The Laurel Divers board meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month, please check calendar for location.  All Laurel Divers are invited to attend.

The September 2002 board meeting was held Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at Maurer’s Dive Shop in Carrolltown.  Among those in attendance were Brad McVicker, Matt McVicker, Joe Gordon, Bert Sharbaugh, Dan Turcovsky, Diane Turcovsky, Lois Keegan, Ron Peterson, Donna Bender, Sandy Beecher (and baby Brandon), Chuck Zupon, Rick Paige, and Julie Paige.

The board meeting was called to order by President Brad McVicker.

Joe Gordon, Vice President, will be acting on Brad’s behalf at upcoming meetings, due to a family emergency.

Reminder that applications for membership to Laurel Divers will be held until diver certification on all divers currently enrolled in open water classes.  We will hold the application for approval until the student completes the open water dives at checkouts.

Diane Turcovsky would like to remind all persons ordering Laurel Diver hats that the hats are in and can be picked up.  Seven hats were ordered.  Those people ordering hats need to be present at the club meeting to pick up the hats.

The board has approved the purchase of a monument in honor of the late Mark Hooper, reading “So Much Ocean, So Little Time,” to be placed in the Blue Hole Q*****.  The cost is $125.00.

The Altoona Mirror recently published an article on Dr. Sue Morra, club member, who was selected nationwide from a pool of applicants as First Faculty Fellow, the Institute for Experimental Learning, an internship program linking students in the D.C. metropolis area with learning experiences in both governmental and nongovernmental positions.  Also in the Mirror was an article relating the adventures of a recent excursion to the Galapagos Islands by Dr. Morra and her students from St. Francis University.  The group traveled to Galapagos on Spring Break this past March.  The group provided a wonderful presentation of the trip at a club meeting a few months ago.   The articles can be found in The Altoona Mirror, Sunday, September 22, 2002 and Tuesday, September 24, 2002, respectively.

The Laurel Divers board is directing Ron Peterson, the current treasurer, to open a checking account in the name of Laurel Divers with the EIN 32-0032756 at Ameriserv Financial.  The opening funds of this account will be a check from the Bob Maurer/Laurel Divers account at the same bank; that check will close that account.

The meeting was called to order by Joe Gordon, acting in place of President Brad McVicker, absent due to family illness.

Treasurer’s report was read $308.00 in income, $466.89 in expenses, $3223.22 balance noted in account, which balanced with the bank’s numbers September 30, 2002.

The membership list currently stands at 92 members.  A new membership listing was sent out.  If you did not received a copy please notify Ron Peterson (Ron@LaurelDivers.com) or (814) 472- 2144.

Welcome new diver Mary Green.

Upcoming Events

******************************************************************************Maurer’s Dive Shop will be closed from October 17, 2002 through the end of October.  Bob urges all divers to get their equipment early!!!  Bert Sharbaugh can help if you need tanks filled during that time period.  Maurer’s can be reached at (814) 344-6641 while Bert can be reached at diveteach@pennswoods.net or (814) 472-7080.
***************************************

Saturday, October 19, 2002 is the date for a haunted house extravaganza.  Plans are in the works for both the Shadow Box and Seldom Seen Mine haunts.  Although neither was open for last year’s harrowing experience, fun was still had by all.  This year, the club is doing the thrills on a Saturday, and it is believed both sites will be open for thrill seekers.  Members will be meeting at Ron and Lois’s home, and will be returning to Ron and Lois’s afterward for the promised “after festivities” festivities.  If you plan on coming out for this haunting good time, please bring a covered dish/snack for the party.  Plan to be at Ron and Lois’s at 6:00pm to leave for the haunted houses.  Members and guests are invited.  Please notify Ron Peterson if you plan to attend. (Ron@LaurelDivers.com) or (814) 472- 2144.

October 26, 2002 is the annual chili cook off and Halloween Dive at the q*****, weather permitting.  We are adding a cave tour and morning dive to this year’s events.  The morning dive site will be the dock at Seven Points at Raystown.  Contact Denny Beecher at mosskeetoe@aol.com or (814) 472-5776.  The tour will take place at 12 noon, October 26.  Vice President Joe reminds those planning on attending the tour to bring along a hard hat or helmet, at least two flashlights, and some old, old clothes that you won’t mind throwing away after the cave tour.  It is a wet cave, and not suited for a leisurely cave stroll.   Contact Joe Gordon at JoeG123@yahoo.com or (814) 749-9192.  The Halloween Dive will start at 1 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m., with the prize being a $100 Maurer Dive Shop Gift Certificate.  Immediately following the dive will be the chili cook off.  Registration fee is $5.00 per diver for the treasure dive, and you must be registered to partake in the mini treasure dive.  You may register the day of the dive.  No registration is needed for the chili cook off, just a good pot of chili. Don’t worry, if the weather doesn’t permit, we always find somewhere else to go.  Laurel Divers don’t need a specific location to have fun, we just need to get together.  Come out for an evening of socializing.  We dive no matter what the weather.  Dan and Diane Turcovsky have graciously opened their house to those involved if the weather becomes inclement.  The winner of the annual chili cook off has their name enshrined on the chili cook off plaque that adorns the wall in Maurer’s Dive Shop.

Plans are in the works for the now tradition Mount Storm Thanksgiving Dive.  Please contact Denny Beecher at Mosskeetoe@aol.com or (814) 472-5776 for details.

October and November will again be board member nomination months for the upcoming year.  The board member election will be held during the December meeting, held at the Christmas party, see below.  While we will only be nominating four board members, nominations are not limited in number.  Among those nominated at this meeting were Bert Sharbaugh, Dan Turcovsky, Diane Turcovsky, Chuck Zupon, John Augustine, Lois Keegan, Rick Paige, and Denny Beecher.  Again, we will continue nominations at the November Laurel Divers’ meeting and will vote on the Board members at the December meeting.  The newly elected persons will take office in January 2003.

