texascavers Digest 19 Apr 2011 22:58:59 -0000 Issue 1291
Topics (messages 17614 through 17619):
Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
17614 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
17615 by: Fritz Holt
17617 by: Bill Bentley
Re: East Texas Caver's Cookout
17616 by: David
Caving Brochures
17618 by: Carl Kunath
17619 by: Linda Palit
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
But, what can the TSA do for you!
Michael Cicherski emailed the TSA officers this query and we all would like to
solicit your (constructive and positive) ideas, improvements, likes/dislikes,
and things you would like to see the TSA do.
From Michael:
What can we (the TSA) do for the remainder of the year to make a
difference? Is there anything that we can pro-actively to show the TSA is the
premier caving organization in the State? How can we make the TSA the “place to
go” for all things caving?
I will be up front and say that I have no answers to my own question.
It is more of a question that we need to ponder as we move into the summer
months. With the exception of the Texas Caver and TSA Convention we are
relatively dormant during these summer months. Perhaps we could have 2 -4
training classes at TCR in October. Workshops limited to the first 25 cavers on
such topics as cave photography, vertical beginner, vertical advance,
cartography beginner, cartography advanced.
We currently have around 150 members and it has fluctuated around there
since I have been an officer. The officers and I are interested in building
more excitement and enthusiasm for the TSA, which will then bring in more
members.
I just attended a superb climbing class conducted by Lloyd Turnbull and
the Cowtown Grotto. These are the type of things we’re interested in promoting
and conducting.
So now is your chance! Rather than listen to me browbeat y’all about
needing material for The TEXAS CAVER (which, I still do!) get your thinking
caps on and send us some feedback!
If you would like to volunteer to head something up, don’t be shy about
that, as well!
I will be out of commission for the next couple of days getting a
couple of kidney stones annihilated, but while you’re sending me money,
flowers, candy, and best wishes, think about ways we can improve the TSA.
We’re all in this cave together!
Thanks!
Mark, Ellie, Michael, and Denise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Dear Community Organizers,
Michael's post emphasizes TSA educational programs but my suggestion is one
more along the lines of recreational gatherings which can incorporate
educational subjects of interest. Locklear's East Texas Cook Out (now
apparently defunct) is an example. During these "relatively dormant" and hot
summer months, which number about five, TSA could plan a monthly get together
of cavers, as well as "spelunkers" like me, and guests, for an overnight
campout at various public Hill Country swimming holes where camping is allowed.
There must be a dozen such places within 100 miles of Austin. The only
"organized" activity would be TSA finding the site, setting a date and making
it known to members. I don't know if we are welcome there but Paradise Canyon
is a good example of a great camping/swimming location. To avoid too much
advance planning and work by the few who do it, the gatherings would not be
attended as an organized group but as individuals who would pay their own fees
and bring their own food. Side trips to nearby accessible caves, commercial or
wild, could be an option but the gatherings would primarily be for enjoyment of
friends with common interests. Members could invite adventurous friends and
neighbors who might become interested in caving. I wasn't fortunate enough to
attend the Camp Eagle Men's Retreat last weekend but Paul Unger was there and I
am told he gave a most interesting demonstration of knapping, which is the
making of points from flint. There are those among us with similar skills and
hobbies that could be spontaneously demonstrated for the pleasure of all in
attendance. It sounds like fun to me.
Fritz (not a project volunteer)
________________________________
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Texas Cavers
Cc: Mark at home
Subject: [Texascavers] Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
But, what can the TSA do for you!
Michael Cicherski emailed the TSA officers this query and we all would like to
solicit your (constructive and positive) ideas, improvements, likes/dislikes,
and things you would like to see the TSA do.
From Michael:
What can we (the TSA) do for the remainder of the year to make a difference? Is
there anything that we can pro-actively to show the TSA is the premier caving
organization in the State? How can we make the TSA the "place to go" for all
things caving?
I will be up front and say that I have no answers to my own question. It is
more of a question that we need to ponder as we move into the summer months.
With the exception of the Texas Caver and TSA Convention we are relatively
dormant during these summer months. Perhaps we could have 2 -4 training classes
at TCR in October. Workshops limited to the first 25 cavers on such topics as
cave photography, vertical beginner, vertical advance, cartography beginner,
cartography advanced.
We currently have around 150 members and it has fluctuated around there since I
have been an officer. The officers and I are interested in building more
excitement and enthusiasm for the TSA, which will then bring in more members.
I just attended a superb climbing class conducted by Lloyd Turnbull and the
Cowtown Grotto. These are the type of things we're interested in promoting and
conducting.
So now is your chance! Rather than listen to me browbeat y'all about needing
material for The TEXAS CAVER (which, I still do!) get your thinking caps on and
send us some feedback!
If you would like to volunteer to head something up, don't be shy about that,
as well!
I will be out of commission for the next couple of days getting a couple of
kidney stones annihilated, but while you're sending me money, flowers, candy,
and best wishes, think about ways we can improve the TSA.
We're all in this cave together!
Thanks!
Mark, Ellie, Michael, and Denise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Some well made brochures would be nice to hand out to new cavers at grotto
meetings.
Just a thought.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Fritz Holt
To: '[email protected]' ; Texas Cavers
Cc: Mark at home ; 'Mandy Holt' ; 'Jenny Holt'
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:43 AM
Subject: [Texascavers] RE: Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
Dear Community Organizers,
Michael's post emphasizes TSA educational programs but my suggestion is one
more along the lines of recreational gatherings which can incorporate
educational subjects of interest. Locklear's East Texas Cook Out (now
apparently defunct) is an example. During these "relatively dormant" and hot
summer months, which number about five, TSA could plan a monthly get together
of cavers, as well as "spelunkers" like me, and guests, for an overnight
campout at various public Hill Country swimming holes where camping is allowed.
