KSS Meeting 8.15.18
Attendees: Howard Kalnitz, Amber Yuellig, Christopher Morris, Mike Keltner, Sean Vanderhoff, Josh Brewer, Ben Miller, Susan Wilkinson, Sarah Arpin, Jim Currens, Barry Adams
Announcements:
Bill Walden passed away. Several members of KSS attended the funeral including Amber Yuellig. KSS sent flowers.
Ben Tobin stepped into his new role at KGS and will likely be our main KGS contact
KSS had a great showing at convention given by Josh, Howard, and Sarah and in the cartography salon.
Reading of Previous Minutes:
Amber, continued by Howard
Motion to approve: Josh Brewer
Second: Ben Miller
Unanimously approved
Treasurers Report
John has not been able to put together report due to computer issues. The current total balance is $13,522.
We will likely spend money on the annual meeting, still need to pay a reimbursement for the newsletter mailing, and the GoToMeeting bill just came in.
Committee Reports
Data Access Committee
Since July 1- 5 requests (3 commercial, 2 private/ personal)
Currently outstanding are four open requests. We are currently waiting on information from the requestors.
Also had three county coordinator inquiries that were not necessarily data requests
Currently caught up
Database Committee
New Esri groups for KSS are up and running
Five beta testers are currently working with the database
Howard aims to deploy it to all county coordinators by the end of the year
Data access committee discussing county coordinators (40-50% active) and set up regional coordinators to work more directly with county coordinators to assist
26 new caves have been entered since July 15 primarily by Harry Goepel and Josh Brewer
Data Archive
Presentation given at convention
DC Grotto- 500-800 publications from them
Bill Walden’s family is giving all of his data to KSS. Katie Walden and Kevin Toepke have a designated folder on Dropbox and will be uploading materials.
Emergency Response Committee
Mike Keltner- shared information for a recent manhunt utilizing DEM files in the Red River Gorge region
Membership Committee
New members had been slow since spring
Three new members have joined since the NSS Convention
Gordon Smith particularly excited about what KSS is accomplishing
Grant Committee
Bill Walden Memorial Grant
Currently working on ironing out language
1 survey grant per year- $150 may be used to support projects through the purchase of survey equipment, financial need will be taken into account in decisions
1 academic grant per year- up to $500 Kentucky only unless reasonable argument can be made linking the research to Kentucky
these grants may be awarded to the same person in the same year but may not be awarded in consecutive years
Howard motions to have survey and research grants funded by KSS to be named Bill Walden Survey and Research Memorial Grants.
Howard motions
Ben seconds
Motion approved
Howard recommends KSS get something in return for funds- map/ report
Who is eligible
Parameters
Folks cannot get two in a row
May not be awarded every year
Survey Initiative
Three survey teams
Lots of great progress but will be a long project
Need future survey initiative projects
Next trip may be planned in conjunction with annual meeting, could potentially go to wells
Should ask Bob Roth if he would like to survey at wells. Ben Tobin has also expressed interest
Bob Roth may be the future preserve manager.
Kentucky Nature Preserves request- sidelined
Natural Arch Survey- Chris may be making a few requests
Annual Meeting-
Working with Ben Tobin
Caving Sept 21-22
Meeting Sept 23
Will be at University of Kentucky- KGS
Presentation spots still available, many great presenters have committed
KSS may be able to cover lunch again $400 range
Also owe an award for the number of caves turned in
Can we video record our meeting for our archive, broadcast live?
Elections are coming up, nominations open next meeting
Need a committee- cannot be running/ nominated
Sarah can give guidance on procedures
Motion to close: Howard
Second: Jim Currens
Unanimously approved
Meeting closed at
