Minutes

 

KENTUCKY SPELEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Carter Caves State Park

Annual Election Meeting

January 27, 2008

 

President Preston Forsythe opened the meeting at 10:12 AM. He introduced the current officers. Preston mentioned Anita Spear’s illness and our hope that her upcoming surgery will go well. We discussed arranging a KSS trip to the deep pits on Pine Mountain that Anita is so interested in. This could be done as part of Karst-O-Rama and Jim Perkins offered to set that up. Bill Walden was also in favor of visiting and caving with Anita and doing some Pine Mountain pits.

 

The members of the audience introduced themselves. Sixteen cavers attended the meeting. Preston showed everyone the KSS brochure that Don Conover had made up for 2007 NSS Convention. The Generalized Geologic Map of Kentucky post card was handed out to those that did not have one. Mammoth Cave Twists of dark tobacco were offered as a gag joke. There were no takers.

 

On January 26, 2008 there was an all day KSS paper caving session at the KSS office in the Mines and Minerals Building at Lexington . Seven cavers were present. Progress is being made on our files and the Jim Quinlan material.

 

VP Brent Ray said a few words. He supports the KSS with as much time as he has available considering family, sports, and club activities.

 

The treasurer, Jim Currens, gave a detailed report. In the past 6 months the KSS has purchased a new laptop, database software, and XP software. The balance is $970.41.

Jim is still working on the IRS tax exempt status for the KSS. More forms and information will be submitted. This process has taken a long time. The KY Secretary of State has been mailed $4 for the annual corporation fee.

 

Randy Paylor was not present due to a geology consulting job, so Jim Currens gave the following Data Access and Database update. The Rural Water Association of Cave City has requested a map of L and N Cave. Jim said he would send them the map and other information on file. Three new caves in Wolfe County have been recently surveyed and submitted to the KSS by Larry Peterson, Roy Vanhoozer, and a third caver.

 

Old Business.

 

The minutes from the October 28, 2007 KSS meeting were approved.

 

New Business.

 

We discussed the website. Preston said that Kevin Toepke makes changes and updates quickly. Several members pointed out that the Member’s Page doesn’t get much use. Email has more or less replaced the Member’s Page. On the website many of the old minutes are archived, but perhaps they all can be published and the accessibility improved.

 

We had a discussion on charging a fee for data access. The Texas Speleological Survey has a structure for charging a fee but rarely enforces the minimal fee. Jim Currens and Randy Paylor try to handle KSS business on their own time and not KGS time. Jim Currens will draft a motion for review at the next meeting.  For-profit groups could pay, perhaps a minimum of $25, while KSS members and other special requests could be waived. A motion was voted on and passed to draft a By Law on data request fees.

 

Brent Ray discussed the work by Dr. Horton Hobbs and the Wittenberg University Grotto concerning using GIS to inventory over 170 cave locations in the Carter Cave area. Brent suggested that Dr. Hobbs be asked to give a program at a future KSS meeting. Brent will look into this.

 

An election was conducted for 2008 KSS officers. The following officers were elected:

 

President-Bill Walden

VP-Brent Ray

Treasurer-Jim Currens

Secretary-Jim Greer

Directors at Large-Don Conover and John Cassidy

 

Other Business.

 

Preston talked about vandalism at Savage Cave in southern Logan Co., KY. Dr. Kit Wesler and the Murray State University Security people, as well as the Adairville Police are investigating.

 

The future KSS meeting and paper caving session dates were discussed but no firm dates were established. Stay tuned for emails and especially check the website (www.ksscaves.org). The meetings will be in April, at the KOR July 17-18, maybe at Mammoth Cave in the fall and at Crawlathon next January. If the KSS would like to present a program at the KOR we need to contact Jim Perkins.

 

In the near future the KSS will want to place advertisements in the guidebooks for the 2008 Speleofest and the KOR. If possible a booth with our display should be set up at these major Kentucky caving events.

 

Jonathon Lewis suggested the KSS consider having a person to head our publicity activities such as advertisements, promotions, and grotto meeting programs. Preston agreed that this position would be a plus for the KSS.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 am.

 

Respectfully submitted by Shari Forsythe, Acting Secretary