LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I wish to thank the clubs and Independents that voted for me in the last election. I appreciate those clubs that did vote and took the time to make their voice heard. It was sad that only 42 clubs and 6 independents out of well over a hundred voted. I was elected by only a two vote margin. I want to thank Frank for his past work for the FMDAC and I doubt if he fades very far away.

This will be my first national newsletter and we will try to get information to you about all aspects of the hobby. There are a lot of attacks from various sources, pending legislation and a lot of other issues we will be discussing. Of course we will also get the bi-annual convention info to you as well. A quick check of the calendar of events page on the Website will get you info about most of the hunts and treasure hunting related events throughout the country and beyond. Feel free to click the link and submit your event.

Another program I would like to see get kicked off is an enhancement to our existing kids essay contest and kids hunts. A “Young Hunters” program where we get involved with kids teaching them the hobby and maybe getting their parents involved also. This will be a work in progress. I would like for any of you out there to submit ideas to get the kids more involved.

I would like to get “your info” to you as quickly as possible. Right now we send each club 3 Quests in the hopes that someone will pass them out at a meeting or at least discuss it at a meeting. I don’t think the clubs are going to go to the expense of copying and mailing it to all their members. What is the solution? Electronic is the answer. We could send you the Quest and any other information the membership might need instantly. Calls for action could go out if some sort of campaign is requested by the Board. A lot of people say we will spam them with stuff or sell their email addresses. Members of my own club expressed concern. That would not be the purpose at all and it would not happen on my watch. The list would be kept confidential. I have no doubt with Lee as our Website manager we will keep it so. Only Mike, Sue and Lee and of course myself will have access to the list.

Will there be advertising on the electronic messages? I sure hope so. The only way it could affect you is if you like what you see and click on their (the advertisers) link. It would be a win / win for everyone. We would only have to mail hard copies to those that do not have access to the Internet or email. That would be very few and we could mail theirs directly to their home and not have to depend on someone else to get it to them.

Those of you that are hesitant must realize that every time you click on a link you are getting a “cookie”.

We make a solemn promise not to send you anything but information and links to our legitimate sponsors. Please, let’s give it a try. Make sure Mike and Sue Race have as many of your members emails as possible.

I have started receiving newsletters other than the Central States. That is great! To save postage please send them via email if you can. I prefer Word format, it lets me cut and paste some of your fine articles. Any article I use will get full credit from the newsletter and the author will get his / her byline.

Dave Perry
FMDAC National Secretary & QUEST Editor

			2006
Mar-Apr	May-June	July-Aug	Sept.-Oct	Winter

			2004
	Spring			Winter