November 2, 2000, Penn Gables, Ebensburg 34 members present

Next regular meeting:  Thursday, January 4, 2001, Penn Gables, 7:30p.m.
Next board meeting:  Thursday, January 11, 2001, Maurer Dive Shop, 7:30p.m.
PLEASE NOTE:  There is no December meeting or Board Meeting.

President, Donna Bender, called the meeting to order.

Treasurer, Barb Wyland, gave the treasurer’s report.  Income:  $269.61  Expenses:  $57.14  Balance:  $2094.55.  The Halloween Dive had expenses of $100 and income of $75.

ERROR in October newsletter:
Under “New Members”:  Clay D. Cameron was reported to have certified July, 1002.
Correction should read:  Clay D. Cameron, certified July 2000, Deep Six Dive Center, Advanced Open Water.  Although it would have been fun to have a prehistoric diving man in our club, Clay just isn’t that old.  My apologies.

BUSINESS:
Board member nominations
Current Board members are:  Bert Sharbaugh, Joe Gordon, Dan Turcovsky, & Sandy Beecher.

In December we will vote in new Board Members.  This vote will take place at the Christmas Party on December 2, 2000, at Penn Gables.  Nominations were taken for Board Members for 2001:

Denny Beecher
Nelda Donnelly
Joe Gordon
Josh Keyser
Rick Paige
Bert Sharbaugh
Sandy Smith
Dan Turcovsky

FYI – Laurel Diver patches and stickers are available - patches $10, Stickers $1

CPR Classes.
There were 10 Laurel Divers certified for CPR in October, thanks to Brad McVicker.  Brad taught two CPR classes at Maurer Dive Shop.  We would like to thank Brad for giving his time and talent to our dive club.  From those of us who were certified, “MANY THANKS BRAD.”  We can now perform CPR in a competent manner and offer assistance in a choking situation.  We also know for sure that after we have used our newly honed skills to save Annie – turns out she’s not much of a talker.  CPR classes will be offered again in the spring.

NEW BUSINESS:

New members: WELCOME TO LAUREL DIVERS John Wenturine III - certified 9/24 with Maurer’s Dive Shop.

UPCOMING EVENTS

There is no December meeting or board meeting.

SIGN UP FOR CHRISTMAS PARTY BY NOVEMBER 18
Christmas party, December 2, 2000.  6:00p.m. cocktails, 7:00p.m. dinner, sign up by Nov 18 Chicken breast, pork chop or lasagna for $12.75, Baked Haddock for 15.50
Door prizes - 2 $50 gift certificates, equipment wash, wet suit wash, mask strap
There will also be a 50-50 drawing, so bring your $$$ to get in on chances to win!
Board member elections will take place at the Christmas Party.

DAN 02 provider courses by Sue Morra, Shelly Kirkpatrick & Bert Sharbaugh
Nov 16, 2000, 6p.m. to 10p.m., $45 for class - $20 deposit to sign up
St. Francis College, Sullivan Hall, Room 201.
The course teaches how to set up an oxygen unit and provide oxygen in emergency situations.  For those wishing to receive a PADI distinctive speciality certification the cost is $60 to cover additional cost of PADI certification.
To sign up, or if you have any questions, contact Sue at 814 472-3321.

NEW DAN COURSE:  First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries. By Sue Morra.  Saturday, November 18, 2000, 1p.m. to 5p.m., cost $25.
St. Francis College, Sullivan Hall, Room 201.
This course teaches one how to provide first aid for injuries from venomous and non-venomous marine life.  Cost:  $25
Contact Sue Morra to sign up or if you have any questions:  814 472-3321.

Mt Storm - Nov 11 & 25
Nov. 11th  - contact Barb Wyland (344-8081) if you have any questions
Meeting at Ames in Ebensburg at 8a.m., Galleria (Boscov parking lot) at approximately
8:30a.m., approximate arrival at Mt. Storm 11a.m.
Nov 25th – contact Rick Paige (693-1705) if you have any questions
Meeting at Denny’s in Altoona at 8:30.m.

