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Alexis Lienhart  09/19/2011 Email: TCS Spring Meeting Minutes, Added Below 9-28-2011

TCS Spring Presentation Meeting 04/30/11
Director at Large East TN, Jack Thomison, opened the meeting in Jerell’s place, and got right down to business by calling on officers for reports.
Co-Chairman East TN, Bruce Zerr, began with discussion of a lifetime membership option that would be voted on in the fall. The cost for this membership would be $100. Bruce also discussed caves on an Oak Ridge reservation, found by a TVA archaeologist. Jack Thomison mentioned a masters student whose thesis is on proactive cave management and may present to the Great Smoky Mountains Park.
Co-Chairman West TN, Gerald Moni, reported 114 new caves. He had been checking known points for cave clusters and finding new caves in the process. Gerald urged everyone to continue to send updated cave info and corrected errors to him on cave report forms.
I reported next with reading of the minutes and a treasury report. The 2011 TN Caver was also made available. 
No other officers were present at the meeting for reports.
A card was passed around for Jason Richards who was and still is serving overseas. 
There was no old business on the table, and there was no new business brought to the table, so we went ahead with presentations by Mike Russell, Julie Schenck Brown, Corey Holliday, Mike Rogers, Clinton Elmore, and Philip Rykwalder.
After presentations ended, most everyone headed to Mi Casa for cerveza & burritos.

Secretary/Treasurer Address Added on Who to Contact: 3-28-2011
Alexis Lienhart, 276 Dodson Chapel Rd., Cookeville, TN 38506,  lienhart.alexis@gmail.com

Meeting Schedule Updated 3-28-2011: From Tag-Net Digest #5887:  2011 Tennessee Cave Survey Spring Meeting

Officer List Updated - Who to Contact3-28-2011

Map Links on Meeting Schedule changed 3-28-2011

Alexis Leinhart Revision, Tennessee Cave Survey Membership Application updated 3-28-2011

Meeting Schedule 2011 Update 10-18-2010

Alexis Lienhart  09/27/2010 Email Officer List Updated - Who to Contact  10-18-2010

Alexis Lienhart  09/27/2010 Email Spring & Fall TCS Meeting Minutes Added Below 10-18-2010

