You will never believe this

But I need your help.

I'm looking for a Workshop Director for the 2014 NSS-CDS Workshop.

We want you!

Please reach out to me if interested.

Tony Flaris
904-210-4550

cwick!!!

Viva La Wick!



LOL!

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

Viva La Wick!

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like!

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

Viva La Wick!



LOL!

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+.....
Im thinking viva la bugman :-)

Wickman did just buy a Yeti cooler from us and said something about a long vacation in a galaxy far far away. Then he mumbled some crap about some device that you stick in your mouth an can dive to unbelievable depths with no deco. Then he just speed away on his landspeeder with some long haired hippie looking dude.

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Originally Posted by whodunit68

cwick!!!

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Strike one.

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Originally Posted by speleodiver

Wickman did just buy a Yeti cooler from us and said something about a long vacation in a galaxy far far away. Then he mumbled some crap about some device that you stick in your mouth an can dive to unbelievable depths with no deco. Then he just speed away on his landspeeder with some long haired hippie looking dude.

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I hope he finds those droids he was looking for.

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

Viva La Wick!



LOL!

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Strike two.

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Originally Posted by speleodiver

Wickman did just buy a Yeti cooler from us and said something about a long vacation in a galaxy far far away. Then he mumbled some crap about some device that you stick in your mouth an can dive to unbelievable depths with no deco. Then he just speed away on his landspeeder with some long haired hippie looking dude.

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This one is over the centerfield wall!

I'll be happy to help any way that I can but I'm not driving the bus!

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Originally Posted by cwick

I'll be happy to help any way that I can but I'm not driving the bus!

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c'mon Ralphie!!!

Location for the 2014 seminar?

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Originally Posted by L.A.

Location for the 2014 seminar?

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Not chosen yet. Workshop location and chairperson are interrelated.

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Originally Posted by FW

Not chosen yet. Workshop location and chairperson are interrelated.

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I will do it if it's in Maui.

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Originally Posted by whodunit68

I will do it if it's in Maui.

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OK, Maui it is! Everyone hear that, Steve volunteered to chair the next Workshop :-D

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Originally Posted by FW

OK, Maui it is! Everyone hear that, Steve volunteered to chair the next Workshop :-D

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:rollguy

+1 for Maui.

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Originally Posted by cwick

+1 for Maui.

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so it's closed, CWick = chair, location = Maui. Congrats for a quick decision team!

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Originally Posted by whodunit68

so it's closed, CWick = chair, location = Maui. Congrats for a quick decision team!

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You guys move fast. Have cwick give me a call. Maui sounds great!

Need a date so Katie and I can get tickets booked.

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Originally Posted by hunabku

Need a date so Katie and I can get tickets booked.

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The date is set, Memorial weekend.

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Originally Posted by FW

The date is set, Memorial weekend.

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There is a motion on the BoD Forum to have the Social on a weekend other than Memorial Day.

Maybe we need a poll.

TF

weekend other than Memorial Day.

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Originally Posted by tflaris

There is a motion on the BoD Forum to have the Social on a weekend other than Memorial Day.

Maybe we need a poll.

TF

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The problem with a non-holiday weekend, is people traveling a long way may not be able to attend. They count on the holiday as a travel day. You may end up with half of the normal attendance.

Flip side is most cave divers will MAKE some time for the conference on another weekend, lots of our non cave family get that weekend off and it's a family time. We may get more folks on another weekend if we didn't conflict with a family weekend....

There is a chance you have seen both sides of this and i could just shut up and learn from your observations... :-)

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Originally Posted by cerich

Flip side is most cave divers will MAKE some time for the conference on another weekend, lots of our non cave family get that weekend off and it's a family time. We may get more folks on another weekend if we didn't conflict with a family weekend....

There is a chance you have seen both sides of this and i could just shut up and learn from your observations... :-)

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This is why I was not able to come.

