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PROCEEDINGS OF THE DESERT FISHES COUNCIL 1993 - VOLUME XXV
<br />MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING
<br />Chairman's report on the November 13, 1993 Business Meeting
<br />of the Desert Fishes Council
<br />The meeting was called to order by Chairman John Rinne at 1.00 p.m.
<br />OLD BUSINESS
<br />TREASURER'S REPORT: Phil Pister indicated that current balance in the DFC interest-bearing checking account is $13,059.27. However,
<br />this tends to be a misleading figure, inasmuch as checks to cover symposium expenses are yet to be written, and revenues from registration have
<br />not been included in this balance figure. [Note: balance at this writing (January 17, 1994) is $12,533.28. Our major obligation yet to be deducted
<br />from this figure is publication of the 1994 Proceedings.] The Treasurer/Executive Secretary feels that we have sufficient funds on hand to conduct
<br />the affairs of the Council for the forthcoming year (1994).
<br />COMMUNICATIONS: Letters of regret at not being able to attend the 1993 meeting were received from the Direction General de
<br />Aprovechamiento Ecologico de los Recursos Naturales (Dr. Exequiel Ezcurra) in Mexico City, Bill Kepner, Dave Galat (who survived the
<br />Midwest flood unscathed), and Jack Williams. We also received communication from Frances Chisholm, U.S. Vice Consul in Monterrey. Ms.
<br />Chisholm attended part of the symposium and the field trip to Cuatrocienegas, providing much-needed transportation for members who otherwise
<br />could not have attended. The Council also received a letter of inquiry from KRIM Mohamed, a high school biology teacher in Saida, Algeria,
<br />expressing interest in the affairs of the Council. He is organizing a group of his colleagues in an effort "Just to protect and to save animals, and
<br />all kinds of natural life." The Executive Secretary responded by greeting our new colleagues from Algeria and sending along a number of
<br />reprints, Proceedings Volume 24, and other material describing affairs of the Council. This admirable new group was welcomed into honorary
<br />membership, joining members (outside of North America) from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Russia, Italy, and Alabama. A large amount
<br />of correspondencewas handled by the Executive Secretary in the form of communicationto countless high school and elementary school students
<br />working on endangered species projects. A form letter describing activities and philosophical direction of the Council has been prepared, and
<br />this simplifies the operation. Looking at the big picture, this type of thing is probably the most important work we can accomplish. If we don't
<br />have supportive younger year classes, we had just as well pack up and go home! In addition, a strong letter was sent to Senator Dianne Feinstein
<br />of California endorsing Senate Bill 21 (the California Desert Protection Act) and requesting her support of a strong Endangered Species Act re-
<br />authorization, specifically Senate Bill 921 (Baueus and Chafee).
<br />Bill Berg staled that he is now in a position to make good his 1992 offer to produce for us a DFC membership directory. Members should soon
<br />be receiving a letter from Bill in this respect.
<br />NEW BUSINESS
<br />RESOLUTIONS: Five resolutions were presented to the membership for action, as follows: 1. Proposed by W.L. Minckley: Relative to
<br />Conservation of Fishes in the Cuauo Cienegas Basin. Moved by C.O. Minckley, seconded by Clark Hubbs. Passed without dissenting vote. 2.
<br />Proposed by Rob Huntley: Relative to Professional / Non-professional Cooperation in Aquatic Conservation. Because of relatively low attendance
<br />at the meeting, elements of controversy within the resolution, and a need for broader participation in its discussion, this resolution was tabled
<br />until the 1994 meeting in Death Valley. 3. Proposed by Jeff Whitney: Relative to Protection of Endemic Fishes of the Upper Verde River,
<br />Arizona. The intent of this resolution will be fulfilled on an interim basis by a letter. It will be suggested to Mr. Whitney that he prepare a
<br />broader resolution for presentation at the Council's 1994 symposium. 4. Proposed by Paul Loiselle: Relative to Endorsement and Support by
<br />the Desert Fishes Council of an Endangered Fishes Refugium Center at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. Moved by Paul Loiselle,
<br />seconded by Bob Love. Passed without dissenting vote. 5. Proposed by Neil Armantrout: Relative to the Commendation of Salvador Contreras
<br />and Local Support Personnel in Monterrey for Providing an Excellent Meeting. Moved by Neil Armantrout, seconded by Phil Pister. Passed
<br />without dissenting vote.
<br />Texts of the resolutions passed by the Council follow:
<br />RESOLUTION OF THE DESERT FISHES COUNCIL, 1993-1: Relative to conservation of fishes in the
<br />Cuatro Ci6negas basin.
<br />WHEREAS the Cuatro Cienegas basin and its environs in central Coahuila, Mexico, has been internationally recognized as one of the most
<br />unique biological areas in North America for many years; and
<br />WHEREAS extractive development within and adjacent to the area, and in the region, remains a threat to its integrity and well-being; and
<br />WHEREAS conservation efforts on behalf of the area and region and its biota are making progress and considerable evidence exists that they
<br />will come to fruition; therefore be it
<br />RESOLVED that the Desert Fishes Council, an international society dedicated to the protection of desert aquatic biota, commends and
<br />congratulates private, municipal, state, and federal individuals and agencies in Mexico for their efforts and progress to conserve and perpetuate
<br />the area; and be it further
<br />RESOLVED that the Desert Fishes Council, as a unit and through actions of its individual members, offers any and all assistance it can muster
<br />to further this effort and thus assure maintenance of sustainable local and regional ecosystem(s) in the Cualro Cienegas area; and he it further
<br />RESOLVED that the Desert Fishes Council further urges all private, municipal, state and federal individuals and agencies dealing with the
<br />Cualro Cienegas basin to redouble their efforts so that this showcase of biodiversity for Mexico, the Chihuahuan Desert, and for the World
<br />will not be damaged or lost, but will be conserved for future generations.
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