ACC Board Meeting

November 24, 2007

Attendance: John Wilson, John Matthews (John M.), Teresa Matthews, Tony McGee, Don Feathers, DL, TM, Robbie Spiegel, Bill James, Jason Lachniet, Terri Brown, and Joel Stevenson

John called the meeting called to order at 10:20am; the board agreed to dispense with the reading of the last minutes.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

John reported on the DOM (Dirty Old Men) survey gathering at Perkins Cave over the past two days.

John proposed reassessing the Executive Committee with a view to creating a structure to manage all ACC functions. Joel moved to do so, Tony seconded, the motion passed by acclamation.

GILLEY CAVE

Jason said that Emily Lachniet (appointed head of the Gilley Cave Committee) was seeking volunteers for the Gilley Cave Committee. Emily wants feedback, specifically whether ACC is interested in managing Gilley for TNC (The Nature Conservancy), especially if TNC wants to gate or close the cave. TM said that not all TNC caves are gated. John said that Brad Kreps of TNC proposed a walk-through trip in Gilley to do an informal inventory of Gilley’s biological assets. Terri said that most biological work in Gilley had been done by Lynn Ferguson in the 70s. She said that Gilley is significant in almost every way. John said that Wil Orndorff of Virginia DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) felt that it is possible to find a rare organism in almost any cave if you look hard enough. He said that it is hard for any organization to turn down donations. He repeated Joel’s earlier remark that TNC can’t manage a recreational cave. He said that he got from both Wil and Brad a civil and honest appraisal of the situation. Joel asked what our response would be to a request for a management role for ACC? John replied that we can’t participate in a plan that keeps cavers out. He said that Wil is concerned about traffic from Gilley going to more sensitive caves if Gilley is closed. Joel and John agreed there is no need for us if TNC closes the cave for research only. Tony said that closing Gilley would cost TNC caver volunteer support and donations. John said that TNC would sacrifice some support if it meant saving bio-assets. Terri asked shouldn’t the landowner’s wishes be respected regarding cave access?

John said that the surviving owners are probably concerned about liability. He said that TNC would walk away from a deal if they are not interested. Joel asked if there are any time constraints on TNC? John replied that TNC is moving fairly rapidly. Terri added that TNC is faster moving than DCR. She said that TNC and CCV bought Ogdens to transfer it to DCR. John concluded that we would have to wait on TNC. Joel said we would need to be prepared to move fast if opportunity knocks. John said we need to be ready to take control but walk away from it if TNC wants to close the cave. Joel said we could make a decision via email. John agreed.

Jason said he felt Emily would be happy with this posture. John said that Emily was approved as Gilley Committee Chair.

DANIEL BOONE CAVE

Bill said that they had failed to link-up with the DOM surveyors for a survey of the new section of Daniel Boone.

Robbie commented that DOM was very short on surveyors this year.

NEW CAVES

Bill said that the owner of Coley 1 (Sweet Potato Cave to its owner) and 2 had signed an agreement with ACC.

LANE CAVE

Bill had gotten the owner to call John. John reported that she thought the cave is worth $200,000. He said that he felt he had convinced her that the cave was worth little except to cavers. He suggested that she split off the cave and a little acreage and sell them separately. He had suggested a specific figure ($20K) and felt that by this coming June she might be ready to try this approach. Bill said that he felt Milton would be willing to make an offer on our behalf. John replied the owner was still unrealistic about the cave’s value and that we should just wait.

OTHER CAVES

John said that Big and Little Kennedy caves were for sale by the owner.

John M. said that Carter Saltpeter Cave was part of a 12-acre lot for sale. He had suggested to the owner that the cave be sold separately or donated. The owner had seemed receptive. Terri said that Grindstaff Cave is up for sale as part of a package including house , outbuildings, and one acre. She had taken some UT students there and seen the For Sale sign. She had tried to talk to whoever was present at the house (she was sure there was someone there) but had gotten no response to her knocks at the door. The asking price is $130,000. She said the cave is biologically significant.

CAVE SIGNAGE

Tony reported that the aluminum dealer he deals with has some material and he will go take a look at it this coming Monday or Tuesday.

TREASURY

TM said that our previous balance had been $2,348.25. She paid $50 for the Compass program license and received $20 in membership dues, for a new balance of $2,318.25. She gave John some membership forms.

MEMBERSHIP

Terri resigned as Membership Chair and offered to help her successor. DL said a newsletter is a good way to articulate our goals to the membership, ask for membership renewal, and let the members know what we have been doing the last year. Terri said we had sent out a letter last year. John said it was time to do it again.

FUND RAISING

John said fund raising activity had slowed a bit. Don said that there were plenty of t-shirts.

MEETING SCHDULE 2008

John showed a proposed meeting schedule for the next year. No one reported a conflict. He said that he would take the absence of argument to mean a provisional acceptance of the schedule. Joel moved we accept the schedule, Tony seconded, the motion passed by acclamation.

EXPENSES PAID BY MEMBERS

John suggestioned that we count ACC expenses paid by ACC members toward Life Membership. John said that a member can bring his paid bills before the board, which can be reimbursed, or accepted toward Life Membership, given board approval. Joel moved that we do that, Tony seconded, the motion passed by acclamation.

Discussion: John clarified the motion; he said that a member could bring his paid bills to the board, which can reimburse or accept them as credit toward Life Membership. The motion passed by acclamation.

SERA/ VAR

There was some discussion about the relationship between ACC and Mountain Empire Grotto in the SERA/ VAR scheme. MEG is the host, ACC the sponsor, said Tony. TM said the 501(c)(3) (the ACC) should write the checks. DL said there would be no problem with having more than one ACC account and more than one person authorized to write a check, e.g., Don, who could then submit expense reports to TM.

The ACC Board adjourned at 11:20am; the Perkins Cave Conservation Meeting commenced at the same time.

Perkins Cave subcommittee meeting

John reported on ladder activity: the day before, a team had moved several sections of ladder from the entrance area to a traverse beyond the 200-Foot Crawl. The ladder had proved too short for the drop (about 30 feet). A bolted traverse line was proposed as an alternative. Cavers going to the 800-Foot Crawl and beyond could clip into the line and climb down into the stream passage on the far side, thus avoiding some delicate formations. On the return trip, Jason had set a new traverse line on The Ledge, removing the ancient Gold Line rope. The new arrangement is more likely to sustain a caver fall without failing.

Jason reported on surveying between the Ghost Town Junction and the Forest Trail Junction. He and Terri and Robbie planned to take the survey from Ghost Town to the Tore Peter Tube, then work on the Short Ladder Traverse.

Tony reported on the planned conclusion of the cave gate improvement. He asked to use the ample supply of stale drinking water for the cement and John agreed.

Tony cautioned everyone to be on the right side of the gate when the cement was poured, which he estimated to be 4:00 to 4:30pm.

Those on the gate team who could be spared would rig a replacement ladder for the entrance drop.

Don and Bill planned to work on refining the Tore Peter Tube. If they finished in time, they would help bolt the new traverse line.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 and everyone went to work.

Minutes submitted by Robert S. Spiegel.