Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy Meeting Minutes for May 16, 2004

This is a summary of the minutes of the meeting.

The meeting was called to order by President, Rich Rosevear, at 
the Meadow Group Campsite of Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County 
on Sunday May 16, 2004

The following officers were present.
Pres. R. Rosevear
V. Pres. Alan Horn
Secretary K. Bange
Treasurer G. Bange

Representation was as follows:
Bald Eagle Grotto                ----
Baltimore Grotto                 Craig Hindman
Bucks County Grotto              Rich Rosevear
Buffalo Valley Grotto            ----
Central New Jersey Grotto        ----
Commander Cody Caving Club       Harris Martin
Franklin County Grotto           Pat Minnick
Greater Allentown Grotto         Dean Snyder
Huntingdon Co. Cave Hunters      ----
Nittany Grotto                   Gary Dunmire
Philadelphia Grotto              Amos Mincin
Pennsylvania Inner-Earth Grotto  ----
Pittsburgh Grotto                ----
Seven Valleys Grotto             Steve Shawver
York Grotto                      ----
 
There were other individuals present

Secretary Report: The minutes from the February 2004 meeting 
were accepted as published in the Breakdown.   

Treasurer Report: There have been no changes to the Treasurers 
Report from the February 2004 meeting.

Web Page: David Fricke, the web master, reported there 
continues to be problems with the NSS server.  The PCC 
account is disorganized at the present time and accessing 
the site is hit or miss, at best.  Dave is working on 
straighten out the mess.  PCC appreciates Dave putting 
work into the PCC website.

PCC Breakfast:  Nate Hirneisen was applauded for his efforts 
in putting on the PCC breakfast.  The PCC received $466 from 
the breakfast.

Fund Raising T-Shirts. Dean Snyder has PCC bumper stickers for 
sale at $2 a piece and PCC T-Shirts for sale at $8 each.

PCC Brochure:  Brochures are available.  Anyone interested in 
brochures should contact George Bange.

OLD BUSINESS:

Project List:

Baker Caverns: Franklin, County, PA - No change in status or 
access; the property remains for sale.	

Dragon Cave: Berks County, PA - Karen Bange reported for Mike 
Mostardi.  There are new landowners and they are building a 
house on the cave property.  Mike has spoken with the landowner 
who requests there be no caving.  Mike will continue to monitor 
the situation but for the present time he asks that no cavers 
approach the landowner and the cave be taken off the project list.

J-4: Centre County, PA - status quo - CLOSED

Merkle Cave:  Berks County, PA. - No change

Cleversburg Cave:  Franklin County, PA. - Pat Minnick reported 
access remains the same while Franklin County Grotto works with 
the township.  Once the new lock is put in place FCG will mail 
out keys to other grottos.

Additions to the Project List:

Corker Hill and Frustration Pit:  Franklin County, PA - Amos 
Mincin reported that the landowner for these two caves changed 
in 2002 and the current landowner is a partnership that seems 
interested in developing the area.   Amos proposed adopting 
this cave as a PCC project to 1) establish an access plan 
2) survey and map the cave 3) and look into acquisition options 
such as a conservation easement, leasing the land or purchasing 
it.  Since Franklin County Grotto is the closest grotto to the 
cave, FCG will discuss the idea at their upcoming grotto meeting 
and report back to the PCC.

Red Church Cave:  Berks County, PA - Dean Snyder reported the 
current landowner, who does not like cavers, is getting up there 
in years.  Apparently she has no heirs and is leaving her property 
to a conservancy or a college.  Greater Allentown Grotto will 
monitor the situation.   

Christmas Cards:  Anyone wishing to add a landowner to the 
Christmas card list should contact Karen Bange.

Mail:  Dean Snyder reported he received notice from the IRS 
that PCC is clear with their 501(c)3


NEW BUSINESS:

Juniata College Grotto:  The NSS just officially acknowledged 
the newest grotto in Pennsylvania - Juniata College Grotto in 
Huntingdon.  This past spring Karen invited the grotto to the 
Spring MAR; several members did attend. Karen will invite the 
grotto to the fall MAR and to attend a PCC meeting.

Conservancy Forum:  Amos Mincin attended The Northeast Cave 
Conservancy and West Virginia Cave Conservancy in Lewisburg, 
West Virginia April 15, 2004.  The forum discussed standardized 
criteria, fundraising, management plans, stewardship with a 
focus on federal land management.  25 cave conservancies from 
all over the country were represented.  Amos reported the guest 
speakers were all experts in their respective fields.  There was 
lots of cooperation between the conservancies.  Profit from the 
forum were distributed among the cave conservancies represented; 
PCC will be getting a portion of the profit.

NSS Convention:  Dean Snyder will represent the PCC at the 
upcoming NSS Convention this summer.

Next meeting: The next meeting of the PCC will be on Sunday 
October 3, 2004 at the fall MAR field meet.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Bange, Recording Secretary