National Speleological Society
Encyclopedia
The National Speleological Society (NSS) is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the exploration
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...

, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....

. The organization engages in mapping, cleaning, scientific study, purchase and gating of caves.

Organization

The organization is currently divided into 12 regions:
  • Arizona Region (sometimes included in the Southwestern Region)
  • Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR)
  • Mississippi Valley-Ozark Region (MVOR)
  • Northeast Regional Organization (NRO)
  • Northwest Regional Organization and the Northwest Caving Association (NCA)
  • Ohio Valley Region
  • Rocky Mountain Region
  • Southeastern Regional Association
  • Southwestern Region
  • Texas Speleological Association
  • Virginia Region (VAR)
  • Western Region.


Within these regions are local chapters known as grottos
Grotto (National Speleological Society)
A Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society . They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club. Many Grottos however, operate in areas outside of their local area, with many operating in several states. Most Grottos also participate in Regions which are loose...

. The grottos carry out the local level recreational and conservation-related business of the NSS.

History

The Speleological Society of the District of Columbia (SSDC) was formed on May 6, 1939 by Bill Stephenson. In the fall of 1940, the officers of the SSDC drafted a proposed constitution that would transform the SSDC into the National Speleological Society. On January 24, 1941, Bill Stephenson sent a letter to all members of the SSDC announcing that "on January 1 the Society was reorganized as a national organization."

Publications

The NSS produces a number of publications, including:

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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