August 3, 2000 club meeting – 34 members present.

Next regular meeting:  Thursday, September 7, 2000, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA, at 7:30p.m.
Next board meeting:  Thursday, September 14, 2000, Maurer Dive Shop, at 7:30p.m.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

Our August meeting was called to order in a dignified and noble manner by our new president, Donna Bender, and her trusty waacka, waacka gavel.  A BIG THANK YOU to the past officers:  Diane Turcovsky, Josh Keyser, Donna Bender, and Denny Beecher, for all their hard work and dedication.  Past President, Diane Turcovsky, was presented with a gift of appreciation.

President Bender (the jokester), heretofore known as PB&J, introduced the new officers for the 2000-2001 term:  Lance Marks, Vice President (a/k/a Vice-President-Gear Boy Sir); Barb Wyland, Treasurer/Queen (or is that Queen/Treasurer?); and Lois Keegan , Secretary.

Treasurer’s report was given:  $1196.50 income, $1859.63 expenses, and $2913.19 balance.  An audit was performed before the meeting and the audit committee, Sandy Beecher, Brad McVicker, and Everett Newkirk, gave a thumbs up to the treasurer for her clear and precise records.

MORE BIG THANK YOUs to the Quarry Clean-Up Crew!
John Augustine, Donna Bender, John Betting
Nelda Donley, Tom Howard, Dan Kelly
David Lee, Bob Maurer & boys, Pam Pellas
Ron Peterson, Bert Sharbaugh
Dan & Diane Turcovsky, Barb Wyland

Welcome to new members approved at the July meeting:
Thomas Faight – newly certified
Hayley Faight – certified in Sept. 1999, Maurer’s
Michael Hoitt – certified in June with Shelley/St. Francis
William Mulhearn – certified June 2000 with Shelley/St. Francis
Nicholas Mulhearn – certified June 2000 with Shelley/St. Francis
Natalie Casale – certified May 2000 with Maurer’s
Michael Bates – certified June 1999 with Scuba Escapes, advanced open water, deep dives, ice dives, navigation
Tracy Christ – certified May 2000 with Maurer’s

Treasure Dive 2000 report was given by Denny Beecher.  Thanks to Harv Montgomery and Dave Datres for the fireworks display Saturday night.  Kudos to pyrotechnics!!!
A list of prizes and winners is enclosed.

Moorehead City, NC, trip report was given by Dan Turcovsky.  Saturday, we had two deep dives on the Schruz, the U352.  On Sunday we dove on the Atlas Tanker and were visited by a plethora, no, a miasma – okay - lots and lots of sand tiger sharks!  We were all so taken by our toothy friends, we stayed at this site for our second dive.  We all agree this trip should go on the calendar as an annual event.  The dives were wonderful, the accommodations were very comfortable and, as always, the company was the best.  Thanks to our hosts, Jim and Sandy Smith for a wonderful weekend of diving.

Upcoming Events

EOFND 08/04, 08/18 and 09/02

CPR class by Brad McVicker.  $10 if you want the book.  Date to follow. First ten to sign up will be in the first class.

Thousand Island Trip – August 24th through 27th.  Still 3 slots open.Call Denny Beecher or Donna Bender if interested.

Labor Day Weekend Dive at the quarry.

Raystown Picnic, Sunday, September 10th, Oak Pavilion, Seven Points.  Boat leaving at 8a.m. and 1p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs provided – bring a covered dish.

MS Ghost Town Trail Ride, Saturday, October 21st, 24 miles Donna will bring applications to next meeting.  Joe Gordon has offered to host the post-ride party at his cabin on the trail.

Halloween Dive, Blue Hole Quarry, October 28th.  $5 registration  Chili Contest in the evening.

Christmas Party, December 2nd.  Come and rock the night away with our own Laurel Diver DJ’s, Matt & Brad McVicker.

Mark Hooper reminds everyone that he is still traveling to the Aquarium and anyone that would like to ride along is welcome.  $12 for tall Laurel Diver coffee mugs – see Mark Hooper.

Bob Maurer reminded all of us aluminum tank owners to drain the tanks to 200psi for winter storage.

Bob also presented a book from SSI to Sylvia MacKinnon for the Penn State Library.

REMINDER – if dues are not paid by September you will be dropped from the mailing list.

Open Water classes starting at Maurer’s Saturday 08/19 and Tuesday 08/22.

Day Book $62 – won by Denny Beecher – again!

Door Prize – Sherwood keychain and air fills – won by Sylvia MacKinnon.

Board meeting – August 10, 2000, 7:30p.m., Maurer Dive Shop
Attendees:  Donna Bender, Barb Wyland, Lance Marks, Lois Keegan, Ron Peterson, Dan Kelly, Bert Sharbaugh, Dan & Diane Turcovsky, Denny Beecher.

New members presented to the Board:  Jeffrey Knepper, David Knepper, Alice Single, Diann Schubert,  Dave Datres.  These new applicants will be presented at the September meeting.

The approximate cost of Treasure Dive is $28.71 per diver.

Since the new officers have taken their new positions, there is an open spot on the Board.  Nominations and an election will take place at the September meeting to fill this position.

$7.00/month for LaurelDivers.com was approved by a vote of the Board.

Changes to constitution were discussed and will be presented at the September meeting.

Dan Turcovsky discussed the possibility of putting in a new ladder at the quarry.  Dimensions and cost will be forthcoming.

Milestones:  I have none.  Zip, zilch, nada, zero, nothing!  Nobody tells me anything.  Please email any diving milestones to Lois@TechniqueSystems.com or call me at 814 472-0774, we’ll talk.