Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy minutes for February 24, 2007

This is a summary of the minutes of the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm by President Pat 
Minnick at the home of Jay Herbein 

The following officers were present:
President:       P. Minnick 	
Vice President:  C. Catherman
Secretary:       K. Bange
Treasurer:       G. Bange

Representation was as follows:
Bald Eagle Grotto               JD Lewis
Baltimore Grotto                Craig Hindman
Bucks County Grotto             Pat Richard
Buffalo Valley Grotto           Eric Snyder	 	
Central New Jersey Grotto       Frank Strahan
Commander Cody Caving Club      Mike Mostardi
Franklin County Grotto          Pat Minnick
Greater Allentown Grotto        Dean Snyder
Huntingdon Co. Cave Hunters     Derek Flaig
Nittany Grotto                  Chris Catherman
Philadelphia Grotto             Amos Mincin
Pennsylvania Inner-Earth Grotto ----	
Pittsburgh Grotto               ----
Seven Valleys Grotto            Joe Schock
York Grotto                     Dale Ibberson	

Secretary Report: The minutes from the October 2006 meeting 
were accepted as published in the Breakdown.

Treasurer Report: George Bange distributed a copy of the PCC 
financial summary.

Web Page: Dave Fricke gave an update on the PCC web site.
Dave asked that PCC reps keep him up to date with current/
correct grotto and contact information.

PCC Breakfast: The Cathermans have been coordinating the 
PCC breakfasts for several years.  The Cathermans will not 
be able to attend the spring MAR field meet.  No one present 
was interested in volunteering to coordinate the PCC breakfast 
at the upcoming MAR.  Guidelines for putting on the breakfast 
can be found on the PCC website.  Pat Minnick agreed to take 
the PCC breakfast grill from Bald Eagle Grotto this spring.

PCC Brochure:  Mike Spencer put correct mailing labels on 
approximately 1,000 PCC brochures. At this time there is 
no need to reprint the brochures.  PCC thanked Mike for his 
efforts. Anyone interested in brochures should contact George 
Bange.

OLD BUSINESS:

Project List:

Baker Caverns: Franklin, County, PA - The property remains 
for sale.  The nearby quarry has increased quarrying activity 
but is not approaching the P caves at this time.

Dragon Cave: Berks County, PA - No change in status.

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

Red Church Cave: Schuylkill County, PA - No change in status.

Merkle Cave: Berks County, PA - No change in status.

Cleversburg Cave: Franklin County, PA - The South Hampton 
Township has agreed to leasing the cave property to MAKC.  
This is the first time that MAKC will be leasing from a 
governmental entity.  The cave is closed until an access 
policy is worked out.  Franklin County Grotto will be the 
managing unit for the cave.  

Corker Hill and Frustration Pit: Franklin County, PA - Amos 
Mincin has been in contact with WASCHO Homes, current owners 
of the land.  WASHCO Homes is aware of the caves on the 
property.  WASCHO Homes is considering gating the caves and 
not allowing recreational caving.  Amos has scheduled a bat 
survey into the cave with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  
PCC encouraged Amos to continue negotiations with WASHCO 
Homes about possible acquisition of the caves.

Schofer Cave: Berks County, PA - Mike Spencer has been in 
the cave with the PA Game Commission.

Durham Cave: Berks County, PA - no change in status.

Penn Aqua Cave: Mifflin County, PA - correct address needed 
for the current landowner.

NEW BUSINESS:

PA Cave Database: There was a discussion about forming a 
committee within the PCC to be responsible for the PA cave 
database.  This would most likely entail one central person 
to coordinate maintenance of the data via regional coordinators.  
York Grotto made a motion for the PCC to adopt the PA cave 
database as a project.  This motion was seconded by Greater 
Allentown Grotto (GAG).  The motion passed.  A second motion 
was made by Baltimore Grotto, seconded by GAG, for the PCC to 
authorize the person maintaining the cave database to enter 
into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pennsylvania 
Natural Heritage Program.  This motion was passed.  A third 
motion was made by GAG, seconded by Bald Eagle Grotto, for all 
PCC reps to communicate with their grottos that PCC is looking 
for someone to take over the PA cave database within the next 
three months.  Keith Wheeland agreed to continue to be the 
interim manager of the cave database.
 
Dale Ibberson reported on the Martz farm in Dauphin County that 
is housing a large nursery colony of little brown bats.  Central 
PA Conservancy and the DCNR are looking into purchasing the land.  
There is the possibility of Indiana bats within the bat colony.

Inactive Members:  This item was tabled until the next PCC meeting.

Officer elections were held.  The current officers were all voted 
back into office.
President       P. Minnick 			
Vice President  C. Catherman
Secretary       K. Bange  		
Treasurer       G. Bange

Next meeting: The next meeting of the PCC will be on Sunday 
May 20, 2007 at the spring MAR field meet. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35pm 

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Bange, Recording Secretary