WWATS News

[BigAl]

"WWATS News"

We are trying ! Are you ? Join us now.
Subject: WWATS structure
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 23:42:02 -0600


WWATS State Directors--Needed!

Some have asked about how WWATS is structured and about the necessary “chain-of-command”, something every organization needs in order to be successful.
As you have already discovered, most everything WWATS does or promotes is Free-of-Charge, doesn’t cost its membership anything.

We offer three-year memberships, Free of Charge! We offer an annual open treasure hunt, Free of Charge! We provide every hobbyist an unbelievable, informative and educational website, Free of Charge! We even mail each member his or her own membership cards, Free of Charge! Why?

Because we want to help you, the hobbyist. Now days, help usually comes with a big price tag in anything you do in life. All that WWATS ask of its members is to donate towards the future of the hobby you so enjoy and ensure that hobby’s future for other generations to come.

WWATS works entirely off the donations of its members and supporters. Example: average cost for me to go to Washington DC and visit with a government agency is around $500. to $700. I make these visits in order to start a dialog with these agencies, which sometimes leads to a national policy for metal detecting on the lands that agency controls, such as I did with the Army Corps of Engineers in 1989. Now if every WWATS member only donated $1.00 each, then that trip is more than paid for (cost of airfare, travel, motel and meals). Same is true about the annual open Free Hunt we sponsor every year, no entry fee. The membership donates to the open Free Hunt and everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend with the family of fun and laughter that everyone can afford. It also is true that some of the membership helps by donating funds for postage that is necessary for WWATS to operate. WWATS needs those donations and appreciates every member’s dedication of heart and funds for our hobbies to stay alive and well. However, this is not all that we ask of our membership, for there are times we need your support in numbers so to strike a strong blow in favor of the hobby you love. Thus a strong structure is very important to us all and to WWATS, yet it is a very simple structure for all of use to follow.

WWATS Organizational Structure

As President, along with the other national officers: our job is to be your voice in Washington DC, to look after the laws that exist and are introduced that might harm our ability to enjoy the hobby we love. Also to seek ways to co-exist with government agencies, educate them to the many good deeds done by our hobby every year by folks like yourself, to seek that neutral ground for both sides involved.

As a State Director: your job is to keep us informed of the changes that are happening in your state that might affect our hobby’s future. Generally keep and eye on the legislation introduced each year within your states government so it might enable us to head-off any such damaging laws coming to legislation. For once it is made a law, then it becomes very difficult to change or reverse that law. An example is what just has happen to New Jersey to state and public lands. A very bad blow to our hobby and many states, including your own can and will someday see what the New Jersey state legislator did and try to follow the same lines. We must stay on top of what is happening in each of our states if we care enough for our right to enjoy our hobby we so love. We need State Directors, please consider volunteering!

And finally as a Member: your job is at the local level, your city, and community. We need your eyes and ears and your dedication to be the best ambassador to our hobby as possible. Try promoting more community activities in your local clubs and as an individual. Stay on top of any changes at the local level in laws that might affect our hobby and it’s future. Keep us informed, be proactive and step up to the plate to open those closed areas and keep areas within your communities open to our hobby, remember WWATS is behind you to support you and your efforts for us all. Publish the good deeds done by yourself or others in our hobby to your local community. Educate those that are not in our hobby to the good family recreation that they are missing. For every hobbyist is responsible for themselves and their actions, first! So any future, education or prohibiting laws starts with you first. Have the dedication to know your rights as an American and stand up and be counted as one not to allow our government to take those legal rights from you and your children. Support WWATS, donate you time and dedication, so we can also help you and others for a more secure future in the hobbies we enjoy.

Sincerely, Keith R. Wills, president
Al Simpkins FL. State Director / Treasurer

[Gregory]

HI Al,
If you need a State Director for PA let me know.

[BigAl]

Thanks Greg, we really appreciate your offer. Wish more would realize how important it is to organize and unite for the common cause.
We already have a PA director who is Rich Best of the Sunken Treasure Scuba Center
at Jersey Shore, PA. They have a very active club there and great people and if you want to you can email him at rbest@pa-gold.com and maybe he could use another set of eyes in PA from your area as an assistant director.
Thanks again,
Al Simpkins