Spring TCS Meeting Notes May 1, 2010 
After Jerell called the meeting to order, our Co-Chairman West, Gerald Moni, reported that we’re at over 9,500 caves and that he’d been ridgewalking a lot in Overton & White counties.
Co-chairman East, Jack Thomison, reported that not much was happening out his way.
Former Secretary/Treasurer, Anne Elmore, read the minutes from the September 9, 2009 fall business meeting and reminded everyone to keep up the coordinate checking.
Narrative Files Director, Marion O Smith, said not much was happening with the narrative files.
Director at Large East TN, Chris Kerr, had nothing to report.
Director at Large West TN, Ron Zawislak, Bibliography File Director, John Hoffelft, & website specialist, Lynn Roebuck were not present to report.
Jack asked for committee reports and Jason Richards gave a report from the nerd-hole committee. He said 600 maps would be scanned by March 2011, in medium to high resolution, and that presently he was working on Cumberland County Grade I & II maps. …at least I think that’s what all of that translated to.
Next, Ric Finch announced the date for the Big Bone Cave gating – May 10. He thanked TCS for our contributions collected at the last fall meeting and solicited for labor for the project, which was a week away. Anne updated us with plans for removal of the old gate. Kristen Bobo would begin the gate-building the following Monday.
Jerell took the floor and discussed a recent, tragic incident of a police officer falling into Hilham pit, and the need for communication between search and rescue and the caving community…and that there needs to be policy in place to offer information to rescue efforts and officers of the law in an official way. Jack thought this was a good idea. Gerald cautioned against organizations wanting ALL of our cave data, but agreed that cavers should be contacted to assist with these rescues. He reminded us that search & rescue teams could be confused by the cave numbering system, and that even if they had the info in hand, they’d probably need a knowledgeable caver to interpret it…giving the list itself would do no good. Gerald and Jerell talked about a few troubling rescues with tangled and rotten rope. Jack wrapped the discussion up by just stating that search & rescue teams need cave rescue training and everyone seemed to agree.
Spencer Hoover talked about his 30-year experience in emergency work, and that the local fire departments seem to want to control cave rescue. He suggested giving out caver contact #’s, as opposed to cave point locations, and just going to local fire departments to talk about vertical cave rescues. Jack suggested that cavers volunteer and join the rescue squad. Spencer then told us he was running for Sheriff. ? …and suggested we compile a list of volunteers for a call list to give to fire departments. Jack mentioned forming a committee for this, but Jason Richards reminded us that we’re not a manpower organization. Jack said that TARS (TN Assoc of Rescue Squads) should know to contact cavers, and said it was time to move on.
New business:
Anne announced that the Blue Spring Cave Book was available for purchase, and that Bill Walters could still sign an autograph. Sale on the NSS website was mentioned, and that at a book-signing in Sparta, over 100 people came and 35 books were sold to non-cavers.
We were also reminded that there were still a few copies of the Big Bone Cave book available.
Jerell said it was time to begin presentations, and we certainly had a full morning of information. 
Jason Richards started us out with a Google Maps interactive presentation on sump cave diving. 
Joe Douglas was next with a presentation of Hubble Post Office Cave and the paleo-discoveries therein. 
John Smyre presented on guidelines for submitting maps for TCS publication. 
Chris Kerr presented on the recognition of stratigraphic & structural controls in recent cave surveys in Fentress County.
Lastly, Spencer Hoover presented his deconstructed, interactive TCS cave list, and stated that he was about 40% done.
Jerell brought the meeting to a close and said it was time to eat! …and we all adjourned, many of us straight to Mi Casa for cerveza & burritos!

