NSS membership poll

[rblackburn]

You know whats funny is that were the only Grotto that requires NSS membership in order to join.
So if the other Grotto’s “which are all Cavers” don’t feel the need to require their members to join the NSS why is it that the CDS “which is a mix of Cavers and NON-Cavers” requires it?
I have no interest in dry caves or the NSS, I am a Diver that likes to dive caves.
I would be a life member of the CDS if NSS Life membership wasn’t required.

The CDS is not a grotto, it is a Section. It is a different kind of IO. I think all sections require NSS membership.

[SLIM]

Why all of a sudden is there thoes that do not want to be part of the NSS?

I thought that in the Bylaws that you had to be a member of the NSS to be a member of the CDS, are there those out there that are not and it has not been enforced?

Why do CAVE Divers not want to be a part of the NSS?

SLIM

[Sludge]

Why do CAVE Divers not want to be a part of the NSS?

Because there are some of us that have ZERO interest in dry caves. LESS than zero. I would rather do yardwork than go into a dry cave. And I hate yardwork.

Some people's attitudes amaze me. Are you insulted that I don't share your interest? I have many open water friends who have no interest in cave diving. While I don't agree with that mindset, I got over it. Some people's attitude seems to be that if I went caving and learned more about caves, I'd soon love them, too. Not going to happen. My brother hates baseball. Should I drag him to some games and make him memorize some stats?

The whole question is whether the CDS should allow members that aren't members of the NSS. I say absolutely. When I first joined the CDS I received the NSS News and read the first few issues, almost cover-to-cover. Soon, I just dropped them in the trash with the junk mail.

I found out a few years ago I could be a "Basic" member, and that saved me a few bucks, by having them not mail me the magazine. But as I said earlier, if I could be a CDS member only, I'd get a life membership.

[Cindy]

Kelly started it!

[Sludge]

Yeah, he's always been an instigator!

[netmage]

Why all of a sudden is there thoes that do not want to be part of the NSS?

I don't think anything is 'all of a sudden'....

I don't need the 'Sears Catalog' like directory in hard copy mailed to me each year, nor do I find much interest in the NSS magazines, and I don't have any burning desire to move into dry caving...

$1200 ($800 for NSS and $400 for CDS) for lifetime membership is a bit steep... when all of my perceived value is from the $400 chunk...

Heck, even if there was a 'basic' version of the life membership to the NSS, I might be interested in that...

[Arnold Mesiser]

I think the big thing people are missing about being a NSS member is that your are contributing money to cave conservation both wet and dry in various forms.

I love all caves so I naturally want to support the cave conservation orgs -both above and below the water table and a strong parent organization make the sections stronger as well. Some valuable Cave conservation data may get to many who have not had exposure simply from being a NSS member .

I personally have no issue in spending the equivalent to maybe one night out to dinner to support caves for a year-getting news/exploration/science and caving technique s etc in a nice newsletter as well.

One thing I cannot wrap my mind around is that if someone found diving in a cave interesting-how they could not find information about "dry" caves at least somewhat as interesting -seeing beautiful passages is nice etc and I see many cave dives I will never do but find beauty in the photos/articles..some may never dry cave but again if they seem to like caves underwater.how can they have zero interest in dry ones?

Not judging..I just cannot understand it.

[Rubis]

I think the big thing people are missing about being a NSS member is that your are contributing money to cave conservation both wet and dry in various forms.

I love all caves so I naturally want to support the cave conservation orgs -both above and below the water table and a strong parent organization make the sections stronger as well. Some valuable Cave conservation data may get to many who have not had exposure simply from being a NSS member .

I personally have no issue in spending the equivalent to maybe one night out to dinner to support caves for a year-getting news/exploration/science and caving technique s etc in a nice newsletter as well.

One thing I cannot wrap my mind around is that if someone found diving in a cave interesting-how they could not find information about "dry" caves at least somewhat as interesting -seeing beautiful passages is nice etc and I see many cave dives I will never do but find beauty in the photos/articles..some may never dry cave but again if they seem to like caves underwater.how can they have zero interest in dry ones?

Not judging..I just cannot understand it.

Ditto ! Plus I have doubts that the CDS will be strong enough to stand on its own today

Probably what is missing is developing the synergy of being part of the NSS ... But it's up to the members to tap into this opportunity, no ?

Thinking cave diving without the dry cave portion is a very limited view, that would limit the mission of the CDS only to Mexico, Florida mostly.
Most of the cave diving in other portions of the world are very tightly related to dry caving and dry caving techniques.

I believe that the CDS being a part of the NSS is a strength, and an unexploited opportunity today.

[Marc Bryan]

Why not require all NSS members to also be CDS members? It supports caving. It could help with research, science, conservation, etc....How can anyone love dry caving, but not love wet caving?

Sounds a little silly huh?

[Randy Thornton]

Why not require all NSS members to also be CDS members? It supports caving. It could help with research, science, conservation, etc....How can anyone love dry caving, but not love wet caving?

Sounds a little silly huh?

I agree completely!