Next Board Meeting:  Wednesday, April 25, 2001, Maurer Dive Shop 7:30p.m.
Next regular Meeting:  Thursday, May 3, 2001, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, 7:30p.m.

MARCH 29, 2001 BOARD MEETING, MAURER DIVE SHOP

Attendees:  Donna Bender, Barb Wyland, Ron Peterson, Joe Gordon, Lois Keegan, Dan & Diane Turcovsky, Bert Sharbaugh, Nelda Donley, Nick Weakland, Autumn Smith

BMM (Board Meeting Menu) consisted of Nelda's now-famous carrot cake, Donna's delectably delightful rhubarb/orange pie, coffee, soda and snack mix.

A TRY SCUBA night will be held on April 11th, 6:30p.m. at the dive shop.  The Board will get advertising out for this event.

A Navigational Dive is tentatively set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 28th at 1p.m.

The new ladder for the quarry is done.  A date will be set for installation.

Regarding the photo wall suggestion by Mark Hooper.  It will be brought up at the next meeting to see if anyone is interested in doing the project.

Donna Bender & Barb Wyland volunteered to go to classes and discuss the dive club.  Joe Gordon will take the June 2nd and 3rd classes, and Dan & Diane Turcovsky June 9th and 10th classes.

Discussion regarding Bud Collier and his offer to host a Family Weekend on his property at Warriors Mark.  To give you an idea of where Warriors Mark is, go north on Route 99 to the end.  Right on Route 350 East, travel 3 miles to Warriors Mark.  We will pass a sign up sheet to see if there is interest.  Tentatively set for September 29th and 30th and christened the "This Bud's for You" Weekend.  Camping, hiking, biking, ATV trails, etc. are available.

The Board reviewed the prize list for the Treasure Dive, made some deletions and added several new items to the prize list.

REGULAR MEETING APRIL 5, 2001, PENN GABLES, EBENSBURG, PA 7:430P.M.

President, Donna Bender, who welcomed everyone to "Jimmy Buffett Night", called meeting to order.

Barb Wyland read treasurer's report.  Income $1068.00, Expenses $2030.22, balance remaining $1822.44.

OLD BUSINESS

Quarry releases and Liability releases need to be signed for 2001.  Please make the effort to get this paperwork completed.  Many thanks for your cooperation.

Fundraiser tickets.  Please return any sold tickets and money.  Sales are going well.  Keep up the good work to make this fundraiser effort a success.

Dues are due by July 5, 2001.
Single or first member increase to $24
Second member increase to $16
Third and forth member increase to $8
**we will continue to pro-rate dues for those members joining mid year.

Calendar - the board met and assembled a calendar of events for 2001.  Copies of the calendar were sent with the March newsletter.  Anyone on the email list will receive a copy via email.  The calendar is also available at LaurelDivers.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 7, 2001 -  1000 Steps, Jack's Mountain, Huntington County.  Meeting at Pinecroft exit off I99 at 10 am.  Drive is about an hour. Meeting in Ebensburg at Penn Gables, 9:20a.m.  Call Donna Bender (814 472-9796) or John Betting  (814 942-1485).

April 11, 2001 at 6:30 pm - Try Scuba night at Maurer's dive shop

April 21, 2001, Annual Easter Dive, Blue Hole Quarry 1p.m.

April 28, 2001, 2nd Annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt at Dutch Springs. Call to Pre-register! (610) 759-2270    See DutchSprings.com for information.

May 19, 2001 - D & R Divers, Make a Wish Treasure Dive - register before 04/08/01 to receive a free t-shirt.  Contact Donna Bender (814 472-9796)  for a registration form.

