RE: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
You know, David, George and I considered going, but we aren't NSS members and I found the cost prohibitive and couldn't really figure out what I was getting for that kind of money. I would rather spend it going somewhere besided Alabama. No offense to those from Alabama. Sheryl --- On Mon 07/11, David Locklear < dlocklea...@ev1.net > wrote: From: David Locklear [mailto: dlocklea...@ev1.net] To: cave...@www.cavetex.net List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:37:31 -0500 Subject: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report Instead of writing one long trip report I am going to post several mini trip reports. First of which, is a complaint to the NSS. When making my plans to attend this event, I decided to bring my wife and mother-in-law along. My plan was for them to hang around the vicinity of camp all week, while I attended a few of the convention highlights. ( I was not expecting them to attend the convention, but I would have taken them to see the photos and the maps if they really wanted to see them, and just purchase a day pass. ) Upon arriving at the campground, I was told they could not enter with me unless they fully registered for the whole week as non-members. I was told I would have to pay an additional $ 260.00, in addition to the $ 130.00 I had already paid for myself, meaning for us to attend this convention would cost me $ 390.00. Because of our late arrival to the campground, I had less than 30 minutes to decide how I was going to scrape up the money to do this; or if I would be better off to leave them in a hotel all week while I went to the convention. I returned to my car to ponder the problem, and STRONGLY considered blowing off the convention, after driving so far to get there. As I was sitting in my car, just on the other side of the fence the Howdy Party was getting started. I was disappointed.My wife and mother-in-law where unaware of what the problem was, or why we were just sitting there in the car with me pulling my hair out. I have been to 4 previous conventions, but this was my 1st to bring in other people with me, so in hindsight, I clearly made too many assumptions on this part of my travel plans. With less than 5 minutes before registration closed, I decided to FORK UP the money, knowing that the rest of my vacation was going to be very short on funds and that my wife and mother-in-law were not going to understand why I did this or why there was no money to buy anything during the trip. In my opinion, it was not fair or reasonable that I should have had to pay so much money for them to camp with me. I want a partial refund of that $ 260.00. That being said, since they were registered, it seemed logical for me to drag them with me where ever possible to the convention. They did see the part of the Slide Salon and did eat dinner at the Howdy Party. They saw the maps and the photos and even part of the video of the McBride's cave rescue. They enjoyed the Rocket Center program, eventhough, they could not read the english descriptions of the museum exhibits. However, they would have preferred to sit at camp and relax and play with the baby, and I would have preferred to spend this money on new cave gear. David Locklear NSS # 27639 ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
RE: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
Hard to complain about bad planning. -Original Message- From: David Locklear Subject: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report When making my plans to attend this event, I decided to bring my wife and mother-in-law along
RE: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
Sheryl wrote: >> George and I considered going, but we aren't NSS members and I found the >> cost prohibitive and couldn't really figure out what I was getting for that >> kind of money. << Well, I am an NSS member, and have been since I was 16 years old (40 years). I continue to be a member because caving is the primary interest in my life, but for others their interests include traveling to places other than Alabama, their jobs, hunting, golf, the beach, whatever. I went to the NSS convention, and I consider it money very well spent. For me, it would have been a bargain for more than they charged. Here's what I got for my $130: 6 nights of camping with toilets, hot showers, and security. I left expensive caving gear laying out and it stayed put. An evening at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, which for me included an IMAX movie. For others it included some space-type rides which I heard them talking excitedly about the rest of the week. Bus service from the campground to the school where the sessions were held and to the Spaced and Rocket Center, and back again. You didn't need to drive from the campground. Three good meals: Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. All the beer I could drink two nights. Three different bands. More educational and interesting sessions than I could hope to attend, in an air conditioned facility. A convention guidebook, which would cost at least $15 by itself. A speleo camp which was free, which gave access to some of the finest caves in the USA. A nice banquet in a banquet hall, the likes of which with my job often costs as much as $130 alone. Rubbing elbows with top speleologists from around the world, such as those I met from Ukraine and China. Seeing friends from throughout my life, who I could only see there. Speleo vendors, which gave us the opportunity to spend lots more money. I did so because I like good caving gear and I read caving literature. And much, much more. It was a very good deal for me, but then again, I'm really into caving. Bill Steele TSA Chairman To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
Re: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
Hi Dave: If your guests had been interesting in caving, joining the NSS might have helped. You would have gotten the discounted member price for the Convention plus there is a $50 NSS member discount for attending their first convention. Gary Moss At 05:37 PM 7/11/2005, David Locklear wrote: To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
RE: CaveTex: NSS Convention - Trip Report
To be honest, Bill, when I visited the NSS website to see what the convention held in store, I didn't find much information. Maybe I looked way to far ahead and they had not gotten everything posted yet that was to occur. It sounds like you had a good time along with a lot of other folks. Maybe I'll reconsider the cost in the future knowing that I get a bit more than in the gate for my money, which is pretty much all I thought we would get. Well, live and learn. There is always next year. Sheryl ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to mailto:majord...@cavetex.net with the following message--unsubscribe cavetex. For help and information go to www.cavetex.net. List administrator: mailto:jswh...@cavetex.net
