National Speleological Society

The National Speleological Society ( NSS) is an association of American spelunkers. The NSS was established in 1941 founded with the mission to promote research, conservation and understanding of caves. According to the original headquarters in Washington, D.C. is currently the headquarters in Huntsville (Alabama ). The association with over 12,000 members involved in mapping, cleaning, scientific studies, acquisition and fencing of caves. The NSS operates the largest network of cave rescue in the U.S..

Construction

The association is currently divided into twelve regions:

  • Arizona region (sometimes the South Western Region allocated )
  • Mid- Appalachian Region
  • Mississippi Valley Ozark Region
  • Northeast Regional Organization
  • Northwest Regional Organization / Northwest Caving Association
  • Ohio Valley Region
  • Rocky Mountain Region
  • Southeastern Regional Association
  • South Western Region
  • Texas Speleological Association
  • Virginia region
  • Western Region

Chapters across these regions as grottos ( caves ) refers. The grottos are responsible at local level for leisure activities and tasks of nature conservation.

History

The Speleological Society of the District of Columbia ( SSDC ) was established on May 6, 1939 by Bill Stephenson. In the fall of 1940, proposed an amendment to the articles of association of the leaders of the SSDC, which would convert the SSDC in the National Speleological Society. The members were informed on 24 January 1941 the conversion: ' On 1 January, the company was reconstituted as a national organization. '

A special case in the organizational structure, the Cave Diving Section ( NSS - CDS) dar. After the first courses in cave diving in 1953 by the Florida Speleological Society NSS - CDS was founded in 1983. The main tasks of since 1987 on regionally accredited NGO, research and training; the NSS - CDS operates the world's most comprehensive training program in cave diving.

Publications

The NSS are a number of publications out, including:

  • NSS News (monthly)
  • Journal of Cave and Karst Studies (quarterly); to 1995: NSS Bulletin (online only tables of contents )
  • Underwater Speleology (quarterly)
  • Membership Manual ("Members Manual", year)
  • American Caving Accidents ( "American cave accidents," every five years )
Huntsville (Alabama)
594827
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