As I have stated on more than one occasion, with or without The Caver, there are numerous reasons that being a TSA member is worth much more to me than the annual dues. It is mostly the enjoyable times spent with other cavers with like interests and a love of the outdoors. If you aren't already convinced, nothing I can say would make you change your mind.
Fritz ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gill Edigar Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Texascavers] Why join TSA? The question has come up before: "Why should I join the TSA?" The statement has been made: "If it weren't for The TEXAS CAVER there would be no reason for me to be a TSA member." Both questions are destined to be asked again--and fairly soon, I think. Yet way before publication of The TEXAS CAVER was taken over by the TSA a couple of hundred Texas cavers were quite enthusiastic about joining--with no real material premiums being offered. What made them do it? What was the attraction of the TSA in their lives to make them fork over hard cash for absolutely nothing they could hold in their grubby, muddy hands? What is it that would make you do so? Was it just the camaraderie of sharing a social link with other cavers? Was it the sense of responsibility to the caver community to share and help solve common problems--problems of educating you and other cavers about proper landowner relations, of safety considerations, of learning or improved methods of cave surveying, of learning about new caving equipment or techniques, of taking and sharing photographs with other cavers, to find out about new caves to explore, to create a list of cavers to go caving with, to attend projects, to have an audience for telling one's caving adventures around a campfire, to attend the convention to hear talks about caves and caving gear and cave science or get laid, or just a desire to be a joiner? What was the Texas Region and later the TSA providing to cavers that lead them to join the TSA without a hard copy of anything other than a membership list? In order to try to get to the heart of that matter, I want to ask Texas cavers to answer that question themselves--and send me and the TSA Chairman your responses. Why are you a TSA member? Or, why are you not? What, beside The TEXAS CAVER, does the TSA provide for you in the way of goods and services and warm fuzzies and how might it make caving better for you--or worse, or not at all. Let's have some information--brief or in detail. We're sensitive to your emotions about TSA and Texas caving as well, so please include information about your feelings. The time will come, soon I hope, when the TSA will need to answer the questions, "Why should I join the TSA?" and "What has my membership in the TSA got to offer me as a caver?" Hopefully a long list of reasons to join the TSA will be generated by this request and it can be handed to those who want to know, or explained in person. What would you tell a new caver who asked you those questions? Remember, The TEXAS CAVER should not be considered an option in this poll. Along the same lines it would be good to know the reasons that several of you haven't joined or don't want to join the TSA. If that were known perhaps something could be done to address those shortcomings and make the TSA more attractive. Or, what would you like to see the TSA offer or undertake that it is not doing now? As a current non-member I would like for you as a member to convince me to join again--sell me on the TSA and its merits and its benefits to members. Or, you can tell me why I shouldn't. I want to know. Please take the time over the next couple of holiday weeks (I'll be in Mexico caving) to send me your reasons--for or against joining the TSA. It's information that could be valuable to the future of Texas caving. And while you're at it be sure to cc: Mark <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> so he can have the information for future use by the TSA and the Texas caver recruiting program which I'm sure they will be interested in starting. I'll compile your answers and see if the pros outweigh the cons and hope to see you at the convention and renew my membership and write up a summary for The TEXAS CAVER to publish and all the cavers of Texas to see. Thanks in advance for your help and enthusiasm, --Ediger
