Im done.
On 12/15/09, Charles Goldsmith <wo...@justfamily.org> wrote: > Gill, why not simply put it on the webpage, with an optional form to > fill out name, location, contact info, etc. The information should be > free to all, the more people who get it, read it, the better. If > people have to jump through hoops, it could possibly scare a few off. > Getting the information out there into the hands of potential new > members and cavers. > > Everyone is worried about spam, we have plenty and will only get more. > If you are worried about people getting your email address out of a > PDF, then don't put it into the PDF, its that simple. > > Contact info in the TC should point to the website contact page, it's > just that simple, no more worries about spam. > > Sometimes it is really best to keep things simple, especially when > trying to attract new members. > > Charles > > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Gill Edigar <gi...@att.net> wrote: >> On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Charles Goldsmith <wo...@justfamily.org> >> wrote: >>> >>> If the TC goes free, it won't be in the password protected section, it >>> will be available on the front page. >> >> That would not be good. But it would not be not good because of the reason >> being discussed here--spam, etc. There's another... >> Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you then I'm gonna tell you >> why--two paragraphs. >> The process should be some variation of this: >> Cavers can get 'invited to subscribe' to The TEXAS CAVER by any of >> several means--from the TSA or Grotto Home Pages, at Grotto meetings, the >> TSA convention, TCR, from fellow cavers, from handouts at projects such as >> CBSP, Gov Canyon, Punkin & Deep, etc, or basically any way and place that >> cavers get together. >> Then, the caver will go to the link on the TSA web site and navigate to >> the Subscribe to The TEXAS CAVER button. >> Then, the caver will be asked for some vital information such as name, >> address, etc, NSS number, Grotto affiliation (or independent), and maybe >> even personal info such as family member names (which are mostly for photo >> identification purposes, not for publication, etc), age, years caving, and >> a >> brief caving bio, and the all important email address (which does not have >> to be the caver's primary one). Most of this info will be voluntary. >> Basically all that will be needed is a name and an email address and a >> password. >> The caver will also be asked to furnish a password for accessing his or >> her own personal subscription information. >> Then, whenever a new CAVER is ready to mail (or some breaking TSA >> caver-worthy news) the caver will be sent a message telling him or her to >> go >> access his or her subscription account, and to download a free digital >> copy >> of whatever is being offered--TEXAS CAVER or whatever. There could be some >> restrictions as to which publications can be downloaded without being a >> TSA >> member, such as a Members Manual, meeting minutes, etc. >> Then, they can download it and print it out in any way they choose, >> archiving the digital copy for posterity, and getting back to doing >> whatever >> they were doing before--or maybe read The CAVER. >> The mechanics of that process are not too hard to visualize--I hope. But >> there are some questions, I'm sure. So here are a few 'whys' to dispel >> some >> of um. >> Q. Why require a subscription? >> A. Because what we really want is to know who is this subscriber is and >> where they fit in the Texas caving scene. Basically we are trying to >> identify all the cavers in Texas so we can keep in contact with >> them--ostensibly through the auspices of The TEXAS CAVER--and influence >> them >> and they us. "We will give you a free CAVER if you will be a part of our >> 'extended' TSA caving fraternity. This is a bribe from us to know who you >> are and that you are one of us--even though you may have been hiding for >> many years because you felt that the TSA doesn't care about you--doesn't >> want you to be a part of their elite group without you getting involved in >> their political intrigues" or any other reasons you may have. >> Q, How does this help the TSA? >> A. The subscription gives the TSA a database for contacting outside >> cavers (not just TSA members) about important issues such as cave >> conservation, caver functions, projects, conventions, TCR and other events >> that cavers would be interested in. It also restricts (somewhat) the >> distribution of errant issues on the open market. That's not to say that I >> couldn't just print out 40 copies via my download and hand them out at >> Walgreens. It also provides a larger man-power base of both leaders and >> followers which will obviously contribute to projects, training, >> participation, writing articles, and a general contribution to more and >> better caving. >> Q. How will my email address be protected? >> A. The subscriber list will be maintained as a database, pretty much >> entirely