After attending this past workshop, I (and my wife) saw a number of things that we thought could be improved. I am not trying to assess any blame—or complain—just offering suggestions for the next time:
Have the social set up as just that, a social event. No tickets for sale, no sign-up sheets for clinics or dives. This should be a chance for members to get a chance to know each other, have a beer (or other beverage), and swap dive stories. I spent over an hour of this past social trying to find answers that no one seemed to know about clinic times and locations, dive locations, etc. Also, let everyone know what type of facilities/dress for the social (i.e.—indoor or outdoor seating, food being served, etc.).
The workshop should start a little later. A number of us have a significant drive to attend an event—and arrival just prior to the social makes Friday a REALLY long night—especially when you have to be at the workshop at 8:00 a.m. There’s no reason that we couldn’t plan for a 9 o’clock start and finish the business meeting by 5 o’clock and still have time for an evening dive!
The clinic scheduling needs a drastic overhaul. There were a number of great clinics being held, but all of them were scheduled for the same start time. This meant that you had to choose one thing that you wanted to do, and that’s it. If there are 5-6 clinics at a workshop, why not start 2 early in the day (9 a.m.), 2 around noon, and the others around 3 p.m.). This would allow people to attend 2 or three clinics. Also, charge a nominal fee for the clinics—so that you can register for them ahead of time (and people will have an incentive not to cancel). This way if there was a more popular clinic, maybe a second class could be added….
Now for general added assistance: As many people may be travelling to the area of a workshop for the first time—have a list of local restaurants (maybe even speak with local restaurant owners about the workshop—and see about having them supply coupons in the workshop book), have a list of local non-diving-related attractions/points-of-interest. I know that my family usually travels with me, and are looking for things to do in the area. This past trip, my wife spent a great deal of time on the internet searching for things to do with our son during the workshop—some local knowledge would have been great (where to swim, local beach, local mall, hiking trails, museums, nature centers, etc.).
Finally, please post some real information on local diving. A list of cave systems in the area is fine, but maybe a link to a system map—or if one doesn’t exist maybe a description of the system with depths, restrictions, jumps, etc.
Another recommendation would be to start a thread (or have a blog on the NSS-CDS page) for finding dive buddies, making plans for dives (sites), set up meeting times for meals, and arrange car-pooling. I know that my wife rented a car to use locally during this past workshop, so that I could have my truck with my gear. I offered a ride for other divers and their gear whenever diving, as I know that many people rode together to the event—but were diving at different locales.
So no matter who is in charge of the next workshop--please take all the above into consideration with the event planning!

Awesome suggestions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MacLeod

After attending this past workshop, I (and my wife) saw a number of things that we thought could be improved. I am not trying to assess any blame—or complain—just offering suggestions for the next time:
Have the social set up as just that, a social event. No tickets for sale, no sign-up sheets for clinics or dives. This should be a chance for members to get a chance to know each other, have a beer (or other beverage), and swap dive stories. I spent over an hour of this past social trying to find answers that no one seemed to know about clinic times and locations, dive locations, etc. Also, let everyone know what type of facilities/dress for the social (i.e.—indoor or outdoor seating, food being served, etc.).
The workshop should start a little later. A number of us have a significant drive to attend an event—and arrival just prior to the social makes Friday a REALLY long night—especially when you have to be at the workshop at 8:00 a.m. There’s no reason that we couldn’t plan for a 9 o’clock start and finish the business meeting by 5 o’clock and still have time for an evening dive!
The clinic scheduling needs a drastic overhaul. There were a number of great clinics being held, but all of them were scheduled for the same start time. This meant that you had to choose one thing that you wanted to do, and that’s it. If there are 5-6 clinics at a workshop, why not start 2 early in the day (9 a.m.), 2 around noon, and the others around 3 p.m.). This would allow people to attend 2 or three clinics. Also, charge a nominal fee for the clinics—so that you can register for them ahead of time (and people will have an incentive not to cancel). This way if there was a more popular clinic, maybe a second class could be added….
Now for general added assistance: As many people may be travelling to the area of a workshop for the first time—have a list of local restaurants (maybe even speak with local restaurant owners about the workshop—and see about having them supply coupons in the workshop book), have a list of local non-diving-related attractions/points-of-interest. I know that my family usually travels with me, and are looking for things to do in the area. This past trip, my wife spent a great deal of time on the internet searching for things to do with our son during the workshop—some local knowledge would have been great (where to swim, local beach, local mall, hiking trails, museums, nature centers, etc.).
Finally, please post some real information on local diving. A list of cave systems in the area is fine, but maybe a link to a system map—or if one doesn’t exist maybe a description of the system with depths, restrictions, jumps, etc.
Another recommendation would be to start a thread (or have a blog on the NSS-CDS page) for finding dive buddies, making plans for dives (sites), set up meeting times for meals, and arrange car-pooling. I know that my wife rented a car to use locally during this past workshop, so that I could have my truck with my gear. I offered a ride for other divers and their gear whenever diving, as I know that many people rode together to the event—but were diving at different locales.
So no matter who is in charge of the next workshop--please take all the above into consideration with the event planning!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by FW

