Cookout/Benefit for Mad4wrecks

[signumops]

Talkin to John yesterday and he pointed out what the usual production costs are for one of these shindigs. I think we should have a cover charge, and one that would cover the absolute cost. Also, to raise money, I think that all us treasure hunters do have something that the public wants, and that would be treasure, of course. We all have some doodad or two that we could part with in an auction or raffle (we should do both actually). Knowing that the hunters/finders are actually at an auction along with some of their stuff might attract a considerable number of collectors, beyond the confines of our own group, and bring in substantially more money. And that is the objective here... money. So participants could bring in their goodies and stand and give the details of the find, add some provenance, conduct the auction themselves, get their picture taken with the buyer, and so forth. We might even drop notices in the local papers with some sort of press releases.

This will only work if we have a listing of what will be available for sale, along with the names of the personalities selling the items. We need to start compiling a list now cause we only have 30 days to pull this off as of TODAY!

I rummaged around, and for starters I have a 4 reale from the Margarita that I bought from Mo, and I have a photo of him and me together with me holding the coin. Also, I have some Yuan Dynasty tea cups with certs from Indonesia that came off a salvaged junk, probably the Belitung. I'll keep looking around.

So if you are with the program here, drop in a line with what you have to auction, and if we get enough booty together, maybe we can do a press release and draw in some more paying customers. Does NOT have to be glamorous stuff... parts and pieces, projectiles, pot sherds, spikes, you name it.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[aquanut]

Terry,
Thanks for the input! I've got an appointment with an expert tomorrow that will give me a verbal on the authenticity of some items I'm going to offer up. I just want verification before I say they're authentic, photograph and post them. If they are what I think they are, they should bring in a bunch. But you're right, we need to let the public know, spread the word and GO BIG!
Aquanut

 

[aquanut]

Hey Guys. I had well over 4,000 hits last spring on the cookout then. This is much more important! Let's get some action going here! I've gotten PM's from some of you, but it looks a lot better if you post it here! There just isn't that much time. For those of you that think this is too much of a bother, think how nice it would be if someone took up the banner for you or one of your family members in your time of need. Sorry if I come off a little too passionate, but if I didn't feel this way, none of this would be happening. I look to you all for your generosity so we can come together as a team, make this a success and pat each other on the back when we get the word that Tom's cancer is cured! I'd like to notify the Newscasters and radio about this event. Anybody out there have an in with those people or do I need to cold call 'em. I could use as much help as you can provide. Also pay close attention to what signumops had to say.
Your Friend,
John

 

[Denniss]

I'll be there, put me down for baked beans and a donation

 

[Darren in NC]

I've never been to a cookout due to my distance from NC, but because this is for Tom, I'll be there. I'm selling a few things as well to help out. John, a casserole won't make it in the overhead compartment, so what can I bring from the store once I arrive? Is there a list of needed items?

 

[aquanut]

Darren,
What day do you plan on getting here?
John

 

[aquanut]

Terry,
Thanks for the input! I've got an appointment with an expert tomorrow that will give me a verbal on the authenticity of some items I'm going to offer up. I just want verification before I say they're authentic, photograph and post them. If they are what I think they are, they should bring in a bunch. But you're right, we need to let the public know, spread the word and GO BIG!
Aquanut

I met with the expert today and he said the items looked authentic to him, but he wants me to meet with him and HIS expert Friday or Saturday to be sure.
If everything is as I think it is, I'll post pictures and descriptions then.

Gary Drayton is going to either bring or send 10 copies of his book "Metal Detecting for Spanish Treasure" to sell at the cookout. THANK YOU GARY!

Aquanut

 

[Leebo in SC]

I wish I could make it to the cookout, but do not think I can swing it right now. How can I make a donation.

Thanks

Leebo

 

[Darren in NC]

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check to:

Tom Gidus
11665 Ficus ST.
Unit D
Palm Beach Gardens, FL. 33410

 

[aquanut]

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check to:

Tom Gidus
11665 Ficus ST.
Unit D
Palm Beach Gardens, FL. 33410

If you prefer a tax-deductible donation, make a check out to "Gateway Church," and put "mad4wrecks fund" on the memo line of your check. Send this to me at:

Darren Talley
PO Box 637
Willow Spring, NC 27592

I'll have the church print out an entire list of donations and bring it to the cookout along with one check for Tom. Do not put Tom's name anywhere on the check as this goes against IRS regulations for churches.

Thanks Darren!

 

[aquanut]

I wish I could make it to the cookout, but do not think I can swing it right now. How can I make a donation.

Thanks

Leebo

Sorry you can't make it Leebo, but thanks for the donation to Tom's fund!

 

[Bigdogdad]

I came up with an idea and ran it by aquanut today. The Pennwood has quite a history. It was built by Kip Wagner (he was a contractor) of the Reale Eight fame. He built it as a place for treasure hunters to stay while diving the wrecks. Years ago they used to have treasure hunting/metal detecting competitions there. They made up one ounce gold coins with the Reale Eight logo on them and hid them around the property. A good friend of mine spent 25 years hanging out with John Durham. John won a lot of these competitions. The metal detecting companies would bring their latest, greatest detectors for everyone to try out.

