Mike from MI Iron Brigade
New member
We in this hobby need to band together, so let us do our part! This is a long read, so you can always copy it and read it later if you like! 
"This is very important to everyone, not just those that live in Alabama, for already we see other states trying to adopt the same ruling. You must respond and help these folks here so to help yourself in the future. Please take a moment and write and forward this to all in your address book.
Thanks so much for your help, this unity is what makes us stronger and also keeps us from being a joke to the state and federal archeologists and environmentalist.
We must take-action when it is necessary so to assure a positive future for our children that also enjoy the same recreational hobbies we do.
However, if this sincere cause is not enough, WWATS is offering a beautiful Gold Coin for the person that has the best written letter mailed or emailed to the below Commission. Just send WWATS a copy of your letter you forward to the Commission and we at WWATS will select the best written of them all and select a winner for the Gold Coin giveaway.
WWATS knows it isn't necessary to give a gold coin away every time we have a hobby-alert as this, but we would very much like to see what many of you are writing to the Commission in answer to save our hobby, that is not a copy of the form letter below, but in your own words. This should be of great interest to everyone, especially the divers, water hunters and relic hunters everywhere. Please send a copy of your letter you wrote to WWATS at: fmahannah@alltel.net the webmaster. WWATS reserves the right to place some of the forwarded letters on the website for all to view! Look for the name of the winner on www.wwats.org soon. All letters must be written and forward to WWATS no later than Dec. 7th this year!
Sincerely, Keith Wills, president--WWATS
PLEASE READ BELOW:
----- Original Message -----
From: SSDSupply@aol.com
To: SSDSupply@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 8:51 PM
Subject: Public Dive Meeting in Mobile
Public Dive Meeting in Mobile
November 16, 2005
Last weeks public meeting in Selma was well represented by divers. Forrest, Spencer and I were accompanied by Don Sublett, John Trott and Kevin McCauley. Four dive instructors from Adventure Sports in Montgomery came and spoke. Bob Cox from Gulf Coast Divers in Mobile came to speak as he always does when possible. Archie Phillips missed an important meeting in Birmingham so he could be with us in Selma. Archie is of course an excellent speaker and well known throughout the state for his TV show Alabama Hunting and Fishing. Our opposition were represented by the "Professional" Archaeologists and several old ladies who work for the little museums in Selma. As best I could tell our oppositions position is that since they are unable to dive and find relics that they don't think anyone else should either. The "Professional" Archaeologists don't want anyone to find anything unless one of their group of collaborators is paid to get their permission.
Blaah! Blaah! Blaah!
I carried about 7 books that are some of the standard reference books used to identify Civil War relics. All of these books are written by using individual collectors such as myself to help the authors. No "Professional" Archaeologist or museum has written any reference books on Civil War relics that have been found on land or underwater. When I was speaking one of the museums ladies interrupted me and said that I make a living selling relics. I then told her that I buy relics from museums but I don't sell relics. She then yelled out "Well you sell books." I guess she actually thinks we shouldn't write or sell books. These folks don't make any sense at all and they don't understand how bad their jealousy and greed is for the public in general.
This week we have another meeting. Tomorrow night, November 17th from 5:30 - 7:30 P. M, this meeting in Mobile is the last public meeting concerning the new regulations that will allow divers to find isolated finds. The meeting will be located at the Mobile Government Plaza, First Floor Multipurpose Room, 205 Government Street. Use the Joachim Street entrance. Please attend if you can.
Letters need to be written to the Alabama Historical Commission and to their directors. I am including their contact information below. They are accepting written public comments until Dec. 9th. At the end of this email I am also including copies of 2 excellent letters that were written by authors of Civil War reference books. Please write your letters as soon as possible and send me a copy of what you write.
