holler-Aulenbach Flittermouse Grotto 2nd motion. Motion passed unanimously among those organizations present.

Elections

SERA Chairman Dan Barnick

SERA Vice Chair Rob Robbins
Lynn Roebuck nominated Rob Robbins and 2nd by Brian Roebuck??
John Klayer closed nominations for Vice-Chair???
Unanimous vote for Rob Robbins

SERA Secretary and Treasurer Jim Wilbanks
Holly Bunch nominated by Nancy Holler-Aulenbach and 2nd by Brent Aulenbach
Holly refused
Jim Wilbanks nominated by Rob Robbins and 2nd by Don Hunter 
Nancy Holler-Aulenbach closed nominations for Secretary Treasurer
Unanimous vote for Jim Wilbanks

SCCI Donation

Flittermouse Grotto Nancy Holler-Aulenbach motion for SERA to donate $200 to SCCI Fox Mountain Cave Preserve and 2nd by Southpor Chronic Cavers Rob Robbins. Unanimously passed by organizations present to donate $200 to Fox Mountain.

Awards Committees

Selection of committee members for the four SERA awards.

Francis McKinney: Brian Roebuck, Kenneth Huffines, Michael Gilbert
This committee selected Wm C. Shrewsbury as the recipient.

Richard Schreiber: Rob Robbins, Holly Bunch, Jessica Griffey.
This committee selected Michael Gilbert as the recipient.

Landowner: Larry Blair, John Klayer, Jeremy Hill
This committee selected Glenda Reese and Mildred Hall.

Conservation: Glenn Mills, Helen Galloway, Varie Justin, Lynn Roebuck
This committee selected Mark Wolinsky as the recipient.

Adjournment

Motion by Southport Chronic Cavers Lynn Roebuck to adjourn meeting and Nashville Grotto Rob Robbins 2nd motion. Unanimously carried.

III Salon Results

A. Map Salon by Brent Aulenbach

The 5th annual Map Salon with eight entries the majority being Georgia Caves.

Honorable Mention 
Tom Moltz for Little Liby Cave
Tom Moltz for Steel Wheel Well
Brian Williamson for Spooky Cave
Jerry Wallace and Steve Capps for Kirchmeyer

First Place 
Horizontal Cave Don Lance for Billie Stone???
Veritcal Cave Jerry Wallace for Throbbing Hum

Best of Show 
Jerry Wallace for Throbbing Hum

B. Photo Salon by Dan Barnick

There were a total of 35 entries by six photographers and four judges for the salon.

Honorable Mention 
Bob Biddix in the slide category for Gourdneck Cave 
John Klayer in the surreal print category for Gloryhole Hologram
Lynn Roebuck in the print category for Soda Straws "Dripping"
Lynn Roebuck in the print category for Photgraph of a photographer

Third Place
Larry Blair for slide of Stephens Gap
Jeremy Hill for print of Bishop Cave

Second Place
Bob Biddix for slide of Salt River Cave
Jeremy Hill for print of Lost Cove Cave

First Place
Bob Biddix for slide of Merry Branch Cave
Lynn Roebuck for print of Salamander

Best of Show 
Bob Biddix for slide of Merry Branch Cave

Submitted by Holly Bunch

1999 Southeastern Regional Association Treasurer's Report

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