by Bluebeard » Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:01 am
I hate to post the obvious, but the reason we created the Western Mining Alliance was to try to push back. You know, after reading all the responses on the forums of "what can we do", I figured that if we created a all volunteer organization all these miners who had nothing to do to help out would flock out of the woodwork to help out. Well, I might add....... it doesn't exactly work that way....... WMA has been in existence for about 6 months. I have contributed about $1000 of my own money to start it as well has the other 2 founding members (and scores of others have shown their support by supporting us financially). I have been occasionally coming to the forums to offer to those who "want to do something" that there is now a vehicle (WMA) which is NOT a club, yet it represents ALL the small miners, property owners, prospectors, etc. The founding members admit that we aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, but we felt that since "no one else has created a small mining advocacy organization", we had to do so or our mining rights would be out the door in short order. Since our mining experience was limited we have offered to anyone (old timers, new timers, anyone who could fog a mirror) if they wanted to, they could come on board and help steer our ship. It is amazing how many really sharp miners there are out there from all walks of life. We can get our dredging back if we put enough energy towards it. The problem is the sounds of the "crickets".......
Back to the "if we only had something or some organization to do something" syndrome. In 3 months of cold calling over 2500 miners (7000 to go), I have rounded up roughly 30 or so who have shown interest in volunteering time in helping us turn around our situation- that is a bit more than 1/100 of 1 percent interest rate. Everyone says they are interested, and they "want to do something", but when the rubber meets the road, it is just talk. I am not discounting those who have sent money in, but unless we get some serious money, ALL the work in this organization will be done by volunteers. Some money helps, but it doesn't pay for full time staff of writers, and organizational staff. So it ultimately boils down to people who offer to put aside their "free" time to support this organization, which it making an effort to paint a positive image for this industry.
In the "you cannot please everybody" subject, there are those persons on these boards who just like to bash us........just because. Those people suggest that we are only out to "mine the miners", well if you volunteer time, then there won't be much mining going on, eh? Look, I don't have hardly the "skin in the game" as most of you. My investment is only about $20k and I have only been mining for 5 years on 3 mining claims which I searched for and found on my own by hiking up and down canyons. I don't profess to be the smartest, most seasoned or the best miner alive- I am just a dumb schmuck who said "I won't take it anymore" and tried to do something about it. What I don't understand is how someone who doesn't know me, and has no clue about me can in good consciousness bash me and my organization? If I am not doing "it the way you would", then tell me (or better yet, show me) the right way to do it. I am doing things the only way I know how and if it isn't good enough, then I am sorry you feel that way- at least I am doing SOMETHING!! If any of you have better ideas (and want to "take charge" of your ideas) to turn this thing around, welcome aboard, we have lots to do.
If you want to just sit around and lament about "there is nothing to do and no one to do it with", then go for it. At least you will have a lot more free time than I do and perhaps all of my efforts may someday (or not) benefit you. At least I can go to bed at night saying to my self, "at least I tried".