Thanks,
Steve Phillips
Southern Skin Divers Supply
4515 5th Ave. South
Birmingham, AL. 35222
205-595-3052
http://www.ssdsupply.com/
ssdsupply@aol.com
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Commissioner,
As a Civil War historian, author, and publisher of collector
"This is very important to everyone, not just those that live in Alabama, for already we see other states trying to adopt the same ruling. You must respond and help these folks here so to help yourself in the future. Please take a moment and write and forward this to all in your address book.
Thanks so much for your help, this unity is what makes us stronger and also keeps us from being a joke to the state and federal archeologists and environmentalist.
We must take-action when it is necessary so to assure a positive future for our children that also enjoy the same recreational hobbies we do.
However, if this sincere cause is not enough, WWATS is offering a beautiful Gold Coin for the person that has the best written letter mailed or emailed to the below Commission. Just send WWATS a copy of your letter you forward to the Commission and we at WWATS will select the best written of them all and select a winner for the Gold Coin giveaway.
WWATS knows it isn't necessary to give a gold coin away every time we have a hobby-alert as this, but we would very much like to see what many of you are writing to the Commission in answer to save our hobby, that is not a copy of the form letter below, but in your own words. This should be of great interest to everyone, especially the divers, water hunters and relic hunters everywhere. Please send a copy of your letter you wrote to WWATS at: fmahannah@alltel.net the webmaster. WWATS reserves the right to place some of the forwarded letters on the website for all to view! Look for the name of the winner on www.wwats.org soon. All letters must be written and forward to WWATS no later than Dec. 7th this year!
Sincerely, Keith Wills, president--WWATS
PLEASE READ BELOW:
----- Original Message -----
From: SSDSupply@aol.com
To: SSDSupply@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 8:51 PM
Subject: Public Dive Meeting in Mobile
Public Dive Meeting in Mobile
November 16, 2005
Last weeks public meeting in Selma was well represented by divers. Forrest, Spencer and I were accompanied by Don Sublett, John Trott and Kevin McCauley. Four dive instructors from Adventure Sports in Montgomery came and spoke. Bob Cox from Gulf Coast Divers in Mobile came to speak as he always does when possible. Archie Phillips missed an important meeting in Birmingham so he could be with us in Selma. Archie is of course an excellent speaker and well known throughout the state for his TV show Alabama Hunting and Fishing. Our opposition were represented by the "Professional" Archaeologists and several old ladies who work for the little museums in Selma. As best I could tell our oppositions position is that since they are unable to dive and find relics that they don't think anyone else should either. The "Professional" Archaeologists don't want anyone to find anything unless one of their group of collaborators is paid to get their permission.
Blaah! Blaah! Blaah!
I carried about 7 books that are some of the standard reference books used to identify Civil War relics. All of these books are written by using individual collectors such as myself to help the authors. No "Professional" Archaeologist or museum has written any reference books on Civil War relics that have been found on land or underwater. When I was speaking one of the museums ladies interrupted me and said that I make a living selling relics. I then told her that I buy relics from museums but I don't sell relics. She then yelled out "Well you sell books." I guess she actually thinks we shouldn't write or sell books. These folks don't make any sense at all and they don't understand how bad their jealousy and greed is for the public in general.
This week we have another meeting. Tomorrow night, November 17th from 5:30 - 7:30 P. M, this meeting in Mobile is the last public meeting concerning the new regulations that will allow divers to find isolated finds. The meeting will be located at the Mobile Government Plaza, First Floor Multipurpose Room, 205 Government Street. Use the Joachim Street entrance. Please attend if you can.
Letters need to be written to the Alabama Historical Commission and to their directors. I am including their contact information below. They are accepting written public comments until Dec. 9th. At the end of this email I am also including copies of 2 excellent letters that were written by authors of Civil War reference books. Please write your letters as soon as possible and send me a copy of what you write.
Thanks,
Steve Phillips
Southern Skin Divers Supply
4515 5th Ave. South
Birmingham, AL. 35222
205-595-3052
http://www.ssdsupply.com/
ssdsupply@aol.com
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Commissioner,
As a Civil War historian, author, and publisher of collector