UWS - What do you want?
I assume if you are reading this, that you likely saw my post on CDF.
I am presently down in cave country diving and took a day and a half to go to DEMA. While there I attended the NSS-CDS Board of Directors meeting which raised some issues in my mind. BTW - I did take the time to air them a bit after the meeting with a few of the Board members. In the meeting, the board said they wanted feedback from the membership on the subject matter anyway. If I am not accurate on my presentation here, anybody on the BOD can feel free to correct me.
The board reported there is only enough money to just publish the UWS as it exists today with nothing left over for anything else.
My opinion on the UWS - I love it - so, I have preferences in favor of the UWS - just so you know my bias...however...
I clearly heard several issues brought up at the board meeting sounded to me like they would benefit from proper application of funds. Things mentioned in the meeting were the possible need for some form of insurance for CDS managed dive sites, site steps, gear-up benches, maintenance, several odd recurring bills, and the list went on...
I know I would really like to see something installed at Cow to help with safely entering and exiting the water. Well, that costs money. The board reported they are actively looking for ways to do it - quotes coming in. But we still have to find a way to pay for it.
It became evident to me that something has to be done to provide cash flow for purposes other than UWS...meaning -- if we keep it as it is, then we have to generate more revenue, or we have to cut back somehow on the cost of UWS. The goes in's have to equal the goes out's...one way or the other.
The most noteable "solution" presented was to go on-line with UWS. I am a businessman. And I have to admit to seeing the logic. But I have some concerns - I personally would like to see the same or similar "quality" to what we get now - not just your normal internet style piece of crap.
SO - please post away on what your vision is for how to deal with all this. Specifically what do we do with the UWS publication since that defacto is the king pin? What can you live with? Maybe there are some things on the wish list that need to get a piece of the budget pie that presently nothing is available for. What do you want to see happen with UWS in light of the budget concerns...
Thanks in advance,
Bob Cree