June 2, 3, 2001.  Moorhead City  (possibly Friday, June 1, also) - taking reservations. $160 for 2 days boat diving.  Additional $80 if diving on Friday.  Rooms will run approximately $74.50 for 3 nights per person.  We will be closing reservations May 1st.   Get your reservation dollars in - this trip fills up fast!  Check out the dive reports at  www.diverdownscubadiving.com

June 16, 17, 2001 - Dutch Springs, PA  camping available Friday and Saturday

August 23, 24, 25, 26, 2001, Niagara River, Denny Beecher (814 472-5776) great shore diving, 20-25' visibility, 2 tank boat dive on Lake Erie on Friday.  $55 for the charter boat.  Two drift dives on Saturday and drift diving Sunday.  5-6 hours travel.  $25 deposit by May 1st.
Camping is $35 per night for campsites, $45/$55 for cabins.

September 1 - 9, 2001, Nova Scotia Dive Trip.  Sylvia MacKinnon (814 237-3261 or SylviaM@psu.edu)  4-5 days of diving.  Approximate cost:  $700 for transportation, diving, food and lodging.

Dec. 2-9, 2001 - Cozumel.  Approximately $1200 for 7days/air/meals/5day 2-tank boat dives.  Contact Dee Montgomery 944-8521.

NEW BUSINESS

There will be a swap meet at the June meeting.  We may have one again in October.  If you have anything you would like to sell, please contact Lois Keegan (814 472-2144 daytime 814 472-0774 evening, or email  Lois@TechniqueSystems.com) and a listing can be printed in the newsletter.

Bob Harvey spoke regarding a Bermuda trip on September 8th through the 15th through Buchanan Travel Agency.  Seven days $895.  Bus leaves Altoona, ship sails out of New York.  Meals are included.  Contact Bob Harvey if interested.  814 695-0275.

A suggestion was made at the March meeting regarding making a photo wall at the dive shop.  Anyone interested in this project, please contact Donna Bender 814 472-9796.

Nominations for officers were opened.  The following have accepted a nomination for the coming year:
President:  Donna Bender
Vice-President:  Barb Wyland, Joe Gordon, Lance Marks, Brad McVicker
Treasurer:  Nelda Donley
Secretary:  Suzie Feighner, Lois Keegan
Nominations will also be taken at the May meeting.  If anyone is interested in an office, please contact the nominations committee:  Lois Keegan (814 472-0774), Diane Turcovsky (814 695-6878), Sandy Beecher (814 472-5776), or Mark Hooper (814 942-6666) if interested.

TRIP REPORTS

Bahamas - Bert Sharbaugh, Nelda Donley, Suzie Feighner, Jim Link and Sherwood.  Bert reported 7 dives, 74-degree water, 80' visibility, an abundance of fish life, rays and sharks.  They were very pleased with the dive operation that they used.  They also did some free diving for lobster and Bert said he may want to train for that before the next trip.

Boston Sea Rovers - the longest running underwater show on earth was attended by Laurel Divers, Ron Peterson, Donna Bender, Jim Carozza, Lois Keegan and Sherwood.  Ron reported the eight-hour trip was worth it for a day of great seminars and perusing the newest dive gear.  Boston Jim met us Saturday morning and navigated us to the Copley Hotel in downtown Boston where we spent they day immersed in underwater thoughts.  After a trip to the Boston Aquarium Sunday morning, the group headed home, into the storm.  Due to the snow, the trip home took 12 hours.  We owe our safe return home to Ron, who, when asked about the long drive, said, "That was the longest video game I ever played."  Thanks again, Jim, for being our Boston connection and tour guide.

Crab night at Morris's Tavern turned out to be more work than relaxation, according to Joe Gordon.  Approximately 16 attended with good food and conversation all around.  Next time, try the shrimp!
 
Penn State, Altoona Campus was host to the Celtic group "Cuillin".  Many thanks to Sylvia for getting tickets for this concert.  Sylvia and Sherwood (in his Laurel Diver Tartan) thanked the group with an offering of Cape Breton beer, which the group accepted with many cheers for their homey, Sylvia!  An après concert party was held at the Belmar Hotel.

Beneath the Seas Dive Expo, in New Jersey, was attended by Diane Turcovsky, Donna Bender, Sherwood, Ron Peterson and Lois Keegan.  Diane reported over 400 exhibitors and many wonderful seminars all day long.  Diane gathered lots of information on dive destinations, which she shared with all attending.  Diane and Donna ventured into the Big Apple for dinner and the theatre Saturday night and the group headed home on Sunday.

