Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
Wont somebody think of the trees that have to chopped to make paper? Geez, this is getting to the point that I once again feel like unsubscribing from the list, in fact I will.. Charles, could you notify me when all this is over with? hope y'all are done sorting the issue by the time I come back from caving in January Feliz Navidad, Hanuka, Kwanzaa or whatever you believe in, Happy New year as well to everyone, this beaner is out. Nico
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
> > Ellie and I were talking the other night while discussing the Spring > Convention. She suggested making all of the *TEXAS CAVER *newsletters over > a year old open to anyone (her idea), after they complete a Subscription > form (your idea and one in which I concur). > Do you mean the digital versions? That's a good idea but would pretty much be negated if and when *The CAVER* becomes globally down-loadable. Maybe the TSA should consider having a pop-up box for TSA membership to annoy anybody who tries to order issues on-line and isn't a member or doesn't have a password. It was always possible for non-TSA members to buy past hard-copy issues of *The CAVER* at conventions (and still should be able to--be sure to print extras for that purpose), TCR and other meetings where they were available--even if they were just a month old. That fact pretty much negated the concept that only members could receive newsletters--that subscriptions were tied to membership. The difference was only a matter of timing--the members got the latest issue in the mail and non-members had to wait 'til they were offered out of hand. Often, back issues were offered at a cheaper price than they were through membership--like an entire volume for $5. It wasn't a matter of protecting the information contained therein from non-cavers or anything like that, just obsessive possessiveness or some similar disfunction. I have another idea. (shudder) We have a bindery available. Hard-bound copies of each volume--or several volumes bound together, since they're small--can be made up and sold by the TSA Store at a profit to those future speleo-bibliophiles who lust for higher quality hard copies for their library. It has been done by some editors in the past. --Ediger
RE: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
Ellie just pointed out to me (and I knew this, but, forgot), "Hey, stupid! The meeting is on the 10th! Not the 4th!". Getting old and forgetful really sucks, but, it's better than the alternative! Mark From: Alman, Mark @ IRP Sent: Wed 12/16/2009 8:14 AM To: Gill Edigar; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications Excellent and very well thought out post, Gill. I like most of your suggestions and you have provided a lot of food for thought, prior to the Winter meeting (Sunday, 1/4/10 at the Conference Center at CBSP at 9AM!). Ellie and I were talking the other night while discussing the Spring Convention. She suggested making all of the TEXAS CAVER newsletters over a year old open to anyone (her idea), after they complete a Subscription form (your idea and one in which I concur). I think this would entice them to consider joining the TSA and the desire to read the newer issues would clinch the deal. I like this discussion and ways to improve the TSA and attract new members and to get prior ones to re-join. Let's just be sure to keep it civil, y'all. 'Tis the season, and all! Mark From: bgillegi...@gmail.com on behalf of Gill Edigar Sent: Tue 12/15/2009 7:57 PM To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith wrote: If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it will be available on the front page. That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you why--two paragraphs. The process should be some variation of this: Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that cavers get together. Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and a brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a password. The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or her own personal subscription information. Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to go access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital copy of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a TSA member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing whatever they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel some of um. Q. Why require a subscription? A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence them and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. Q, How does this help the TSA? A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the distribution of errant issue
RE: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
Excellent and very well thought out post, Gill. I like most of your suggestions and you have provided a lot of food for thought, prior to the Winter meeting (Sunday, 1/4/10 at the Conference Center at CBSP at 9AM!). Ellie and I were talking the other night while discussing the Spring Convention. She suggested making all of the TEXAS CAVER newsletters over a year old open to anyone (her idea), after they complete a Subscription form (your idea and one in which I concur). I think this would entice them to consider joining the TSA and the desire to read the newer issues would clinch the deal. I like this discussion and ways to improve the TSA and attract new members and to get prior ones to re-join. Let's just be sure to keep it civil, y'all. 'Tis the season, and all! Mark From: bgillegi...@gmail.com on behalf of Gill Edigar Sent: Tue 12/15/2009 7:57 PM To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith wrote: If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it will be available on the front page. That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you why--two paragraphs. The process should be some variation of this: Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that cavers get together. Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and a brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a password. The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or her own personal subscription information. Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to go access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital copy of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a TSA member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing whatever they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel some of um. Q. Why require a subscription? A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence them and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. Q, How does this help the TSA? A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the distribution of errant issues on the open market. That's not to say that I couldn't just print out 40 copies via my download and hand them out at Walgreens. It also provides a larger man-power base of both leaders and followers which will obviously contribute to projects, training, participation, writing articles, and a general contribution to more and better caving. Q. How will my email address be protected? A. The subscriber list will be maintained as a database, pretty much entirely electronically. The database, or selected fields, at least, should
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
ok, so why you sending me this? On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 10:02 PM, wrote: > I'm unsubcribing from Texascavers.com later tonight. I've had it. > > Bill > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -Original Message- > From: Charles Goldsmith > Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:58:07 > To: Gill Edigar > Cc: > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications > Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to > fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be > free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If > people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. > Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new > members and cavers. > > Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. > If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a > PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. > > Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's > just that simple, no more worries about spam. > > Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when > trying to attract new members. > > Charles > > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Gill Edigar wrote: >> On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith >> wrote: >>> >>> If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it >>> will be available on the front page. >> >> That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason >> being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... >> Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you >> why--two paragraphs. >> The process should be some variation of this: >> Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of >> several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the >> TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as >> CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that >> cavers get together. >> Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to >> the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. >> Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, >> address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe >> even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo >> identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and a >> brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have >> to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. >> Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a >> password. >> The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or >> her own personal subscription information. >> Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA >> caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to go >> access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital copy >> of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some >> restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a TSA >> member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. >> Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, >> archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing whatever >> they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. >> The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But >> there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel some >> of um. >> Q. Why require a subscription? >> A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and >> where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to >> identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with >> them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence them >> and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our >> 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you >> are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for >> many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't >> want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in >> their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. >> Q, How does this help the TSA? >>
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
