Poll- Do you agree with the CDS getting out of the C- Card business?

[cerich]

To focus on principles closer to those of the NSS?
namely
" to study, explore, and conserve cave and karst resources; protect access to caves; encourage responsible management of caves and their unique environments; and promote responsible caving."

[kotik]

It's hard to beat the power of a first impression. Who is in a better position to make a first impression than the instructor who introduces you to the activity?

I believe an absolutely fundamental connection is there to be made between instruction and the promotion of good values and responsibility in caving.

[Jay]

It's hard to beat the power of a first impression. Who is in a better position to make a first impression than the instructor who introduces you to the activity?

I believe an absolutely fundamental connection is there to be made between instruction and the promotion of good values and responsibility in caving.

I agree. I guess other folks want PADI to teach cavediving.

[moody]

I took my cave training with NSS-CDS, I then joined, not living in Florida and only making it down there about once a year I don't know that I would have joined otherwise. After joining and receiving the journals and information it did raise my awareness to cave conservation (which was also hammered into me during my training) and I subsequently also joined the NFSA and ASA as well.

[mdax]

Why would removing instruction cause this change?
Do you believe that without instruction more people would join, be active and volunteer in the nss-cds?

Aren't there other orgs like the nfsa, scci that already exist for this purpose and you could rally folks around?

[cwick]

To me, it all depends on where and how the CDS shifts it's focus. I belong to several org's and half of them don't have anything
To do with instruction and I'm happy to support them.
Dive instruction doesn't have be a part of the CDS for it to survive.

[whodunit68]

Ìf the CDS is out of the business of training/education, who creates, maintains, and upholds the standards?

[Bobby]

Ìf the CDS is out of the business of training/education, who creates, maintains, and upholds the standards?

Good question and that is one alternative that has been thrown to training. Presently each org. sets its own standards and runs with it. With something along the lines of accreditation in time the standards would line up across the different orgs. as instructors would have the most success by having the accreditation.

I do far more with the NFSA & ASA than I do with the org.s that train. IMHO I believe training (& the politics that go with it) holds them back.

[JCGoodwin]

I think this is a carry over from another thread that it was stated that if the CDS took a Leadership / Regulatory role OVER certifying agencies it could be a conflict of interest.
What I believed to be proposed was the CDS to take a BIGGER role in training by regulating certifying agencies, maintaining standards and regulations regarding instructors.
I am not trying to create any drama or offend anyone but as RESPECTED as the CDS is it might be one of the few that could pull this off.
This is a growing need that is being perceived.

JCG

[cwick]

I think this is a carry over from another thread that it was stated that if the CDS took a Leadership / Regulatory role OVER certifying agencies it could be a conflict of interest.
What I believed to be proposed was the CDS to take a BIGGER role in training by regulating certifying agencies, maintaining standards and regulations regarding instructors.
I am not trying to create any drama or offend anyone but as RESPECTED as the CDS is it might be one of the few that could pull this off.
This is a growing need that is being perceived.

JCG

Exactly!
But it's going to take some big thinking and some bold actions to make it happen and even with that it will still not be easy.
The up side is that if we can pull it off what we'll have is a much more sustainable org.