Meeting Minutes 5-25-13

Unanimous

• 1. Financial Report

• 2.

• 3.

1. 1. Property Report –Safety is the NSS-CDS’ Main Concern

• 2. Deck/Steps/Boardwalk at Cow Springs a milestone for the NSS-CDS

• 3.

• 1. Bill Dunn not present

• 2.

• 3.

• 1. 2013 Workshop had about 130 attendees

• 2. Need to determine location and date of May 2014 Workshop. Workshop Chairman also needed.

• 3. Question from the floor: Does one particular area create more revenue than another? Answer: We do not have the data regarding revenue available to provide accurate answer. However, it has been the practice to rotate the workshop to different regions to increase exposure.

• 4. We have committed to doing another Workshop in Missouri Sept 14 2013

• 5. Currently we have abandoned transitioning the web site to a new format.

• 6. We were able to contact former webmaster who was able to repair web page to a functional point.

• 7.

• 1. Constitution and Bylaws passed vote

• 2. New clause in By-Laws requires all BoD Members to read Florida Statues concerning Not for Profit Organizations.

• 3. NSS-CDS Cave Diving Manual is planned to be complete by the end of summer. Currently it is ¾’s of the way edited for continuity and flow. Request from for to send edited chapters back to original authors for content verification.

• 4. School Sink litigation-as of this point we have spent $18,000 in real dollars. Additional time and expenses exceed $60,000.

• 5. Trial that was set for July has been postponed to an unknown date. This information was received this week.

• 6. Request from the floor: To consider acquiring Conservation Easements for NSS-CDS Properties.

Action from the BoD: We will look into this to see if this is feasible.

• 7. The on-going litigation not as clear cut as stated: The lawyer who presents the best case may win.

• 8. Best course of action is to pursue the advice of the legal counsel.

• 9. Question from the floor: Do we have (property) insurance?

Answer: No, not economically feasible.

Question from the floor” Does the BoD have Liability Insurance?

Answer: Yes, It cost approximately $1800.00 a year. This insurance only covers the BoD if they are following the By-Laws and Constitution.

Question from the floor: Can the NSS-CDS approach the State and demonstrate the economic importance of cave diving and the revenue it generates for the State as a means of legal protection through legislation. For example like skiing in Idaho?

Answer: Unfortunately on an economic level it doesn’t make a significant impact when compared to the other types of tourism like Disney World.

1. 10. Bruce Ryan the Business Manager has committed to staying in that position until the 50th Anniversary of the NSS-CDS.

• 11. Approx. 2 ½ years ago the NSS-CDS switched its membership dues collection and turned this function over to the NSS. One of the many difficulties of the membership collection process is the administration and reconciliation with the NSS and has proven to be very difficult in the past.

• 12. Currently we owe the NSS back membership dues of approx. $20,000. At this time they have chosen not to collect on these back dues. It appears that the error was two-fold with equal blame on both parties. This was occurring starting in 1992 and continuing on to 2003.

• 13. A possible money saving option for the NSS-CDS would be to transfer current inventory to the NSS Bookstore (when the new building is complete). This would reduce the storage rental fee’s (approx. $200/month) and items would be stored and shipped from NSS Headquarters with the NSS-CDS only paying a small handling fee per sale.

• 14. Question from the floor: Do we (NSS-CDS) support our on-line store?

• 15. Question from the floor: The NSS has a prominent ad on the NSS-CDS website. Will the NSS-CDS have the same size ad on the NSS-CDS website?

Answer: Yes

Question from the floor: Are we losing profit margins by allowing the NSS Store to sell our books?

Answer: Yes, but in my (Gene) opinion the loss is not significant.

• 16. Gene currently working with the NSS’ webmaster to create and implement the code which will redirect the newly registered member to the NSS-CDS Store.

• 17. Property taxes are current

• 18.

• 19.

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 3. Motion

Forrest Wilson

Gene Melton

Unanimous

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 1. TOPIC

Nominate Bert Wilcher as the Chairman of the NSS-CDS and Gene Melton as the Secretary. Motion amended:

I nominate Bert Wilcher as the Chairman of the NSS-CDS

• 2. Discussion

• 1. The burden to carry the lawsuit and the other duties as the Chairman are more to ask of any one person (Jim Wyatt)
• 2. It is the intent of this motion to distribute the duties of Chairman to Bert Wilcher but still allow Gene Melton to spearhead the litigation in the Secretary position (Jim Wyatt).
• 3. Request from the floor to amend motion: Reason can’t nominate 2 board members in one motion (Forrest).

• 4. Motion

Jim Wyatt

Joe Citelli

6 in favor (Gene abstains from voting)

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 3. Motion

David Jones

Joe Citelli

5 in favor (Anthony Flaris Jr. abstains)

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 3. Motion

David Jones

Jim Wyatt

5 in favor (Joe Citelli abstains)

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 3. Motion

Jim Wyatt

David Jones

5 in Favor (Marissa Lasso abstains)

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 1. TOPIC

• 2. Discussion

• 3. Motion

Tony Flaris

Jim Wyatt

Unanimous