kotik
Contributor
Trey let me know he was not interested in diving with us. Instead he used David Baker to push a permit through an alternative approval process to JW. He was granted a temporary permit which is interfering with our groups ability to complete our research in this cave. In addition, he told at least one of his members know that he does not approve of them diving for both groups.
We don't discriminate. We accept the help of any qualified divers. You can participate on any project in addition to ours.
This is something I need to clarify, since it seems there's unnecessary confusion leading from my own doorstep.
I'm the team member referred to in Cavemn's post. I've been in touch with ASA regarding their project at Jacob's Well and was very excited at the prospect of helping out with it. Having the chance to dive a cave in my home state is of enormous interest to me.
I've also been excited at the prospect of recently being invited to join a Texas based dive team, and have been pretty much beside myself wondering how so much good luck could come my way.
When the news came that landowner granted the Texas dive team access to conduct a project, I wondered if it might be frowned upon if I were participating there with two different groups, not being completely sure about potential competitiveness between groups. I asked a close friend who's on the board (not Trey BTW) if he thought my doing so might possibly mean stepping on anyone's toes. My friend told me he thought there would be a chance of it causing some offense, so I very regretfully informed the ASA that I probably should withdraw participating in activities at the Well with them.
I have since been informed that in fact there would be no issue among the board members of the dive team if I were to participate in both projects.
David, as I said in our emails: I support the ASA mission statement and would be glad for the chance to help out. Of course, I would love to dive Jacob's Well at any possible opportunity. I will say that the negative tone of the rhetoric here is somewhat off-putting, and I really think we'd all be served better if there were more spirit of cooperation rather than staking out territory. But I would be glad to hear that the invitation to dive with you guys is open.
Regardless of anything else, for my part I regret being an unintentional source of controversy or confusion.
--Eric