The Horse Cave article and proposal can solve several problems at once:
A new, spacious site for the NSS Office, Museum and Bookstore.
Gain an executive director with cave experience.
Gain a team with grant writing experience
Gain another cave that used to be a sewer
Eliminate problems with leadership
I'm telling you folks, I think the original writers of the proposal, Mark Joop, Lee Florea and Dave Foster really are on to something here.
What have we got to lose?
Well said! I agree, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As to the "Gain another cave that used to be a sewer" I take your statement to mean a "trophy", symbolic to the success hundreds of NSS cavers. NSS cavers, volunteered to clean up, what was described to me by one of them, about one area was, "a six foot wall of {feces}". I have so much admiration and respect for the cavers who were dedicated and responsible for the success story of cleaning up Hidden River Cave. As a former resident of Horse Cave, I can assure you the people of Horse Cave are especially grateful.
Just with the idea of having the NSS headquarters move to Cave Country. I can see the wisdom in it, I can see great potential for the NSS to gain better recognition and grow in membership. I see the kind of wisdom and leadership Bill Austin had, continuing.
Even though the article nor the KY proposal makes no mention of placing an executive director I agree the NSS would benefit from having an executive director with 20 years of grant writing experience. ("Not merging the two organization... but sharing facilities" from Dave Fosters article) Maybe,the NSS could get grant money to help with conservation and education projects, etc., and not have to keep raising our dues. Imagine how high our dues would be constructing and maintaining a multi-million dollar complex!
Not to mention too, that the NSS office
would be in the center of the NSS Membership [not US]. The NSS headquarters would be within 30 miles of Mammoth Cave National Park, Cave Research Foundation, The National Cave Association and the American Cave Conservation Association and Western Kentucky University AND four excellent cave and karst educational groups, MCNP, ACCA, Hoffman Institute, and Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Research. The possibilities for partnerships are endless.
During NSSCON, Alabama, I visited the current office. I don't mean this to offend anyone, but I was seriously in shock. I had envisioned a beautiful building in a nice part of town, but was met head on with this sad run down thing in the middle of a very scary looking neighborhood. I am sad to say the site left me with no feelings of pride, I was elated when the idea to move the NSS idea was pitched. I was disappointed that AL proposes to stay in same neighborhood (nice looking building).
As to the solving the problem of the museum complex- we can all agree!
From the AL proposal, "Given its unproven capability to generate successful museum exhibits, the NSS could be well advised to collaborate with a compatible organization with a demonstrated record of museum successes. The NSS collection of artifacts might well supplement the needs of an experienced exhibition design team. Fortunately, there are organizations with which the NSS could form a museum partnership. The American Cave Conservation Association is one, Diamond Caverns might be another, and still other opportunities probably exist. A cooperative museum might best be at the site of the existing museum and operated by the potential partner."
Imagine, having our complex located in Cave Country, with satellite offices in each of our regions. The current headquarters building could be renovated, and then given to SERA, to use for a meeting location and office space.
Dave's article was a great read, kudo's to Dave Bunnell for including it. I for one was glad to read about the history of Horse Cave and vision of Bill Austin.
I have a question for the
BOG and Alex: Is there any way the link to the proposals could be moved to the opening NSS page or at least to the "Whats New" page?
Dianne
NSS# 50838