I'm unsubcribing from Texascavers.com later tonight. I've had it. Bill Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -Original Message- From: Charles Goldsmith Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:58:07 To: Gill Edigar Cc: Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new members and cavers. Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's just that simple, no more worries about spam. Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when trying to attract new members. Charles On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Gill Edigar wrote: > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith > wrote: >> >> If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it >> will be available on the front page. > > That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason > being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... > Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you > why--two paragraphs. > The process should be some variation of this: > Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of > several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the > TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as > CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that > cavers get together. > Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to > the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. > Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, > address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe > even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo > identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and a > brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have > to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. > Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a > password. > The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or > her own personal subscription information. > Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA > caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to go > access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital copy > of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some > restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a TSA > member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. > Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, > archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing whatever > they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. > The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But > there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel some > of um. > Q. Why require a subscription? > A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and > where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to > identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with > them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence them > and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our > 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you > are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for > many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't > want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in > their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. > Q, How does this help the TSA? > A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside > cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave > conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events > that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the > distribution of errant issues on the open market. That's not to say that I > couldn't just print out 40 copies via my
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 8:58 PM, Charles Goldsmith wrote: > Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to > fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be > free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If > people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. > Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new > members and cavers. > Yes, basically right. But getting them information is only half of the goal. We want their info as well. We want to identify them. They are our target cavers--the ones we want to encourage to not only go caving safely but to join the TSA, the NSS, and to become an active part of the great unwashed caver community--not rogue warriors in the caving world. So, we need their information and we need to keep in touch with them. The hassle of filling out a subscription (which can be minimal) is itself a small filter to weed out trivial inquiries. We want accountability from both ends. > > Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. > If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a > PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. > I personally am not worried about hard copy (such as pdf) lists being snagged for spam. Manually transcribing them is a bit more effort, though not a whole lot. It's the electronic files which can be manipulated in the computer to harvest email addresses that I don't want to see posted. Again, I guess they could be hidden. > Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's > just that simple, no more worries about spam. > Yes > Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when > trying to attract new members. > > I'm OK with simple. Just keep in mind OUR needs from them and don't cut us off short from the value we place on our target audience. --Ediger
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
Im done. On 12/15/09, Charles Goldsmith wrote: > Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to > fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be > free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If > people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. > Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new > members and cavers. > > Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. > If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a > PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. > > Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's > just that simple, no more worries about spam. > > Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when > trying to attract new members. > > Charles > > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Gill Edigar wrote: >> On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith >> wrote: >>> >>> If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it >>> will be available on the front page. >> >> That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason >> being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... >> Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you >> why--two paragraphs. >> The process should be some variation of this: >> Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of >> several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the >> TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as >> CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that >> cavers get together. >> Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to >> the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. >> Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, >> address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe >> even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo >> identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and >> a >> brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have >> to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. >> Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a >> password. >> The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or >> her own personal subscription information. >> Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA >> caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to >> go >> access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital >> copy >> of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some >> restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a >> TSA >> member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. >> Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, >> archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing >> whatever >> they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. >> The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But >> there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel >> some >> of um. >> Q. Why require a subscription? >> A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and >> where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to >> identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with >> them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence >> them >> and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our >> 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you >> are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for >> many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't >> want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in >> their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. >> Q, How does this help the TSA? >> A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside >> cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave >> conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events >> that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the >> distribution of errant issues on the open market. That's not to say that I >> couldn't just print out 40 copies via my download and hand them out at >> Walgreens. It also provides a larger man-power base of both leaders and >> followers which will obviously contribute to projects, training, >> participation, writing articles, and a general contribution to more and >> better caving. >> Q. How will my email address be protected? >> A. The subscriber list will be maintained as a database, pretty much >> entirely electronically. The da
Re: [Texascavers] Subscribers to digital publications
Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new members and cavers. Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's just that simple, no more worries about spam. Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when trying to attract new members. Charles On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Gill Edigar wrote: > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith > wrote: >> >> If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it >> will be available on the front page. > > That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason > being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... > Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you > why--two paragraphs. > The process should be some variation of this: > Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of > several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the > TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as > CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that > cavers get together. > Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to > the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. > Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, > address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe > even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo > identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and a > brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have > to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. > Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a > password. > The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or > her own personal subscription information. > Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA > caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to go > access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital copy > of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some > restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a TSA > member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. > Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, > archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing whatever > they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. > The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But > there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel some > of um. > Q. Why require a subscription? > A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and > where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to > identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with > them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence them > and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our > 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you > are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for > many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't > want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in > their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. > Q, How does this help the TSA? > A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside > cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave > conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events > that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the > distribution of errant issues on the open market. That's not to say that I > couldn't just print out 40 copies via my download and hand them out at > Walgreens. It also provides a larger man-power base of both leaders and > followers which will obviously contribute to projects, training, > participation, writing articles, and a general contribution to more and > better caving. > Q. How will my email address be protected? > A. The subscriber list will be maintained as a database, pretty much > entirely electronically. The database, or selected fields, at least, should > be available to subscribers as a caver service. Subscribers could elect to > not make their email address and certain other