I won't go into details at this point but there is good reason to believe that some of these gold coins are still left to be found and there is very likely other treasure still buried on the property waiting to be found. I would like to arrange for some sort of competition to see whose detector can detect the deepest. Also a competition to see if any of these dowsers can find anything. I propose that anything found at this event go to help Tom. I truly believe that the spirit's of the old long gone treasure hunter's would help anybody using their abilities to help someone in need.

Maybe we could get some of the metal detecting companies to get involved. Perhaps they would like to show off some of their detectors. I will be glad to help in anyway I can. I will go over before the event and bury some metal at certain specified depths. I have a nine foot post hole digger that works great for digging a small diameter, deep hole. It would be interesting to be able to actually test out our own and other's detectors to see how well they really perform. Maybe we can turn this into a challenge.

I am going to work with the dowser's forum to see what I can come up with as far as photo dowsing the site and maybe getting some dowser's to come. I have already gotten a new aquaintenance that has his own hybrid metal/element detector to agree to bring it to help find any possible treasure on the site. I really do think there may be multiple treasures within the property. John is going to get this OK'd with the property owners.

This is not going to be some free for all with everybody digging all over. I will bring flags that each person participating can put in the ground if they think they have located something. We can then as a group try out multiple detectors to see what they signal and then we can use my long shovel to make a small diameter deep hole that can be filled in easily and won't make much of a mess.

I am just getting started on this as I just thought of it last night. I don't want to make it into such a huge production that we won't have time to do it all, but I will fine tune the activities with everyone's input as to what would work best. I am going to post this on different threads to get as much interest as possible. This is just a start. I believe that when you do things to help other's you get help in many ways and things have a way of working out. Let me know what you all think.

 

[aquanut]

email letter

Would you all be so kind as to send out this note to anyone you think would be interested...
Thanks in advance.

Hi,
My name is John Redman and I'm having a cookout like the one I throw every Spring for the Treasure Hunters. However, this is special, for one of our friends has contracted Colon Cancer and needs our help. His name is Tom Gidus (AKA Mad4wrecks) on the treasure hunting forums. Tom is a long time diver/treasure hunter on the Treasure coast and is well known among our community. So, to help out, unlike the free ones I've thrown in the past, this one will include an Auction and Raffle, along with donations and possibly a cover to raise money to aid in curing Tom's cancer. I'd like to see you there with any and all that you can bring or pass this note on to...


I'm having the cookout on Saturday, November 3rd, at :
The Pennwood Motor Lodge
9295 N. U.S. Highway 1
Sebastion, FL (actually Wabasso)
the manager's name there is Virginia and her phone # is 772-589-3855


All details can be found on the treasurenet forum here:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/shipwrecks/314706-cookout-benefit-mad4wrecks.html


Please let me know if you plan on attending.
You can respond online or call me directly:
386-801-9242


Thanks,
John Redman

 

[Galleon Hunter]

Will mention it again here...

Hello all: I would like to help out my friend and diving buddy Tom Gidus a.k.a. Mad4Wrecks who was recenty diagnosed with cancer. I first started diving with Tom back in 1999 on the 1715 Fleet and we have worked on various other shipwreck projects together over the years. We definately had some good times and I want to help in anyway I can.

I don't have too many left, (only did a limited print run) but I just listed on Ebay a copy of The Treasure Fleet of 1715: Search for the Queen's Jewels.

The Treasure Fleet of 1715 : Search for the Queen's Jewels Shipwrecks Florida | eBay

The profits from the sale are going to help Tom with his medical expenses.​

 

[ScubaFinder]

Good job Rob!

BigDogDad. I will see to it that the AquaPulse AQ1B detector is well represented. I am looking into some artifacts, hats, and T-shirts to bring as well. Looking forward to seeing everyone...and more importantly, I'm looking forward to seeing Tom healed up and back under water!

Jason

 

[scubaozzy]

I have some NEW dive masks,snorkels, and fins for the auction/giveaway i will bring.

 

[aquanut]

Great Guys! Once you determine what exactly you want to bring, could you post it so we can make a list as signumops suggested earlier?
Aquanut

 

[aquanut]

Does anyone personally have an in with Kellyco?
Aquanut

 

[Darren in NC]

Call all the big dealers directly and tell them what's going on and about past cookouts and forum exposure. One or more of them may give free detectors an accessories. We did this a few years ago with the Treasure Expo in Myrtle Beach and got goods from Whites and Garrett.

 

[aquanut]

Call all the big dealers directly and tell them what's going on and about past cookouts and forum exposure. One or more of them may give free detectors an accessories. We did this a few years ago with the Treasure Expo in Myrtle Beach and got goods from Whites and Garrett.

I'll do what I can. If anybody out there wants to get involved in this effort I'd appreciate it...
Aquanut