by Floyd Collins » Sep 27, 2005 3:19 pm
Actions of this nature reflect badly upon the Society as a whole, even cavers across the nation. The NSS and its member events do not exist in a vacuum and negative activities that happen at official functions of the Society are noticed by outsiders.
On Sunday, I spoke at length with the owner of a commercial cave in Arkansas. This owner, who also is an NSS member, reported to me that he hates every time a regional event is held within easy driving distance of his business. He says that commercial cave owners in the United States are beginning to look at the NSS as the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" association.
Another commercial cave owner from Kentucky told me that members of the National Caves Association are growing increasingly tired of NSS members coming to their caves and disrupting their business operations. Apparently, NSS cavers are demanding free admittance, special off-trail tours, etc. of the cave owners.
I've been a member of the Society since 1974. For many years, members were instructed by the Society's leadership on both the national and local level that cavers should use care and consideration when visiting commercial caves. Yet, today, there's never any such direction from our leaders.
All of this - bad caver attitudes when visiting commercial caves, loud all-night parties, etc. - are diminishing the value of the Society and encouraging both public and private land owners to begin thinking twice about allowing NSS members the privilege of visiting their caves.
The NSS Board of Governors might do well to establish an independent committee to further investigate such matters thoroughly and completely. Our reputation as a serious-minded national organization is at stake.
Richard Rhinehart
Western American Caver
Denver, Colorado