New Years Day Dive - 1:00 at the Blue Hole Quarry

January Board meeting, Thursday Jan 11th – We will be working on the 2001 calendar - bring any events you would like posted or notify officers of any upcoming events.

January 27, Belize on the Nekton Pilot.  Contact Donna Bender if interested. (472-9796)

Dan Ascent rate Study - Feb 9th, 2001 – contact Donna Bender if interested. (472-9796)

Morehead City, North Carolina, June 2-3.  We will begin taking reservations in January.
$140 deposit for two days of boat diving.  Trip may extend to three days of diving.  Cost will be adjusted if this occurs.

Cozumel - Dec 2-9, 2001.  Approx $1200.  7 days, includes meals, airfare and 5 days of 2 tank boat diving.  Contact Dee Montgomery   944-8521

TRIP REPORTS

Halloween Haunted House party at Donna’s on October 14th –By Barb Wyland.  Trips to The Shadow Box Haunted House and Seldom Seen Haunted Mine were enjoyed by all.  Good food, good company – it was a BOOtiful evening.

Nov 21st - MS Ghost Town Trail Ride 2000 – A successful 24 miles was completed by Lois Keegan and Donna Bender.  We managed to raise over $500 for MS – many thanks to those who contributed. The weather was beautiful and the wind gods cooperated to get us to our final destination – Joe Gordon’s cabin on the Rexis Branch of the Ghost Town Trail.  We were greeted there with steaming bowls of homemade chicken soup, chili and homemade bread – all made in the outside oven/stove built by Joe.  Many thanks to Joe and Karen for their hospitality and Randy the cook for his homemade noodles, soup and bread.

Nov 21st - Lobster Fest Tailgate at Happy Valley – Nelda Donnelly reported a “first” of having lobster for breakfast.  Fixins and lobster were great!  A little discrepancy over the flag of the day – lobster or crab - but I think Nelda won.

Nov 28th, Halloween Dive at the Blue Hole Quarry – Denny Beecher reported approximately 37 people, 14 divers, outside temperatures in the 60’s, water temperature 54 degrees, with visibility about 20’.  Congratulations to Dave Knepper, winner of the $100 gift certificate.  Eleven pots of chili greeted the chilly divers après dive, with many delicious accompaniments provided.  Marlene Rumbaugh’s Rip Roarin’ Chili was the winner of the 2000 Chili Cookoff.
Marlene’s name will join other esteemed chili cookers of the past on the plaque displayed at Maurer’s Dive Shop.

Baltimore Aquarium, Mark Hooper, Donna Bender and Sherwood.  Donna and Sherwood accompanied Mark on one of his bi-weekly trips to the aquarium.  Sherwood was able to dive several times with Mark.  He (Sherwood) reported wonderful diving in the aquarium, despite a dangerous ray encounter and dry suit failure.  (See pictures in his album)  Donna was included in the dolphin encounter and was awarded a certificate for her efforts.  If anyone is interested in joining Mark on one of his trips, please contact him.  (942-6666)

Red Sea, Sept 28th through October 10th, Jim and Sandy Smith.  A whirlwind tour of Cairo including the pyramids and a camel ride was followed by 7 days of diving aboard the Wild Cat with 12 other divers on the Red Sea.  Sandy reported water temperatures of 80 degrees and 100’ visibility.  There were many wrecks to explore and an abundance of marine life, including Spanish Dancers, lion fish, white tip sharks and turtles.  Jim responded to an accident while diving.  A diver was hit by a zodiak – cutting her inflator hose and knocking her unconscious.  Jim witnessed the hit and brought the unconscious diver to the surface.  Thanks to your quick thinking, Jim, a serious diving accident resulted in a happy ending.

PRESENTATION
Dan Kelly presented the 4F (Free Fallin’ Fin Fetcher) Award to Denny Beecher.  Dan is forevcer in debt to Denny for fetching the falling fin and being able to complete their dive.

