How is the current CDS BoD doing?

[Bill Rotella]

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

I agree with Forrest on this issue, in my opinion the only representative on the BOD should be the Training Director, all other BOD members should be elected from the general membership.

[johnnyrichards]

Bill, Forrest and others who are concerned about instructor participation in "your" agency- I have no problem complying with your wishes that I no longer be involved in the support of your organization with student workbook purchases, registration fees and memberships. Consider it done- I will take my business elsewhere and, as far as this instructor is concerned, you can have "your" organization back.

JR

[Tegg]

I agree with Forrest on this issue, in my opinion the only representative on the BOD should be the Training Director, all other BOD members should be elected from the general membership.

I do not agree on this issue. Instructors are members also.

I just think that the current BOD and some previous ones have forgotten that instructors are not the only members and may have lost sight of the organization's stated purpose.

[Oister]

We could solve all this by getting rid of training and be a true conservation organization. There should be a per student impact fee for all instructors who use CDS caves.

[Tegg]

We could solve all this by getting rid of training and be a true conservation organization. There should be a per student impact fee for all instructors who use CDS caves.

Training is in the CDS Constitution, Article 2.

Thus I disagree. I do agree that training should not the the "main activity" that the CDS does though....

[Bill Rotella]

Bill, Forrest and others who are concerned about instructor participation in "your" agency- I have no problem complying with your wishes that I no longer be involved in the support of your organization with student workbook purchases, registration fees and memberships. Consider it done- I will take my business elsewhere and, as far as this instructor is concerned, you can have "your" organization back.

JR

JR, you and I both have had a short fuse. I remember where you couldn't even make it through a whole bod meeting. My intention is to get to the original purpose of the CDS, not $$$$$. Sorry to see you go JR for you cannot make changes by walking away. The bottom line is, are we a not-for-profit, or a profit corporation?

[Oister]

Training is in the CDS Constitution, Article 2.

Thus I disagree. I do agree that training should not the the "main activity" that the CDS does though....

The purpose of this Society shall be to promote interest in and to advance in any and all ways the study and science of speleology, the protection of caves and their natural contents, and to promote fellowship among those interested therein.


ARTICLE II: The purpose of the organization shall be the same as that of the National Speleological Society (hereafter referred to as NSS), with the additional purpose of organizing NSS members who are interested in cave diving so that they may better promote the objectives of the NSS. These objectives include 1) promotion of the conservation, exploration, and study of underwater caves; and 2) education for increased awareness, safety, and skill in cave diving.

Conservation is first. It Just seems to me we spend way more time doing training stuff then conservation. Training brings in more money then conservation. Guess it is a hard choice.

[FW]

[B][FONT=Tahoma]Conservation is first. It Just seems to me we spend way more time doing training stuff then conservation. Training brings in more money then conservation. Guess it is a hard choice.

There is no reason to have to make a choice, we need both. We do have to be careful to avoid becoming nothing more than a training agency, though.

And Tegg, the constitution was written four years before we even began the training program. It mentions education, which could be handing out conservation brochures.