Some of the recent comments about the TSA spring convention are thought-provoking and a bit amusing.
First, let's establish exactly where we stand geographically. Look at this map http://pages.suddenlink.net/carl-kunath/100-250_miles_from_Burnet.jpg to find the point most central to all known Texas caving groups (we need a circle with radius = 250 miles). Since Texas is a big place, and since we don't often have the option of choosing where we want to be and when we want to be there, some TSA members are going to have longer journeys than others. That said, it's not too realistic to have the Convention at the extreme edges of the group territory. In years past, it's been as far west as San Angelo, but mostly it's been within that inner 100 mile circle centered on Burnet. That's really handy for Austin, San Antonio, and others on the I-35 corridor but not so good for Houston, Midland, Wichita Falls, and Lubbock. It's better to gather at a central location rather than in Wichita Falls, Houston, or Midland -- places that would inconvenience 95% of the attendees. David Locklear's emphasis seems poorly placed. He is more interested in the recreational possibilities in the immediate area than in the Convention itself. The Convention was not designed to be a recreational weekend except as opportunity and inclination may allow. Earlier Conventions would usually have one or more field trips available for Sunday but were set so as not to conflict with formal Convention activities. It is, after all, a CAVING Convention and should not be oriented toward bicycling, kayaking, hiking, bird-watching, swimming, or whatever. The TSA Convention was conceived as an annual gathering where information could be shared in a somewhat formal setting with others of like mind. To that end, there are some requirements. There must be a meeting room large enough for the expected group. The room must be made reasonably dark for media presentations. Climate control is almost a must as the spring weather in Texas is unpredictable. The room itself should be somewhat acoustically dead. There must be appropriate space to display the photo and map salons. There should be "crowd control." Lacking crowd control, we find that if camping is just outside the door, people continuously wander in and out of the room while presentations are taking place. It's probably better if camping is at least a few miles away so that people are either at the Convention (isn't that why they are here?) or at the campground -- at least until more considerate behavior is evidenced. Recently, some convention attendees have been rude in the extreme and some tended to gather in the back of the room and carry on as if nothing else was happening. The last Kerrville convention was the worst I have ever seen in this regard. Historically, Conventions were held at scholastic locations and the camping was remote. The evening meal was sourced individually either at a nearby food place or prepared at the campground. The present-day pattern of cavers cooking for the crowd may be more hassle than it's worth. Eliminate the need for kitchen facilities and choice of venues is far simpler. The Convention that Preston Forsythe referenced where a hat was passed to offset a financial shortfall was at the Knox Ranch near Wimberley in 2006. Convention registration was noted as 110 -- about average for recent years. No explanation was offered as to why the Convention was in the red but that's not really the point. To pass the hat was rather bizarre. TSA has a plump treasury that could easily cover the shortfall. So what if it lost a little money? If the Convention had come out financially ahead do you think those in attendance would have received a partial refund? ===Carl Kunath (Attending since 1962)
