Charles is exactly right. The whole idea of an online TEXAS CAVER is
that it CAN be printed out (in color, no less) and hard copy (and
digitally) archived for a whole lot less money than the cost of
printing and mailing. I cannot imagine reading an important digital
publication on line. I almost always print them out, collate them,
and read the hard copy--with my feet up on the desk. Everybody has a
printer and damned near everybody has internet. Those that don't can
have a friend do it. The CAVER can be bigger, in color, more friendly
to submit to, timely, and cheaper to produce and distribute. It is
one of the most important positive decisions the TSA has made in a
long time. The technology is here and the rewards will be great. The
only thing missing is that The TEXAS CAVER is still an elite
subscription newsletter online which will not be readily available to
all of the Texas cavers who would benefit from it and the TSA (and
all of Texas caving) will suffer the consequences of not having those
cavers as readers and contributors. They will miss out on the
important information published in The CAVER and and the subscribers
will miss out on the information which would normally be contributed
by those barred from 2-way access to The CAVER. The TSA is not an
association of Texas cavers; it is an association of dues payers
beating a dying dog. It can accomplish its goals only by reaching out
to and including ALL Texas cavers in its coverage. The internet
offers a cheap and simple and effective way to do that. The first
step has been taken. It's too bad that money rather than intellect
prompted that change. Let's see if common sense can move it make the
next step to include all Texas cavers in on the benefits of being a
part of the Association by offering them access to both read and
contribute to the valuable contents of The TEXAS CAVER.
I must ask those in the TSA: Why do you not want to reach everybody
who is caving in Texas with your safety and conservation message and
to promote good and smart caving practices among them and induce more
submission to The TEXAS CAVER? Why? The mechanism is in place; let's
use it to reach out to those non-participants. Draw them in with a
positive influence and counteract any bad caving habits they may
have--all at no cost to anyone.
--Ediger
At 10:36 PM 1/15/2009, Charles Goldsmith wrote:
Now, to the issue at hand, I disagree, if anyone wants a hard copy,
have it printed, you'll come out a bit more expensive, but that way
the rest of us don't have to pay for the additional cost via higher
subscriptions.
The TSA is moving in the correct direction.
As far as making sure these are always available, until time ends,
proper planning of the TSA with this is prudent.
Multiple off-site storage of the files should be mandatory, and
accurate accounting of the off-site files.
Requiring everyone to pay more for a hard-copy is selfish and not
prudent in these economical times. I can afford for higher dues, do I
want them, no. Not everyone could afford them, we should probably
talk about dropping them a bit to help everyone out.
If you don't have a printer, you can take the pdf to many printing
shops to have it printed. If you insist on having one mailed to you
in hard copy, perhaps the TSA will consent with doing a special rate
for those, paying a higher dues to cover the printing/mailing cost.
This should not be imposed on everyone though, only to those who elect
to pay that cost.
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