Appalachian Cave Conservancy

 

November 11, 2006 Board of Directors meeting minutes

 

This meeting of the ACC Board convened at the Perkins Cave Preserve field house at 10:40 am. Board members present were Joel Stevenson, Bill James, Don Feathers, TM, John Wilson, Emily Lachniet, and Tony McGee. Robbie Spiegel and Jason Lachniet assigned their proxy votes to Emily Lachniet, Mary Wilson assigned her vote to John Wilson. Several guest were present.

The board approved the minutes of the last meeting and waived the reading.

 

Committee Reports

 

 Executive Committee Report

 

John reported that obtaining liability insurance through the Land Trust Alliance is very unlikely to happen.  He has found that liability insurance will be expensive, and that the matter will have to be put off. Joel commented that the liability insurance for the purposes of the ACC is not readily available.

 

Regarding the nomination of directors for the ACC board for 2007, John nominated Tony to head a committee to prepare a list of potential directors and to confirm if current directors will continue to serve. Joel seconded the motion, which was approved.

 

John reported that there will be three days of surveying over the Thanksgiving weekend at Perkins Cave with the DOM mapping project. To prepare, an entrance gate and ladders need to be worked on.

 

Cave Management General

 

Daniel Boone Caverns:  Bill reported that he talked with Milton, the owner discussing the following:  the road to the parking area has been improved; Milton wants to install an additional 10 foot ladder and wants to host a clean-up to remove some electrical cable in the cave.

 

Funnel Cave, Winding Stair Cave, Dungeon Cave (Brickey Pit):  Bill reported that Jason Lachniet produced a working map of Funnel Cave.

 

John proposed that the ACC install signage with a laminated sign that could be easily replaced in a permanent holder in these caves.

 

Bill agreed to help with the signage, which he said should include the phone number of the ACC.

 

Joel agreed to assist with the language to appear on the signs, which he will e-mail to the board for review.

 

Bill volunteered to contact the owner of Blowing Hole cave to discuss the possibility of gating the cave, as it is on the Virginia significant caves list.

 

Tonya reported that Marion Quarry Cave may be a possible cave for the ACC to manage.  She stated that it is owned by Lewis and Walker, and she has put in a word for the ACC to provide stewardship services.

 

Finance:

 

Tonya reported that the ACC has a balance of $1381.65.  She has received $25 from Bosteds and $10 from John Rossy in the last month.

 

Membership Report

 

John reported that sending e-mails to the membership was not working very well and that mailing membership invoices may be necessary.  There has not been progress made on the database.  He is looking for a volunteer to mail the letters to the membership.

 

Don proposed that the ACC make T-shirts again this year as an incentive for members to sign up or continue their membership. 

 

Fundraising Report

 

There were no reports on grottos joining or donating to the ACC.

 

Bill proposed that the ACC hold a cook-out/tour of Perkins Cave to get potential members into the cave and interested.  He proposed that we charge those attending as a fundraiser.

 

Old / Unfinished Business

 

With regard to the signs, Joel volunteered to develop the language on the sign, and Tony volunteered to design the sign holder for the laminated sign.

 

Don made a motion to use T-shirts as a part of the membership drive, with a $15 individual and $20 family membership (including T-shirt—additional T-shirts will cost $10).  Tony seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

John will provide labels and will draft a membership renewal letter.  Tony agreed to stuff envelopes and mail the letters.

 

Emily made a motion to spend the necessary funds for postage to mail the renewal letters with Joel seconding the motion.  Motion carried.

 

ACC meeting schedule:  The date of the annual meeting was changed to March 3rd, with the other meeting dates remaining the same: May 5, July 14, September 8, and November 24.

 

 New Business

 

KKL-NSS Recruiting Program:  John stated that the involvement of the ACC would benefit the organization, and the board agreed to urge people to sign up for the NSS. The completed forms should be returned to an ACC board member to be sent in by the ACC.  In this way, the ACC will receive compensation.

 

Cookout/fundraiser:  Bill made a motion that the May meeting be the date for this fundraiser to which all of the local grottos would be invited.  Tony seconded and the motion passed.

 

Tony suggested that the grottos RSVP and that there be several trips planned.

 

Joel suggested that we send pretty pictures of the cave, and make the outing a membership drive. 

 

Meeting was adjourned.

 

Cave Management Committee Meeting

 

John gave an update on the road improvements.  The majority of the work has been completed, with some final work (laying gravel) to be completed by a different contractor.

 

Perkins Cave mapping: Paul will be sending starting points for DOM project mapping. 

 

Ladders: Tony said that the ladders are ready and that a “fix it” day be planned for volunteer help.

Bill will make up plan for plantings around the entrance.

 

Modifications of toothpaste crawl are almost complete

John reported that the Torn Peter Tube could be modified.

Plastic booties work fine, but after they are used, they get quite muddy and are difficult to re-use.

 

Activities:  John stated that plans are to get the gate to the second entrance working and that Don and Bill will lead a trip for the guests from North Carolina.

The meeting adjourned at 12:30 pm.