A dive trip to Panama City, Florida, was taken in March by Tim Laurito, Adam Weber, Sid and Jim (two senior students from Cambria Heights), Ron Peterson, Barb Wyland, Lois Keegan and Sherwood (where doesn't he get to go?)  Tim Laurito, Principal of Cambria Heights High School and dive instructor, and Cambria Heights Physics teacher, Adam Weber, conducted the trip in conjunction with the Advanced Biology class at Cambria Heights.  The students taped parts of the trip and conducted experiments on several dives.  On their return, they will make a presentation to the school regarding their trip and the results of their experiments.  The trip included Cypress Springs, Vortex Springs, Devil's Den and two days of boat diving in the Gulf.  Barb reported innumerable adventures with special interest in the photos of Ron in the police car.  This really was a D&D (drive and dive) weekend.  The group left Thursday evening, arrived Friday, dove Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and arrived home Wednesday at 2a.m., and back to work Wednesday morning.

Bob Maurer took the floor and thanked all for their cards, letters and prayers.  He is scheduled for surgery on April 18th and we all wish him well.  He wanted all to know that the dive shop will be operating on limited hours, so call and check before stopping over.

MORE NEWS of this meeting (really, if you were there, the meeting went fast)

The club will have representatives present at checkouts this year to act as ground/support crew, to promote the club and gain new members.  Joe Gordon will be at the June 2nd and 3rd checkouts and Dan and Diane Turcovsky and Barb will be at the June 9th and 10th checkouts.  Anyone interested in helping, contact Donna Bender (914 472-9796) for dates available.

Lois Keegan won the door prize, a Laurel Diver patch.
The Day Book was at $94.  Bill Duffield's name was drawn.  He was not present.

No other information pending and since Jimmy didn't show up, the meeting was adjourned.
 
FOR SALE:

Men's 7mm 2 piece wet suit.  Size medium.  $50 or best offer.  Contact Donna Bender 814 472-9796.

(2) Dacor Pacer 900 regulators, each has a double instrument console (air pressure & depth gauge to 150 feet), each regulator has a hose that connects to the BC.  One regulator has an octopus, two storage bags; (4) 80 cu. Ft. aluminum tanks, each with a boot and valve protector; (2) Dacor BC-SL BC's, blue, size large and size medium; Large zippered gear bag;
US Diver's bag with misc. spare parts.
Package price for all above:  $1475
Call Gary Runyon 814 696-7820

Sea Suit 1/4" wet suit, matching gloves, hood, jacket, farmer john, royal blue, size Large, worn twice, $150 or BO
Ocean Pro dive light $15
Arbalete rubber powered spear gun, model DDS, 3 barbs, 28" shaft $35
Dacor 12 gauge 3" magnum bang stick, stainless steel head, never used $95
Dacor deluxe plastic pack for single tank, never used $35
Contact Gary Runyon 814 696-7820

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING!
Tim Laurito made his 680th wreck dive on the Pontoon in Panama City, Florida on March 19, 2001.  Congrats Tim!
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.

DEAR SHERWOOD:
This column is devoted to your dive etiquette questions.  Forward any questions or comments to Sherwood, c/o Laurel Divers/Lois Keegan, 204 Plank Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931, or email at Sherwood@LaurelDivers.com
Dear Sherwood:
My dive buddy and I have a disagreement.  I hope you can help us.  I say that a pressure increase caused by a temperature increase in a scuba tank is due to Charles' Law.  My buddy says it's D. Amonton's Law.  Please settle this for us.  Signed, Tired of disagreeing.
Dear Tired:
Neither of you.  Charles' law states that the volume of a fixed quantity of gas at a constant pressure is proportional to the absolute temperature.  D. Amonton's law simply states that the pressure varies with temperature.  The correct law is Guy-Lussac's law, which states, "The pressure of a fixed quantity and volume of gas is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.
I'm not only a beary cute bear, but beary smart too!
Your beary best dive buddy,
Sherwood