Public meeting opening Wakulla: Thurs,Jan19th 7pm

[RN]

Membership form

[tflaris]

Membership form

You could also join online and pay via PayPal. I did a google search for Friends of Wakulla and found it.

I'm joining.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.323348,-81.397436

[Skorpiov]

http://wakullasprings.org/membership.html

[cavedivingwoman]

I'm asking everyone to please read this: http://wakullasprings.org/pdf/Wakull...uly%202011.pdf

We have witness testimony that the boats hit manatee all the time, there are photos in this link that show the boats are outfitted with prop protectors. This link also shows divers and manatee interacting with one another and has the phrase- "WKPP divers enjoy the company of manatees during their dives".

What about all of those RV sites they're considering??? Not good!

[Squirrel Girl]

I just went to the Virginia Outdoors Plan 5 year review last night as they plan the next revision. Gotta say, it was a kumbayah kinda meeting. The hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers all said, "More trails for everyone." It was great.

We even talked about having a "get your horse accustomed to bikes in a safe setting" mixer. Many horses are fine with bikes, but not all.

So it *is* possible for people to work together and not fight. I like you guys' ideas about joining the Friends of Wakulla.

[DogHouseDiver]

Agree, it might be possible to democratically influence outcomes. I once organized a minor coup art my community college, getting a few pilots on the student council and influencing the outcomes of general funds surplus spending to include the painting and refurbishing of three college aviation aircraft. However, being out of state I don't want to be seen as an outsider or puppetmaster. I too care about preservation of Wakulla Springs, and if others in Wakulla County Dive Club or the cave diving agencies see value to joining our fellow conservationists and slowly winning their hearts and minds, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is and join the Friends group, but it should be a concerned effort of scores of us.... Its also hard for me to participate from four or five hours away....

I am willing to join this group and financially support them with membership dues if we as a cave diving community think that we can join them and influence rather than beat them..... But I want there and don't know the tone, as RN said, they may never budge and working with park decision makers might be the best avenue. I just have a feeling that if they knew how hard we work to keep places clean and pristene, they may relax.... But they have been told a slanted view by wkpp. We get out there, chainsaw down trees on trails, buikd steps to stop erosion, and I personally walk the road at Harvey's every time and pick up trash, and do so underwater and at other sites above water.

If there is value in joining and we do it as clubs and agencies and participating individuals, I'll do it..... If we do it large enough to make a voting impact.


Just reminds me, I owe my WCDC dues, see you guys at the meeting, bring me the new shirt, size XL.

[Sludge]

I once organized a minor coup art my community college, getting a few pilots on the student council and influencing the outcomes of general funds surplus spending to include the painting and refurbishing of three college aviation aircraft.

When I was in undergraduate school the Student Council consisted of fifteen members elected every year. Very few students cared about voting, so the winners only got about fifty votes apiece.

One year we quietly had fifteen music majors on the ballot, and virtually every music major went and voted. That year, EVERY member of Student Council was a music major! The Orchestra trip to South Carolina and the Wind Ensemble trip to Biloxi and New Orleans that year sure were fun!

[a64pilot]

Oh lord, you were in the band?

[Superlyte27]

"one time in band camp".... Sludge, that explains alot.

[Benthic]

In writing my letter, I'm listing other successfully managed cave systems. Here's what I have so far: Indian, Clear Cut, Emerald, Alachua, Cathedral, School, Hart, Cow, the Diepolders.

Can anyone think of any others?

Please don't hold up systems that operate under a guide system as an example of how Wakulla should be run. The *last* thing we want is another guided system. We'd be better off keeping it closed.

Now a policy like the one at Emerald is one that I could get behind. Personally, I think that *if* Wakulla is opened, we can expect a management plan that is at least as stringent as the one at Emerald.

Brian