Unity in the Community

A working group of instructors, facilitators from the Recreational Tree Climbing community has been meeting to discuss the feasibility of forming an umbrella advocacy organization to serve the Recreational Tree Climbing community.

There is no name yet for the proposed organization.

The group is discussing many issues and is in the early stages of forming an agenda.
A common goal that has been identified is to foster unity in the tree climbing community.

The current work of the group is exploratory in nature; the number of participants has been limited in this early phase to work efficiently through some basic groundwork.

For now, your patience and understanding is requested. Thank you!

The following group members (this is not the entire roster of group members) have indicated that they want to discuss this topic individually if you like:

Abe Winters, Joe Maher, Dan House, Bill Maher, Harv Teitelbaum, Tim Kovar or Andrew Joslin

Sincerely, Dan House

Forgive my suspicions. They get easily aroused when groups with a secret list of membership meet in secret to establish secret agendas that will allegedly foster unity (didn’t know our unification or lack thereof was an issue) and be an advocate to everyone while solving everyone’s problems; real, perceived or imaginary.

Same thing just happened with the recent immigration bill. Bunch of Senators (both sides of the aisle) meet at someone’s country club, decide what’s best for the country and all parties involved and without going through the usual channels involving committees, public input, etc, it winds up on the floor of the senate in a very short time, the vote seemingly predetermined. Until the American public gets wind of it and doesn’t like the idea being rammed down their throats and raised holy hell pretty quickly. “I’ll let you know what I think of it next election” was the common message ALL of the Senators got from every quarter. In no time, Senators are running from this turd as fast as they can so they don’t get anything on them and the bill dies a quick, well-deserved death.

Questions arise although answers may not, for whatever reason.

What issues are being discussed?

Will the agenda be made public when it’s been established?

What will this organization accomplish that the Coalition can’t or isn’t already?

Will the proposed Organization be for profit or not for profit? If for profit, whose?

Why would anyone want to join, i.e., what’s in it for us?

Anyone striking any secret deals with anyone that will affect everyone?

Who else is in the group, why do they not want their names not listed and why do they not want to discuss anything with anyone? Knowing most of the people that are listed, my feelings are that at least they have nothing to hide. Not knowing whom else is involved or why they don’t want to discuss things in an open forum only serves to raise my suspicions.

Not being able to reach a consensus amongst yourselves on whether or not to even discuss the project in public does not offer much hope for your ability to provide unity for anyone else.

Personally, I feel that keeping the good ole boy, back room, happy horses**t out of the equation is one of the best ways to sponsor unity.

But then, I could be wrong. I truly hope someone can prove that.

Anxiously awaiting public discourse, I remain

Curmudgeonly yours,

Rod

What issues are being discussed?

Here are the bullet points up to now.
“Common Interests” that we share are-
“Goals and Objectives” are-
The “Purpose” of this group is-
“Benefits” that will be obtained are-
How “Formal” of a group should we have-

Most of the two hours we spent in CO was about should there even be a group or not; and if the climbing community fails to form one will we continue to lack credibility. What you do in tree that you own and is on property that you own is your own right and business. But if you think that tree climbers will always be welcome on public lands just because we have pretty ropes you are mistaken.

I think that there may come a time that a climber will get a permit to climb on public land that waives of the liability of the land owner and what better way is there than to show proof of ability that states you will climb adhering to safe practices and guidelines as outlined by group of instructors independent of any one \"school\".

Will the agenda be made public when it’s been established?
Yes the agenda will of course need to be established first.

What will this organization accomplish that the Coalition can’t or isn’t already?
The TCC has been offered to continue and build upon and we are still in the research stages.

Will the proposed Organization be for profit or not for profit? If for profit, whose?
First ask how will any group support itself financially;
we don’t even know how much a non-profit status will cost. Membership fees can be the source but first let us answer the more pressing questions first.

Why would anyone want to join, i.e., what’s in it for us?
It will be an individual choice to join the group that will primarily promote safe tree climbing; safe for the tree and for the climber and for the forest.

Anyone striking any secret deals with anyone that will affect everyone?
Yes funny you should ask-
the secret deal we made (but don't tell anyone; its a secret) is that we all pledged an oath to individually do the best we could do to make this group work the best we could have.

We all are very sensitive to the needs and wants of the community and are proceeding in a delibrate manor because we all want the very best outcome. Just take the time to talk in person to any one of the people listed that volunteered to make themselves available. Have faith and encourage you to continue to ask these hard questions which by the way all have been asked before. We want this group to be for the community, by the community and represent the community as best as we can.

Rest assured that each and every one of us will only settle for the best.

Thanks Dan. I would hope that everyone involved would share this kind of openness. As far as private conversations with those involved, I hesitate to rely on the viewpoints of three or four people that I speak to privately. Keeping the discussion in the forums will provide clarity and consistency that may not occur with 20 different private conversations.

Again, thanks for the answers to what are sure to be the first of many.

Be well.

Rod

It is interesting that this subject and starter action has occured many times since I became a recreational treeclimber. The most recent for me was at a cook-out at the Dillard House around the year 2000. Many players,some listed in the current group, were there and things were going to happen! I'm not one to, \"Rain on someones parade\" but I hear someone calling,\"Wolf,Wolf\"!! I'm still waiting for the book on tree climbing that got lost since 2005. Thanks Dr.Rod for asking those questions --- answers will be forthcoming soon?: