In 2017, the NSS-CDS Constitution and Bylaws were changed to allow membership of the CDS without being a member of the National Speleological Society. As a Section of the NSS, the CDS is the largest Internal Organization (IO) of the NSS, and unfortunately the changes made in 2017 do not comply with the NSS’s own rules for IOs.
There are two main problems. First, the 2017 CDS Constitution states that “The Constitution, and Bylaws of the NSS shall not be binding on the NSS-CDS”. Second, the NSS’s rules for IOs state that members of the Board of Directors of an IO (in this case the CDS) must be NSS members. The CDS Bylaws need to be changed to incorporate this requirement.
To remain a Section of the NSS, we need to vote through (in May, at the Annual General Meeting) the following changes:
Current version:
(Constitution)
Article VIII. The Constitution, and Bylaws of the NSS shall not be binding on the NSS-CDS.
(Bylaws)
Article III: Board of Directors
B. Qualifications.
Serving directors must be members in good standing with the NSS‐CDS prior to being nominated for a directorship. Other candidates must be members in good standing with the NSS‐CDS or the CDS for at least one (1) year prior to being nominated for a directorship. The training director (TD) and future candidates for TD must also be current and active NSS‐CDS instructors in good standing.
Proposed version:
(Constitution)
Article VIII. The NSS-CDS shall abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the NSS.
(Bylaws)
Article III: Board of Directors
B. Qualifications.
Serving directors must be members in good standing with both the NSS and the NSS‐CDS prior to being nominated for a directorship. Other candidates must be members in good standing with both the NSS and the NSS‐CDS for at least one (1) year prior to being nominated for a directorship. The training director (TD) and future candidates for TD must also be current and active NSS‐CDS instructors in good standing.
On January 9th, 2022, the CDS BoD voted to present these changes to our Constitution and Bylaws to the CDS membership. They do not remove the ability to be a member of the CDS without being a member of the NSS. However, without them the CDS cannot continue in its current status as the largest Internal Organization of the NSS, with all the advantages that accrue from it. Please vote to make these changes. The CDS is not just a training agency; it is a unique organization in cave diving with a strong voice for safety, conservation and it can accomplish its mission far more effectively in partnership with the NSS than without.
The BoD has been working on streamlining and modernizing the Committee structure (the Committees do the real work of the CDS) and we would like to change the Bylaws to reflect these improvements. Charlie Roberson will be communicating the details of what we have done in due course.
We will be presenting both sets of changes to the membership separately, so that you can vote on the changes needed to remain a Section of the NSS separately from the changes we have made to the Committee structure.
Thank you. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Andrew Pitkin
NSS 39762
NSS-CDS BoD Vice-Chair
352 682 7880