I agree with you, Jay, and hadn't looked at it in the way you describe. Maybe we should have two options:
Completely dissolve the land fund and dispense funds ($8144.19) where deemed worthy. Or Dispense funds where deemed worthy and keep the $500 seed money and fund intact, while continuing to charge the $1 head fee for TSA events. After mulling it over, I like the last option. Just a reminder, if you plan on voting on this issue at the TSA Fall Business meeting at TCR, be sure your dues are paid up. (Terry and Gill, I'll be expecting your checks in the mail, 8^)> Later, Mark -----Original Message----- From: Jay Jorden [mailto:jjor...@texoma.net] Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 8:48 PM To: Gill Ediger; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: Re: [Texascavers] TSA Land Fund It's been said that showing up is 90 percent of the battle. Over the years, Texas cavers have proven just that ... by their presence at TSA events and TCRs. That's how the TSA Land Fund has grown. A dollar per head adds up. The $500 NSS honorarium was just the seed money. On the issue of management, Texas cavers have been managing the fund both in name and in deed. Again, it's their money. And yes, money is required for cave acquisition -- unless a donation, bequest or barter is involved. The question that's been repeatedly asked is: How much money is "worthwhile" toward this effort? Some believe our fund-raising to date has been futile. Your input on this subject, however timely now, would have been even more helpful during those interminably long TSA meetings where this subject repeatedly came up. On one point, I must respectfully disagree. Two big caves on a preserve with more than 200 acres and ridgewalking potential is hardly a poor use for the funds. I like your last recommendation, though. If this was my decision to make, the fund would not be completely expended and dissolved -- but would be replenished through per-capita TSA contributions and used for other worthy cave conservation projects. But it's not. The decision is shared by all Texas cavers. (It's really always been that way.) We just happen to currently face a challenge worthy of a fund with this history. To grow and succeed doesn't take different management or a new organization. The organization (TSA foundation) is already in place and we've had good managers over the years. It just takes determination, a concerted group effort and momentum. Texas cavers have already shown that they can be counted for something important. We'll stay tuned to see what the future holds. Jay Gill Ediger wrote: > At 05:12 PM 5/30/2008, you wrote: > >> I vote pay off anything involving purchase of caves that has interest >> attached to it and as far as I know, Punkin/Deep is it. Jacqui > > I have avoided wading in on this till most of the personal minutia and > nonsense was dispensed with. Jacqui seems to have brought is down to the > least common denominator of how to use the money--pay off cave purchase > notes. > > But I must point out that that money--or any money--is a valuable > resource for buying more caves. To piss it away on one solitary cave > purchase makes poor use of the resource. Use it to pay off the note. But > make damned sure that the Land Fund money is repaid into the Land Fund > account (no matter who manages it) by continued fund raising so that it > will be available for another and another and yet another cave purchase > whenever needed in the future. The Punkin/Deep payoff will hopefull not > be the final one to be made in Texas. > > To look for a way to spend money just because someone thinks it's > burning a hole in their pocket does not make good fiscal sense. Do not > do away with the Land Fund--use it as the valuable tool that it is. And > keep it viable and growing. If necessary, set up a separate organization > to manage it. > > --Ediger > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