electronically. The database, or selected fields, at least, >> should >> be available to subscribers as a caver service. Subscribers could elect to >> not make their email address and certain other fields visible. Also, >> certain >> low tech schemes such as embedding the letters 'TSA' into each email >> address >> to be manually removed by the end user could offer some degree of >> security, >> but probably not worth it. >> Q. Will a Members Manual be published? >> A. A hard copy Members Manual is a handy reference for cavers who >> travel >> great distances to visit caves and caving events. But, as the Members >> Manual >> is a TSA list, perhaps only TSA members could be allowed to download it. >> That would provide incentive to join TSA. Properly loaded, a Members >> Manual >> could be available for downloading just like The TEXAS CAVER. Again, >> subscribers can elect to have their sensitive data available for viewing >> or >> printing. >> Q. How do we keep just anybody from accessing and printing out a copy of >> The >> CAVER or Member's Manual? >> A. Well, basically we can't. I can print one for my brother-in-law and >> he >> can leave it laying in the break room at work for anybody to see. Just >> like >> a hard copy could be. But the subscription process will help and will at >> least let us track who is subscribing--which should be valuable >> information, >> in it's own right, for an organization dedicated to conservation and >> safety, >> at least. >> Q. How will the hard copy subscribers be handled? >> A. When subscribing to receive The TEXAS CAVER, a subscriber can elect >> from any of 3 options: 1) To receive free digital TEXAS CAVER downloads >> (and >> other selected publications and notices). 2) To receive both a digital >> notification for downloading and a hard copy of any (again, selected) >> publications. 3) To receive one or more hard copies from TSA via USPS at a >> proscribed rate to cover production and mailing costs. A 4th option, which >> should probably come first, would be to join the TSA as a dues paying >> member >> with voting and other privileges, hopefully stated somewhere. >> Q. Who will tend to the hard copy printing and mailing business? >> A. Traditionally the editor had a major hand in that, often doing it >> all--printing, collating, binding, labeling, sorting, mailing, paying, and >> dealing with returns, address changes, etc. At time there were helpers for >> any or most of those tasks. I suspect that with the lighter load, the >> editor >> can easily handle it all. But the door will still be open for volunteers >> to >> pitch in. Hard copy subscribers will probably see a bit better service >> since >> things won't take so long to finish as they formerly did. >> Q What else can we expect from the new contacts we will make. >> A. Well, some of them will join the TSA. Many of them will contribute >> trip reports and cave reports and articles and other submissions to The >> TEXAS CAVER for your reading enjoyment, swelling its pages. They will >> become >> a part of our inner caving community instead or remaining out of it. And >> they will contribute to our overall enjoyment of caving, standing around >> campfires, and reading The TEXAS CAVER. >> Q. Would it be realistic to expect more issues of The CAVER? >> A. Actually, it would be realistic to expect that the editor could >> publish any time he'd accumulated enough information to make up an >> issue--not necessarily on a fixed schedule. In fact, the raw information >> could be made available as it is gathered and processed and cavers could >> watch the miracle of publication progress before their very eyes. And >> possible inspire them to submit some article themselves. >> This is the first time I've actually enumerated these ideas so they may be >> somewhat crudely developed, but the basic idea of what is possible should >> be >> contained within this writing. The two most important things to be gained >> are 1) identifying and getting The TEXAS CAVER into the hands of non-TSA >> cavers and 2) getting them to participate in the TSA. Neither of those >> will >> happen if we don't do something. There are, I'm sure, details which I've >> not >> considered. But the underlying concept should make for a better, cheaper >> system for producing and distributing The TEXAS CAVER and other TSA >> periodical-type publications. It should contribute to a broadening of both >> a >> Texas caver base and TSA membership and participation. It should satisfy >> those cavers who justifiably prefer a hard copy CAVER supplied by the TSA. >> And it should result in the TSA having more money and human resources to >> put >> toward the realization of its aims and purposes. And, on the face of it, I >> can't identify even one reason to justify not doing it, at least somehow, >> along the general pattern I have presented here. There is just no down >> side. >> In the interest of Texas caving, >> I thank you for your time and consideration, >> --Ediger >> >> > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > >
