It's only a few days until the best spring caving convention in Texas!
The weather looks great! http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USTX0145 <http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USTX0145> The swimming hole looks excellent, the talks and food will be awesome, the location is spectacular, and the TCMA auction will be a hoot and hosted by the best looking game show host since Bob Barker, our own Jim "Crash" Kennedy, assisted by his bevy of caving beauties! A couple of important notes are listed at the end of this email. Here is the revised agenda for the riveting and always exciting TSA Spring Business Meeting (immediately after the talks Saturday at ~4:40: 2011 Spring Business Meeting, Spring Convention at Fort Clark Springs, TX, Saturday, April 2nd, 2011, Texas Speleological Association Agenda * Welcome and Introductions * Chairman's Report * Vice Chairman's Report * Secretary's Report - Minutes of 2011 Winter Business Meeting held at the TSS Offices on the UT Campus, Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 * Treasurers Report * TSA Projects - Jim Kennedy * Gov't Canyon - Marvin Miller * Colorado Bend State Park - Crash * Longhorn Cavern Project (On hold - TPWD Approval) - Mark Alman * Inner Space Caverns Project (Starting in September) - Gerry Geletzke & Mark Alman * Hill Country State Natural Area & Devils River - Rob Bissett and Joe Ranzau * Future Project Ideas * Standing Committee Reports * TSA Website - Butch Fralia * Membership Chair - Ryan Monjaras * Conservation Committee - Open and Jim Kennedy (WNS Update) * Safety and Techniques - David Ochel * Publications - Mark Alman * The TEXAS CAVER and status of online access to back issues. * TSA Store - Lee Jay Graves * Old Business * The 100th trip of the Government Canyon Karst Survey Celebration, Saturday, March 5th * New Business o TSA Brochure o Membership Drive o Membership Directory Constitution Change o The Constitution states: The Treasurer prepares a budget for the fiscal year, maintains the membership database, and insures the database is available electronically to the membership. The key word is "electronically". And it later states: The Membership Committee shall consist of the Database Manager, the TSA Secretary, the TSA Treasurer, a representative of the Publications Committee, and other appointed members. b. The committee will develop data to be made available to TSA officers, committees, member organizations, affiliated organizations, and members for conducting caving business. The committee insures the membership database is published annually and is not made available to the general public. These two statements seem conflicting and publishing a Members Directory is a small expense in the large scheme of things but, nevertheless, still a waste of money. The TSA Board of Officers is recommending that the red line above be deleted from the Constitution and the Members Directory be made available electronically in the Members Area of the TSA webpage. o New Item - 50th Anniversary Issue of The TEXAS CAVER - As you may/may not be aware, the 50th anniversary of the creation of the TSA was in 2005. Carl Kunath & Jerry Atkinson have just now completed this newsletter and have made a motion that the TSA expend a significant amount of its operating budget ($1200 to $1500. See Treasurers report) to mail this newsletter to all 2005 members of record. The Publications Committee and TSA Officers have already weighed in on this issue and are against this expenditure and have offered other alternatives. The TSA would like to present their position on this issue and to solicit Members positions on this and all issues before conducting a vote. * Announcements? * End of Meeting (Let's eat!) A few important notes to remember: * You must be a paid up TSA member in order to vote on any above issue. All are invited to attend. * Your comments at the meeting are welcome but, as a reminder, I think it best we have this discussion in a public forum and not begin an online flame war, which benefits no one. In other words, no spouting off on CaveTex. * All comments will be made in a civil and respectful manner, dealing with the issue at hand, one at a time and recognized by the Chairman. Those that cannot behave in a polite fashion and abide by these Rules of Order will be asked to leave. * And, most importantly, Diana Tomchick has volunteered her services and blenders in order to provide Happy Hour Meeting Margaritas to all interested in partaking. Make mine a double, Diana! Please remember that the unofficial slogan of the TSA is that we are all in this cave together and the TSA values your opinions, participation, support, and attendance at this meeting, in particular, and at making it out to the Convention! See ya then! Mark
