How is the current CDS BoD doing?

[Walter Pickel]

Maybe instructors should be charged a higher membership fee since they can "make a profit" from the use of the CDS property...?

I like that idea!

There are only 72 listed instructors for the CDS, which is a SMALL portion of the membership... yet the BOD is a majority of instructors.... Wonder why these changes are taking place?

It is the same way on the other agency: 6 instructors, 1 non-instructor.

Joe, unfortunately, there is always such a small turnout of voters that it is almost impossible to change the structure of the boards away from being Instructor led.

[smaclean]

Look, even the State Parks systems makes an instructor buy a commercial use permit to teach on site. A commercial permit might not be a bad idea.

[netmage]

Look, even the State Parks systems makes an instructor buy a commercial use permit to teach on site. A commercial permit might not be a bad idea.

But the state also doesn't publish training manuals... I'm not privy to the economics around the CDS and the instructors... But at the very least, for each and every class run by a CDS instructor revenue is being piped into the CDS for both cert cards as well as training materials...

Just looks like another attempt to tax everything...

[RN]

Even though this is a hijack of this thread, I'll pipe in here. The only CDS cave I know that's being used for training is Cow and only downstream is allowed for that purpose, I believe. That provides a whole 200' of cave for training purposes. If charging for use of that passage for training is what the membership wants, then introduce the motion. However, please don't apply it to all CDS instructors. Some of us don't train there. And even if I lived there I probably wouldn't train there.

BTW, I see the poll results are showing it's a small minority that has been very vocal on the boards. Apparenty, about 75% either think the BoD is doing okay or it hasn't been long enough to tell. True, this poll isn't very scientific, but neither are most of the complaints I've been reading lately...

[netmage]

Even though this is a hijack of this thread, I'll pipe in here. The only CDS cave I know that's being used for training is Cow and only downstream is allowed for that purpose, I believe. That provides a whole 200' of cave for training purposes. If charging for use of that passage for training is what the membership wants, then introduce the motion. However, please don't apply it to all CDS instructors. Some of us don't train there. And even if I lived there I probably wouldn't train there.

"2. Only NSS-CDS Instructors may use Cow Springs as a training site within the guidelines contained in this document. Only sidemount training dives are permitted in the upstream section. Sidemount students should be proficient in buoyancy control and be able to exercise proper technique to avoid damaging the cave. Students should also be sufficiently aware of their own skill level to properly determine if they are prepared to enter a fragile site. NSS-CDS Instructors are also charged with determining the skill level of their students and the appropriateness of using Cow Springs as a training site. "

[rchrds]

The CDS has been an instructor run organization for a long time, most just don't realize it. Way back when I tried a hand at the board (97?), I tried to get changes passed that affected certain things that instructors taught, and represented as CDS policy. Needless to say, though the entire board approved the motion, it was never changed in the instructor policies, because, the truth of it is, the board has no control of what the instructors do. I'm sure it doesn't read that way in the bylaws. None the less, that was enough for me. If you still think that the CDS is a caving organization for the purpose of conserving caves, promoting the study of caves and being a collection point for people interested in exploration and research, you are probably going to be sorely disappointed, if you are not already. The CDS is no better than PADI, the publications for years have been little more than a platform for advertisement and self-aggrandizement with near to zero research or new exploration (Perhaps this is changing with Beth on board) and I am not impressed. The board floats along between epic disasters, trying to keep things under control, but in the end makes little change. Good Luck.

[Tegg]

The CDS is no better than PADI, the publications for years have been little more than a platform for advertisement and self-aggrandizement with near to zero research or new exploration (Perhaps this is changing with Beth on board) and I am not impressed. The board floats along between epic disasters, trying to keep things under control, but in the end makes little change. Good Luck.

Jason,

I am starting to see that this has been an issue for quite sometime. This does not mean that it can't be changed and "brought back to it's roots", it just means that change will be tougher.

I would not go quite to the level of comparing the CDS to PADI, but I do think the current board is trying to make the CDS "look like" NAUI. Soon they may even ask for a name change... CDIS.

Either way, the CDS is still a member "ruled" organization. Thus the way to effect changes is to get involved and keep up on the activities of the current BOD. Since I pay my dues, I have a voice and a vote.

Maybe I am like that aspiring politician who hasn't quite been jaded enough, but I still think that the CDS can be "brought back on track".

[FW]

One solution would be to *not* elect full time instructors to the BOD.

[MORGAN]

We get the BOD we elect, no?

Mike

[rchrds]

One solution would be to *not* elect full time instructors to the BOD.

Unfortunately, that is not a solution- as the instructors have managed to separate themselves from the BOD with their almost completely independent instructor chain of command. Tell me the last time the BOD (any BOD) was able to make a significant change in the structure of how the CDS teaches students without the agreement of the instructor director and his cronies?