FYI
The city council of Ocala, FL. this
past week had on it's Agenda the question about the closing of parks to
Metal Detecting.Some council members were
not up to speed on exactly what constituted Metal Detecting.
As usually happens they as others in Govt. do not realize
that we are not destryers of public lands ,and instead really benefit the
communities we live in. I have not recieved any feedback
from them but here is the letter I sent them. It was published in the local
paper.
Re: recent article concerning Metal Detecting in public
areas.
Metal Detecting: Another sport and recreational
activity.
I am the Florida
Director of WWATS.
World Wide
Association of Treasure Seekers.
As the name
implies, we are worldwide in scope and our
Mission
statement is, to PRESERVE and PROTECT the rights
of
Citizens to pursue an honorable responsible
hobby.
The large
majority of detectorists are responsible, people who ABIDE by a STRICT CODE
OF ETHICS! (Copy
attached)
It is well to note also, that we in groups POLICE
OUR OWN RANKS.
This group
numbers in the thousands and in pursuing this great hobby, they CONTRIBUTE
a service to their communities by assisting law enforcement, cleaning up parks and other
areas
Where irresponsible people discard all sorts of
trash and dangerous debris.
We as
detectorists or other treasure seekers are not looking for
monetary
gain by maybe ever finding an artifact or similar object
and are
known for presenting any of these historical objects to
Museums so
that EVERYONE can look into our past.
Point of
fact. If it were not for these hobbyists our heritage and
stories of
history WOULD FOREVERMORE BE BURRIED in the ground
and never seen!
That is a
service that even State ARCHEOLOGISTS DO NOT
PROVIDE.
I commend those
of our elected representatives in city, county or state government who will
look at this hobby as An ASSET and not
a
LIABILITY.
Public service is part of our code of
ethics!
Our website at
www.wwats.org has much information for all
whom might
want to learn more about this hobby.
Google, "Metal
Detecting" or "Prospecting" and it will provide a flood of information so
all will see what this great hobby is for young and old
alike.
Alvin
Simpkins
Fl. Director