There must be a dozen such places within 100 miles of Austin. The only
"organized" activity would be TSA finding the site, setting a date and making
it known to members. I don't know if we are welcome there but Paradise Canyon
is a good example of a great camping/swimming location. To avoid too much
advance planning and work by the few who do it, the gatherings would not be
attended as an organized group but as individuals who would pay their own fees
and bring their own food. Side trips to nearby accessible caves, commercial or
wild, could be an option but the gatherings would primarily be for enjoyment of
friends with common interests. Members could invite adventurous friends and
neighbors who might become interested in caving. I wasn't fortunate enough to
attend the Camp Eagle Men's Retreat last weekend but Paul Unger was there and I
am told he gave a most interesting demonstration of knapping, which is the
making of points from flint. There are those among us with similar skills and
hobbies that could be spontaneously demonstrated for the pleasure of all in
attendance. It sounds like fun to me.
Fritz (not a project volunteer)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Texas Cavers
Cc: Mark at home
Subject: [Texascavers] Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
But, what can the TSA do for you!
Michael Cicherski emailed the TSA officers this query and we all would like
to solicit your (constructive and positive) ideas, improvements,
likes/dislikes, and things you would like to see the TSA do.
From Michael:
What can we (the TSA) do for the remainder of the year to make a
difference? Is there anything that we can pro-actively to show the TSA is the
premier caving organization in the State? How can we make the TSA the "place to
go" for all things caving?
I will be up front and say that I have no answers to my own question. It is
more of a question that we need to ponder as we move into the summer months.
With the exception of the Texas Caver and TSA Convention we are relatively
dormant during these summer months. Perhaps we could have 2 -4 training classes
at TCR in October. Workshops limited to the first 25 cavers on such topics as
cave photography, vertical beginner, vertical advance, cartography beginner,
cartography advanced.
We currently have around 150 members and it has fluctuated around there
since I have been an officer. The officers and I are interested in building
more excitement and enthusiasm for the TSA, which will then bring in more
members.
I just attended a superb climbing class conducted by Lloyd Turnbull and the
Cowtown Grotto. These are the type of things we're interested in promoting and
conducting.
So now is your chance! Rather than listen to me browbeat y'all about
needing material for The TEXAS CAVER (which, I still do!) get your thinking
caps on and send us some feedback!
If you would like to volunteer to head something up, don't be shy about
that, as well!
I will be out of commission for the next couple of days getting a couple of
kidney stones annihilated, but while you're sending me money, flowers, candy,
and best wishes, think about ways we can improve the TSA.
We're all in this cave together!
Thanks!
Mark, Ellie, Michael, and Denise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The Cookout is still on schedule. A year ago, I announced the date
of May 21, and I am firmly sticking to it. Unless 10 cavers can
step forward with a better date that the are willing to RSVP, then I
am NOT changing the date.
I may have to downsize the event, or rename the event, but as of April
19th, all the planning is moving forward.
I have sent out invitations and have 5 potential attendees, but it is
too early to cancel.
Camping will be excellent if the weather cooperates. Swimming will
either be a small portable pool or a 15 minute drive to the beach at
Lake Somerville. I plan to swim at that beach in the next week or 2
to see what the potential is. There is a nice public pool just 15
minutes from the campground, called the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.
But I want to swim at night under the stars, so I prefer to set up
something.
Food for the event is still up in the air, but a quick trip to a
rustic restaurant in Brenham or Burton is a final option.
A vertical practice could be set up. A rope could be rigged on a tree
limb. I have a 40 foot ladder to reach the
high branches of the big oak tree there.
I would like to especially encourage cavers who live east of I-35 to
make an effort to at least show up for a few minutes
on Saturday afternoon.
I still want to do this again in 2012, so it is important to keep the
ball rolling.
I am treating this event as if it were a party being held in my
backyard. I plan to make every effort to roll out the red
carpet.
In summary, I haven't thrown in the towel just yet, but there are sure
to be some changes in the next 3 weeks, so stay
tuned if you are interested. For example, I am trying to get the
owner to just rent 1/2 the camp and give us a discount.
If that fails, I may have to compromise on the location of the event,
and move it to west Texas.
David
281-995-8487
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Such things have been done in the past. Abilene Grotto and Dallas Ft. Worth
Grotto spearheaded those efforts.
See 50 Years of Texas Caving, pages 188, 268, and 275.
===Carl Kunath
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Bentley
To: Texas Cavers
Some well made brochures would be nice to hand out to new cavers at grotto
meetings.
Just a thought.
Bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Texas Cavers
Subject: Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
But, what can the TSA do for you!
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Some things are worth doing again. Some aren't.
Via clumsy I-thumbs
On Apr 19, 2011, at 4:26 PM, "Carl Kunath" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Such things have been done in the past. Abilene Grotto and Dallas Ft. Worth
> Grotto spearheaded those efforts.
>
> See 50 Years of Texas Caving, pages 188, 268, and 275.
>
> ===Carl Kunath
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bill Bentley
> To: Texas Cavers
>
> Some well made brochures would be nice to hand out to new cavers at grotto
> meetings.
> Just a thought.
> Bill
>
>
>
>
> From: [email protected]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:30 AM
> To: Texas Cavers
> Subject: Ask Not What You Can Do For The TSA...
>
>
> But, what can the TSA do for you!
>
--- End Message ---
