Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2007

This is a summary of the minutes of the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am by President Pat 
Minnick at Woodward Campground in Woodward, PA.

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

Representation was as follows:
Bald Eagle Grotto                JD Lewis
Baltimore Grotto                 ---
Bucks County Grotto              Vince Kappler (proxy)
Buffalo Valley Grotto            Matt Neyhart
Central New Jersey Grotto        Frank Strahan
Commander Cody Caving Club       ---
Franklin County Grotto           Pat Minnick
Greater Allentown Grotto         Dean Snyder
Huntingdon Co. Cave Hunters      Dean Snyder (proxy)
Nittany Grotto                   Gary Dunmire
Philadelphia Grotto              Amos Mincin
Pennsylvania Inner-Earth Grotto  ---
Pittsburgh Grotto                ---
Seven Valleys Grotto             Joe Schock (proxy)
York Grotto                      ---	

There were other individuals present

Secretary Report: Pat Minnick reviewed the minutes from 
the February 2007 meeting as published in the Breakdown.
A correction was noted in the minutes: Gretchen Williams 
was the actual PCC rep for Seven Valleys Grotto at the
meeting, not Joe Schock as written.  Motion made and 
passed to accept the minutes as corrected.

Treasurer Report: George Bange reported on the PCC 
financial status.  PCC has a total of $6,597.14

Web Page: Dave Fricke reported the addition of "Guidelines 
for Hosting a PCC Breakfast" to the PCC Web Site.

PCC Breakfast:  There will be not PCC breakfast at the 
2007 Fall MAR/VAR.

PCC Brochure: Contact George Bange for PCC brochures. 

Mail: Dean Synder reported there has been no mail since 
the last meeting.

OLD BUSINESS:

Project List:

Baker Caverns: Franklin County, PA - Pat Minnick reported 
there are tenants living in the house.  The property has 
been taken off the market until further notice.

Dragon Cave: Berks County, PA - No report

J-4: Centre County, PA - No change in status

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

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

Cleversburg Cave: Franklin County, PA - Pat Minnick reported
Franklin County Grotto (FCG), in conjunction with Southampton 
Township, has drafted a management plan for the cave.  At 
this time there is no access to the cave.  The current key 
system will be changing and groups wanting to go into the 
cave will most likely have to contact an individual to obtain 
permission and the key.  Pat reported the water level is still 
up in the cave.

Corker Hill: Franklin County, PA - Amos Mincin reported on 
the April 20th bat count trip into the cave with Greg Turner 
of the PA Game Commission.  Four bats were counted in 
Frustration Pit and 24 were counted in Corker Hill.  Most of
the bats were Pipistrelles.  Based on the count, the Game
Commission does not consider either cave of significance for
a bat hibernacula.  There have been no further negotiations
with WASHCO Homes, the current landowner.  They remain 
concerned about liability and the caves are closed at the 
present.  No development has occurred on the cave property.

Schofer Cave: Berks County, PA - no report

Durham Cave: Berks County, PA - no report

Penn Aqua: Mifflin County, PA - JD Lewis reports the new 
landowner is friendly but does not live on the property.
JD agreed to provide the landowner with the PA Landowner 
Liability Act.

PA Cave Database: Keith Wheeland has entered into a 
memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pennsylvania 
Natural Heritage Program.  Steve Shawyer has agreed to
contact Keith to discuss management of the PA Cave Database.

NEW BUSINESS:

York Grotto is surveying the caves on the Valley Quarry 
property.  They are using GPS coordinates to locate the 
caves in the area.  Anyone wanting access to go onto the 
Valley Quarry property must first complete release forms.
Contact Pat Minnick for forms.

Topo Maps: Jon Pearson contacted the PCC about donating a 
full set of 7.5 minute topo maps for the entire Commonwealth.  
A motion was made, and passed, for JD Lewis to contact Jon 
about accepting the set of maps.

Sharer Cave: A trip went into Sharer Cave from the Spring MAR 
and reported finding several dozen dead or dying bats at the 
bottom of the level 7 in the cave.  Karen Bange will contact 
the PA Game Commission to report the finding.  Vince Kappler 
reported on an extensive bat kill discovered in Gage Caverns, 
New York this spring.

George Bange announced after 10 years as PCC treasurer he is 
resigning his post at the February meeting.  Anyone interested 
in taking over the position can contact a current PCC officer 
or put their name on the ballot for PCC officers.  Elections 
are held at the February meeting.

Next meeting: A motion was made, as passed, to have the next 
meeting of the PCC on Saturday, September 1st, 2007 at the OTR 
pavilion.  Be sure to mark your calendar accordingly as this 
is a change from holding the meeting at the Fall MAR field meet.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 am

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Bange, Recording Secretary