TCS Fall Business Meeting September 25, 2010
Jerell opened the meeting by reminding everyone about a benefit for Laurel Falls that he & Rosie would be attending later, and got straight down to business, turning the floor to Co-Chairman West, Jack Thomison.
Jack began with requesting officer reports.
Co-Chairman East, Gerald Moni, was first with a total cave count of 9,517, with 178 new caves, 2/3 of these new caves being over 1 mile. Gerald stated that the data CD and mapbook DVD had been updated with these new narrative files. Gerald asked that if anyone ever needs a paper copy of narratives, or anything else from now on, to please give him notice in advance of the meeting.  Gerald also discussed a file format: Topo_TCS.tpo  …this can be used in the National Geographic topo program. Gerald reminded everyone that he planned to go to El Tapatio after the meeting and that everyone should come join him! A campout at Blue Springs Cove was planned for tonight, mostly to celebrate Marion O. Smith’s birthday. Gerald stated he’d been spending a lot of time in the Cove, field-checking caves. Gerald also asked everyone to be more descriptive with cave entrances and not to use trees as landmarks, as sometimes the ID isn’t correct and it gets confusing. 
Jack Thomison stated nothing to report.
Bibliography files director, John Hoffelt, stated ongoing collection of stuff.
Narrative files director, Marion O. Smith, said he was elected without being at the meeting last fall and has done nothing and will continue do nothing, and really doesn’t want to hold office.
Mapbooks director, John Smyre, states 1,500 maps are scanned to the updated DVD. He has touched up, re-scanned, & corrected the rotation of over 600 maps and has invested around 1,500 hours of work into this. John said that copying and reduction accounts for a lot of the poor quality of maps. John stated that all versions of maps, whether computer-generated, colored, or hand-drawn, are retained and preserved. John reviewed map submission guidelines and stated that only about ¼ of maps submitted contain the appropriate items that need to be on maps. John states the goal of this project is to improve digital copies from scanned maps for preservation and future recovery. John stated he cleans all of the maps up with a software program, as opposed to cleaning by hand and re-scanning.  John solicited maps that are not included on the DVD, or maps of better quality of maps already on the DVD that can be donated or loaned for scanning. John thanked everyone for their contributions thus far.
Director at Large East TN, Chris Kerr, was not present to report.
Director at Large West TN, Ron Zawislak, reported that an Espee Cave map may be finished within 2-3 years!
Jack asked for committee reports and Jason Richards reported from the nerdhole committee. He states he continues to scan Grades 1-3 & 5 maps, and is up to Davidson County, alphabetically…and that anyone willing to can help. It would require picking up a county from Gerald and returning it when finished.
Jack asked if there were any other committees, and Secretary Alexis Lienhart had no others recorded, aside from the nerdhole.
Jack moved to elections.
Co-Chairman East: Gerald Moni, was re-elected, unopposed.
Co-Chairman West: Bruce Zerr was nominated and was elected.
Meeting Director: Jerell Killian was re-elected, unopposed.
Secretary/Treasurer: Alexis Lienhart was re-elected, unopposed.
Narrative Files Director: Kristem Bobo was nominated and elected.
Director at Large East: Jack Thomison was nominated and elected.
Director at Large West: Ron Zawislak was re-elected, unopposed.
Mapbook Director: John Smyre was re-elected, unopposed.
Bibliography Director: John Hoffelt was re-elected, unopposed.
Non-official positions were reviewed: IT Specialist, Lynn Roebuck; Tennessee Caver Editor, Alexis Lienhart.
A short break was given before presentations began.
Joe Douglass started us out with a presentation on Cheeks Stand Cave, and its history and archaeology. Joe also detailed the legend of Elijah Cheek. Because of Joe’s findings from radiocarbon dating river cane in the cave, Cheeks Stand Cave is now 13th on the Deep Cave Use List.
Jason Richards presented on his continuing mapping of Cow Crap Cave and its new connection found to Military Spring Cave, dropping Military Spring from the cave list, and detailed new findings at Lichen Home Cave Spring and Jay Creek Cave.
Bruce Zerr presented on surveys at Buffalo Cove, having added 1,300 more feet to Fern Camp Cave. He found 24 Saltpeter vats and a footprint atop a vat 11 “ long.
This ended the presentations and Jack said it was time to go to El Tap, which Gerald quickly echoed and we all filed out for this season’s round of cerveza & burritos.

Gerald Moni  9/14/2010 Email
2010 TCS Price List - PDF

Alexis Lienhart  9/9/2010 Email
TTU Map Link update 
Meeting Schedule

Chuck Sutherland via Facebook 9-8-2010
Alexis Lienhart added as Secretary/Treasurer replacing the former
TCS Contacts

Jack Thomison Thu 9-2-2010 Email
Jack Thomison's Text for Replacement on default.html
The Tennessee Cave Survey, Inc. (TCS) is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society (NSS) in the state of Tennessee, USA dedicated to surveying and mapping of Tennessee caves. The TCS is committed to the discovery, exploration, survey and mapping of the caves of Tennessee and to systematically collect, organize, maintain both information and cave maps of Tennessee caves.  TCS relies almost exclusively on the volunteer participation of its caver members to generate these data and cave maps.  Consequently, TCS will only share this information with approved members.

The TCS, along with its parent organization the NSS, strongly encourages and promotes the protection of the caves of Tennessee from significant adverse environmental impact.  The TCS recognizes that this conservation should also be consistent with reasonable cave access for exploration, cave mapping and survey by cavers. 

The TCS encourages its member cavers to maintain good relationships with cave landowners, both private and governmental to maintain access.

The TCS discourages widespread dissemination of sensitive cave information, that may encourage unprincipled or uneducated people to cause harm to the cave environment.  TCS considers more protection of caves may sometimes be the best way to preserve the cave and its environment.  TCS will not release sensitive cave locations, cave maps, and TCS data en mass to any person, outdoors group, government agencies, state agencies, private or non-profit organizations.  However, on a case by case basis, TCS will consider releasing limited data to responsible people or agencies that it considers necessary to help preserve the cave and/or its environment.

