National Speleological Society www.caves.org Manual for Internal Organizations Grotto Region Section Survey www.caves.org/committee/i-o/ Prepared by the Internal Organizations Committee of the NSS Table of Contents How to Use This Manual ...................................................................................... 3 Internal Organizations and Other Groups............................................................. 3 Obligations and Benefits of Being an NSS I/O .................................................... 4 Policy for Internal Organizations ......................................................................... 4 Contents and Format of a Typical Annual Report................................................ 7 U. S. Geological Survey Newsletter Exchange .................................................... 8 Use of Society Logo and Letterhead .................................................................... 8 Reporting Cave Accidents .................................................................................. 10 Contemporary Cave Use Study (CCUS) ............................................................ 10 Audio-Visual Library ......................................................................................... 11 Miscellaneous Documents of Interest ................................................................ 11 Awards, Grants, and Rewards ............................................................................ 12 Definitions and Policies for NSS Activities ....................................................... 14 Tax-Exempt or Non-Profit Status....................................................................... 16 Policy for Cave Conservation............................................................................. 17 ISSN for Publications ......................................................................................... 17 Congress of Grottos, Rules of Procedure ........................................................... 18 Landowner Relations .......................................................................................... 20 Dissolving an Internal Organization................................................................... 21 NSS Public Relations Policy .............................................................................. 22 NSS Web Page.................................................................................................... 23 I/O E-mail List .................................................................................................... 23 Types of NSS Membership................................................................................. 24 Events Sponsored by the NSS ............................................................................ 25 Working with Boy Scout Troops........................................................................ 25 Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................. 26 Published by the Internal Organizations Commit- tee of the National Speleological Society. This document is not a substitute for the Evelyn Bradshaw and Keith D. Wheeland, Co- constitution and bylaws of your organiza- Chairs tion. It is intended only to help with your relationship with the NSS. It also doesn’t [email protected] explain how to form a chapter since that [email protected] information is only needed at startup. First printing - 2/21/2002 (PDF 8/17/2003) This version updated 11/07/2003 2 How to Use This Manual The I/O Committee intends to keep this manual at www.caves.org/committee/i-o up-to-date, but for the latest information please You may also contact the Internal Organizations refer to the official NSS documents in the NSS Committee. You will find the address in the NSS Members Manual, at the NSS web site, Members Manual, on the NSS web page, or by www.caves.org or at the I/O Committee web site contacting the NSS. Internal Organizations and Other Groups Much of the real work of the NSS (Society) is carried speleological interests cover the same general area. out by members working in small, local groups. These Most regions organize at least one annual project, meet- groups are of four types: Chapters (or Grottos), Re- ing, or get-together. Some regions also publish a news- gions, Surveys, and Sections. Each Internal Organiza- letter. tion is chartered by the Society to help carry out the Society’s purposes on a local level. The privileges and Speleological Surveys (Survey). Surveys are Internal responsibilities of Internal Organizations, the criteria Organizations made up of individuals and organiza- by which they are chartered, and the rules they are ex- tions engaged in gathering speleological data in a gen- pected to follow are set out in the Policy for Internal eral geographical area. The primary purpose of a sur- Organizations. vey is to maintain a centralized file for the cave area and to prevent duplication of work among members. The Internal Organizations exist to make Society mem- Copies of maps and information compiled by the sur- bership more meaningful. Each Society member should veys should be sent to the National Cave Files Com- try to become a member of at least one Internal Orga- mittee. nization and take part in its activities. The Society places no limit on the number of Internal Organizations to Special Section (Section). Sections are Internal Orga- which a member may belong. nizations made up of individuals with a specific com- mon interest related to caves. Sections are generally A group of members who wish to form one of the In- nationwide in scope and serve to maintain communi- ternal Organizations described below must first obtain cation among the members. a charter from the Society. The authority to charter In- ternal Organizations has been delegated to the Internal Other Groups: AffinityGroup. Affinity Groups are Organizations (I/O) Committee. not Internal Organizations and do not have the privi- leges and obligations of Internal Organizations. Affin- Chapter (Grotto). Chapters are organizations of So- ity Groups are organizations of at least ten NSS mem- ciety members who live in the same general locality or bers which will foster the NSS goal of fellowship among who share interests through traveling. Most chapters those interested in caves, but, unlike Sections, with are known as grottos. The two words mean the same common interests of their members not directly related thing within the Society. Chapters generally hold regu- to speleology. They will be listed on the NSS web site lar meetings and trips, organize projects, train new and in the Members Manual. The purpose of an affin- members, publish newsletters, and provide social func- ity group must be compatible with the purposes and tions for their members. A special type of chapter, a policies of the NSS. student grotto, can be organized at an educational in- stitution to serve the needs of students, staff, and fac- Activities. The Board has established six categories of ulty at that institution. NSS Activities. These Activities are not Internal Or- ganizations but are intended to help members promote Regional Association ( Region). Regions are Internal the purposes of the Society. Each is further defined in Organizations made up of grottos, sections, surveys, Definitions and Policies for NSS Activities described and individuals in a general geographical area. The pur- elsewhere in this document. The categories are Expe- pose of a region is to maintain communication among dition, Project, Conservation Task Force, Study Group, Internal Organizations and isolated members whose Conservancy, and Non-Research Project. 3 Obligations and Benefits of Being an NSS I/O Obligations: A grotto must maintain at least five NSS I/Os may not engage in any activity which is detrimen- members who claim its organization as their Primary tal to speleology, conservation, safety, or the best in- Affiliation. Even though a NSS member may belong terests of the NSS. to multiple organizations within the NSS, they may claim only one as their Primary Affiliation. This is done Benefits: I/Os shall, upon request, receive one com- by each member informing the NSS office of his or plimentary copy of each issue of the NSS News and the her Primary Affiliation. A Section must have at least Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 10 NSS members as members. A Region must have at least two other NSS I/Os as members. I/Os are entitled to representation at the Congress of Grottos (COG). All those in leadership positions (as defined by the I/O Constitution and By-Laws) must be NSS members. I/Os are entitled to send a non-voting representative to any meeting of the Board of Governors for the purpose I/Os must submit an annual report to the Internal Or- of presenting or discussing matters relating to the or- ganizations Committee, at a time and place designated ganization. by the Committee. I/Os are encouraged to keep their information up to date as changes occur. I/Os are entitled to receive the monthly administrative mailing on paper or by e-mail. I/Os must submit two copies of each publication to the NSS Library. I/Os may receive assistance from the NSS such as cave location data, slide shows, library materials, and exhi- I/Os must submit two copies of each publication to the bition materials to aid in the activities of your organi- Cave Files Committee. zation. I/Os are encouraged to submit a copy of each publica- I/Os will be listed in the annual printed issue of the tion to the U.S. Geological Survey.