My name is Sam LeFlore and I am very honored to be serving as a board member for the NSS-CDS. In January 2022 I was voted into the current BOD to fill a vacancy. In May 2022, I was elected to continue serving on the board. I would love the opportunity to stay on and continue serving this great organization.
I have been an NSS-CDS member since 2006 and a dry caver since the early 90’s. In that time, I have seen many members come and go. I have seen bickering and influx come and go; while this will likely always remain (cave divers do have big personalities) I pride myself on being able to serve in a neutral capacity.
In the past four years, I have managed responsibility for the website and IT responsibilities and have made changes that have made it easier to become a new member, implemented the renewal notifications that make is simple to renew with only a few clicks, and brought the Cow Spring waiver system online. I am currently working on expanding the team to continue updating the site and keep it running efficiently.
With your vote, I look forward with helping to bring the NSS-CDS to the front of the cave diving community so that everyone can be proud to call themselves a member. Without our members, we’re not an organization. Together, let’s navigate the challenges, celebrate successes, and shape the future of the NSS-CDS as a collective force, a strong community, dedicated to excellence in cave diving. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have so that you feel confident in giving me your vote.
Thank You
Sam LeFlore NSS# 58298
sam.leflore@Yahoo.com
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Position Statement, James W. Chandler
First, please allow me to introduce myself for those who do not know me, and briefly tell you a little about myself. My name is James Chandler and I am a Life member of the NSS-CDS. I have had the pleasure of serving on the NSS-CDS Board for the past 3 years. I appreciate Jim Wyatt, Lamar Hires and Gayle Hall’s confidence in nominating me for another term as a member of the board of directors of the NSS-CDS.
In that time I am extremely proud of OUR accomplishments; launching a New Training site, working to protect CDS intellectual property, streamlining our property management, rewriting our Constitution and bylaws to comport with those of the NSS, and restructuring the committee structure to be more streamlined for the 21st Century, auto-renewal for members, restricting our properties and property management, revamping our procedures at Cow Springs, hosting successful events, all while still working thru the wake of the coronavirus. I am excited for the upcoming International Conference in Lake City on May 31 and June 1, 2024 and look to meet many of our fellow members there.
As for my background, I am a PADI Silver Course Director, Trimix Instructor Trainer, Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer, Disabled Divers International Instructor, and USCG 25 Ton Master Captain at Scuba Outfitters in beautiful Naples, Florida. I am an Advanced Cave Diver (DPV, Cave CCR, Stage, etc.) all thru the CDS, and an aspiring CDS Instructor. When I am not in the water, I am an attorney licensed in Florida, Colorado, and the District of Columbia and the owner of the Law Office of James W. Chandler, P.A., in Naples, Florida. I have been selected to Florida SuperLawyers for the past 13 years and have an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. I have a B.S. in Journalism (Public Relations) from West Virginia University (2000) and my Juris Doctor from the University of Denver (2002). For my full bio please visit my website at www.JamesWChandler.com or (6) James Chandler | Facebook This background has proven to be useful as a board member.
It is an honor to be considered by our membership to continue in this position, and to continue the work of this past year toward the future. There is still more work to do to bring the CDS into the 21st Century. What I would like to see the CDS do in the coming year(s), in conjunction with other organizations (such as NFSA and other training organizations), is to work to improve accessibility to more sites across Mexico, Europe, Florida and elsewhere in North America. Thids is something that is in the works. I know there are sites in Europe that could be lobbied to gain access for exploration, etc. This would include, negotiations (which are ongoing) with State (government) and private land owners.
As for infrastructure, the CDS and it’s members have historically led the way in improvements at various sites thru improvements to benches, steps, changing rooms, etc. I would seek to continue that tradition at sites like Peacock, Little River, Madison, Ginnie, etc. here in Florida, and at various sites in Mexico, and elsewhere in the US. I think in the future improvements can be made as far small things like extra lines to hang bottles and scooters at various sites, non-slip pads on walkways, etc.
