Meeting Minutes 11-5-11

Posted on Updated on by Cheryl

CDS BoD Meeting Minutes

Saturday, 05 Nov 2011

Olive Garden, Orlando, FL

Call to order – GM: 17:42

Attendance – GM, FW, TM, FO, BD, RB

Guests – Jim Wyatt, Louis Towles

Old business:

    1. • Secretary
      1. • Minutes of 20 Aug 2011
      2. • M) FW, GM

In favor: Unanimous

  1. • Leadership reports
    1. • Property report –
    2. • Mill Creek – water level lower, 16 dives this quarter. FO needs to visit to determine need for additional steps.
    3. • Cow – Needing an additional gate
    4. • Cathedral – Vis 5ft or so
    5. • School – No activity
  2. • Treasurer’s report (TM)
    1. • Financial report
    2. • Sales reports
  3. • Training Report
    1. • Training Committee report – Meet 23 Oct 2011, report sent to BoD on a instructor issue, to be discussed in closed session.
    2. • Training certifications report – Certifications picking up (avg 25/month)
  4. • Vice Chairman’s report (FW)
    1. • 2012 Workshop status – Bobby Franklin is chairing, and will be providing an updated report later.
    2. • HECC – Rick chairing
    3. • Mexico instructors requesting a Mini Workshop.
  5. • Chairman’s report (GM)
    1. • Report on NSS/CDS membership.
    2. • Audit

Actions between meetings:

M) FO/BD

I am making this motion to direct the Training Committee to review and amend the Standards and Procedures for Training to reflect current industry wide policy on substance and alcohol abuse by instructors for NSS-CDS. With recent example, the policy on substance and alcohol use has not been addressed specifically in the S&P’s and do not adequately provide for the safety of students in the care of an instructor with an alcohol or substance abuse problem. Change needs to be made that assure our membership and potential members that we as leaders in the cave diving community are not under the influence of alcohol or any other substances at any given time. An NSS-CDS policy should be in effect that requires absolute compliance by instructors and should include the possibility of random drug testing and or review of arrest records. Evidence of alcohol or substance abuse while in the course of teaching should result in immediate dismissal. Any other indicators such as a failed breathalyzer or blood test should be cause for review by the Training Committee with suspension and or dismissal the penalty.

In Favor GM/FW/RB/FO/TM

Against BD

M) FO/BD

The purpose of this motion is to establish a substance abuse policy that is current with industry standards and creates an environment within the diving and cave diving field that is free from illegal drugs and inappropriate alcohol abuse. This policy should apply to both members of the NSS-CDS and more importantly the instructor base and governing body of the CDS. This policy may be an independent document but should be referred to as is the Conservation Statement that accompanies all membership applications. If need be, a committee should be formed to create said document and approval gained by the Board of Directors and legal counsel.

In Favor GM/FW/RB/FO

Against BD

M) GM/FO

I motion the drug and alcohol policy motion approved on 15 Sept. 2011 be rescinded.

In Favor GM/FW/BD/TM/FO/RB

M) FO/GM

I am asking for a vote to approve the revised as of 9/23/2011 Combined Property Management Plan. I have emailed a copy of the revised plan to all Board members for review. Time is of the essence as we need also to submit the plan to the NSS Board of Governors for approval also.

In Favor GM/FW/BD/TM/FO/RB

M) GM/FO

Approve all actions between meetings

In favor: Unanimous

New Business:

M) FW/FO

Approve reprint of “Blueprint for Survival” into Romanian.

In favor: GM/FW/RB/FO

Opposed: BD/TM

M) FW/FO

Supply Line Arrows to MX.

Opposed: Unanimous

M) FW/RB

Approve Cozumel Mapping and Exploration Team fund raiser.

In favor: Unanimous

M) FW/FO

Direct Frank to replace the gate at Cow with a new (similar) gate.

In Favor: Unanimous

M) BD/TM

Approve the updated S&P Ethical Standards addition of item F. F.　An　Instructor　who　is　arrested　and　charged　with　a　felony　offense　involving　the　use　of　illegal　drugs,　the　abuse　of　alcohol,　or　a　criminal　offense　involving　moral　turpitude　shall,　at　the　earliest　possible　time　after　the　arrest,　report　the　arrest　to　the　Training　Director　along　with　all　pertinent　information　about　the　arrest　including　whether　or　not　the　rest　occurred　while　the　instructor　was　engaged　in　any　sort　of　training　or　instructional　activities.　The　Training　Director　shall,　at　the　earliest　possible　time,　provide　this　information　to　the　members　of　the　Training　Committee　who　shall　review　it　and　determine　whether　or　not　there　is　reon　to　believe　that　the　activities　which　resulted　in　the　instructor’s　arrest　violated　the　NSS‐CDS　Training　Standards　and　Procedures　or　safe　and　professional　teaching　practices.　　Until　the　Training　Committee　has　made　its　initial　determination,　the　instructor　may　not　teach　any　further　NSS‐CDS　classes.　If　the　Training　Committee　believes　that　the　instructor　has　violated　the　Standards　and　Procedures　or　safe　and　professional　teacng　practices,　the　instructor　shall　be　immediately　suspended　from　active　status　until　a　full　quality　assurance　inquiry　can　be　conducted　by　thTraining　Committee. 　　

In Favor: Unanimous

M) FO/GM

Print the Bylaw changes in the UWS, listing the From/To and conduct an online vote.

In Favor: Unanimous

Adjourn to Closed session at 19:30

Resume Open session at 20:00

  1. • Next board meeting date, time, location – Atlanta

Meeting adjourned