Well, I have my own reasons for supporting the TSA for 40 years, but I was hoping to develop some positive reasons that other cavers join the TSA. I already know why I belonged and will again, but I have had a hard time getting other cavers to tell me why and what they would tell new cavers were good reasons to join. Many just stutter and stammer and can't think of any. Others have given me perfectly good reasons--which I will share as soon as I feel I have enough.
And, ugh, this is a totally different topic, Linda. The other one has been put to bed for a while. It is a positive thread designed to help the TSA accomplish its goals. I think it's really important for people to think about all sides of the issues rather than just blindly supporting one or another view. Having adequate information surely can't hurt. And, besides, I'm just curious and have talked to several other people who asked the same questions. On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 8:28 PM, Linda Palit <[email protected]> wrote: > Why do I get the feeling you have decided this many times, and many years > ago? > > > > And does this mean we are taking this discussion off the list for awhile? > > > > > > *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]> > > 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 >
