Saving the springs

[chicken]

I am not usually one to join groups or become politically active. While doing my full cave training, my instructor talked with me about conservation and care of the cave systems we were diving. He emphasized I was an ambassador for all cave divers. The bottom line was to join a group and be part of the solution.

I sent money to the NACD and NSS-CDS. I joined both groups thinking I was helping to protect and preserve the cave systems and access to them. My checks cleared, I received pretty membership cards, and an occasional magazine.

Now, the state of Florida is threatening to close several state parks and access to several cave systems. I did not receive one email or notification from either group about this. I discovered it on facebook.

I checked the NACD and CDS websites this morning. No mention of this action. It is business as usual. Now some on this board are calling for us to get together and join another group, The North Florida Springs Alliance.

I guess it all comes down to who is really working on their mission statement? If I don't see some call to action or other effort for the springs, my NACD and CDS memberships will expire without renewal this year. Who is the Springs Alliance? Will they really do good or just cash my check?

[FW]

I am not usually one to join groups or become politically active. While doing my full cave training, my instructor talked with me about conservation and care of the cave systems we were diving. He emphasized I was an ambassador for all cave divers. The bottom line was to join a group and be part of the solution.

I sent money to the NACD and NSS-CDS. I joined both groups thinking I was helping to protect and preserve the cave systems and access to them. My checks cleared, I received pretty membership cards, and an occasional magazine.

Now, the state of Florida is threatening to close several state parks and access to several cave systems. I did not receive one email or notification from either group about this. I discovered it on facebook.

I checked the NACD and CDS websites this morning. No mention of this action. It is business as usual. Now some on this board are calling for us to get together and join another group, The North Florida Springs Alliance.

I guess it all comes down to who is really working on their mission statement? If I don't see some call to action or other effort for the springs, my NACD and CDS memberships will expire without renewal this year. Who is the Springs Alliance? Will they really do good or just cash my check?

It caught us by surprise too. The NSS-CDS is having a BoD meeting Feb 6, and it will be one of the topics of discussion. I suspect the other cave organizations are doing the same.

[chicken]

This has the potential to impact a majority of members. Other groups might have someone empowered, a board member or employee (NACD), to send a email to the membership warning of this potential action by the state of Florida. This isn't a $2 increase in user fees, this proposal could shut down some of the most popular public cave diving locations in Florida.

The point of my post is, who will use the money I donate to keep me informed, lobby for me, and attempt to protect my opportunities to cave dive? If it the Springs Alliance, then I would rather send the combined dues from all three to one organization working on my behalf. You have web space to inform and educate, I think that is more important than the adventures of Art the cave bear (NACD) or last years UWS (CDS).

[RN]

This has the potential to impact a majority of members. Other groups might have someone empowered, a board member or employee (NACD), to send a email to the membership warning of this potential action by the state of Florida. This isn't a $2 increase in user fees, this proposal could shut down some of the most popular public cave diving locations in Florida.

The point of my post is, who will use the money I donate to keep me informed, lobby for me, and attempt to protect my opportunities to cave dive? If it the Springs Alliance, then I would rather send the combined dues from all three to one organization working on my behalf. You have web space to inform and educate, I think that is more important than the adventures of Art the cave bear (NACD) or last years UWS (CDS).

The NACD and NSS-CDS are much larger organizations than the NFSA. I am a member of all 3. The NFSA is also a very young organization, about 2 years old I believe. It is easier for the NFSA to start doing things because of the small size. Actions/changes don't require a BOD meeting. They require a couple of phone calls/e-mails. It is different with the NACD and NSS-CDS. Actions there require a BOD meeting with the introduction of a topic and a vote on any action. The park closure announcement is a few days old. The parks aren't going to close tomorrow. Allow some time before passing judgment on the agencies. And keep in mind that while getting letters and phone calls from the NFSA is great. Getting letters and phone calls from the NFSA, NACD, and NSS-CDS will have a greater impact on things.

[DA Aquamaster]

It is different with the NACD and NSS-CDS. Actions there require a BOD meeting with the introduction of a topic and a vote on any action. The park closure announcement is a few days old. The parks aren't going to close tomorrow. Allow some time before passing judgment on the agencies.