Old Text Removed from default.html
The Tennessee Cave Survey, Inc. (TCS) is a private organization in the state of Tennessee, USA dedicated to surveying and mapping of Tennessee caves. Cave Survey members are volunteers who are committed to the discovery, exploration, survey and mapping of the caves of Tennessee. 

Tennessee Cave Survey goals are to systematically collect, organize, maintain information and cave maps about Tennessee caves. The TCS strongly encourages and promotes the protection of  the caves of Tennessee from significant adverse environmental impact, consistent with reasonable cave access for exploration, cave mapping and survey by cavers. The TCS discourages widespread dissemination of sensitive cave information. Tennessee Cave Survey considers the effort toward more protective legislation for caves a more desirable approach to cave conservation than the release of sensitive cave locations, cave maps, and TCS data en mass to any person, outdoors group, government agencies, state agencies, private or non-profit organizations. 

Our volunteers, both Tennessee cavers and out-of-state cavers add to the knowledge of speleology through their Tennessee cave mapping and cave surveying efforts. Since Tennessee Cave Surveys' inception over 9,300 caves have been added to the TCS Cave Files! This might explain why the Tennessee Cave Survey is often referred to as the Southeastern Leader in cave survey. The significance of the TCS Cave Files is related to the information that might be contributed to the Tennessee Cave Survey files by cavers who record and choose to share their cave survey, cave maps and information with the Tennessee Cave Survey. 

Through exploration cavers often are able to gain more knowledge and data concerning the Caves of Tennessee.

Gerald Moni  8/26/2010 Email
Gerald Moni email address updated
TCS Contacts

Gerald Moni  9/2/2010 Email
2010 Fall Meeting date updated
Announcements, Meetings
 

The Meeting Minutes of the Tennessee Cave Survey will be added to this web site as soon as they are received. 
 

2009 Spring TCS Meeting Minutes;   April 4, 2009  Sewanee, TN

Jerell Killiam opened the spring meeting.  Gerald Moni announced 100 new caves and he is still field checking the data and coordinates and making any necessary changes to the TCS records.  He had CD made for purchase ($10) that has the old TCS information on it including everything to date.  This allows those interested in electronics info as well as paper info to purchase either.  The fall meeting will have updates. 

John Smyre announced the availability of his book on Big Bone Cave being free to TCS members. 

Secretary Anne Elmore read the minutes from the fall 2008 meeting; they were approved.  She suggested that renewals be for 2 or more years at a time.  Dealing with $6 fees is time consuming and she wanted more money than this.

John Holfelt said he is unable to continue his Bibliography job in the future and suggests that these need to be kept updated at each local level.

The Committee to discuss the TCS information to be distributed to Tennessee Parks & Greenways group be allowed.  Cory Holliday of the Nature Conservancy will use this info for # of caves and topo's to give to Developers.  He wants tto lisy cave density and # of caves on the topographic maps in given areas.  The motion was made by John Holfelt to allow The Nature Conservancy to release the # of caves for topo overlay only; motion was passed by the group.

Alexis asked for caving articles to submitted to the TCS Newsletter and one will be published for the fall 2009 meeting. 

Joe Douglas gave a presentation on Marble Hall in Hawkins County
Mabry Harden had a powerpoint show of the Cave Diving Projects in Tennessee for 2008
Jody Bailey gave his pumped up version of the upcoming SERA Cave Carnival, including 5K run, Win Your Weight in Beer, lots of beads & drinking will be involved.

Gerald Moni announced that the highlight of the day will be lunch and it was decided to meet at the usual Mexican Restaurant, even though there is a For Sale sign.  Someone suggested we warn them of our arrival.  Meeting adjourned. 
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Note: Minutes Received via email 8-30-2009 / Uploaded to Web 8-31-2009
 


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