NACD BOD Ballot

[NACD]

NACD Voting members,

Attached is the NACD ballot for the upcoming BOD election. It also includes instructions and platform statements from each candidate. Please note that you will be voting for one instructor director and one non-instructor director. If you have any questions, send an email to nominations@safecavediving.com.

Thanks for your support and for voting.

NACD Nomiantions Committee
Orie Braun, Chairman
Larry Vrooman
TJ Muller
Sandy Robinson

 

[DeepSea]

As everyone knows, I used to be heavily involved with the NACD (National Association for Cave Diving). However, the course the organization has taken over the past few years has proven to me that it is nothing more than a group of instructors that want to make money using NACD members’ dues and not do anything for themselves.


To me, it is proven by the fact that not all NACD BoD members are actual members of the NACD (WTF?) and that the BoD gives away NACD memberships to people they want things from. Let's look at a couple of the stellar individuals in the current field running for the NACD BoD.

1. Bill Lester. A self-anointed something that seems to hold himself in much higher regard than anyone else in the cave community (if you don't love yourself, who will?) that was officially described by the NACD BoD with "the Board of the NACD holds Mr. Lester to a higher standard of professional conduct, and has voted, unanimously, to remove Mr. Lester from the positions of Journal Editor and Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee". After that, I find it hard to believe he was vetted to run for the BoD of the NACD. I guess if we look at who the NACD is today it isn't hard to believe. This is simply his reward for standing up for the NACD BoDs stand on retaining a convicted criminal as an instructor for the NACD. Reading Bill Lester's platform statement makes me wonder if it is he who is running or the deceased Debra Green. Bill "I make copyright infringement websites and then get slapped for it (remember your lies against Jim Wyatt?)" Lester or Debra Green. Does he really have to mention Debra's name 5 times? I wonder why he simply doesn't post pictures of himself (dressed in drag) and Larry Green holding hands to show how badly he wants to replace/be Debra.
2. Jeff Bauer. The previous, milquetoast, president of the NACD that proclaimed "F**K it" when faced with dealing with the fact that Johnny Richards (NACD instructor of the year) was convicted on cocaine charges. Anyone remember what Jeff did? Jeff quit! Sounds like a great guy for the NACD BoD -- a quitter. I feel his platform statement should be "vote for me, if things get tough, I'll just quit". In my opinion, Jeff is just looking for more student referrals. That is what being on the NACD BoD means right -- student referrals?

For those of you that are still members of the NACD (why?), if you really want to make a difference in the cave community, stop paying your dues and donate your time and money to a cave organization who's apparent agenda is not making money off the backs of the membership. Instead of sending in your ballot (yeah, you can't vote electronically) send in your resignation!

 

[scuba1dog]

Hello Cave Divers and NACD Members,

My name is Michael Browning. I'm running for this year’s open NACD board of director position. I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce myself and share some of my thoughts on the Board of Director position in an open forum.

I've been diving for 34 years. I started in 1979 with a PADI open water course taught at Florida Junior College in Jacksonville, FL. Being poor college students, the springs of North Florida were our playground. I fell in love with the beauty of these natural wonderments. Over the next few years, I dove every chance I could – West Palm, The Keys, and of course, the springs. While I knew I eventually wanted to teach, I waited 10 years to get my PADI Instructor rating. Business took me away from Florida until 1999, but not away from diving. While in CA, I was a very active instructor and diver amassing over 2500 dives in a 10 year period in the beautiful (but chilly) So. Cal waters. Upon returning to Florida, I again began to yearn for the crystal blue waters of the North Florida Springs. I achieved my full cave in 2002. Since then, I have made over 500 successful cave dives and continue to be active in the cave community.

While the events of the past year have had a decidedly negative impact on our organization, I have no doubt that with a little hard work and a positive attitude, this could be a chance to evolve and actually grow in numbers and stature. What follows are a few thoughts I have had regarding our future.

Conservation-
We need a strong conservation statement that defines us as a part of the solution to growing threats facing our springs, water, and other environmentally important areas. We should reach out to other organizations, with like goals, to forge alliances that will strengthen our voice and enhance our credibility.
We need to continue to build on some of the great ideas and improvements introduced over the past few years such as Safety Day, Water sampling training, Critter count training, surveying etc.

Exploration-
I would like to see an exploration coordinator position established to track and document exploration efforts conducted by members. This person would be charged with developing a flow chart that would enable the NACD to use the information obtained to increase its relevance among government agencies, and the general public.
For instance; If a team of explorers document a new site, The EC would not only document any survey information, but would ensure that critter counts, water testing, and other factors are documented to establish a baseline to measure future impacts, or threats to the system.
I believe that taking an effective, public service approach that is measurable, and in the public's interest will enhance land owner relations, and only increase our access to the sites we care so much about.

Membership-
I think that as our credibility increases, so will our membership numbers. I would like to see a ‘Membership’ committee formed that actively targets and encourages participation in NACD events.

If elected, I challenge anyone to come to me with new ideas in areas such as cave conservation, exploration, or membership. I promise to act as a voice for the NACD members.

If you have any questions about the thoughts and ideas that I have, I can be reached by email at scuba1dog@aol.com or Friend me on Facebook.

Thank you for your consideration in electing me to the NACD Board of Directors.

Michael Browning