NSS membership poll

[Me]

This is a thread on an Internet forum and most likely amounts to a hill of beans, but......

I have to agree with being a member of the parent organization for one primary reason. Strength in numbers. I think the CDS will have more clout in any ecological and conservation endeavors with local, state and national gov't if they are a member of the NSS. It's a resume entry that carries more clout than just a bunch of cave divers with a group membership of X, primarily located in Florida. Sort of like lobbying....

Pony up the basic membership dues and know you're part of a bigger picture.

[sskasser]

Well said!

[atedeschi]

so what is the differences between NACD and NSS-CDS, besides one being wet caves only.

What are the pros & cons? Why one over the other?

[rblackburn]

I think the big thing people are missing about being a NSS member is that your are contributing money to cave conservation both wet and dry in various forms.

I love all caves so I naturally want to support the cave conservation orgs -both above and below the water table and a strong parent organization make the sections stronger as well. Some valuable Cave conservation data may get to many who have not had exposure simply from being a NSS member .

I personally have no issue in spending the equivalent to maybe one night out to dinner to support caves for a year-getting news/exploration/science and caving technique s etc in a nice newsletter as well.

One thing I cannot wrap my mind around is that if someone found diving in a cave interesting-how they could not find information about "dry" caves at least somewhat as interesting -seeing beautiful passages is nice etc and I see many cave dives I will never do but find beauty in the photos/articles..some may never dry cave but again if they seem to like caves underwater.how can they have zero interest in dry ones?

Not judging..I just cannot understand it.

You are stating the point I was trying to make, well said.

[rblackburn]

Why not require all NSS members to also be CDS members? It supports caving. It could help with research, science, conservation, etc....How can anyone love dry caving, but not love wet caving?

Sounds a little silly huh?

Simply because the CDS is a Section of the NSS -- Cave Diving Section. A group of NSS members that have a similar interest, not the other way around.

[Marc Bryan]

Simply because the CDS is a Section of the NSS -- Cave Diving Section. A group of NSS members that have a similar interest, not the other way around.

Thank you, you illustrate my point exactly. It is ok for them to not have an interest in us and ours, but how dare we not have an interest in them and theirs.

NSS is a great organization. They do great things. I will continue to pay them the basic membership required for me to be a CDS member. I, however, would pay that same amount (probably more) just to be a CDS member. Then all of my money would go to funding the area I am actually interested in.

[rblackburn]

The CDS was created as a Section of the NSS, not the other way around. It was created a method to organize NSS members interested in cave diving. It was not created as a stand alone organization.

[Marc Bryan]

I think we are all aware of that. If it was created as a standalone we would not be having this discussion would we?

I am thankful that it was created, and continues to exist in whatever form. I just wish all (or at least most of) my money was going to the section I cared most about, not the other way around.

[skip]

so what is the differences between NACD and NSS-CDS, besides one being wet caves only.

What are the pros & cons? Why one over the other?

I am consistently amazed at how similar the two are. Sometimes it's as if they are siamese twins! I have no idea why there are two organizations, except that different people had different ideas about how best to proceed - one group was interested in caving and diving sumps and totally submerged caves, while one group was interested only in submerged caves. Or maybe one group of people broke into two groups due to disagreements on how best to proceed (in terms of training requirements, etc., member dues, organization, etc.).

My understanding is that Sheck (interested and involved in all things cave) went to the NSS to establish the cave diving section (CDS). The NACD was already around, having been founded earlier. I have no idea why Sheck would think another organization was needed other than a sense that the NSS is a proper home for those interested in caves.

I don't think there are pros and cons that differ between CDS and NACD, except small political things like you must be active in volunteering before you can run for a board position (recent change, NACD). It would not bother me one bit to see them merge into a single entity either within or without the NSS (i'd stick with my NSS membership even without the CDS as part of it).

-skip

[icestac]

I just wish all (or at least most of) my money was going to the section I cared most about, not the other way around.

I agree with this. I jut don't like the fact that I pay more to be an NSS member than I do to be a CDS member (dry caves scare me). Either the NSS rate should go down, or the CDS rate should go up The second one would be fine with me.

~Jeff