On the training side of things, as we continue with advances in technology, I would like to see the CDS develop a full online curriculum (Which is in the works), as most other training organizations have. I think this would keep more Cave Divers with the CDS instead of other organizations. That does not make this a competition between agencies, but a way to promote both the CDS, and membership. Development of online registration, and autorenewal, for students, instructors, and members, will create a greater reach of the CDS to members and prospective members outside of Florida and the United States. I believe this too is in the works, as well as e-certification and e-membership cards. This, hopefully will result in a greater membership retention which means more participation and funds to do improvements as suggested above. Also, getting uniformity between Cave Diving Organizations as to recommended locations to do (and not do) certain types of cave training, etc. is and should be a priority so we can continue to want to maintain access to certain sites.
My vision for the CDS moving forward is to not only retain the present membership, but to expand and broaden the base and move forward with improvements in education and infrastructure. I hope that you will share that vision and support me to continue the work we have begun.
If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at James@Scubaout.com.
Thank you,
James W. Chandler
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Platform Statement
Of
Dr. Steven Dalcher
NSS-CDS BOD Election 2024
I first became a cave diver in 1995 through David Rhea who emphasized the importance of cave conservation and landowner relations. These ideas became a central core of my belief system concerning the Karst environment. I became an Intro to Cave instructor through the NACD and a few years later a Technical Cave Instructor through IANTD. I am currently a Full Cave Instructor through TDI and am working through a crossover to The CDS. I always emphasize the concepts of conservation and landowner relations to my students. I was a member of the NSS-CDS then and am a member now. I believe that the CDS holds a critical role in these two ideals and I would like to give back to an amazing organization and its members. The CDS has done amazing things for our community! In the last year the CDS has brokered access to sites that were closed and has completed service projects to help rebuild diving infrastructure at Madison Blue and Peacock Springs. I am proud to have contributed a small part to the Peacock Springs service project and the Hart Springs winter Workshop. It is my intention to continue giving.
If elected to the Board of Directors (BOD) I will strive to continue to uphold the critical work done by the CDS and also to work diligently at opening more sites for our community. Additionally, I will work with state and federal agencies to procure opportunities and funding for research involving the Karst environment. I have received grants through NASA and other state and local agencies in the past. Further, I am a huge proponent of transparency. I believe that everything the organization does should be completely available to the members of the CDS. I am not a politician and have no interest in power struggles and drama. I simply wish to give back to an organization that has done so much for the cave diving community.
Sincerely,
Steve Dalcher
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Renee S. Power
2024 NSS CDS Board of Directors Nominee
I believe in the NSS-CDS, its mission, its members and its legacy. I am honored to be nominated for the NSS-CDS Board of Directors.
I earned my NSS-CDS Full Cave diver rating in 1999. I have a vested interest in this organization that I worked so hard to be part of as a new cave diver. I remember a sense of accomplishment and honor upon graduation and receiving my certification card in the mail as an NSS-CDS cave diver and member. I would like to support its forward efforts.
I am an active cave diver and an NSS-CDS Cave Instructor in our community. I have volunteered with NSS-CDS projects over the years and serving as “Cavenger” Coordinator for our International Cave Diving Conference and other events. I currently serve as the NSS-CDS Board Emerita and on the Training Committee.
I have served three terms on the NSS-CDS Board of Directors with one year serving as Chairman. During my tenure, our Board highlights include:
- Developed easier access to our properties through social media platforms and community partnerships
- Strengthened our relationship with the NSS
- Dive site improvements and repair
- Blueprint For Survival translated into Spanish freely available at nsscds.org
- New NSS-CDS logo design
- Community involvement through the “Cavenger” volunteer program
- Updated NSS-CDS training standards
Conservation is essential for long term environmental health and who better to advocate for caves than the cave divers? We do this through education and practices that minimize our impact on the caves while preserving access. I support efforts that encourage community participation that enhance the aquatic environments that we enjoy and depend on.
The NSS-CDS was once the voice of cave diving. The voice today, however, is somewhat muted. While the NSS-CDS was one of the first cave diver training organizations, many other training agencies are now available. We must strive to preserve our identity and leadership in the community.
Below are a few key focus points that encapsulate my philosophies and goals.
