Grubby, SURELY you didn't think we could just throw out a line and get several hundred people from different locales, backgrounds, personalities and the like without at least discussing a direction and purpose for the group
These things do NOT happen overnight, however i found the original reply to Pete's question, and it seems there is already a group that we can all support. See below:
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Letter from Pat Clyne
I know that there are many THer’s out there that are completely disillusioned by the State’s molasses treatment of our permits and the Fed’s confiscation of our legitimate claims. An organization made up of professional Treasure Hunters has always been the best way to combat these governmental infringements. However, before we start re-inventing the wheel I think that all THer’s need to know about our history and how we got to maintain what we still have today.
The Treasure Coast Coalition was successful in keeping a Marine Sanctuary off of the Treasure Coast. After that succeeded the coalition was disbanded.
ProSea succeeded in having the only representatives from the private sector included in the United States delegation in Paris at UNESCO for four years. They were instrumental in the State dept. decision NOT to ratify the treaty. A decision we believe led the way for other nations to see the absurdity of it and follow our lead. (to date, the UNESCO treaty has yet to be ratified by 20 nations to make it official). After that success, ProSea was disbanded. It accomplished what it set out to do.
What many people might not realize is that both those organizations were direct offshoots of an organization that still exists today. HSSPC (Historic Shipwreck Salvage Policy Council). It was through the accomplishments of HSSPC in orchestrating the first private salvage initiative ever allowed in a federal marine sanctuary that proved to the world that a truly organized group of salvors can apply enough political pressure to change policy.
My point is, is that I agree with you and the Treasure Net group wholeheartedly. But let’s not start building from scratch something that is already in place, has a successful track record and the politicians already respect as a viable political force.
The website I’ve listed here is a paper I gave to a Congressional sub-committee on HSSPC’s efforts to include an organization such as it’s own to accompany the delegation in Paris. From that, ProSea was created. Also, as a news agency and political salvage forum IMAC Digest reported the daily briefings directly from UNESCO headquarters in Paris for the entire four years it was in session.
Take some time and read some of what HSSPC and IMAC have accomplished in over ten years of fighting for the rights of the private sector salvage community. I think you might all agree that we already have in place the tools to combat the present political situation- all we need now is the commitment from all of the salvors to jump onboard again. We’ve done it before- We can do it again. Let us know when you’re on board.
http://www.imacdigest.com/protect.html
