FYI:
------ Forwarded Message
From: Wm Shrewsbury <presid...@caves.org>
Reply-To: <nssw...@yahoogroups.com>
List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:53:00 -0400
To: <nssw...@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [NSSwest] BOG proposal to end the printed News
Everyone,
There has been a lot of discussion about the upcoming budget proposal before
the board. This post is a ³quick² synopsis and not meant to be all
inclusive.
The EC meets each year to create a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Primarily due to things beyond our control, such as the national economy, we
have had to trim our budgets for the last five years. Small surpluses in
various areas have allowed us to keep our services at a level that has not
affected the membership at large.
Last year we moved our Regular members to a digital version of the Journal.
This was well received. About a dozen members wished to continue to receive
hard copies, and they have subscribed to it as an additional publication
with a member discount. The EC understands that these the Journal and the
News are appreciated differently by our membership and how it can be used.
This year the EC trimmed all the minor line items first (it all adds up).
We then moved to alternate solutions. By far the lion¹s share of the budget
lies in the OVP and EVP departments.
In the OVP department many items are fixed (with slow increases over the
years) Internet, phone, paper, postage, etc. While it is the largest
budget there are very few places to make cuts. As has been noted here we
have proposed releasing our part-time shipping clerk. This has not taken
effect, pending the outcome of the Board¹s budget decisions.
The next largest department is the EVP. Many of the items in this
department are ³blue-line². For those who may not know, line items in blue
in our budget are funded by restricted funds and thus are not part of the
³budget²; money in = money out. Items in the EVP department that could
assist a deficit budget include:
- Publish the ACA digitally with a limited run in paper. This is a viable
choice. It allows us to distribute the ACA to our membership quicker and
eases the size restraints budgets would impose on it. The EC opted to
include this in the budget.
- Publish the News digitally with a limited run in paper. Of all the items
we considered, this was one of the toughest. There have been quite a few
requests for several years from members to obtain their News electronically,
and just as many who would prefer paper to electrons. This idea was no
stranger to the EC we have been talking about permitting an al a carte
system for members since the fall of ¹11.
We would like to offer a digital News to our membership. As a "thank you"
we would like to offer a dues discount. You will find a compromise in the
proposed budget The News would be distributed digitally, regular dues
decreased to $35 with a paper subscription option at a member discounted
price. We have proposed this step to balance the budget in a timely manner.
This budget was presented as a "wake up call". The entire Board, Officers
and Directors alike, are pouring over our numbers and listening to the
membership. Many options have been presented, several of which will take
time to examine. A few that are currently on the table include:
- The Board may direct the EC to research more options and present those
options in a few months, leaving the service level as it currently stands.
- Borrow from one of the larger funds to cover the shortfall as we institute
a membership drive. This would treat the symptom of this year's shortfall,
but it does not resolve the cause. We must increase our membership to a
sustainable level.
- Print the News as a bi-monthly publication, the same size as it currently
is, with additional content in the web-based version. We have not had
adequate time to fully review this option.
- Leave the News as a monthly print publication and raise dues by $10. We
would offer a discount to those who wish to receive the News
electronically. This would nearly close the gap, however it is anticipated
that membership drives might be impeded by a dues increase.
Please bear with us as we attempt to balance our budget while maintaining
our services to you. It will be difficult at best until we can increase our
membership.
The reality is that we need 11K members to maintain our current member
services. We have been hovering around the 10K level for the last several
years. We cannot continue to maintain the our same level of service unless
we increase our membership to a sustainable level.
To start this membership drive off, I'd like to encourage you to talk to
your caving peers who are not currently members. This will allow us to
³spread the cost² for everyone. The most effective recruitment is a one on
one conversation between friends. Please help us help you help the Society.
Thank you,
Wm Shrewsbury
President, National Speleological Society
------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
Coming Events:
March 22-23-24, 2013
NSS Board of Governors Meeting
Hosted by San Francisco Bay Chapter
Menlo Park - All cavers welcome!
Info: www.sfbcgrotto.org/bog2013.html
April 27-28, 2013
Orientation to Cave Rescue
Sequoia-Kings Canyon Natl. Parks
Contact Roger Mortimer for details
May 17-18-19, 2013
Speleo-Ed Seminar - Millerton Lakes, Prather, CA
Hosted by Stanislaus Grotto
June 1-8, 2013
National Cave Rescue Commission, Western Region
Week-long Training, Level 1 only
Lava Beds National Monument
July 21-28, 2013
16th International Congress of Speleology
Brno, Czech Republic
www.speleo2013.com
August 5-9, 2013
NSS National Convention - Shippensburg, PA
www.nss2013.com
August 30-September 2, 2013
Northwestern and Western Regional Weekend
Trailhead Bed and Breakfast. Trout Lake, Washington
Hosted by Willamette Valley Grotto
May 16-24, 2014
National Cave Rescue Commission
Week-long training
Colorado
July, 2016
75th Anniversary - National Speleological Society
NSS Annual Convention - Ely, Nevada!
www.facebook.com/nss75th
Twitter: @nss75th
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