Hey Mark -
In addition to being a current TCMA Board Member and Officer I have also
been the TSA Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary and served in multiple
grotto officer positions. I am not trying to attack or discredit anyone's
hard work and certaily not shock and dismay anyone. I appreciate what
everyone does and have done much more shocking things than a one word
email. I was also sitting right beside Ellie on a couch discussing options
for things to do at Spring Convention when I responded to her email.
The Items you mentioned are quite good but I can't help but wonder what
unique things the TSA provides me besides a great caving magazine? This is
the same issue I struggled with when I was an officer.
*TCC is bailing out the convention and honestly replicates it at their big
winter event with talks and caving. Might not be quite as good but if it
were the only one I bet it would grow.
*TCR throws one hell of a party without politics or much TSA support (aside
from running registration so TSA can gather memberships). I do believe TCR
is explicitly prohibited from merging with TSA and has bailed TSA out
financially on more than one occasion.
*The land fund donation to TCMA came from NSS seed money from hosting the
94 convention. The TSA decided it would make a nice contribution to TCMA
because it was not growing much under TSA and was a bit of a hassle.
*It was quite nice of TSA to help refurbish the Honey Creek shaft. Our
grotto put it in during the 80's and many grottos donate money to keep the
tractor working and maintain the ranch. It helps but is not unique.
*TSA projects exist nicely on their own. CBSP would continue without TSA,
probably in a different form. The new Amistad project is run through the
TSS? The Rancho Diana project in SA is just one caver. The Austin group is
working a huge cave ranch near spring branch. etc.
*TexasCavers.com and CaveTex before it seemed to take pride in not being
affiliated with TSA.
*The NSS runs the WNS fund and many grottos including several I belong to
contributed.
I'm not sure what unique benefit the TSA provides me other than a magazine
with a membership and fellowship opportunities. This is not necessarily a
bad thing and thankfully for everyone is just my two cents.
Joe
On Dec 14, 2009 7:16am, [email protected] wrote:
Some of the other items the
TSA has supported:
* A sizeable donation to the NSS for their
White Nose Syndrome Rapid Response Effort.
* Purchase and refurbishment of quite a lot
of survey equipment used around the state for various projects.
* A huge donation to the TCMA towards the
payoff of the Punkin and Deep cave purchase.
Plus, many other smaller projects that are
listed in the TSA Meeting minutes.
(Joe, I'm rather shocked and dismayed you
would ask this. You're a board member of the TCMA and were present when we
conducted the votes on all of the above items). 8^(>
Mark
From: Lyndon Tiu
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sun 12/13/2009 5:50 PM
To:
[email protected]
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Please Become a
Digital Online Member
ellie :) wrote:
> The TSA membership fees cover much
more than the cost of The Caver
Joe Ranzau wrote:
>
Like?
>
Sending a few deserving cavers from other countries to the
ICS, the TSA
paid for their registration.
--
Lyndon
Tiu
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