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From: greg@gtbup.org
Category: Shipwreck Research
Date: 30 Apr 2007
Time: 17:13:50
Remote Name: 24.231.159.86
Well, I guess it's time to set the record straight.
I posted the links to the House Bills on:
Go towards the bottom of the right side.
Relax everyone and don’t get your shorts all bunched up! How can I state this simply…
When I was told the state has no money back in 2005…. No money to approve anything for shipwreck research, to enhance underwater recreation (which has been a problem for decades). Anyone else who tried was told “No” and just walked away with their tail between their legs and complained that the state doesn’t do anything. Well, they are now! The answer was pretty simple. Start a fund! Which is one of 6 House Bills.
Every diver has complained that the state hasn’t done anything to enhance or promote underwater recreation... And now, 6 House Bills are introduced...and (you) they still complain?! Please read all the Bills before you start writing a campaign against something that will help all of you (us). It lays the foundation for an incredible opportunity that has been long, LONG overdue.
Just think. If a diver donated just $15 to the fund (by the way, this permit is merely a donation and you get a sticker that basically says "I promote underwater recreation" - if you don't want to donate, you can still dive! But don’t complain to me if you’re not willing to donate!)
There's ABSOLUTLY NO RESTRICTIONS placed on anybody anywhere!!, that would create a self sustaining fund that would reap great rewards for shipwreck research, proper buoying of wrecks to help protect them, surveying of wrecks (Yes, what MSRA does!) with a culmination of data and information for everyone to enjoy (education, additional research and so on) even intentional sinking of a vessel in the future!. That $15 could be over 1.5 million dollars in just the first year if everyone chipped in (JUST ONCE!). Then the interest alone would create so many opportunities for what we have been lacking in for decades. Why wouldn't anyone want something like this?
The state could tax air fills, the state could restrict diving in order to squeeze money out of you, but why do that? Why FORCE someone through taxation to do something when all we have to do is “ask” and “enjoy” at the same time? What a novel idea! Eh?
There will be a committee that will help decide how to best spend the money and you can have input as well! I know... I helped write these Bills and I did it to protect you, the diver, the dive industry, the shipwreck researchers, educational institutions.... and probably most importantly... re-dedicate the bottomlands as State Park (which was done back in 1899) which will help strengthen recreational tourism....correctly. Your complaints were heard loud and clear and I did something about it.
So, there's no pork barreling, no siphoning of money or weird stuff going on. It's simple folks! It's a change for the better. Why can't people just embrace it and get behind it. I will fight it to the death if I saw any money going elsewhere and I’ll do everything in my power to see that we invest in our underwater resources. Care to get onboard and help out?
Any question, feel free to write me personally at greg@gtbup.org
Greg MacMaster