Next Board Meeting:  Mar. 27,  2002, 7:30p.m., Old Farm Inn, Carrolltown 344-8343
Next Regular Meeting:  April 4, 2002, 7:30p.m., Penn Gables, Ebensburg

REMINDERS

FUND RAISER TICKETS – please return by May 13th.  This is our only fundraiser of the year and we need your support.  Thanks in advance for getting your tickets and money in!

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

DUES.  Club dues are due by July 5th each year.
Single, or first member $24 Second member $16
Third or fourth member $8 **We will continue to pro-rate dues for those members joining mid-year. If dues are not paid by September 5th, you will be dropped from the mailing

Laurel Diver hats are available.  Those of you who ordered must pay $13.00 in order to have your hat made.  Contact Diane Turcovsky 814-695-6878.

Laurel Diver patches are available for $10.  See Nelda Donley, treasurer.

Mark Hooper stories:  Any Laurel Divers who have written a story about Mark Hooper for the booklet we are assembling are reminded that these are to be submitted by March 31, 2001.

The meeting was called to order by VP, Joe Gordon.

Nelda Donley, Treasurer, read the Treasurer’s Report.  Income:  $725.00;  Expenses: $277.64; with a balance in the account of $3126.11.

New Member Tom Skebeck, certified May, 2001, with Harvey Montgomery and Maurer Dive Shop.  Welcome to Laurel Divers, Tom.

Fundraiser tickets.  Payout is $100 a day for 5 days in May.  Please return tickets and monies by May 13th.

Open Water Certification Checkouts.  We need Laurel Divers to sign up to appear at checkouts to offer assistance, coffee, hot cocoa , swap stories, offer moral support to newbies and pass out membership applications.  Any food items that are purchased for this event will be reimbursed if receipts are presented.  Dates for checkouts are June 1 & 2, June 8 & 9, August 3 & 4, October 5 & 6.  Please call Brad McVicker if interested.  (814 255-1791)

It was voted and approved to contribute $100 to Make-A-Wish via the D&R Divers Make a Wish Treasure Dive.  This contribution will list Laurel Divers on the event t-shirt.

March  16, 2002, 1-4p.m., Galactic Ice, Ice-skating party.  Cost is $5.50 for admission and $1.50 for skate rentals.  Dinner following skating.

March 20, 2002, 6:30 – 8:30p.m., Try Scuba Night, Maurer Dive Shop

March 23, 24, 2002, Beneath the Sea Dive Expo at the Meadowlands Expo Center, Secaucus, New Jersey.  www.BeneathTheSea.org
Leaving Friday, March 22, after work.  Call Lois Keegan for details (814 472-2144 day, 472-0774 evenings)

April 6, 2002, Easter Dive, 1p.m., Q*****.

April 9, 2002, Supper at Morris’s Tavern, Sidman  6p.m.

April 13, 2002, Open Water Certification Classes  start.
Checkouts on June 1 & 2, and June 8 & 9.  If interested, call Rose Maurer 814 344-6641.

May 11 & 12, 2002, Moorhead City.  $80 per day for two-tank boat dives.
Contact Jim Smith (814 696-1938) or jcsdmd1@hotmail.com

May 17, 2002, spelunking at the Q*****.  Contact Bert Sharbaugh (814 472-7080) for details.

May 18, 2002 - D & R Divers, Make a Wish Treasure Dive, Elk County State Park
Meeting at Ron Peterson’s (204 Plank Road, Ebensburg) at 6:30a.m., leaving at 7a.m.
Registration is 9a.m. – 11a.m.
Treasure Hunt starts at 12:00.  Registration fee $25.  Registration forms are available at DRDivers.com or call Lois (814 42-0774)
Contact Ron Peterson  (814 472-2144 day, 472-0774 evening)

May 21, 2002 Q***** Cleanup  6p.m.   Rain date:  May 22, 2002, 6p.m. Bring lawn mowers, trimmers, etc.  Call Ron Peterson (814 472-2144 day, evening 472-0774 evenings)

May 24, 2002, EOFND at the Q*****.  First EOFND of the year.  Start your weekend right – dive with friends at the q*****.  Check your calendar for other EOFND’s.

May 25, 1p.m. - Memorial Day Dive.

