Appalachian Cave Conservancy

August 13, 2005 board of Directors meeting minutes

This meeting of the ACC Board convened at the Perkins field house at 10:45am. Board members present were Bill James, Joel Stevenson, Robbie Spiegel, Don Feathers, Tanya McLaughlin, John Wilson, Tony McGee, and Terri Brown. Also present were Survey Director Paul Gaskins and ACC members Renee Gaskins and John Rossi, with son Michael. Gary Fielden, Jason Lachniet and Mary Wilson were absent.

The board waived the reading of the minutes from the last meeting. John briefly reported on ACC web site news. He has posted pictures from the Bosteds’ photo trip and is waiting for pictures from Tony and Milton Starnes so that he can post them also.

Daniel Boone Cave becomes second cave under ACC affiliation

Don reported that Milton Starnes had signed the agreement with ACC on access and conservation policies at Milton’s Daniel Boone Cave, thus making Daniel Boone the second cave under ACC care. John congratulated Don and Bill for their work and initiative in making this agreement possible. Joel suggested we conduct an orientation trip to Daniel Boone, Tony suggested we do it the Sunday after the fall meeting, and Bill agreed to set it up. Don mentioned that he and Tony and Bill had worked on improving road access to the cave, moving about five tons of rock from the switchback turn to make it easier to maneuver a vehicle around it.

Other prospects for affiliation

John asked if any progress had been made approaching other cave owners. None was reported. Bill said that now that he had the brochures and the existing license agreement, he could approach many cave owners. John stressed that the license agreement can be customized to meet the needs of interested owners. Don and Bill said that Milton had offered to be used as a reference.

Tony said that he planned to prospect several possibilities in Alvarado. Recently the owner of several caves near Duffield, including Cat Hole, had contacted him and Tony planned to suggest ACC affiliation.

Tanya reported that she had a prime prospect in Smyth County. McMullins Cave on the Middle Fork Holston, home of a significant bat colony, is on the verge of changing ownership. Several other caves may be included in the same transactions.

Finance and Membership Reports

Tanya reported that the current balance of the treasury is $1241.50, after receiving $10 in dues from Ricky Shortt, $890 in convention tee-shirt and membership revenues, and paying $342.80 for brochures. Terri brought an additional $40 in membership dues and tee-shirt revenues, raising the balance tot $1281.50.

John reported on the tee-shirt sales at the convention. He said that the ACC pitch was generally well received. Of the 70 new members brought aboard at convention, he estimated that 20 would renew. Of the people he had spoken with, only two had seen the ACC ad in the NSS News. He predicted the ad in the Membership Manual would be more effective. John had emailed those new members who are email capable and gotten several replies.

Joel suggested we report to Janet what we had done with the NSS grant money, on the proposition that she would appreciate such an uncommon demonstration of accountability.

Tanya reported that New River Grotto had become the first institutional member.

Joel said that in North Carolina, potential members ask whether they can go caving in the conservancy’s caves. John said that entry into Perkins would continue to be limited to project work, but that experienced cavers who want to pitch in are welcome. Caver access to other ACC caves will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Don pointed out that Milton had specified in the D. Boone license agreement that only he, Don, Bill, or John could lead trips to Daniel Boone. Don also said that flagged or otherwise marked routes will need to be created in Daniel Boone.

Terri got a few new ACC members from the Virginia Highlands Festival cave trips. She suggested setting up an ACC booth at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion in September. Paul, who plans to sell his own pottery from a booth, volunteered to let ACC share his tent.

Old Business

No one brought up any old business to discuss.

New Business

Tanya and Bill pointed out that the Sturgill property next to the Wilson farm access road is up for sale. Tanya provided a map that shows that the access road passes through the Sturgill property. John asserted that the road is on Wilson property and that the computer-generated Washington County tax maps omit fine detail and do not accurately reflect property lines.

Terri proposed to write a letter to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation endorsing a conservation easement on the Troyon property adjoining the Wilson farm property. Tony and Joel moved that she write such a letter and the motion passed by unanimously with no debate. Tony said that information on biota would support such an endorsement. John and Tony recalled that Dr. John Holsinger had found two snail species, one possibly unique, beyond the 800-foot crawl. John said that the cave had historically been a haven for bat colonies (two gray bats were found near the entrance during survey after the meeting).

John said the ACC Board needs new directors and that we need leader types. He suggested Milton Starnes, Greg McCoy, and Peter and Ann Bosted as possibilities.

Tanya brought up the subject of directors’ insurance. She said she had discovered that she had director’s liability coverage from her homeowner’s policy. She also mentioned a discussion with Emily Lachniet, who said she believed that in Virginia a director could be sued for only as much as she is paid.

The meeting adjourned at 11:50am.

Perkins Cave Management Meeting

The ACC board, visitors, and survey master spent about ten minutes discussing the projects for that day’s trips into Perkins Cave. John decided to take Bill, John, and Michael for trail marking, while Renee, Tony, and Paul surveyed as one team and Tanya, Don, and Robbie worked as another.

The cavers attempted to install an aluminum ladder at the first drop. Since they could not quite maneuver it around the 90-degree turn below the gate, we decided to bring a saw next time and modify the ladder as needed.

Minutes submitted by Robert S. Spiegel, August 29, 2005