- Help make the NSS-CDS an organization that is sought after for cave divers and local environmentally concerned citizens
- Strengthen the established NSS-CDS outreach platforms
- Actively support quality training through NSS-CDS
- Contribute, alongside the Training Committee, to the further development and elevation of the NSS-CDS training program
- Continued emphasis on conservation in cave diving education
- Dive site improvements
- Keep the legacy of cave diving alive
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Candidate for BOD of NSS-CDS
Fred Stratton
February 28, 2024
Platform Statement
Having served for several months now as a Program Manager, I have some clear
goals in mind for the NSS-CDS for 2024 and many years beyond. My basic premise is that the CDS must be proud of our half-century heritage and contributions to cave diving, and the larger scuba community, while updating and refreshing the organization to be relevant, vibrant and engaging. To these ends, I submit these as the major planks in my platform.
– Develop a strategic plan: Base the plan on the Section’s core missions of safety, education and conservation. Weave these three missions into a cohesive strategy to ensure long-term health and relevance.
– Develop a communications strategy: This strategy will (a) harden the NSS- CDS website against cyber attacks, (b) make more effective use of member email lists, our website and social media and (c) notify members and potential members of developments, events, new store merchandise and volunteer opportunities to name a few.
– Retain and grow the membership: Take advantage of automatic renewal options to retain current members. Conduct membership drives. Offer store discounts or a signup bonus for signing up new members.
– Introduce a premium membership level with added benefits similar to credit card company offerings.
– Develop written SOPs to pass down organization knowledge: Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) would help maintain continuity even as the composition of the Board and various committees changes. (I have begun drafting one for volunteer projects.)
– Revitalize the Committees: Several committees have vacant positions. Some committees are nearly inactive.
– Build momentum in the Training Committee as training cave divers is a highly visible public facing component of our mission. Remove impediments for instructors to certify their divers through NSS-CDS such as authorizing local printing of C cards by in-status CDS instructors.
– Induce a sense of accountability and urgency among the Board: We must prioritize our actions and hold ourselves accountable.
– Update Cow Springs: The infrastructure (minus the steps and platform) are showing their age. A volunteer workday will be fun and productive.
– Expand cave access: Seek motivated members to man the Cave Access and Landowner Relations committees.
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Hello,
My name is Shane Paradis; I’ve been nominated for a seat on the Board of the NSS-CDS.
I first got certified as a cave diver on April 4th of 2018 when Paul Heinerth signed a little piece of paper that said I have about 1/6th of an idea of what I was doing. It was now time to start developing my skills. On April 5th of that same year a friend led me on a dive in the Devil’s system at Ginnie Springs; I’ve been hooked ever since. I think the day after that I acquired membership in the NSS-CDS. I now have much more of an idea of what I’m doing, but I’m still learning, and that’s kinda the point of my intro.
Since the beginning of my joining the CDS I found a community of divers that were always there to help me learn; to mentor me, and to help me and encourage me to be the diver I am today, both in caves and open water diving. Cave diving eventually brought me to dry caving, and I am now very active in both communities. In my few years participating in these communities I have started doing a lot of project work. It is here that I think I have something to bring to the table.
The more I go underground the more I see opportunities for the dry and underwater caving communities to work together. From teaching each other the techniques of rope work, to surveying and mapping, as well as forging new relationships and opening communication to help each other access and enjoy Florida’s underground. As the chairperson of this past Winter Workshop, I put together an event that hopefully conveyed that agenda; to provide the attendees a baseline, to introduce them to the skills used in project caving in the hopes that maybe some people will start their own projects. I see this being accomplished through smaller workshops and events that also help build these skills for those interested, and to get more members involved in the organization …to provide more for the members.
Beyond that I’d like to see more outreach to the public outside of the caving communities. I think it is important as cave divers to be ambassadors for what we love and help inform the general public what delicate systems are beneath our feet. Sure, there are organizations that do this already, but if we all work together, we can be much more effective.
I’m not a political person, and I have no interest in being a politician. I’d just like to see a community of cavers and dry cavers all learning and working together to learn more about underground Florida.
Thank you, Shane Paradis
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