Attendees:  Joe Gordon, Donna Bender, Dan Turcovsky, Diane Turcovsky, Denny Beecher, Bert Sharbaugh, Ron Peterson and Lois Keegan.  The meeting was called to order by Vice President, Joe Gordon.  The Board finalized the following for the Christmas Party:  prize list, .  Donna Bender will sell the 50-50 tickets, a check for $75 will be issued for DJ services and Lois Keegan will print ballots for the Board election.    Calendar planning will begin in January.  Any trip information should be submitted to any officer or Board member.  The meeting was adjourned by VP, Joe Gordon

Diane Turcovsky would like to remind all persons ordering Laurel Diver hats that the hats are in and can be picked up.  See Diane at a meeting or call 814 695-6878.
 

VP Joe Gordon opened the meeting with a note from our President, Brad McVicker.  Joe will be sitting in for Brad as needed.  Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Brad and his family during a family illness.

Treasurer, Ron Peterson, gave the Treasurer’s report.  Income $270.75; expenses $257.43, balance $3212.54, November 11, 2002.   The membership list currently stands at 93.  Rose Maurer made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.

Christmas Party, December 7, 2002, Penn Gables Restaurant, Ebensburg, PA  Cocktails at 6pm., dinner at 7p.m., followed by DJ music by those Magical Macho McVicker Men for an evening of dancing, jocularity and benevolent fraternization.  Dinner choices are stuffed chicken breast, stuffed pork chop or lasagna, $12.75 or baked haddock $15.  Salad, side dish and desert are included with your dinner.  See Ron Peterson to make your reservations.  (814 472-2144 or Ron@LaurelDivers.com)  Deadline for reservations:  November 18, 2002.

The prize list for the Christmas Party includes the following:  (1) $50 Maurer Dive Shop gift certificate; (2) $25 Maurer Dive Shop gift certificates; Dive flag logo mugs; dive knife; dive scissors; (6) Christmas ornaments (donated and made by Donna Bender – Thanks Donna!).  Non-diver guests will have a chance to win  (3) $10 Walmart gift certificates.

Board Member election will take place at the Christmas Party.  Four Board member seats will be voted on.  Those nominated include:  Bert Sharbaugh, Dan Turcovsky, Diane Turcovsky, Chuck Zupon, John Augustine, Lois Keegan, Rick Paige, and Denny Beecher.  The new Board Members will take office January 1, 2003.

Dan Turcovsky reported on the Halloween Dive that took place on October 26 2002, at the Q*****.  Ten divers registered for the Treasure Dive.  Donna Bender won the $100 prize.  Due to the cold, the group retreated to the indoors at Dan & Diane Turcovsky’s for the chili cook-off.  There were five delicious entries for the annual chili cook-off:  Rick Paige, Diane Turcovsky, Denny Beecher, Donna Bender and Debbie Hommer.  Donna Bender’s lucky day continued as she won the chili cook-off for 2002.
Donna has sent along a photo of “Shirtless Guys” from the chili cook-off.

I think you had to be there…

Spelunking at the Blue Hole was cancelled due to the early hibernation of the bats that inhabit the cave.

A mini-treasure dive took place the morning of the Halloween Dive at Raystown, Seven Points Marina.  Diving for lost treasure was Greg Lilly, Denny Beecher, Joe Gordon and Ron Peterson.  The group reported vis at 10-15’ and booty including a deck chair, a telescoping brush, a Christmas tree, lots of bungies, a fishing pole, a nautical candle holder, and a money holder with a cache of $6.70.

John Augustine recently made a trip to Atlanta and toured Stone Mountain which he compared to our Thousand Steps.  John also visited CNN headquarters, Habitat for Humanity offices and Robin’s Air Force Base.

Bob and Rose Maurer were “On the Road Again”, putting on 5,200 miles to attend this year’s DEMA show in Las Vegas (or Los Wages, as Bob calls it),  Nevada.  Luckily, they were able to combine the trip with a visit to their daughter in Phoenix.
 

Wednesday, Nov 20th, 7:00pm, Penn State University, 141 Computer Building
Dr. Charlie Howsare, Director of Occupational Medicine at Penn State, will speak on the following:  Risk and Probability of Decompression Sickness Comparing Dive Tables versus Dive Computers: Data from Project Dive Exploration

Mount Storm Thanksgiving Dive, Saturday, November 30, 2002.  Meeting at Penn Gables, Ebensburg.  This high altitude dive has become an annual event for Laurel Divers.  Please contact Denny Beecher at Mosskeetoe@aol.com or (814) 472-5776 for details.

Christmas Party, December 7, 2002, Penn Gables Restaurant, Ebensburg, PA  Cocktails at 6pm., dinner at 7p.m.  See previous paragraph on page one for details.

December 26, 2002 through January 1,2,3, 2003., Florida Keys with the Nittany Divers.  $195 includes 3 days of two-tank boat diving.  Camping expenses and food are separate.  Contact Sylvia MacKinnon 814 237-3261 or SylviaM@psa.edu or see the web site www.clubs.psu.edu/nittanydivers/keys_trip.html
 

Feb 22, 2003 through March 3, 23003, Nekton, Southern 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.

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.

June 23 and 24, 2003, 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.

Willow Springs Trip—date to be decided in near future.  This is a one-day trip also.  Willow Springs is located about ten miles east of Lebanon, PA, just off of Route 422.  Details to follow.  Great site for divers of all levels.

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.

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

IN THE NEWS…

Congradulation to Laurel Diver, Karl Bonsell, who completed his PADI Open Water Instructor exam on October 20, 2002, at Dutch Springs, PA, with Sue Morra and Shelly Kirkpatrick.

Welcome, Jeff and Wendy Kirsch, who have submitted applications for membership.

The next Board Meeting will be Tuesday, November 26, 7:30p.m., Maurer Dive Shop, Carrolltwon, PA.

Next regular club meeting will be the Christmas Party, December 7, 2002, starting at 6p.m.,  Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA.

Day Book $101, Heather Agosta, not present.
Door Prize, a hanger and sea drops, won by Bob Allen.

And with no further business, the meeting was adjourned by VP, Joe Gordon.

Signing off,
Lois Keegan, sitting in for Julie Paige (who is working one hectic schedule and could not be at this meeting)