Pennsylvania Cave Conservancy Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2008 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 Pine Hill Campground, Hazelton, WV The following officers were present: President P. Minnick Vice President C. Catherman Secretary K. Bange Treasurer G. Dunmire Representation was as follows: Bald Eagle Grotto --- Baltimore Grotto --- Bucks County Grotto Vince Kappler (proxy) Buffalo Valley Grotto Matt Neyhart Central New Jersey Grotto --- Commander Cody Caving Club Mike Mostardi 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 Seven Valleys Grotto Gretchen Williams York Grotto --- There were other individuals present Secretary Report: The minutes from the February 2008 meeting were accepted as published in the April 2008 Breakdown. Treasurer Report: Gary Dunmire distributed a copy of the PCC financial summary. As the new treasurer, Gary changed banks. The PCC bank accounts are with Nittany Bank. 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. If anyone has any links they would like added to the PCC website, contact Dave. PCC T shirts have been reprinted; Dave will add this item back onto the PCC website. PCC Breakfast: The Cathermans coordinated the PCC breakfast at the MAR. The breakfast made $182. The Cathermans will be in charge of the PCC breakfast at the fall MAR. Mike and Linda Mostardi won the 50/50 and donated the winnings to the PCC. PCC Brochure: Anyone interested in brochures should contact George Bange. Mail: No action. T-shirts: Dean Snyder has PCC t-shirts for sale. Submission for fund raising T-shirts for PCC’s 25th anniversary was February 2008. Designs will be posted on the PCC website. T shirts are to be printed in spring of 2009. PA Cave Database: As of March 2008, Bill Herr, the PA Cave Database Steward, has acknowledged the following individuals as County Stewards: Mike Mostardi - Berks County JD Lewis - Clinton, Lycoming Counties Garret Czmor - Huntingdon County Mike Spencer - Northampton, Leigh Counties Brett Johnson - York County Todd Hancock - Blair, Mifflin Counties Amanda Morrow - Centre County Ken Jones, James Hart, Don Arrowood - Cumberland, Franklin and Fulton Counties The life tables have now been fully implemented into database reports and detailed summary reports by cave origin and type have also been implemented. Revised database reports will be distributed to County Stewards over the next few weeks. Work continues with Bru Randall of the Allegheny Mountain S&R group to provide a technique to locate caves for S&R purposes. I have figured out a way to import the location data to Maptech (the mapping software used by AM S&R). Bru continues to seek input from the organization members as to what particular data they desire. Pursuant to conversations between Bru and I it is envisioned that the location data would be provided to the head coordinator who in turn would consult these data during S&R operations and provide specific cave location data in the area of concern to the field crews. This will limit access of the entire database to only a few select individuals, while providing what data may be essential during the S&R process. Wind Farm Site Evaluations: After an initial third-party contact several months ago facilitated by Chris Sanders, Tracey Librandi Mumma of the PA Game Commission has requested cave location data to be utilized for site evaluation purposes for potential wind energy farms. Once we receive assurances that the data will not be provided to third parties, select data will be provided to the PA Game Commission for use in these evaluations. At present there remains some confusion as to whether or not the PA Game Commission will be doing the hibernacula evaluations or consultants to the wind farm energy company. OLD BUSINESS: Project List: Baker Caverns: Franklin, County, PA - Pat Minnick reported no changes Dragon Cave: Berks County, PA – Dean Snyder will inquire about the status of the cave/landowner J-4: Centre County, PA - status quo Red Church Cave: Schuylkill County, PA - GAG will look into the status of the landowner Merkle Cave: Berks County, PA - no change Cleversburg Cave: Cumberland County, PA - FCG is managing access into the cave. Currently the cave is flooded. Ken Jones is the contact for the cave key. Schofer Cave: Berks County, PA - The MAKC open house has been changed and will not be at Shofer Cave in June as previously published. Durham Cave: Bucks County, PA - no change Corker Hill and Frustration Pit: Franklin County, PA - Ken Jones has a meeting with WASHCO Homes, the landowner on May 19, 2008. Franklin County Grotto will be given an update at their grotto meeting May 19th. Inactive Members: Karen Bange contacted Central New Jersey Grotto, Pennsylvania Inner Earth Grotto and Pittsburgh Grotto regarding inactive grotto status for membership with the PCC. Central New Jersey Grotto replied to the notice indicating the grotto had not missed any PCC meetings in the past year and asked not to be dropped from the PCC membership. After review of the current records, Central New Jersey Grotto is in good standing with attendance at PCC meetings and will not be dropped from PCC membership. PIG and Pittsburgh did not respond to the notice and are no longer PCC members. NEW BUSINESS: Gary Dunmire, PCC Treasurer, made a motion to deposit half of the PCC account balance to the whole $1,000 and put the monies into three 24 month CDs with an interest rate of 3%. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote. Vince Kappler made a motion that the PCC treasurer be empowered to manage PCC funds between accounts in the best interest of the PCC and to keep the PCC board apprised of monetary action. This motion was seconded and passed with a vote. Gary reported he did the yearly 501c3 filling as required by the IRS. This filing is due every May and Gary received the authorization number from the IRS for this year. Next meeting: The next meeting of the PCC will be on Sunday October 12, 2008 at the fall MAR field meet. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am in the pouring rain. Respectfully submitted, Karen Bange, Recording Secretary