June 8 – 15, 2002, Bonaire.  Airfare $694.50, dive package $691, 7 nights, 6 days of 1 tank boat diving, unlimited shore diving, and buffet breakfast.  Pricing is based on 4 people per two-bedroom cottage.  $100 deposit required.  Contact Ron Peterson if interested (814 472-2144) or Ron@TechniqueSystems.com

June 9, 2002, Dive In 1p.m. at the Q*****
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 q*****, 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!

June 15th, 2002, Open Water Certification classes.  Checkouts on August 3 and 4.  For more details, call Rose Maurer 814 344-6641

June 28, 29, 30, 2002, Moorhead City.  $255 for three days of two-tank boat diving.  Lodging approximately $25 per  night.  $100 deposit by February 1st.  to hold your spot.  Balance of $125 due by April 29th.  Questions, contact Jim Smith (814 696-1938) or jcsdmd1@hotmail.com

July 3rd – Bonaire.  Contact Rich Shea (814 948-7605)

July 5, 6 and 7, 2002 - Dutch Springs, PA  camping available Friday and Saturday.  Leaving Friday after work.  More details to follow.  Contact Brad McVicker (814 255-1791)

July 11, 2002, Regular Monthly Meeting, 7:30p.m., Penn Gables, Ebensburg.  July meeting moved to this date because of July 4th.

July 21, 2002, Laurel Diver’s Treasure Dive.

July 27, 2002,  Bainbridge.  Day trip to Bainbridge, PA

August 10, 2002, Open Water Certification Classes.  Checkouts on October 5 and 6.  For details, call Rose Maurer 814 344-6641

August 17, 2002, Willow Springs, PA  Day trip.

October 12, 1p.m., Dive In at the Q*****
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 q*****, 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!

November 9-16, 2002, Bonaire.  $691 for a cabin for 4, plus airfare.  Contact  Dee Montgomery (814 944-8521).

2003 – Nekton Pilot – still in the planning stages, but this is a trip to save for!  Contact Donna Bender with any questions (814-934-9438) or Donna@Bender.net

Ron Peterson recently traveled south to North Myrtle Beach with Tim Laurito and some advanced biology students.  Ron reported 30-35 foot vis, 56-60 degree water.  The group dove two WWII wrecks, the Composite and the Hebe.

Barb Wyland reported a good time at the recent Pool Party at Maurer Dive Shop.  All who attended were treated to a night of swimming, good food, and, as always, good company.

Laurel Divers came away champions this year at the Annual Scuba Olympics held at St. Francis University.  Bert Sharbaugh reported approximately 16 Laurel Divers attended, making three teams of 5 people each.  St. Francis University had two teams of 5 each.  The evening included events such as underwater bowling, hockey puck relays, equipment exchange relays and a penny toss.  A three-way tie resulted, with Laurel Divers the victor in the tie-breaking one-fin relay.  Congrats to all attending.

Barb Wyland, Dan Kelly, Bert Sharbaugh and Denise Horne were recently at the Northern Cambria High School pool on Thursday, March 1, 2002, assisting with science experiments conducted by Northern Cambria, Penn Cambria, Cambria Heights and Harmony students.

Bob Allen suggested getting a group together to go skydiving.  Cost is approximately $160 for tandem diving.  Anyone interested should contact Bob at (814 472-6679)

The door prize, a Z-knife, was won by Rick Paige.
Day Book $80.75, was won by John Castle, who was not present.  Monies will carry over to next month.

Meeting was adjourned.
Swap meet following meeting.

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

Congratulations go out to Matt McVicker, who received a first place in District Competition in the 200im.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD MAN to Bert Sharbaugh who celebrated the big 50 on March 1st.

March 7th, Happy Birthday Denny Beecher

On May 12th or 16th, congrats go out to Joe and Karen Gordon.  Joe says it’s their anniversary one of those days.  Not sure on how many years, but Joe is sure they’ve been happy ones.
Congratulations also to Joe and Karen Gordon, proud grandparents of new twin baby boys.

Let me know of any events of diving milestones you have made.  Birthdays, anniversaries, 100th dive?  Call me, we’ll talk.  Lois@TechniqueSystems.com or (814 472-0774)