It does not have to be that way. The BOD could empower someone to handle some of these rapid response issues to eliminate the lag needed to get an item on the agenda for the next board meeting. It's true the parks will not close tomorrow as budget related laws tend to take effect at the end of a fiscal year, but once sucha law is passed, it can be very hard to revers. Even absent actual apssage, any delay in opposing a bill allows more momentum and support for a such a bill to pass. The sooner a bill shot down, or even killed in committee, the better.

And keep in mind that while getting letters and phone calls from the NFSA is great. Getting letters and phone calls from the NFSA, NACD, and NSS-CDS will have a greater impact on things.

I agree with you completely. The sooner that action can happen the better, for the reasons outlined above, which argues for the BODs involved to be a little more pro-active and or to approve structures with a bit more flexibility to respond to new legislation.

[wingman]

Having been involved with the florida legislative process and state agency budgets for a few years now there is plenty of time and the legislative process does not begin until march. What is taking place now is agency posturing and planning given budget uncertainty and it remains to be seen what is going to happen in the revenue estimating conferences especially given general macroeconomic improvement. I work for a state agency and we have been through dozens of budget cut planning processes over the last decade. One agency strategy is to launch the worse case scenario to the public to generate political support for a particular area and it also creates a negative expectation so that when things turn out not quite that bad everyone is a bit happier with the hits that they end up with. Given a new and inexperienced governor there will be a lot of ups and downs in the coming months with regard to a ton of issues. If the revenue estimates come in favorable all this may well all dissolve. While planning a position response via the cave groups is important and should certainly move forward it does not have to be the knee jerk responses that seem to be going forth here in several venues...but, given facebook and internet forums these days, maybe Florida will look a bit like egypt in the months to come.

[Cindy]

I don't think anyone could have anticipated the changes the new Governor of Florida would take. He restructured the agencies and put the DEP under another department calling it the Dept. of Development. The DEP is no longer stand alone department. Governor Scott has never been exactly pro environment. He plans to balance the budget and make "his" priorities number one. He is inexperienced in public office. As a CEO his action never where for the "little guy" but for the bottom line. No one on the BOD of any of the organizations is a paid political lobbyist. They get their info just like everybody else, the papers and magazines. $2. per diver you will get about $4,000 that would be collected over a year. The vote is in the next few days.
The agencies have promoted conservation by sponsoring clean ups, buying caves, communication with those who do serve the public locally.
I would like to see the posts here provide some ideas on how this should be handled to all the agencies, not just blaming and getting upset. Putting your head together and doing something constructive.
I have one idea, Board members: Each one pick a pro-conservation Senator and Congressman, make an appointment, let them know how we feel. Letters are fine but the people knocking on the doors get the attention.

[BillBowden]

To balance the budget, the State is goiing to have to do some pretty drastic things. And raising taxes isn't likely to be one of them. Perhaps one of the cave organizations could take over management of Peacock/Wes Skiles state park? Take over Madison operation November to March when it's not used much by the general public? Can we support a special use fee for diving, horseback riding...say an extra $15-$25 on an annual pass? (This used to be regular practice) Closing these parks will have a severe impact on small parts of the Florida economy- anybody know how much $$ is spent by divers in Mayo & Luraville? We need to get the non-diving public involved with this.

Remember the big picture- who will likely have the most support - medicaid and food for the poor- education- law enforcement- or parks used primarily by cave divers?

[gasdiver]

I suggest that local members of these organizations go out and contact the businesses that rely on the cave/scuba tourism. Let them know what is happening and how it will negatively effect them. Provide these businesses with contact names and phone numbers, sample letters and anything else you can think of that will make it easy for them to make themselves heard. Obviously, all the dive shops in the area, but I'm thinking the hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that cater to the diving community.

The governor will probably pay more attention to these small businesses than he will to non-profit organizations.

[FW]

I suggest that local members of these organizations go out and contact the businesses that rely on the cave/scuba tourism. Let them know what is happening and how it will negatively effect them. Provide these businesses with contact names and phone numbers, sample letters and anything else you can think of that will make it easy for them to make themselves heard. Obviously, all the dive shops in the area, but I'm thinking the hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that cater to the diving community.

The governor will probably pay more attention to these small businesses than he will to non-profit organizations.

Good point!