Minutes

Appalachian Cave Conservancy Board Meeting

September 8, 2007

The ACC Board met at the Wilson field house. Attendees included: Don Feathers, Gary Fielden, John Wilson, John Rossi, Tony McGee, John Matthews, Joel Stevenson, Jason, Emily, and Claire Lachniet and Robbie Spiegel, and guest Patrick Craft.

Terri and Mary were represented by proxy.

The meeting came to order at 1045. Chairman John Wilson asked for and Don made a motion to accept without reading the minutes of the last meeting as previously published. Joel seconded the motion and the board passed it with no further discussion and no dissenting votes.

Committee Reports

Executive Committee

John W. said that Joey Fagen had sent him an email, which John had forwarded to the board, asking that ACC send a representative to the Cave Board Round Table to be held at Natural Tunnel in Scott County Saturday, September 22, from 3 to 6 pm. There will be more activities on Sunday, including a talk by John Holsinger. John said he had a prior obligation that weekend and asked for candidates. In the following discussion, Gary said he could be there part of the day. Terri was selected as the best possible primary representative, Gary as the backup. Tony said he could backup the backup. Bill moved that Terri and Gary represent us at the Round Table, Joel seconded, and the board approved the motion with no further discussion and no dissenting votes.

John W. said that he felt that the ACC was ready to take ownership of a cave or caves, if the opportunity arose to buy a significant cave. He said he felt that the organization and its membership had matured and were ready to take this step. There was some discussion clarifying the scope and intent of this assertion. Joel attempted to formulate the intent by saying that all we should do is resolve on the intention to buy a cave, should a suitable opportunity arise. John W. said that he doesn’t want to waste time on preliminary work on buying a cave if the board membership is unwilling to accept that responsibility. Joel said that the best way to conserve a cave is to own it. He said there was no reason to foreclose cave ownership by the ACC as a way to conserve caves, while on the other hand there may be reasons not to own a particular cave. Emily asked if buying a cave or caves would place us in competition with other groups. Gary mentioned the example of CCV buying the Omega property (Powell Mountain Karst Preserve). Emily asked would we be competing with CCV? Gary said no, that the Omega situation was very unusual, and that CCV has traditionally resisted the impulse to buy caves. John gave BCCS (Butler Cave Conservation Society) as an example of an organization which is highly competitive within its (geographical) area. He said there was no comparable group acting in our area. He said that the SCCA normally does not come this far north. Joel then moved that the ACC be open to cave ownership as a form of cave conservation. The motion was seconded by Bill and passed without dissent.

Cave Management, General

John W. asked Bill if he had any more candidates for ACC stewardship. Bill conceded that he had two possible candidates but said that he would appreciate it if other members would come up with some candidates instead of leaving the job to him.

Joel asked whether Cedar Creek Cave in Greene County, Tennessee, should be considered. He said it was locked up tight by its current owner. The board informally agreed that Cedar Creek should be considered.

John W. asked Tony for a progress report on the cave protection signs. Tony said that the materials are on their way to him. Bill asked whether the sign text will be tailored to each cave. John W. said yes, that he personally would make and laminate the signs.

Emily mentioned Cribb Cave and Terri’s recent email to the board that owner Warren McCray was concerned about the waning bat population in the cave and his worries that he had permitted too much traffic into the cave. John stated that it was not clear what the owner wanted and that we should appoint someone to ask him. Robbie said that Terri was the obvious choice as she had talked to Mr. McCray several times over the last few years. John W. said that he, Bill, Robbie, and Terri would decide who would be the best person to approach Mr. McCray.

Finance Report

The Treasurer was not present and John W. presented her report. The ACC has a current balance of $2,348.25, after $515 revenue from memberships and tee-shirt sales at the NSS convention and $41.76 disbursed to Don to compensate him for tee-shirt mailing expense. Don estimated that we have enough tee-shirts to bring our balance up to about $3000.

Membership Committee

John W. said that he had added about 20 new members, including the ACC’s first life member, an NSS member from Pennsylvania. Gary corrected him, saying that he was the ACC’s first life member.

Tony said that at OTR, the SCCA and West Virginia Cave Conservancy mounted major membership drives and asked whether we should make a similar effort. He reported that the West Virginians sold automobile window shades and beach towels with bat logos. Joel said that the SCCA was the best and most efficient cave conservancy and that we should follow their example. John said the SERA/ VAR would be a good dry run for OTR; we could judge by our success whether to follow up at OTR. Don said that we could put an ACC table next to the registration table at SERA/ VAR. Gary said we could use the display unit owned by MEG. Tony said that there were 2200 people at the OTR just ended, somewhat down from the previous year but still the best attended caving convention. Joel moved and Don seconded that we man a booth at SERA/ VAR. John W. asked for discussion. Joel asked how many people would it take to man the booth? Tony said we should limit the time per person to two hours. Joel suggested manning the booth at the time of registration only, because of lack of manpower. Joel said that at the August Flittermouse Grotto meeting he had asked Chairman Dan Henry and Safety Officer Scott McCrea for help with the SERA/ VAR. John summarized the previously made motion as a motion to make a membership drive at SERA/ VAR a dry run for OTR fundraising. The motion passed with no dissenting votes.

Tony and Joel said that would go to the next NSS Convention near Lake City, Florida. Others said they would possibly go, too.

On the issue of setting up the display booth, Tony and Robbie said they would urge Paul Gaskins to design a backdrop and tablecloth for the booth.

Old/ Unfinished Business

Don reported that Roger Hartley was working on a possible campground alternative to Farmer Bob’s. Emily suggested the Damascus Trail Days Campground. Joel asked if the 4H Center in Abingdon was a possibility. Tony said that would be a good place and added that River Campground on the North Fork Holston River north of Abingdon might be a good place. Emily pledged to check the beer and capacity questions in Damascus.

Don asked whether we should have a sustaining member program, adding in response to questions and comments from John W. that he meant a system of collecting monthly payments from members. John W. replied that there has to be a clear reason to raise money that way – such as purchase of a cave. Setting up credit card payments and such was too much of a hassle unless we need big contributions. Joel agreed, saying that if we could save Cedar Creek, it would be a good way to approach donors.

Tony said that he knows a cave friendly money management professional that might be helpful in making our assets grow. Should he approach him? John W. said that it can’t hurt to talk to the man and get the facts about what he could do for us; Tony agreed to do it. Patrick mentioned that there are funds with checking account privileges attached, for example, the T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Bond Fund.

The board meeting adjourned at 1140.

Perkins Cave Management Committee Meeting

The meeting came to order at 1140.

John W. asked Jason for a report on the mapping of Perkins. Jason said he was not ready yet.

Tony said that he had gear and people for the gate project: namely Joel, Gary, and John M. He possibly needed one more.

Don said he had the material to modify the Torn Peter Tube. He said he needed one or two helpers. Bill volunteered.

Patrick, Jason, and Robbie decided to survey.

John said he would survey or help with the Torn Peter Tube project, as needed.

The meeting adjourned at 1145.

Minutes submitted by Robbie Spiegel September 19, 2007.