Hello Bil4lo,
First of all, thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns. We are always looking for ways to improve. As far as having a raffle, that approach doesn't work for the "vendors". What happens is, the person who won a prize via the "raffle system", doesn't really want that particular prize and tries to negotiate a trade with the vendor. The vendors simply don't want to deal with the hassle and possible negative publicity. The reason we get so much donated, is that the people who win the donations, really want that particular item.
Pertaining to your concern about everyone winning something valued at $75.00, everyone did.
Everyone received a free dive certificate for a return trip to Bonne Terre Mine.(retail value $65.00) Everyone received a buy 1 get one free dinner certificate from Mario's restaraunt. (retail value between $9.95-$14.95) Everyone also received a role of Rescue Tape (valued at $10.00) and a luggage handle wrap from SSI (valued at $2.95) Total retail value of $87.90. Participating in the 2 treasure hunt dives, the Treasure Hunt Tee shirts, the BBQ and opportunity win some of over $40,000 of donated prizes was $119.00
As far as people "pooling" tokens, as I'm sure you remember, we discuss in the briefing that people can't pool tokens and if we (the staff) see the activity, people will be disqualified. As an additional security measure we zip tie each bag at the end of each dive.. As you mentioned in your post, we can't take action from someone telling us about it. The entire Bonne Terre Mine staff agrees with you that it's unfair that some people don't play by the rules. However,MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WON PRIZES ABIDED BY THE RULES.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with us. We have used your comments to add additional security measures next year.
I personally, look forward to diving some trails with you in the near future.
Steve