The twenty-fourth meeting of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Cave Conservancy was held on October 8, 1995 at the picnic pavilion at Sequoyah Caverns near Valley Head, Alabama. These minutes, when accompanied by the corrections or additions approved by the Board, constitute the official record of the meeting.
ATTENDEES: Directors: Bill Putnam (Chair), Kenneth Huffines (Secretary), Buddy Lane (Treasurer), Paul Ballinger, Linda Tucker and Richard Blackburn. Proxy: Bill Putnam for Kris Green. Members and guests: Greg Eck, Laura Clark, Jeff Harris, Diane Cousineau, Debbie Smith, and Scott Keith
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Bill Putnam called the meeting to order at 1:06 P.M.
MINUTES: The minutes of the twenty-third Board Meeting were reviewed. Lee Tucker was added to the list of attendees. The wording for Caver's Incorporated was changed to read "No progress. Caver's Incorporated needs to dissolve the corporation and transfer its assets to the SCC." The wording for Editor was changed to read "Bill Putnam appoints Karen Sotona editor of the Newsletter. The next issue is due out in September." And "Cave Management Meeting" was changed to "National Cave Management Symposium." Paul Ballinger moved that the minutes be approved as read. Richard Blackburn seconded. Passed unanimously.
Chairman: Bill Putnam reports the "Buy a piece of the pit" campaign was kicked off Friday night of the Cave-in and has been very successful. The ability to accept credit cards is helping boost proceeds. Bill thanks J.V. Swearingen and Paul Ballinger for doing the work, Kenneth Huffines for the idea, and Scott Fee for setting up the ability to accept credit cards. Bill has requested the September newsletter be delayed to allow inclusion of the Neversink acquisition.
Secretary: Kenneth Huffines distributed copies of the Neversink Management Plan. Two typos were noticed and a corrected version will be made available later.
Treasurer: Buddy Lane provided a verbal report; there is about $31,000 in the treasury.
Acquisition Committee: Mark Wolinsky is meeting with Mr. Andrews (owner of Neversink) this morning. He has passed information to Buddy Lane which will be reported in old business.
Glove Pit: Caver's Incorporated can simplify the dissolution of their organization by selling Glove Pit to the SCC for a small amount ($1.00). Then, with no assets, it will be easier to close the corporation.
Surprise Pit: Jay Clark is working on the lease agreement but needs clarification on names of the persons involved.
Neversink Acquisition: Mr. Andrews (Neversink owner) has been made aware of the problem with his fence being on the Glass estate, which is being sold. Mr. Andrews is trying to work out a solution with the Glass Estate seller and buyer. Mr. Andrews has told Mark Wolinsky he wants to close soon.
Fox Mountain: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is still trying to buy the Bowater Property on top of Fox Mountain. If any money is left over they will try to buy the mountain-side down to I-59. Alabama is not able to purchase the Bowater land in Alabama and Georgia is unsure if the state can own land out-of-state.
Elections: Ballots were mailed the week of 1 October.
Fund Raising Committee: The allocation for the "Buy a piece of the pit" campaign was exceeded by $408. In addition, extra-large T-shirts are out and need to be reordered. Buddy Lane moved to increase the allocation to $1908 plus the cost of another box of XL shirts. Richard Blackburn seconded. Passed unanimously. Greg Eck suggests sending copies of the next newsletter to all nonmembers who have donated to the Neversink fund. Laura Clark suggests printing the names of all contributors in the next newsletter, and suggests obtaining a Mastercard/Visa sign for the booth.
Minutes: Huffines moves: Motions without unanimous decisions shall be recorded to show how each person voted. Results may be recorded by numbers only for decisions by the body of members, and elections. Richard Blackburn seconded. Passed unanimously.
Duty of Chairman: Huffines moves to change Article VI Section 3 of the Bylaws to read: Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the SCC and shall preside, when present, at all meetings of members of the SCC and of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson shall be limited to not more than three successive full one-year terms. He/she shall have a general charge and supervision of the affairs of the SCC and shall perform such duties as may be designated or assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors. Linda Tucker seconded. Passed unanimously.
Duty of Secretary: Huffines moves to change Article VI Section 4 of the Bylaws to read: Secretary. The Secretary shall attend and be responsible for keeping minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and the SCC, for issuing all notices of the SCC and for maintaining all SCC records except for financial records. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Secretary will officiate as Chairperson. Paul Ballinger seconded. Passed unanimously.
Duty of Treasurer: Huffines moves to change Article VI Section 5 of the Bylaws to read: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and financial records of the SCC, subject to such regulations as may be imposed by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the SCC. In the absence of the Chairperson and Secretary, the Treasurer will officiate as Chairperson and appoint an interim Secretary. Paul Ballinger seconded. Passed unanimously.
Meetings without officers: Huffines moves to add the following to the Bylaws as Article VI Section 9: Meetings without Officers. In the event all officers are absent the remaining Directors shall appoint an interim Chairperson and Secretary from the quorum. Paul Ballinger seconded. Passed unanimously.
Proxy: Huffines moves to add to add the following to the Bylaws in a place to be determined: Proxy. A proxy must be in writing, signed and dated by the member, and clearly identify the member, the person who will be the proxy, and the single meeting the proxy is to be valid. Not seconded. After some discussion Buddy Lane moved to add to the bylaws: Proxy. Proxies are not allowed. Paul Ballinger seconded. Motion passes with Lane, Ballinger, Tucker, and Blackburn in favor, Huffines opposed and Green abstaining.
Bank Resolution: Paul Ballinger moved to adopt the resolution required by SunTrust Bank of Alabama, N.A. Richard Blackburn seconded. Passed unanimously.
Land Owner Relations Committee: Bill Putnam appoints Debbie Smith of Huntsville, Alabama, to head the Landowner Relations Committee.
Nominations & Elections Committee: Bill Putnam appoints Richard Blackburn of Kennesaw, Georgia, to head the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Elections: Paul Ballinger moved to hold elections for Officers at the next Board meeting. Richard Blackburn seconded. Passed unanimously.
Opening Day Committee: Bill Putnam creates a committee to oversee opening day events at Neversink and appoints Laura Clark Chair. Linda Tucker and Bill Putnam volunteer to staff the committee. Mark Wolinsky will be asked to join.
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 A.M. 20 January 1996 in Scottsboro, Alabama at a place to be determined.
ADJOURNMENT: Paul Ballinger moved to adjourn the meeting. Kenneth Huffines seconded. Passed unanimously.