Call to Order:
Donna Reese blew the conch.

Treasurer’s report:
Income $438.00, Expenses $1631.03 ($1400.00 for the Thousand Island Trip), Net -$1193.03, Checkbook balance $2121.47, Trip accrual $0.

Unfinished Business:
1. The new officer roster leaves two vacancies for board members. Mike Miller accepted one of the open positions. It was noted that perhaps board meetings may be conducted in Altoona. Bob Hand accepted the other vacant position.
2. Twenty-nine MTO tickets remain to be sold. They are available for four dollars each; please see Jim or Lori Kerr.
3. Dues were due on July 1st. any unpaid member by the end of August will be dropped from the roster. Letters will be sent out to those who have been dropped from the roster. The current membership stands at forty eight.
4. The audit was reviewed at the Board meeting. The books were reviewed and turned over to Ron Peterson. Anyone who would like to see the financial statement may do so at the meeting.

New Business:
1. Ms. Karen Ryba from St. Francis University attended as a guest.
2. A new baby diver Lindsay Mae was welcomed to the meeting.
3. Joe Gordon announced a day trip for Saturday upcoming to Indiana.
4. Raystown picnic: The boat is leaving at 8:00 a.m. from the pavilion. Weather questions may be directed to Ron.
5. Quarry clean-up will be conducted on September 18th.
6. The Halloween dive will be October 27th at the quarry.
7. The Christmas party is set for December 1, 2007. John Boyer will be the DJ.
8. Key Largo, Florida on January 19, 2008. John Augustine gave an update.
a. Arrive Saturday, January 19th with a two tank dive on Monday to Spiegel grove and a wreck or reef dive in the afternoon.
b. Tuesday will be either a wreck or reef
c. Room rates for all three nights
i. Double occupancy-$155.00 each person
ii. Triple occupancy-$118.00 each person
iii. Quad occupancy-$99.00 each person
d. Diving will be $211.00
e. Tank fills are 9 air @ $68.00 ea person
f. 6 air + three nitrox = $84.00 each person
g. 9 nitrox = $117.00 each person
*A $225.00 deposit must be paid by November 2007 meeting with the balance due on or before the Christmas party. Checks may be made payable to Laurel Divers.
7.  Lois may check into the price of the polo shirts for the next meeting-perhaps there      may be an interest in ordering for the holidays.

Trip Reports:
1. Paul Mock spotted a “monster carp” at the quarry.
2. Ron Peterson reported on the Thousand Island trip. Twelve people went, arriving
on Saturday and started diving on Sunday. The dove the Muskee the first day; a ninety foot dive with good vis. The second dive was the Daria; also a nice dive.
On Monday, the gang dove the Lilly Parson’s three times; the first and second dive were drift dives, and the third dive was past the Lilly Parson’s onward to the end of the island for a forty-five minute drift dive, where they were picked up by the boat. They couldn’t cross to the United States border, so next year the group hopes to be able to dive both Canadian and American sides.
3. A group went to Dutch Springs on Labor Day weekend. Joy Augustine got to try
out her new dry suit on the trip. She made two dives with the new gear. One group member saw two foot long koi at the old pump house, fifteen feet down.
4. Bert helped the thriving metropolis of Commodore, PA with a dam problem He  successfully resolved the problem with the intake to effect repairs on the pump  house. All went well and everyone was happy.

Donna Reese spoke about a bc malfunction that she experienced in Thousand Islands. The bc did not have weights that could be ditched and was wearing steel tanks. Donna, after figuring out the bc would not retain air, she had to pull herself up the dive line, tanks, weights and all. Discussion ensued as to how to handle this problem in the future.

Remember to ask SHERWOOD at Sherwood@laureldivers.com with any diving questions.

Bob Hand won the door prize.

John Augustine won the day book total of $369.00.

Diving the Quarry and Beyond

   We were on a trip in the Bahamas aboard a party boat of about 20 divers. It was the last dive of the day, and everyone was back on board putting their equipment away. The space was limited, and you were rubbing elbows with your neighbor. We all had a very good day of diving, and everyone was in a festive mood. A very large lady called the dive master over, and started to talk to him. You couldn’t help not to hear what they were talking about. She asked him if he would talk to the captain, and ask him to stop the boat for a minute on the way into shore. She explained that she had a seawater collection at home from all over the world from the places that she had dived. She wanted to get a sample of this nice Blue water out here, and some of that nice Green water closer to shore!
   I started to laugh, and the more I thought about it, the more I started to laugh. I had to go up on the bow of the boat with tears rolling down my cheeks, to keep from looking like a fool.
   The dive master never cracked a smile, and said he would get the captain to stop on the way in, which he did. Later on, at the dock when we were unloading our gear, I asked the dive master how he kept a straight face when he was talking to the lady. He said that over the years he had heard and just about all of it, and this was just another day in paradise.

Submitted:
Bert Sharbaugh
Laurel Dive Club secretary