Next Board Meeting:  Wednesday, May 30, 2001, 7:30p.m., Maurer Dive Shop
Next Regular Meeting:  Thursday, June 7, 2001, 7:30p.m., Penn Gables

APRIL 25, 2001, BOARD MEETING, MAURER DIVE SHOP

Attendees:  Donna Bender, Ron Peterson, Rick Paige, Joe Gordon, Sandy & Denny Beecher, Lois Keegan, Nelda Donley, Bert Sharbaugh, Dan & Diane Turcovsky

BMM (Board Meeting Menu):  Gravestone Cupcakes (for Ron’s 50th Birthday!), Kalua and cream, Angel Food Cake.

New Member Applications:  Nicole Walker and Eric Petrunak.  Both will be sent letters regarding completing dives with a club member.

Fundraiser – Approximately 1/3 are turned in.  We will distribute lists to call to get tickets back – either sold or unsold.

Treasure Dive – will have prize list at June meeting. Dan Turcovsky will see to renting tent for Treasure Dive   Foodlist was reviewed and revised.

Memorial Day Dive – we will plan a navigation run.

May 22, 2001, scheduled for Quarry Cleanup at 6p.m.  Bert Sharbaugh will arrange for 5 ton of shale for road repair.

CPR and First Aid – Dan Turcovsky will offer classes.  A sign-up list will be passed at the May meeting.

Donna Bender, Barb Wyland and Lois Keegan will serve as class representatives and go to classes and advise students of club particulars.

Checkouts – Dive club members will be at checkouts as ground support for checkouts.  Joe Gordon and John Augustine will take the June 2, and 3rd classes.  Diane Turcovsky and Barb Wyland will be present for the June 9th and 10th checkouts.

Bud Coyler – “This Bud’s for You Weekend”, tentatively set for Sept 29 and 30th.

Treasurer will send check to start the port-a-johns at the Quarry.

Board Meeting was adjourned.

REGULAR MEETING MAY 3, 2001, PENN GABLES, EBENSBURG, PA 7:430P.M.

President, Donna Bender, called meeting to order.
Barb Wyland read treasurer’s report.  Income $1656.71, Expenses $1360.00, balance remaining $3191.95.

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 ASAP.  Also, any unsold tickets need to be returned by May 25th.
Dues are due by July 5, 2001.
Single or first member $24
Second member $16
Third and forth member $8
**we will continue to pro-rate dues for those members joining mid year.

Treasure Dive Registration - $15.  Dues must be paid in order to register for this event.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 19, 2001 - D & R Divers, Make a Wish Treasure Dive, Elk County State Park
Meeting at Ron Peterson’s (204 Plank Road, Ebensburg) at 6:45a.m., leaving at 7a.m.
Registration is 9a.m. – 11a.m.
Treasure Hunt starts at 12:00
Contact Donna Bender (814 472-9796)

May 20, 2001, World Record Dive-In.  If interested in participating, call Donna (472-9796)

May 22, Quarry Cleanup at the Blue Hole, 6p.m.
Bring lawn mowers, trimmers, shovels, rakes, etc.  Rain date:  May 23rd.  Call Donna (472-9796) or Lois (472-2144) if you have any questions.

May 28, 1p.m. - Memorial Day Dive.  Navigational Dive course will be set up.

June 2, 3, 2001.  Moorhead City  (possibly Friday, June 1, also) - $160 for 2 days boat diving.  Additional $80 if diving on Friday.  Rooms will run $80 for 3 nights per person.  Check out the dive reports at  www.diverdownscubadiving.com   Check with Jim Smith to see if there are any openings or if you are interested in diving on Friday (696-1938).
Leaving 7a.m., Friday, June 1, from Ron Peterson’s house.
 

June 5, 2001 – Swap Meet at the Regular Monthly Meeting, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, 7:30p.m.  See below under “For Sale” for a partial listing of the goodies that will be available.

June 16, 17, 2001 - Dutch Springs, PA  camping available Friday and Saturday.  Leaving Friday after work.  More details to follow.

June 17, 2001, at 2p.m. – Dive In at the Blue Hole Quarry.
The Dive-Ins are open to all newly certified divers and club members.
Come out and spend an enjoyable afternoon diving and making new friends.  Bring your buddy or dive with a group.  Do a tour of the quarry, feed the fish and bring a picnic lunch and some lawn chairs.
Need equipment?  Maurer Dive Shop has a special package - $25 for the day.  Contact Bob or Rose to reserve your gear and tanks now.  Don’t wait till the last minute!
Divers will be meeting at the Donut Shop in Hollidaysburg and leaving for the quarry promptly at 1p.m.  See other dates below.

June 24, Stress and Rescue with SSI Instructor, Harve Montgomery.  $60 + course manual.  Lunch is provided.  See Rose Maurer if interested. (344-6641)

July 20, 2001, Erection Party at the Quarry – Friday evening.  (by the way – that’s tent erection)

July 21, 2001, Pre-Treasure Dive Party “On the Rocks”.  Bring you camper or tent and spend a night “with your friends”.

