Absolutely Heather and good point.Originally Posted by harmstrong
Also,for people who don't live in Florida,you can play a huge role too. In a state that derives a lot of money from tourism,they can stand to lose a lot by you not coming to visit,and this hurts a lot.
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
well they certainly have us all by the balls now.
I'm willing to pay it.
Okay...I have gotten some information back. This list is what could possibly happen,but not a done deal. If the legislature pulls the $$$,then these parks will be targeted. YES,there is something we can do to keep these parks off the radar screen. I will have a clearer picture after the NFSA meeting Saturday because we will have some more information,and people in attendence that can answer questions. Your support is appreciated,and look at www.northfloridaspringsalliance.org
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
They don't have you by anything. They can just close the parks.
What the hell do you guys think was happening? The state has been living off federal stimulus money for two budget years. The same money that everyone has pissed and moaned about ad nausium. Now, the stimulus funding is gone, what do you think is happening?
And this is just a part of the hatchet job that is going on in the state budget. Sit back and watch, you are going to have cabinet level departments dismantled, hundreds of jobs go away, University and school funding cut, employee pensions cut, Medicare cut, prison budgets cut, law enforcement cuts... basically, all of it. It would shock me greatly if they give money to parks and then take it from law enforcement or medicare.
Someone needs to co-ordinate a rational, well reasoned response that the entire cave diving community can support. Good luck.
"Have you ever noticed
When you're feeling really good
There's always a pigeon
That'll come shiat on your hood?" John Prine 4-7-2020
"Into the blue again; in the silent water
Under the rocks, and stones; there is water underground" Talking Heads
If they allowed solo diving and stayed open later than 4:30 I would visit them more.
How does Branford and Mayo feel about this?
Do they even know what's proposed? Shouldn't we be helping them?
We just loose our recreation at these sites. They loose $, jobs and visitors.
Why wouldn't the state turn over management to them?
Last edited by Puttzer; 01-28-2011 at 07:37 AM. Reason: eorrs
I am willing to send letters in support. Please post address to mail them to.
Jim
One problem with these sites is that we just put our annual passes in the window and there’s no way to gauge how many pass holders have visited the park.
I think that everyone (annual pass holders) should be required to fill out the paper slip at the Iron Ranger. When I enter parks that have a Ranger at the gate they charge me a $0 entry fee and I get a receipt.
I believe that is why PSP, Madison & Troy are on this list, they don’t have an accurate record of how many people are visiting these sites.
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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
~ Thomas Jefferson
The North Florida Springs Alliance(NFSA)is the citizen's support organization that partners with the state to support operations at Troy, Peacock and Madison Blue state parks. Many of you may recall that the NFSA just completed the interpretive trail at Peacock.
This Saturday the manager of Troy, Peacock and Madison Blue state parks will be attending our BoD meeting at Troy Springs at 3 PM. He will be in a position to answer questions about these proposed closures and will also be able to discuss with us how to effectively lobby for getting these 3 parks off of the list. Members and non members are encouraged to attend.
The NFSA has about 150 active members. There is strength in numbers and the more members we have the more lobbying influence we may have upon the decision makers in this park closure process. I'd like to encourage you to join if you have not already done so. Click on the link above and join using your PayPal account as shown on the webpage.
If we have specific actions to take such as letter writing, and e-mail campaign or whatever we can do to help influence this decision making process you can be confident that the BoD of the NFSA will actively pursue taking these steps and will make sure our membership is heard on this issue.
Jim Wyatt
Treasurer, NFSA
Jim Wyatt
Cavediveflorida
I thought that Troy, PSP, LB & MB had a small cache of rangers that went from park to park.
So if they close 3 of the 4 parks are they not going to still have the same cost of operation?
We should also look at how many pass holders that will no longer purchase an annual pass once these parks are closed.
I for one will no longer need my annual pass, how about you?
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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
~ Thomas Jefferson
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