At 02:46 PM 11/16/2005, Bill Mixon wrote: >If I am going to have to print my own copy of the Texas Caver, why should I >pay to be a member of the TSA? I think most TSA members, who after all are >also mostly grotto members and don't need the TSA for caving contacts and >companions, are members in the feeble hope of receiving the Texas Caver in >the mail. If the TSA is having trouble keeping members, the TC is the >problem. Certainly the only other major thing it does, the spring >conventions, have been as well organized as ever lately.
Again, the "something I can hold in my hand" syndrome. The reason for belonging to an organization is because you support it's aims and purposes--because you expect to get something other than a plastic prize or paper publication from it. What you get from membership can be friendships, education, training, trips, meetings, and resources of many kinds. Look at membership fees as a donation to the cause, not a price you are paying for some mere material object around which you can clamp your selfish grubby fist. Membership is about membership--the whole group of which you are (or should be) a contributing member--for the services they provide, to the group and the individual caver. The organization and their members are helping you in the pursuit of your caving happiness. You should, if you are a recipient caver or those benefits, return the favor by also being a member and supporting their aims an purposes with your dues. That is how you repay yourself; that is how you benefit from paying membership dues without getting a goddamn TEXAS CAVER in return. The CAVER is free--always was. You were just paying TSA membership dues which--by unhappy coincidence--was elevated because of TC production and mailing costs, not because you were paying for a subscription. You paid for a membership. Nothing will change except the cost of production, etc will go away for most members. You will still need to support the organization in the furtherance of its other goals. --Ediger _______________________________________________ Texascavers mailing list Texascavers@texascavers.com http://texascavers.com/mailman/listinfo/texascavers_texascavers.com