July 22, Treasure Dive, Blue Hole Quarry.   Registration fee of $15 must be in by July 12, 2001.  Register in at noon, and dive from 1p.m. to 5p.m.  Covered dish – club provides hamburgers/hot dogs and buns.  Sign up for a duty and a food item.
August 11 & 12, Deep Diving, Bainbridge, with SSI Instructor, Harve Montgomery.  $60 + course manual.  Lunch is provided.  See Rose Maurer if interested. (344-6641)

August 19, Navigation/Night/Limited Vis with SSI Instructor, Harve Montgomery.  $60 + course manual.  Lunch is provided.  See Rose Maurer if interested. (344-6641)

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.  $35 deposit by May 30th.
Camping is $35 per night for campsites, $45/$55 for cabins.

August 26, 2001, at 2p.m. – Dive In at the Blue Hole Quarry.
The Dive-Ins are open to all newly certified divers and club members.
Come out and spend an enjoyable afternoon diving and making new friends.  Bring your buddy or dive with a group.  Do a tour of the quarry, feed the fish and bring a picnic lunch and some lawn chairs.

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.

September 9, Stress & Rescue with SSI Instructor, Harve Montgomery.  $60 + course manual.  Lunch is provided.  See Rose Maurer if interested. (344-6641)

October 13, 2001, 2p.m. – Dive In at the Blue Hole Quarry
The Dive-Ins are open to all newly certified divers and club members.
Come out and spend an enjoyable afternoon diving and making new friends.  Bring your buddy or dive with a group.  Do a tour of the quarry, feed the fish and bring a picnic lunch and some lawn chairs

October 28, Stress and Rescue with SSI Instructor, Harve Montgomery.  $60 + course manual.  Lunch is provided.  See Rose Maurer if interested. (344-6641)

Dec. 2-9, 2001 – Cozumel.  Approximately $1200 for 7days/air/meals/5day 2-tank boat dives.  (7) nights, (5) days of two-tank boat diving plus unlimited day or night shore diving.  All meals are included.  Cost:  $705 per person (double occupancy) with our 10% discount. To qualify for the 10% discount, $100 deposit must be paid by May 9, 2001.  Flight from Pittsburgh International from $628 to $650 per person.  Passport or birth certificate with raised seal and photo id are required.  Call Dee Montgomery for more details 814 944-8521.

NEW BUSINESS

CPR/First Aid course - Dan Turcovsky will offer.  6-hour course, $30, details to follow.

Officer Elections – nominations are as follows:
President  - Donna Bender
Vice President – Barb Wyland, Joe Gordon, Brad McVicker, Lance Marks
Secretary – Lois Keegan, Sue Feighner
Treasurer - Nelda Donley

TRIP REPORTS

1000 Steps, Dan Turcovsky.  Dan reported a good showing of Laurel Divers to climb the 1000 steps at the Gannister Rock Quarry near Huntington.  The view was breathtaking and their legs were rubber.

Try Scuba, April 16th, Bert Sharbaugh.  Approximately 20 people showed up for the Try Scuba night.  A good turnout, resulting in record-size classes this year.  There are currently 13 enrolled in the Saturday Open Water classes and 11 in the Tuesday night class, keeping Bert one busy fella.

Easter Dive, Saturday, Saturday, April, 28th, by Ron Peterson.  Ron reported approximately 8 divers.  Temperatures between 40-41 degrees.  Harve Montgomery celebrated his 900th dive.  Congrats Harve!

Bainbridge Trip, John Augustine.  John spoke of his recent trip to Bainbridge and reported regarding the advantages of having a pony bottle.  During a 68’ dive, John’s regulator free-flowed, nixing the dive.  A safe ascent was made with a pony bottle.  There’s no doubt that alternate air is a good idea and safety skills should be second nature.  You may want to add a pony bottle to your birthday or Christmas list.  And we’re glad this one had a happy ending!

OTHER BUSINESS

Just a reminder to call the dive shop and get your reservations in early for equipment.  It’s going to be a busy summer!

Door Prize – BC hanger, Arlene McCully
Daybook - $129, Alice Shingle, not present

Meeting was adjourned.
 
FOR SALE:

Underwater Camera Package:  Nikonos III 35mm lens, oceanic 2000 strobe, ikelite viewfinder, sekonic light meter, ikelite handle.  Jim Hostetler 814 472-5456

Medium BC $25; Medium female shorty $10; Medium-small wetsuit $10. JoeG123@yahoo.com

Men’s 2 piece 7mm farmer john wet suit, size medium, $50 or best offer; XL soft weight belt, black $10 OBO; Magnetic slate $5.  Contact Donna Bender 814 472-9796.

50-watt dive light, 2 sets of batteries with extras.  $285  Bill Kimmick 814 288-3888

(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 ¼” 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!
Have Montgomery’s 900th dive was celebrated at the Easter Dive at the Blue Hole.  Here’s to another 900 Harve!
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:
I’m thinking of moving.  I’m going to be limited on what I can take with me.  Should I take my dive gear?  Signed, Too Much Stuff
Dear Too Much Stuff:
Of course you should take your dive gear!  You never know when a dive situation will come up and you should always be prepared.  Go through your stuff and leave behind the unnecessary- prioritize and pare down and you will find room.  Just think of your dive gear as double duty – a dry suit can serve just as well as a power suit.  And a mask and snorkel can be prize-winning costume at the office Halloween party.  Think about it.  I’m sure you’ll come up with even more ideas.
Your beary best dive buddy,
Sherwood