This year’s Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2002 at the Penn Gables in Ebensburg.  Cocktails start at 6:00pm, dinner starts at 7:00pm, music and dancing rounding out the evening from 8-11pm.  We had votes to keep the entrée selections the same (stuffed chicken, stuffed pork chop, lasagna, or baked haddock), but change to green beans and baked potatoes.  What ever your choice of entrée, if you leave hungry, its your own fault.  Please register for the Christmas party and your selection of entrée no later than November 16, 2002.

Willow Springs Trip—date to be decided in near future.  This is a one-day trip also.  We will attempt sign up next month.  Willow Springs is located about ten miles east of Lebanon, PA, just off of Route 422.  Lots of sights and good access to the water are just some of the amenities of this site.  Divers of all experience levels will find Willow Springs worth the trip.

Joe Gordon has some plans in the works for a New Year’s trip.  More information to follow in subsequent newsletters.

Donna Bender is planning a Nekton trip dated February 22, 2003 through March 3, 2003 to the South Bahamas.  Cost is tentatively $1734 PP plus airfare from Pittsburgh.  There will be a 10% discount on the cruise fare if 10 people book.  You must tell them you are with the Bender group to get the discount.  Since this is still early in the ballgame, you could have your choice of rooms.  Also, if you have dove with Nekton before, there is a frequent diver discount of 10%.  A $400 deposit is needed and cancellation fees do apply.  The remainder to the balance would be due 60 days prior to the trip, or by December 24, 2002.  Also, it is reported that if you pay cash by Christmas, you can enjoy an additional 5% discount. To call and book the trip, remember to mention the “Bender group”, call 1-800-899-6753, or log onto http://nektoncruises.com.  For more information, contact Donna Bender at Donna@Bender.net or (814) 472-9796.

A trip is being planned for April 5 through April 12, 2003 to Cozumel.  Details to follow in subsequent newsletters.  For more information, contact De Montgomery at dishjug@charter.net or (814) 944-8521.

A trip is being planned for June 23 and 24, 2003 to Morehead City by Jim Smith.  For more information, contact Jim at jcsdmd1@hotmail.com or (814) 696- 1938.  A second trip is also in the works by Jim Smith and Tim Laurito.  More details to follow, as they become available.

A trip is in the works to Thousand Islands for 2003.  Tentative dates are July 26 and 27, 2003 with Bottom Time Charters.  More information to follow in subsequent newsletters.

Dan and Diane Turcovsky have provided the club with information regarding a dinner and dance on the Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh.  An evening out with friends…more information to follow in subsequent newsletters.

***Please be sure to check the club calendar for other upcoming trips and events.

September 27, 28, and 29, 2002 was a Morehead City trip.   Chuck Zupon gave a brief report of events of the trip.  The Divers dove off Diver Down, in North Carolina.  They did get in some time for sightseeing due to rough seas.   Water conditions included reports of strong current and bad vis one day to a whopping 150 feet of vis in midwater!  At one point, the group put 52 miles on the boat, seven different dive locations, and risked running out of fuel all in search of a compatible dive site for the day.  They did have a rain soaked picnic, but even that didn’t get the divers down (no pun intended).  A good time was had by all.

September 20 through 22, 2002 was a Dutch Springs weekend.  This was a weekend meet-up with the New England Aquarium Dive Club. Dutch Springs is just outside of Bethlehem, PA.  It is a rather large limestone  with plenty of things to see.  This quarry also offers many sites for all levels of diving.  There also is a great wall dive amongst the attractions. You don’t have to dive deep to have fun.  Donna Bender reported on this trip.  The Dutch Springs quarry is notorious for its zebra mussels, who have taken over the quarry.  The mussels do aid the visibility, but cover all the sights.  Donna reported 70-foot vis.  The water level is down about 15 feet, so the entrance platforms are out of the water and the dive sights themselves are at shallower depths.  The traditional surf and turf dinner was enjoyed by all.

Donna also reported on her recent excursion to the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands.  She reported a lot of drift diving due to the currents, but reports sea life abounding.  Reported depths dove were 40 to 60 feet, with wolfeels and the giant pacific octopus among the featured sites.  Sounds like a wonderful place.

Lois Keegan reported on the Raystown Picnic.  Seems Lois and some others had a pseudo-treasure dive.  The prize list is as follows: Lois Keegan-two watches, one of which alarms every morning at 8:20 am.
Joe Gordon-a homemade bracelet, Donna Bender-a T-shirt, hat, bungee cord, and water shoes, and Harve Montgomery-two pennies.  The group reported cold water, but overall, a nice diving experience and get together.

The Open Water class checkouts were on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, 2002 and 8 students certified.

Any questions regarding IDEA certification and qualifications should be directed to Harve Montgomery at dishjug@charter.net or (814) 944-8521.

Happy Anniversary wishes were sung to Rick and Julie Paige as they celebrated four years of marriage.

The next Board Meeting will be Wednesday, October 30, 2002-the last Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm at Off the Rak, in the Ebensburg minimall.

Next regular club meeting will be Thursday, November 7, 2002-first Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the Penn Gables.  Plans are being made for a review of the SSI dive tables at next month’s meeting.

Sharon Skebeck won the Door Prize of a T-shirt donated by Lois Keegan.  The shirt lists the definition of diving, Mark Koenig who was not present at the meeting won the daybook, valued at $80.00.  The funds will be carried over to next month’s meeting.

The meeting adjourned.

Julie Paige