Thankfully, I have had a pretty good response to my last plea and we even have some candidates (!) for the open positions of TSA Secretary and TSA Vice Chair.
Thanks to all of the cavers who have responded with nominations and those of you who thought it over AND declined or accepted their respective nomination! The TSA could not function without people like you willing to serve or, at least, think it over. I'm going to close nominations on Monday, October 8th, and will post the candidates soon after on CaveTex, after conferring with the TSA leadership. Meanwhile, if this sounds like something you'd like to do or you have someone in mind, shoot an email my way. I also know that there are PLENTY of people out there who like to tell the TSA officers how to do their jobs, how they are doing them wrong, how they could do them better, what is wrong with the TSA, or want to conduct change on an institutional scale. Now is YOUR time! If I don't hear from you, I'll assume everything in the TSA is hunky dory and the new TSA leadership will not be bothered by your criticisms and you will forever and evermore hold your peace. So, nominate that special someone or volunteer now and be sure to vote at TCR. Make your voice heard! Democracy is a terrible thing to waste. (cue the patriotic music and flag waving in the background about now). Mucho gracias! Mark Alman (Borrowing from one of Ron Ralph's excellent past emails from when he was the TSA Nominations Chair). Cavers: It is once again time to consider running for office. The Texas Speleological Association needs your hat in the ring for the 2013 election at the Texas Caver Reunion. The positions are for one year and duties are outlined below. Knowing your reluctance to volunteer for any position, I am asking your friends (ha!) to suggest to me that you will be a fine candidate. I will then contact you and ask if you will run and serve. Our present officers (2012) are: President - Don Arburn (standing, unless someone REALLY wants to run) Vice-President - Ellie Watson (OPEN. Ellie is standing down, after many years of superb service to the TSA). Secretary - Denise Prendergast (OPEN. Denise is standing down, after many years of excellent record keeping for the TSA). Treasurer - Michael Cicherski (standing, unless someone REALLY wants to run) This is the first call for nominations. Please respond with your thoughts on possible candidates at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Mark Alman, TSA Elections Committee Chair September 17, 2012 214-289-9181 - Cell Duties of TSA Officers Nominations for TSA officers are in progress. This page is an excerpt from the TSA Constitution describing the duties of TSA Officers. Article IV: Officers A. The Executive Council consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and the Chair of each standing committee. Elected officers shall take office on the first day of the New Year. 1. The Chairman, when present, shall preside over all TSA meetings. 2. The Vice-Chairman is responsible for meeting and program arrangements and shall preside at TSA meeting is the absence of the Chairman. 3. The Secretary records the minutes of TSA meetings and maintains a current list of members. 4. The Treasurer keeps track of TSA assets by maintaining adequate financial records, including those for The Texas Caver. The Treasurer prepares a budget for the fiscal year, maintains the membership database, and insures the database is available electronically to the membership. B. A vacancy in any elected office other than that of Chairman may be filled by the Executive Council by appointing any full member in good standing or by special election if so desired by the Executive Council. C. The Vice-Chairman shall fill a vacancy in the office of Chairman. D. Officers may be removed from their position by a three-quarters majority vote at any Member Meeting. NOTES: The vice chair has historically organized the TSA spring convention, in other words, No Vice Chair = No TSA Convention! And the chairman is responsible for organizing the TSA business meetings...ie preparing agendas, scheduling the meeting...keeping things moving at the meetings....and being a "speleo-referee" to keep things civil.
