[Forwarded post, originally by Scott Fee]
NSS Award Nominations Sought NSS Award Nominations Once again, it is time to nominate that deserving member of your grotto, section, or region for an NSS award to be presented at the 2012 Convention. Please submit nominations to the appropriate award sub chair by November 15, 2011. All of the award information is in one handy spot, check out the NSS Web Page at this URL: http://www.caves.org/committee/award/ . You can submit your nominations in writing or via e-mail, for the following awards: WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD One Outstanding Service Award is given each year to a member of the NSS for outstanding service to speleology and the NSS. Life Membership is conferred upon receipt of this award. This and the Honorary Membership (below) constitute the Society's highest awards. Send nominations to Bill Mixon. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP One Honorary Membership is given each year to one person, not necessarily an NSS member, for outstanding contributions to the field of speleology. The award confers life membership to the Society. Send nominations to Bill Mixon LEW BICKING AWARD* The Lew Bicking Award recognizes dedication to the thorough exploration and mapping of a cave or a group of caves. The award may be given to an individual, or to a pair of cavers who, through specific joint actions, qualify equally for the award based on the exploration they have done together. Candidates must have been NSS members for at least the past two years. A cash award accompanies this recognition. Send nominations to Bill Steele. SCIENCE AWARD* The Science Award is given each year to recognize one or a pair of NSS members who, through specific joint actions, qualify equally for the award based on outstanding dedication to the scientific study of caves. Candidates must have been NSS members for at least the past two years. Send nominations to Dr. Kathy Lavoie. SPELEAN ARTS & LETTERS AWARD* One Spelean Arts and Letters Award is given annually to recognize one or a pair of NSS members who, through specific joint actions qualify equally for the award, over time has advanced spelean arts and letters by significant artistic expression, management, or criticism. Candidates must have been NSS members for at least the past two years. Send nominations to Linda Starr. VICTOR A. SCHMIDT CONSERVATION AWARD* The Victor A. Schmidt Conservation Award is given annually to an individual or a pair of NSS members who, through specific joint actions qualify equally for the award through his, her, or their actions and has demonstrated an outstanding dedication to the cause of cave conservation. Candidates must have been NSS members for at least the past two years. Send nominations to Bob Vandeventer. FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY Recipients are members who, over a number of years, have exemplified by their actions their dedication to the goals of the Society or to the Society itself. Recipients must have been members in good standing of the Society for at least two years immediately prior to their names being submitted as candidates. Send nominations to Mike Hood. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT Certificates may be given to individuals, jointly to no more than three individuals, or to organizations. (NSS Membership is not required.) A maximum of three Certificates of Merit may be awarded each year for specific, recent accomplishments in cave exploration, study, conservation, or for accomplishments which further other goals of the NSS. Send nominations to Gary Moss. PETER M. HAUER SPELEAN HISTORY AWARD This award includes a cash award to be given to an individual or group of individuals engaged in an outstanding spelean history research project. Send nominations to Carolyn Cronk. JAMES G. MITCHELL AWARD This award includes a cash award for the best scientific paper presented at the Convention by a member (or mem-bers) of the Society age 25 or younger. For consideration contact Mike Backe. *The Awards Committee shall give preference to candidates who have not received the Outstanding Service Award or Honorary Membership. Comments and suggestions on the nomination process and operation of the Awards Committee are always welcome. Please write Scott Fee, Awards Committee Chairman. http://www.caves.org/committee/award/ has hyperlinks to email all NSS Awards Committee Members. Scott Fee Awards Committee Chairman scott...@bellsouth.net
