MINUTES
MBGS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
May 18, 2005
Coyote Creek Grille, Lansing
Officers Attending: Mike Grammer, Robb Gillespie, Tom Hoane, Bob Reynolds, Mark Wollensak, Pat Poli, Tom Wellman, Tom Godbold, Leonard Espinosa and Mark Nida.
President – Mike Grammer
John Wirth sent a letter thanking the MBGS for his honorary membership and his jacket.
This request is the result of PA 625, which included a mandate by the legislature to develop a groundwater inventory of the state. Permission was requested to reprint on a website the excerpts from Ty Black’s, publication on Karst Geology of the Northern Lower Peninsula (pages 11-35), Karst Lakes by Rich Kimmel (pages 82-90), and Gardeners Publication #1, of the Devonian of Michigan ( the entire publication). It was agreed that we would release the abstracts and allow a link to our web site but not allow release of the complete article.
We discussed MBGS sponsorship of grad student thesis relating to Michigan. Most MS thesis are not copyrighted, PHD dissertations usually are copyrighted and do require the author’s permission to print. It was noted that if multiple copies have been made and the manuscript is bound, the university may have the copyright. Bob Reynolds agreed to do further checking on the matter of the copyright. The issue was tabled.
Discussion of this issue showed that licensure would help environmental (groundwater) geologists but could hurt non-environmental (ex. Petroleum) geologists. The main concern was the requirement that a geologist work under a certified geologist for a period of years (4 or 5). This issue appears to be stagnant. We will table this issue and wait to see if it moves further in the Legislature.
The committee is interested in taking steps to increase attendance at monthly meetings. Comments received on this issue included: continue Mentor’s night and Children’s night, change the venue, change the time to a lunch meeting, change the week from the 2 nd week of the month to the 1PstP or 3 rd. It was agreed that the lowered attendance at meetings is not unique to this group. No decision was made. The issue was tabled.
We are waiting for Ray to get back to us.
Len stated that Dr. Moshers CD’s are not yet finalized. We will wait until Dr. Mosher has finalized his material before we decide formatting issues. Len feels the CD’s will be done in the fall and he agreed to contact Dr. Mosher. This issue was tabled.
The final vote is as follows:
President – Robb Gillespie automatically moves to President from V.P.
Vice President – Robert Reynolds ran un-opposed.
Secretary – Ken Petri was running against Dave Baxter. The result was a tie vote.
The committee agreed that whoever shows up at tonight’s meeting will be the new secretary. If both show up a coin flip will be used to determine the new Secretary. Dave Baxter was present and Ken did not show up. Dave is the new secretary.
Treasurer – Tom Hoane ran un-opposed.
Business Manager – Leonard Espinosa was running against Mark Nida. Leonard won by a vote of 24 to 23.
Vice President – Robb Gillespie
Robb expressed his thanks to Tom Hoane for getting information on DNR’s Rails To Trails. He indicated the geology of the Rails To Trails and of the State Parks is high on his list for next year and wants committee members to think about this over the summer. Bob Reynolds noted that this could be a Masters Thesis.
Secretary – Bob Reynolds
Treasurer/Publication Sales – Thomas Hoane
Passed out financial report and stated that the current bank statement has $6,241.29 in checking and $5,456.77 in the HI-Fi money market Account. The Grand Canyon trip is completely taken care of. Tom received a hand printed letter from an inmate of the Pugsley Correctional Facility in Kingsley requesting copies of the MBGS publications. Tom will look into this. Tom stated that he and Tom Godbold had a discussion with DNR State Parks officials regarding the possibility of MBGS creating pamphlets on the geology of Michigan parks. The DNR-Parks likes the idea. A committee on geology of Rails to Trails and State Parks was created consisting of Robb Gillespie, Tom Hoane, and Tom Godbold.
Business Manager – Pat Poli
15 members have signed up for tonight’s meeting.
Past President – Tom Godbold
Nothing.
Co-Fieldtrip Directors – Mark Wollensak, Leonard Espinosa
Karst outing in August:
Mark stated that the caving trip being planned for this summer would be pushed back to the fall, Oct or Nov.
The committee agreed that field trips build cohesion and camaraderie among members. Possible future field trips include: Petrolia in October or early spring, Pardox Basin, Gypsum mine tour. Dave and Leonard will work a Gypsum Mine trip.
Newsletter editor – Tom Wellman
Tom stated he has finished scanning O&G Fields Volume 1 and will give it back to Mark W. He is working on Glacial Geology of Southwestern Michigan, Hydrocarbon Potential, and the 1987 Middle Devonian Carbonate Shale’s of SW Ontario.
Electronic publications – Mark Wollensak
Webmaster – Greg Varnum
New Business –
Dave Baxter joined the meeting and proposed an eastern UP field trip. He noted the Institute of Lake Superior Geologists (ILSG) will be meeting in Sault St. Marie. He suggested the MBGS co-host the meeting and develop a field trip guide book starting out of the Sault, USA. The ILSG would run the field trip. A committee was formed, consisting of Dave Baxter, Len Espinosa, and Robb Gillespie, to work on this issue.
Mark Wollensak wants to send a MBGS mug to Cata Macarvel the co-leader of the Grand Canyon trip. The committee approved his request. The committee discussed and agreed to order 20 Grand Canyon trip T shirts, 15 for sale at $15 and 5 for door prize gifts.
Old Business --
Other—
At 6:10 Mike Grammer adjourned the meeting
Thank you Tom Godbold for taking the minutes for this meeting.
Respectively Submitted
Bob Reynolds