Your thoughts ..

[JerseyJersey]

I also agree that quality of our training program needs to be maintained if we are to use it to promote or fund the organization.

[Kevin Carlisle]

How would this be implemented?

I am asking because I can't seem to think of a truly "fair" way for this to take place.

Well that's the hard part but I think it can be done rather easily with some discussion with like minded people.

[MichaelAngelo]

Was that a reference to my beard?

Anyway, I think that we need to focus primarily on conservation, and education (not instruction--but education to the public about the importance of underwater caves and the aquifer).

No way are you from Duck Dynasty, Your diffinately a HIGHLANDER. Did you enjoy theRescue recovery coarse?

[whodunit68]

strange, when I click on "next," "2," or the right arrow, I get:
"Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /forum/showthread.php/23064-Your-thoughts...../page2 on this server.

Apache Server at www.cavediver.net Port 80."




Edit: I think I fixed it - Russell

[cwick]

I agree we are not just a training agency but training is a part of what we do. And it does fall under saftey and education. And it is part of our revenue stream that supports the organization. Every organization has to have income and the cds uses dues, instruction, workshops and sales in the online store.

I dont think training drives the organiZation. But i do think that membership does not involve themselves as much as they could. To provide member based events and community outreach people have to participate. More has been done of late and more can happen with more participation.

I belong to organizations that support things with a ski race or a golf outing and that means they are a revenue stream not that they are a ski group or a golf club. Our training is a portion of our organization and a revenue stream for it. Need to fund more things? Lets come up with more fund raising ideas or grow our current ones. Need more member events at schools, dive clubs and community events or other support, lets participate in them more. Be present at more community events with information on conservation and caves. Have a committee that attends meetings, monitors legislation and particpates in lobbying for conservation and diving. We own properties but they have to be maintained with more than paying property taxes. Exporation is widespread but mot well shared and in over a year mo group has taken the offer of support of exploration line in exchange for a report.

We need specific ideas of membership expections and how to fund them.

I joined what I thought was an organization based in promoting cave diving, conservation and exploration among its members and with a social aspect, i would like to see that concentrated on

Exactly how does the CDS make money from training?
Exactly how much money does the CDS make each year through the training?
Exactly what % of the CDS's overall annual income does training represent?

Training has become a "part of what we do" and should remain so, the question is how much a part of what we do.
If training has become a major % of the revenue it's only because we have allowed it to become so and we can change that.

Every day in every part of the world businesses reinvent themselves, they react to changing market conditions and the smart ones
React to changes that have yet to happen. Whether we accept it or not the CDS is a business and if we don't act like one, a smart one, we will likely not survive and certainly will not thrive.

[Kelly Jessop]

. Whether we accept it or not the CDS is a business and if we don't act like one, a smart one, we will likely not survive and certainly will not thrive.

+1 The "we are a nonprofit,volunteer driven organization is fine",but you have to compete with the rest of the world. The CDS and NACD have made cave diving safe enough that for profit groups have found it beneficial to enter the market. They have benefited from the line and signs that the nonprofits have installed,as well as landowner relations,conservation,and safety;and they have had this foundation layed out for them,and maintained,without having the expense to enter the market.

[Leam]

From a newbie perspective, here are some thoughts:

1. Get and read Josh Kaufman's "The Personal MBA". If you like videos there's a CreativeLive recording you can buy. Josh breaks down what businesses really do into easy but powerful terms.

2. Focus on what benefits you provide to a member or potential member. Really, the organization needs money to effect its goals. You need to convey a benefit to a member so they will spend money with you. Case in point; there are some caves the organization owns that new cave divers aren't qualified for. So you provide a benefit if you help new cave divers progress and then they get access to those caves.

2.a. For example, the NSS-CDS bookstore has some good stuff and the people are great. However, why are the cave maps unchanged? Why don't they sell maps of the tourist caves? I can download a map and get it printed but if I could pay a couple extra dollars and get the map while supporting the org, I'd do that. You would provide me a benefit and make spending money on you easier.

3. Accept that conservation isn't the biggest motivator for the majority. Okay, it's nice and makes us feel better at the end of the day. However, if conservation was the key issue we'd not go into the caves at all. Of course, if we were really conserving the caves wouldn't exist; they were formed from normal wear and tear.

4. Identify the different motivations and types of people that might be members and build products for them. New members want training and mentoring, experienced members want places to go that are challenging and/or not frequented by the tourists. Everyone wants a little pat on the back now and again.

5. Set the standard for cave training. Yeah, every other org wants a piece of the action but really, PADI or NSS-CDS? Easy answer. Now get good manuals, build your training team, and help the instructors understand marketing and sales.

6. Market the work the NSS-CDS does. Good marketing tells a story and is true. Good sales helps the customer see how the product benefits them personally. The more you market the more hits you get on interested people. Note that if you'd read Josh's book, this would be done already.

7. Logo. Pet peeve--logos that are too visually complex. Look at the Maryland state flag. Look at the Texes state flag. Emulate Texas.

Just my first thoughts before breakfast.

Leam

[JamesK]

Of course, if we were really conserving the caves wouldn't exist; they were formed from normal wear and tear.

[

¿Qué? You have a lot of good points, but I am scratching my head here.

[cwick]

+1 The "we are a nonprofit,volunteer driven organization is fine",but you have to compete with the rest of the world. The CDS and NACD have made cave diving safe enough that for profit groups have found it beneficial to enter the market. They have benefited from the line and signs that the nonprofits have installed,as well as landowner relations,conservation,and safety;and they have had this foundation layed out for them,and maintained,without having the expense to enter the market.

" but we have to compete with the rest of the world", who says? I don't run my business to keep up with my competitors, I run my business to make them keep up with me. Leaders lead so let's be the leaders and let them follow us. We should embrace this opportunity for change and empower the people who want this organization to thrive in the future.

[cwick]

Leam, I don't know what you're eating for breakfast but we should all have some!