I'll go ahead and add this item to the agenda for the business meeting Saturday afternoon.
Correction, though: The total cost for printing and mailing will be in the neighborhood of $8 to $9 per copy. I think it best we have this discussion in a public forum and not begin an online flame war., which benefits no one. Thanks! Mark and the TSA Board From: Carl Kunath [mailto:carl.kun...@suddenlink.net] Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 12:02 AM To: TexasCavers Subject: [Texascavers] Open Letter to the Members of the TSA Open Letter to the Members of the TSA There is an issue of the Texas Caver now ready to print. It is a very special issue to commemorate 50 years of publishing the Texas Caver and is also a brief retrospective of the last 50+ years of Texas caving. Appropriately, it is 50 pages; much of it in color. Several dozen people have contributed to it in various ways. Distribution of this issue will fulfill the TSA's moral debt to deliver the final issue owed but never delivered to the 2005 TSA membership. At a past TSA members meeting, the TSA voiced support for the publication of this issue. Here is a quote from the minutes of the October 21, 2007 members meeting: "Jerry Atkinson/Carl Kunath have completed* the 50th anniversary issue of The TEXAS CAVER. Mark Alman to handle printing and mailing of this special issue. Allan Cobb stated that TCR would donate $300 towards this special edition." *Note: The word "completed" was incorrect. We were then working to complete the issue. Now, after some delays, it is ready. When told that it was ready for printing and after having pointed out the practical and ethical considerations involved with producing this issue, the present leadership of the TSA has refused to print it. Here is a quote from the Chairman: "Solicit "pre-orders" on CaveTex, in the TEXAS CAVER and at the Convention in April for a price to be determined. Probably around $10, including postage. If enough interest we would then order and mail them." When that plan was called into question, and the Chairman was again reminded that this was something that was owed to the 2005 TSA members and had been previously approved, there was a further response: "But, if you insist on presenting why the TSA need [sic] to spend over (now) $1500 (or 25% of our operating budget) for a six year old newsletter that most people either know nothing or care nothing about, I'll be sure to put it at the top of the agenda. If you consider this a good use of TSA assets, go for it." That is a bizarre and high-handed attitude, especially considering the previous discussions. So, yes, Mr. Chairman, we are going for it. Were you a member of the TSA in 2005? If so, you paid your membership dues with the expectation that some member benefits would accrue. What sort of member benefits are we thinking of? Sadly, aside from bankrolling an annual convention, about the only thing that TSA does for its dues-paying membership is to provide the Texas Caver. At least it says that it will. In 2005 (and a few other years) the TSA could not manage even that. Aside from a "feel good" emotion when you sign up, a few lightly administered projects, and the promise of a regular newsletter, there are no other benefits to TSA membership. There is no welcoming packet. You do not get a mission statement for the organization or any sort of historic perspective as to why it exists. You do not get a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws. You do not get a reduced rate to attend a TSA function or to purchase branded merchandise-you pay the same as any non-member. You do not get a complimentary issue of the most current newsletter. You do not get a current membership list. You do not even get a membership card. Yes, some of these things are available on the TSA web site and you can download and print at your time and expense. But, basically, anything you do after handing over your dues money costs extra-except you get the Texas Caver. Supposedly. What happens if the Caver is not produced? What happens to the funds that are collected but not expended? Do the TSA members get a refund? Hardly. Not even an apology. The funds remain in the general treasury until such time as they are disbursed for the benefit of the general membership. Hopefully. If it is a money issue, how has TSA been spending its funds? Is the TSA disbursing significant amounts of money in ways that are most beneficial to its membership? How has TSA's money been spent over the past 10 years? Here is a brief summary of the major expenses as noted in the published minutes: 2004 $500 to produce Devil's Sinkhole posters. (How many have been sold?) 2007 $1,000 to Honey Creek for entrance maintenance and improvements. 2007 The TSA convention lost $800 (Those in attendance were asked for contributions to cover the shortfall.) 2008 Caver $2,128.29 over budget. Cost for the year was $5,201.05 (did include an extra issue). 2009 $7,855.38 donated to TCMA/Deep-Punkin (liquidated the long-standing land fund). 2009 $2,200 donated to ICS to sponsor several non-USA people for ICS attendance. 2009 $500 donated to the NSS Rapid Response to the WNS problem. 2009 $400 for Suunto repairs. (How were they damaged? How are they used?) 2010 $750 for the TSA/TSS trailer. 2010 $500 donated to TCC for hosting the TSA convention. 2011 $150 donated to Government Canyon Karst Survey. Without getting into a discussion of the relative worthiness of those past expenditures, it appears that TSA is not exactly hurting for money. Note that the TSA had $8,775.06 in the treasury at the beginning of 2011. The estimated cost to produce and mail the 50th Anniversary issue is $7 per copy. There are approximately 175 members who are owed that copy, so the obligated cost to the TSA would be $1,225 if all those 175 subscribers elected to receive a printed copy. Doubtless, some members will choose to receive only a digital copy so the actual cost would be something less. The TSA will not provide an issue of the Caver for which it is obligated and for which it already pocketed the money? Why would the TSA balk at providing something that is of direct benefit to the members even if the members had not already paid for this item? What is wrong with this picture? Further, those who already paid for this issue as part of their 2005 TSA dues are invited to pay another $10 if they want it. Lovely! We cannot believe this actually represents the desires of the TSA membership. The TSA is in decline. There are fewer members now than there were 40 years ago. There are a number of reasons for this but among them must be a perceived lack of benefit for becoming a member. Maybe it is time to have a hard look at the TSA. Is the TSA properly member-oriented? Please attend the coming TSA member's meeting Saturday afternoon April 2, 2011 at the Brackettville convention. If you can't be there, make your opinion known. Vote! For a look at the cover of the Anniversary issue, visit here: http://pages.suddenlink.net/carl-kunath/50th_Anniversary_Cover.pdf <http://pages.suddenlink.net/carl-kunath/50th_Anniversary_Cover.pdf> ===Carl Kunath & Jerry Atkinson
