Post by L Roebuck on Oct 28, 2005 7:43:28 GMT -5
BOG Conservation Motion Alters and Reduces Passed COG motion
Hi. My name is Ray Keeler. I am the Conservation Officer for the Central Arizona Grotto.
Please forward this to Board of Governors (BOG) members and your membership and make your opinion known. This affects all of us.
At the 2005 Congress of Grottos (COG) meeting, Central Arizona Grotto offered two substantial motions for matching funds for conservation grants. The two motions (listed below) were voted on and passed with 333 and 330 “Yes” votes. There were no “No” votes on either motion. The NSS membership, our grottos, and sections, clearly stated its position.
An NSS Bylaw reads:
2) The Congress shall have the power to pass resolutions; which resolutions must be considered by the Board of Governors at its next regular meeting.
However, on the November 5th BOG Agenda, item 18 is a motion that radically reduces and alters the passed COG motions by as much as 80%, and competes with existing Save the Caves Grants. Agenda item 18 DOES NOT fulfill the NSS Bylaw. Central Arizona Grotto cannot support Agenda item 18 as written. It may be found at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/reports/nov05/agenda.html
Agenda Item 18 has several negative changes. These include:
1. It Removes the NSS commitment to place $5000 the Operating Fund.
2. Matching funds are made optional.
3. A committee (with purpose) to administer matching fund grants is not established.
4. The motion does not address any unused money, should there be any, would be moved into the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
5. As written Agenda Item 18 makes these grants in direct competition with the existing $3000 Save-The-Caves Grants. The $5000 is other NSS money in addition to caver donations.
The passed 2005 Congress of Grottos motions have been clarified. Please ask BOG members to vote for the clarified COG motions. The original COG motions can be found at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/congress.html
The reworded COG motions are:
P. Moss moves to amend:
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is established in the office of the Administrative Vice President under the Conservation Division. The purpose of the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is to administer the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund and to select Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Grant recipients.
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is authorized to spend up to $5,000 annually from the Operating Fund plus the balance of the Cave and Karst Conservation Fund for fieldwork directly related to cave and karst restoration. Cave and karst grants are matching dollar for dollar grants of up to $2,000 to NSS Internal Organizations, NSS Conservation Task Forces, NSS Conservancies, or NSS members for specific projects. Recipients of these grants shall submit written reports to the Society as stipulated by the Committee Chair. Grant requests shall include a letter from the grant applicant certifying that the additional non-NSS funding of the project has been committed or will be forthcoming, and the amount of the non-NSS funding.
The budget line item will be listed in the Budget of the Administrative VP. Any unallocated grant money shall be transferred into the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund at the end of the NSS’ fiscal year.
P. Moss moves to amend:
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund is established. The purpose of the fund is to provide matching dollars for dollars for fieldwork directly related to cave and karst clean-up, restoration and conservation. Individual donations to the fund are in addition to the NSS financial commitment. Examples of cave and karst clean-up or restoration eligible for grants include, but are not limited to, trash removal from caves, karst and karst features, graffiti removal, equipment (including transportation costs), gate maintenance, and restoring natural airflow.
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund shall be administered by the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee.
Hi. My name is Ray Keeler. I am the Conservation Officer for the Central Arizona Grotto.
Please forward this to Board of Governors (BOG) members and your membership and make your opinion known. This affects all of us.
At the 2005 Congress of Grottos (COG) meeting, Central Arizona Grotto offered two substantial motions for matching funds for conservation grants. The two motions (listed below) were voted on and passed with 333 and 330 “Yes” votes. There were no “No” votes on either motion. The NSS membership, our grottos, and sections, clearly stated its position.
An NSS Bylaw reads:
2) The Congress shall have the power to pass resolutions; which resolutions must be considered by the Board of Governors at its next regular meeting.
However, on the November 5th BOG Agenda, item 18 is a motion that radically reduces and alters the passed COG motions by as much as 80%, and competes with existing Save the Caves Grants. Agenda item 18 DOES NOT fulfill the NSS Bylaw. Central Arizona Grotto cannot support Agenda item 18 as written. It may be found at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/reports/nov05/agenda.html
Agenda Item 18 has several negative changes. These include:
1. It Removes the NSS commitment to place $5000 the Operating Fund.
2. Matching funds are made optional.
3. A committee (with purpose) to administer matching fund grants is not established.
4. The motion does not address any unused money, should there be any, would be moved into the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
5. As written Agenda Item 18 makes these grants in direct competition with the existing $3000 Save-The-Caves Grants. The $5000 is other NSS money in addition to caver donations.
The passed 2005 Congress of Grottos motions have been clarified. Please ask BOG members to vote for the clarified COG motions. The original COG motions can be found at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/congress.html
The reworded COG motions are:
P. Moss moves to amend:
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is established in the office of the Administrative Vice President under the Conservation Division. The purpose of the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is to administer the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund and to select Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Grant recipients.
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee is authorized to spend up to $5,000 annually from the Operating Fund plus the balance of the Cave and Karst Conservation Fund for fieldwork directly related to cave and karst restoration. Cave and karst grants are matching dollar for dollar grants of up to $2,000 to NSS Internal Organizations, NSS Conservation Task Forces, NSS Conservancies, or NSS members for specific projects. Recipients of these grants shall submit written reports to the Society as stipulated by the Committee Chair. Grant requests shall include a letter from the grant applicant certifying that the additional non-NSS funding of the project has been committed or will be forthcoming, and the amount of the non-NSS funding.
The budget line item will be listed in the Budget of the Administrative VP. Any unallocated grant money shall be transferred into the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund at the end of the NSS’ fiscal year.
P. Moss moves to amend:
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund is established. The purpose of the fund is to provide matching dollars for dollars for fieldwork directly related to cave and karst clean-up, restoration and conservation. Individual donations to the fund are in addition to the NSS financial commitment. Examples of cave and karst clean-up or restoration eligible for grants include, but are not limited to, trash removal from caves, karst and karst features, graffiti removal, equipment (including transportation costs), gate maintenance, and restoring natural airflow.
The Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Fund shall be administered by the Cave and Karst Conservation and Restoration Committee.
<Applause>
