Charles, We're moving the TSA website to a new hosting company, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is better statistics to see how many people are actually using this thing. It has PHPBB available for install so it would be directly attached to TexasCavers.org. I've set up two or three of these and as you know it isn't a big deal. Mark could moderate the whole thing!
Butch -----Original Message----- From: Charles 'wokka' Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 12:13 PM To: Alman, Mark @ IRP Cc: David Locklear; Cavetex Subject: Re: [Texascavers] The TSA purpose - another opinion Mark, David, both are very good ideas. Our wonderful cavetex (texascavers) mailing list is hosted by myself, which has no affiliation with the TSA at all, other than being a member. But as a member, I'm here to help out as necessary. I do have the skills and ability to host another "forum" for discussion, be it members of TSA only or an opt-in list for direct TSA discussions. We can do this via mailing list, or by a web based forum, for bulletin board system. This can be done quickly, easily and at no cost. Anyone that wants to discuss it, contact me off-list. Charles Alman, Mark @ IRP wrote: > > Superior write-up, thanks for posting it! > > I'll add my 1/50th of a dollar below, plus a proposal I have. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > *From:* David Locklear [mailto:dlocklea...@ev1.net] > *Sent:* Friday, September 01, 2006 7:25 AM > *To:* Cavetex > *Subject:* [Texascavers] The TSA purpose - another opinion > > > I believe the TSA is at a cross-roads. It has been there before, > probably many times. There are issues > that I believe need to be discussed. I believe the best way to do that > is on the internet on a forum separate but > similar to Cavetex. There are some drawbacks to this. For > example, the e-mail box clutter. And who is going > to maintain it? I do not have the computer skills, to volunteer for > that. > > > *Since Andy G. and I have access to and maintain the TSA members list > (Andy as Secretary and myself as the TC Editor), I am* > *volunteering to start/moderate/maintain a user group * *for all _PAID > _TSA members that are interested in the friendly, positive, and congenial* > *free exchange of ideas and thoughts on the ideals of cave conservation, > caving, events, projects, and camarderie that the TSA represents.* > ** > *Think of this group as an amiable gathering of like-minded friends from > around this far-flung state, who have chosen to congregate around the > proverbial * > *electronic campfire of cyberspace for a free exchange of dialogue on > how to take the TSA into the future, much like my favorite memories of > gathering * > *around the fire pits at CBSP and Kickapoo Caverns after a hard day of > mapping, surveying, brushwalking, etc. * > ** > *Negative and hostile thinkers, rock throwers, gossipers, backbiters, > anyone who is antagonistic/caustic/cantankerous, arsonists (folks who > enjoy throwing a can of gas on the fire to incite flame wars and then > stand back to watch), or folks who dwell on the he said/she said > "someone done somebody wrong songs" of 1, 5, 10, 20 years ago* > *need not apply.* > > *CaveTex is a great way for all cavers of all interests and > affiliations > throughout the state to converse, wisecrack, announce projects, and to > generally BS.* > ** > *This new group would not take away from that. It would just eliminate > folks that have nothing to bring to the TSA table or else they'd be > members.* > > I believe someday that you will hear cavers discuss topics concerning > the future of the TSA. > > For example, back in the good ole days, people showed their caving > photos to people in slide shows. Soon > you will e-mail your slideshows, and we will all have giant plasma > screens to view the photos in the privacy of > our home, while sitting on a soft leather recliner. We will have > video-conferencing to hold meetings. We won't > need to drive across Texas to hold the convention. We will have > web-conventions. I am willing to go so far > as to say that by 2030, we will all laugh at the idea of holding an > outdoor convention. How many of us will be > still be around in 2030. I will only be a young 66, so for me it is > something to that is plausible. I think > if it is still done, it will only be for nostalgia's sake, like when > we go caving with carbide. > > > *The advent of elctronics and the 'Net is the reason, David, that I > firmly believe that the conventions, events, and projects that the TSA > promotes that brings cavers face-to-face are all the more vital and > important. * > ** > *This from a longtime caver who just attended his first convention this > year!* > ** > *I love email, but, people are much less reluctant to issue disparaging > remarks if that person is right in front of them. Email and the 'Net > make it too easy issue to trash someone or to send an email or remark > that is interpreted the wrong way.* > ** > *Does the TSA have issues and the occasional "dysfunctional family > moment", as my lovely wife likes to call them? * > ** > *Heck, yes, but which family out there doesn't?! You just don't throw > the baby out with the bath water.* > ** > ** > *Can these issues be worked thru and rectified? Sure and I think a > dedicated TSA user group is a good first step.* > ** > ** > *Who's with me and whadda y'all think?* > ** > ** > ** > *Mark Alman* > ** > ** > ** > ** > ** > ** --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/435 - Release Date: 8/31/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/435 - Release Date: 8/31/2006