The problem with a non-holiday weekend, is people traveling a long way may not be able to attend. They count on the holiday as a travel day. You may end up with half of the normal attendance.

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Is that why the Fall Cave in was moved FROM Thanksgiving weekend? I actually heard it was a demand of one of the "behind the scene" players at the CDS.

Well, no more children to graduate from high school so I am now good for any weekend:)

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Originally Posted by Walter Pickel

Is that why the Fall Cave in was moved FROM Thanksgiving weekend? I actually heard it was a demand of one of the "behind the scene" players at the CDS.

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Yep, but MLK weekend solved both issues, not really a family weekend, and many people have Monday off.

The NACD switching their conference away from Thanksgiving has kept me from going ever since the change.

It was held columbus day week end I thought... Another 3 day week end less holiday and family oriented

Can we quit the vague sniping and concentrate on the current interests of a new bod and moving the organization forward

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Originally Posted by JerseyJersey

It was held columbus day week end I thought... Another 3 day week end less holiday and family oriented

Can we quit the vague sniping and concentrate on the current interests of a new bod and moving the organization forward

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Different Fall event. The Columbus day event is the TAG Fall cave in. Walter was referring to what is now called HECC, or the Hart Springs Winter mini workshop. The first one was held on a Thanksgiving weekend.

I am pleased to announce that Jim Wyatt will be the NSS-CDS 2014 Workshop Chair.

I've had several people volunteer for the position and I urge those persons to contact Jim and offer your assistance.

More details to follow.

Tony Flaris
904-210-4550
tflaris@me.com

Excellent! You and Jim both know that I will assist however I can.

Tony wrote: I am pleased to announce that Jim Wyatt will be the NSS-CDS 2014 Workshop Chair.

1. thanks, Tony and Jim.
2. Jim, are you planning on Maui?

Barbara

I will be emcee again if it is in Maui

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Originally Posted by JerseyJersey

I will be emcee again if it is in Maui

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You could also MC (Master of Ceremony).

I might consider QC. :roll:

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Originally Posted by JerseyJersey

I might consider QC. :roll:

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Queen's Chamber?
Quality Control?

Cheryl says she will run for the Board when we have a Queen position.

Everyone must have goals.... And a tiara.... Tiaras are important

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Originally Posted by tflaris

. . . I'm looking for a Workshop Director for the 2014 NSS-CDS Workshop. . .

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I elect Jeff Hancock. We needs guns a blazin and asses getting kicked at any cave meeting. Lord knows, he would be good for that. Lead on Divyo.

I will MC it as long as I can slip in a dirty cavediver joke.

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Originally Posted by MichaelAngelo

I will MC it as long as I can slip in a dirty cavediver joke.

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Cheryl has offered to lend a hand but only if she can wear a tiarra and wave like the Queen.

Cheryl did a nice job as MC for this past workshop :clapper and has offered to MC for the 2014 workshop as well. Of course I accepted her offer!!

We need folks to help with other things also. Several people have contacted me to help and I appreciate it. Once we firm up a date we will begin looking for a place to hold it. Somewhere between Lake City, Alachua and Gainesville seems to be the consensus.

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Originally Posted by tflaris

Cheryl has offered to lend a hand but only if she can wear a tiarra and wave like the Queen.

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30 years in live theatre trust me, I know how to handle a queen.

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Originally Posted by MichaelAngelo

30 years in live theatre trust me, I know how to handle a queen.

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I knew you were the right man for the job.

LoL