I had been a  member of the Tidewater Coin and Relic Club for about two years and during this time read about hunts through magazines, the net and other members.  Our club President, Bob Deml on several occasions whenever a hunt would come along always offer the advise to the new comers not to enter your first hunt, but come and watch or help out and see what it is all about.

Taking the advise and respecting Bob's opinion, I offered to help out with the club activities.  As usual, the hunt was in May and it was a warm day at the beach as you can see by the pictures above.  Between the wind, rain and sand blowing, you thought a metal detector would not be needed as the wind would uncover it all for you.  A lot of people showed up and between the hunts, raffle selling and hats and shirts being sold, a good time was had by all.  We had one couple that came all the way from Tennessee and the best part was watching the kids go to town and take themselve so seriously.

I volunteered as a raffle seller and time keeper.  I think Bob set me up on the time keeper thing.  Felt standing in the middle like a man standing in front of a race track gate and not sure if he could move fast enough.  The funny part was one contestant was so engrossed in hunting that I had to walk right up next to him and blow the whistle and he just looked at me quizically and said "Is it time to stop".

As you can see by the pictures above, it was a nice time, cold, wet and windy, but the brave endured and we looked for anything hot after the hunt.  A good experience and one I enjoyed.  I recommend volunteering to help out for your first time hunt to see how a hunt is run and your club officer's appreciate it very much as well.

We have started posting photos of the WWATS Rally 2004 in a new photo album. These photos provided by Jim Fariello with many more to come. If you would like to post your rally photos please email them with a caption to webmaster@wwats.org and I will post them right away.

View the WWATS Rally 2004 Photo Album

WWATS Rally Big Fish Contest Winners

Ralph Scales won 2/3 of the pot with a 24 3/8 inch long Drum and Ken Scales won second place and 1/3 of the pot with an 8 5/8 inch Bass.

Keith,
 
Just wanted to say we had so much fun at the rally. We are looking foward to the next. I would like for you to share with your wife the following note.
 
Rebekah Wills,
 
This was my first rally to attend. Thank you so much first for the advice to bring a fan for the screened in cabin. It would have been a little challenging without it. Also, thank you for all of the effort and money that you put into the ladies hunt. I believe that I speak for all of the ladies hunting, THANKS.  We were all pleased with our finds and had great fun. Sorry you could not be with us, but I hope to meet you in the future.
 
Sincerely, 
Markay 
steve and markay short

**************************************************************

Keith; had a lot of fun at the hunt last weekend. On my way to Arizona (slowly). You mentioned that Arkansas had opened some of of the state parks for detecting. Where would I access that info? I need to go back next spring and visit my folks that still live in the area. I used to hunt Ouachita beaches a lot, but haven't been there for a while.

Will try to be back for the Texas Council--"Texas Treasure Show 2005 & Hunt" on March 12 & 13, in Tyler, TX. It is still the Largest Treasure Show in the USA and I always learn a lot from the Free Seminars there and meet so many famous treasure hunters and old friends.
Thanks.......................L

**************************************************************

Really a good show, storm and all you are to be commended for all the work (and money) you put into this affair. By the way, really enjoyed speaking at length with Hillbilly Bob Brewer around the campfire-quite interesting. This hasn't been done in the detecting world for 20 years or better and helps us all make new friends which is the truest treasures of all. Frank L

**************************************************************

Keith- You did a great job with the WWATS hunt-  I'm sure everyone who came and participated feels the same way.  One thing seems to stand out at all the hunts the last few years. Garrett seems to always support us with prizes and representation.  Maybe it's because they are in Garland, Tx  I don't know.
    Tom McWillie

**************************************************************

Just wanted to drop you a line to say "Thank you" again for a
great weekend.

I also wanted to tell your wife "Thanks" for donating her time
and the jewelry for the Ladies Hunt.  It was a lot of fun & it
allowed the ladies who don't use a dectector to be able to
participate.  And give them something also.  That was so
thoughtful of her and many of the necklaces she donated are very valuable.

Sincerely,
Alice Branger
Golden Triangle & Lone Star

Bottom Line on WWATS Rally and Hunts

Well the WWATS Rally was a hugh success and all left very happy with all the weekend events. We met new folks in various hobbies and did address several issues as to our public lands problems we are experiencing.

All hunts seem to be well planned and carried out, but I had a serious lack of help. As I would start a activity, I would have to run back to my cabin and load up the prizes for that activity and run back to the main tent and spread them out to award to those finding the tokens. It seem everyone was participating in the events, thus leaving me with no one to help me with this task. So I ran myself to death for 3 days. We only had two board members able to attend besides myself, Larry Armstrong who was sick all the time he was there and Jim Fariello which did all the photos for the event and will be posted in a few weeks on the website when he returns home to send them to our webmaster. I had no one to run our fundraisers, which was WWATS only income at the event, except for a few of my friends like Larry Vickers, Dave & Kelene Totzke and Tom McWillie that took time out from their fun to help me with the fundraisers and registrations when they could. I recieved a lot of support in planting the fields for the next event from many that attended.

Our two metal detectors we used for Fundraisers and our 50/50 raffle only cleared $550.00. This number should of been triple that, minimium. We did have a serious storm Friday night with large hail that cause many of our locals and new folks to the hobby to backout from coming to the event. We still had some 200 folks entered in the Open Free Hunt Sat. morning however.

So the bottom line is:
I was able to pay the landower for the $150.00 cleaning fee to clean his own port-a-johns and the $70.00 for sandwiches and drinks for the workers that helped us take down and pack up the 60X90 tent from the donations given to me during event from several generous folks. That still leaves us with the profit we made on the fundraisers of $550.00 to be used to incorporate and gain our tax status, which I will be checking on during the next few weeks.

I have a total of $807.84 in receipts for items needed for the event that has not been paid and we have no funds to pay for those receipts. Also, not mentioned time lose from work or travel expenses, I and my wife donated $1881.00 my cost of prizes and coins for the event.

Many folks did donate and that is what made this event possible, however, we need to look at other possibles for next year. It is too expensive for any one or two individuals to absorb. Possibly a Rally Fee of $5.00 per person or $10.00 per family for the weekend would be in order. This landowner was too high in cost and nickel--dime you to death. However, he did supply 11 bar-b-que briskets at no charge for our Friday night cookout. Then again, I save him a cabin that I found on fire on Wednesday night from burning to the ground if I had not happen upon it, it had minimium damage because I found it in time. I would think that would justify a few briskets and the cleaning cost of his port-a-johns, but I guess he didn't feel that way.

This site was forced due to the fact we found out the orginal event site in Georgia was not to be trusted. So I had little time to shop around. I have already started shopping around for next years 2005 site and have a good possible at lower cost in Antlers, Oklahoma, will let you know. I will be sending Al our treasurer, the reciepts and total of income so to do an offical report for us all, shortly.

Thank you for your help and support, everyone had a great time and are very excited about the WWATS Rally next year. Keith Wills, President