Post by L Roebuck on Mar 17, 2011 10:47:56 GMT -5
Reposted from TAG-Net
(adjusted for this forum)
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4) RE: NSS Headquarters
By: Bill Putnam (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
woputnam AT gmail.com
Dean Wiseman wrote: "Please do not hesitate to contact them (and me) and let us know how you feel. We're coming up on the next BOG Meeting the first weekend in April, in Albuquerque... and any specific comments you send will help with this contentious issue."
I would like to echo Dean's comments, and join him in urging all NSS members to take a few moments to read the material on the NSS Headquarters Commission web page and also to contact the Board regarding the HQ process.
There are a few people in the NSS leadership who would prefer to keep members in the dark and make the decisions regarding a new headquarters for the Society in secrecy and without member review, input, questions, or comments. These folks have explicitly stated to the Board that they do not want members involved in the process, and that important decisions such as the selection of a site for a future NSS headquarters are best made out of sight of the membership. They would like to make the decision on a new HQ and present the membership with it as done deal.
I do not agree with this philosophy or approach, and neither do Dean Wiseman, Jay Clark, and several other members of the BOG, all of whom have spoken in opposition. We feel that NSS members are entitled to an open, transparent, and fair process, and that the Board has an obligation to inform the membership to the maximum extent possible, to provide means for membership review, input, questions, and comments, and to address member questions and comments in a respectful and timely manner.
To be clear - we fully support the HQ Commission and its process. We simply feel that members are entitled to know what's going on, how decisions are being made, and what issues and options are being considered. Some laudable efforts in that regard are already being made. We are pleased, for example, that the HQ Commission's reports are being published on the NSS web site and in the reports accompanying the Board meetings. Given the importance of the decision facing us, however, we feel that more effort is required of the Society's leadership in this regard.
Several Board members have proposed that the Board and the Commission offer a full report and presentation to the membership via the NSS web site prior to any decision by the Board on the Commission's findings and recommendations, so that members may have the opportunity to review the Commission's results and raise questions or make comments. We have suggested that the NSS web site and CaveChat forum, supported by an announcement in the NSS News, should provide a suitable mechanism for this purpose. Production lead-time requirements and lack of interactivity make the News itself less suitable for the review and discussion, but it can be used to direct people to the appropriate on-line resources.
It is my hope that this will happen before the Convention this summer, and that there will also be presentations and sessions during the Convention to brief members, answer questions, receive input, and address concerns. Unfortunately, there is substantial resistance to this proposal from some members of the Board.
You can help ensure that NSS members have a window into the HQ site selection and planning process by visiting the HQ Commission web site and the Planning Committee web site to educate yourself on the process and the issues, and by expressing your thoughts and opinions to the board via CaveChat and email. Bear in mind that some members of the
Board do not read CaveChat (or TAG-Net), so those of you who choose to post there should also take time to email the board or individual directors as well.
Feel free to disseminate this message to other forums and venues, and to pass it along to all members of the Society. I am not seeking to alert only TAG cavers to this issue - it is much larger than any particular region. I hope that all NSS members will take an interest and tale the time to learn about it and voice their questions and comments.
The HQ Commission web page is located at:
www.caves.org/commission/hq/index.shtml
The Strategic Planning Committee web page is located at:
www.caves.org/committee/planning/index.shtml
You can find a list of board contact addresses and information on the NSS
Personnel page at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/bog/Table%204D%20-%20Personnel.pdf
Of course, you can always feel free to call or email me with your questions or comments. I will be glad to discuss your concerns and to relay them to the Board. It is one of my highest duties as a Director.
Bill Putnam
NSS Director (2010-2013)
woputnam AT gmail.com
( phone in MM)
(adjusted for this forum)
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4) RE: NSS Headquarters
By: Bill Putnam (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
woputnam AT gmail.com
Dean Wiseman wrote: "Please do not hesitate to contact them (and me) and let us know how you feel. We're coming up on the next BOG Meeting the first weekend in April, in Albuquerque... and any specific comments you send will help with this contentious issue."
I would like to echo Dean's comments, and join him in urging all NSS members to take a few moments to read the material on the NSS Headquarters Commission web page and also to contact the Board regarding the HQ process.
There are a few people in the NSS leadership who would prefer to keep members in the dark and make the decisions regarding a new headquarters for the Society in secrecy and without member review, input, questions, or comments. These folks have explicitly stated to the Board that they do not want members involved in the process, and that important decisions such as the selection of a site for a future NSS headquarters are best made out of sight of the membership. They would like to make the decision on a new HQ and present the membership with it as done deal.
I do not agree with this philosophy or approach, and neither do Dean Wiseman, Jay Clark, and several other members of the BOG, all of whom have spoken in opposition. We feel that NSS members are entitled to an open, transparent, and fair process, and that the Board has an obligation to inform the membership to the maximum extent possible, to provide means for membership review, input, questions, and comments, and to address member questions and comments in a respectful and timely manner.
To be clear - we fully support the HQ Commission and its process. We simply feel that members are entitled to know what's going on, how decisions are being made, and what issues and options are being considered. Some laudable efforts in that regard are already being made. We are pleased, for example, that the HQ Commission's reports are being published on the NSS web site and in the reports accompanying the Board meetings. Given the importance of the decision facing us, however, we feel that more effort is required of the Society's leadership in this regard.
Several Board members have proposed that the Board and the Commission offer a full report and presentation to the membership via the NSS web site prior to any decision by the Board on the Commission's findings and recommendations, so that members may have the opportunity to review the Commission's results and raise questions or make comments. We have suggested that the NSS web site and CaveChat forum, supported by an announcement in the NSS News, should provide a suitable mechanism for this purpose. Production lead-time requirements and lack of interactivity make the News itself less suitable for the review and discussion, but it can be used to direct people to the appropriate on-line resources.
It is my hope that this will happen before the Convention this summer, and that there will also be presentations and sessions during the Convention to brief members, answer questions, receive input, and address concerns. Unfortunately, there is substantial resistance to this proposal from some members of the Board.
You can help ensure that NSS members have a window into the HQ site selection and planning process by visiting the HQ Commission web site and the Planning Committee web site to educate yourself on the process and the issues, and by expressing your thoughts and opinions to the board via CaveChat and email. Bear in mind that some members of the
Board do not read CaveChat (or TAG-Net), so those of you who choose to post there should also take time to email the board or individual directors as well.
Feel free to disseminate this message to other forums and venues, and to pass it along to all members of the Society. I am not seeking to alert only TAG cavers to this issue - it is much larger than any particular region. I hope that all NSS members will take an interest and tale the time to learn about it and voice their questions and comments.
The HQ Commission web page is located at:
www.caves.org/commission/hq/index.shtml
The Strategic Planning Committee web page is located at:
www.caves.org/committee/planning/index.shtml
You can find a list of board contact addresses and information on the NSS
Personnel page at:
www.caves.org/nss-business/bog/Table%204D%20-%20Personnel.pdf
Of course, you can always feel free to call or email me with your questions or comments. I will be glad to discuss your concerns and to relay them to the Board. It is one of my highest duties as a Director.
Bill Putnam
NSS Director (2010-2013)
woputnam AT gmail.com
( phone in MM)