PBS SPECIAL:
Hitler’s Lost Sub, Episode #2712
Professional diver John Chatterton discovers a sunken World War II German U-Boat located near the New Jersey shore.  PBS,  Nov 14th, 8p.m.  Also shown on Nov. 19th, 1a.m.

Door Prize:  Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving CD, won by Sherry Skebeck.

Daybook:  $109, won by Dianne Malloy

Meeting was adjourned.

I Don’t Know Nothing!
Please let me know of any events or diving milestones you have made.  Birthdays, anniversaries, 100th dive?   Call me, we’ll talk.  Lois@TechniqueSystems.com or 814 472-0774.

Board Meeting, Nov. 9th, 7:30p.m., Maurer Dive Shop
Attendees:  Barb Wyland, Ron Peterson, Dan & Diane Turcovsky, Lance Marks, Rick & Julie Paige, Joe Gordon, Sandy Beecher, Lois Keegan, Donna Bender and Bert Sharbaugh.

Re-Ups to Laurel Divers:  Ken Ponczek, Merritt Schultz and Andy Ropp.

New member applications approved at the October Board Meeting::
Autumn Smith, certified October, 2000, Maurer Dive Shop
Nick Weakland, certified October 2000, Maurer Dive Shop

Discussion regarding informational letter to be sent with new member applications.  Draft was reviewed and approved.

Discussion regarding setting date for next year’s Christmas party.  Donna Bender will attend to with December 1st as first choice, December 8th as second choice.

Donna Bender will make ballots for the Board Member election at the Christmas Party.  Donna was chosen for this arduous task because she has shown us in the past that she can take a project and see it through to the end.  Thank you Donna.  And please, no butterfly ballots.

We thought we might let you guys know what delectable delights you are missing when you choose not to attend a Board Meeting.  By posting the Board Meeting Menu (BMM), perhaps we can entice more people to stop by and share their ideas.  November’s BMM:  Creamy Cherry Cheesecake (to die for) made by Chef Lance, Spicy Gingerbread Loaf layered with a light and fluffy cream cheese filling from Chez Turcovsky, fresh royal apple slices and the Queen’s special caramel dip by (who else?) Barb.  There was also popcorn to snack on and steaming cups of hot coffee and sodas.  See what you’re missing?  You might want to consider attending a board meeting next month.  Bring your appetite and ideas along.

A note from Sherwood:
Please note:  I apologize but due to the volume of correspondence, I will be unable to answer all your letters in one column.  Please be patient and I will try to get to all your diving questions.  By the by – my email was done for approximately two weeks in October.  My regrets to those who tried to get through via email and could not.
Thought I would take a moment to wish a hearty and thankful blessing to you and yours in anticipation of this Thanksgiving holiday.  It’s important for us to remember all that we have to be thankful for and remember your bear buddies during the holidays.  Most of you may not be aware that I have not had any holiday invitations as of this date.  If you would like me to come to your Thanksgiving celebration, let me know.  In other words, for those that don’t seem to get my subtle hints -  I want an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with someone!  I love stuffing!  I love pumpkin pie!  I like to eat as much as the next bear!  Please, remember your furry pal when making out your invitations, okay?  I would be more than happy to give thanks with my fellow divers.
So, in the spirit of this Thanksgiving season, I am pawsitively and thankfully yours,
Sherwood.

Dear Sherwood:

If by chance sport divers meet a technical diver out in public, how many times should the sport divers prostrate themselves before the technical diver?  Would five times be sufficient?
Signed, Accurate in Etiquette

Dear Accurate:
Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth on the world’s oceans newly certified divers conceived in salt and fresh water and dedicated to the proposition that ALL DIVERS ARE CREATED EQUAL.  Be it SSI or PADI, NAUI or IANTD,  we are all divers under the water.  There should be no prostrating or subservience, except in out of air emergencies, where air is shared and the outcome is good, gold is primarily the pay back of choice.