Next Board Meeting: July 20, 2003, at the Q....., before the Treasure Dive.

Next Regular Meeting: August 7, 2003, 7:30pm Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

Board Meeting, Ron Peterson’s house.

Attending:  Donna Bender, Nelda Donley, Denny & Sandy Beecher, Lois Keegan, Ron Peterson

Menu:  Pizza and the most wonderful chocolate cake with peanut butter icing you have ever tasted!

BUSINESS:

The Treasure Dive prize list was reviewed by the Board. Past treasure dives were averaging about $30 per diver. This year’s average cost per diver is $34.

The Board decided to publish the TDR’s (Treasure Dive Rules) in the newsletter. Duties of dive officials were also discussed.

A discussion ensued regarding a password on the Laurel Diver’s email to discourage use by email robots. Any member that does not want their information posted on the Laurel Diver web page should notify an officer.

July 10, 2003, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

Joe Gordon brought the meeting to order with a mighty blow on the royal conch. A presidential decree was made, stating that from hence forth all Laurel Diver meetings shall be called to order by the mighty conch. Joe made the official passing of said conch to future president Donna Bender, giving her the royal conch and the royal conch carrying case, to ensure that it will remain safe from harm.

Ron Peterson read the Treasurer’s Report:  Total Income: $874.00; Total Expenses: $ 299.86; Total Checkbook balance: $4324.42.

TRIP REPORTS:

Greg Lilly reported on his trip to Morehead City. He had a great time and was very impressed with the amount of life, especially the sharks! Greg also got to see some rays as well

Barb Wyland went diving in Glendale, and has now experienced her first no visibility dive. She was there with students for a navigation class; they had a good time and reported no lost students! The water temperature was about 64.

John Augustine also went diving in Glendale, to do a key recovery, and enthusiastically agreed with Barb’s report on the visibility. (The key recovery was successful!)

Mike Miller went to Dutch Springs; he reported about 60’ visibility and the best diving in PA.

Mike also reported that the q..... is starting to clear and warm up! Let’s hope for 60’ vis for the treasure dive!! (Think positively!)

BUSINESS:

The Treasure Dive is quickly approaching; any member that has paid their dues and has not registered for the dive needs to contact Ron Peterson as soon as possible because the cut off date for registration is the week prior to the dive. The fee for the dive is $15. The average prize amount this year is $34, with excellent top prizes such as a Blizzard regulator or an 80 cu. ft. tank. The dive will be starting at 1 on Sunday, July 20.

The sign-up sheet for the Treasure dive was passed around for everyone to pick a duty and food. If you weren’t able to sign up we will call you and give you a duty. Donna read the rules for the Treasure Dive, which will be posted at the q......

Check out chums are needed for August 9&10, anyone who would like to come to help new divers and represent the club is welcome! Please bring refreshments for the divers. Any expenses incurred will be refunded by the club.

A meeting was held after the club’s meeting for all those that are going on the 1,000 Islands trip, if you were not at the meeting and are going on the trip please contact Donna Bender.

Nominations to fill the vacant seat on the board were taken; Joe Gordon was nominated and approved for the position.

The club would like send get well wishes to Larry McCulley and Judy Kaufmann, the owner of the Q.....; who were both recently in the hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.

Ron needs all those that are going on the 1,000 Islands trip to please have all payments to him by the 20th. The trip is now totally full.

UPCOMING TRIPS/EVENTS:

July 18-20, 2003, Treasure Dive Weekend, the 18th will be an EOFND (every other Friday night dive) and the tent set-up party, anyone is welcome to attend, bring a sledgehammer! The 19th is diving and a a party Saturday night.  The 20th will be the treasure dive! It will be starting at 1 pm.

July 26, 2003, Indian River Inlet, $85 for 2 tank dive, for more information contact Ron Peterson, Ron@LaurelDivers.com.

July 26, 2003, Yellow Creek, Joe Gordon is organizing a trip to repair the swimming area ropes, possibly do a little treasure diving, and tulle around the lake. If interested meet at Penn Gables and 8:00 and Joe recommends bringing two tanks.

August 1, 15 & 29, 2003, EOFND, if you’re interested in diving, festivities start at 7pm. It is recommended that you bring a buddy.

August 9 & 10, 2003, Checkout dives, anyone interested in helping new divers, please go to the q......

August 16, 2003, Indian River Outlet, contact Ron Peterson for more information, Ron@LaurelDivers.com.

August 23, 2003, Wabank Aquaculture, this q..... has been open since 1998, and was set up to raise fish for restaurant consumption. It is approximately the size of Blue Hole with a maximum depth of 130’. There are several boats and submarines, and platforms connected with ropes. There are walls, trees, telephone poles with about 50’ visibility. There are attractions for any level of diving. Contact Denny Beecher for more information.

August 30, 2003, Labor Day Weekend Dive, at the q...... Be there or you won’t be getting wet at the q..... that Saturday!

September 7, 2003, Raystown Picnic, (tentatively) at the Oak Pavilion at the Seven Point Marina. We will have advanced sign up for the dive so that we can make a decision on whether or not to rent the pontoon boat this year. The diving is usually good, and the divers usually are rewarded with sunken treasure! The picnic is also great for families with swimming and a playground nearby. The club will be supplying hot dogs and hamburgers.

September 13-14, 2003, Dutch Springs, will be driving in Friday night, camping in the parking lot, diving Saturday and Sunday, and driving home Sunday night. Great diving for all levels, you can camp there, there are restrooms and showers on the grounds, or stay at hotels nearby. Contact Donna Bender for more information.

October 3-4, 2003, Virginia Beach. We will be driving down the 3rd and staying at the Ocean Front Inn which is $58 per night. Will be diving a tower in 42’ of water which sports an octopus, mussel, lots of coral and tropical fish and an artificial reef in 50-80’ water with a wide variety of fish there. $58 plus tax is needed by the end of July. Contact Joe Gordon for more details.

October 11-26, 2003 Fiji, Micronesia, and Tahiti. Wayne Pappart, Flood City Divers. Contact Wayne for information 814 255-5360

April 17-24, 2004, Honduras, checking for interest, details aren’t confirmed, however, approximately $850 plus tax and $600 for airfare, the trip comes highly recommended, it will be a 1-2 tank dive per day, availability will be confirmed and deposits will be taken at the next meeting. Contact Donna Bender for more information.

**Attention all divers**

November 2, 2003, World Record Breaking Scuba Event, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, An attempt to break the record for the number of scuba divers in a pool is taking place from 12-5pm. There is a $5 registration fee which includes a barbeque at 12. You will need to have on your mask, fins, B.C., regulator and tank. There needs to be more than 596 people in the pool on scuba at one time to break the record. You will be in the water from 4-4:30. The club will have a sign-up sheet at next month’s meeting if you sign up, you must go! Laurel Divers will be sending in our registration and must have the final count in October. If the record is broken everyone present will receive a certificate stating that you participated in a World Record Breaking Event!!!

The daybook was $114. The winner was Brad McVicker, who was not present; all monies will be carried over to next month.

The door prize was a set of hanger for your B.C. and wetsuit. They were won by Joe Gordon.

For Sale Items – can be found at LaurelDivers.com, and then select “Classified Ads”

Entrant must be a current member of Laurel Divers in good standing.

Entry fee must be paid by the meeting prior to the scheduled Treasure Dive.

Entrant must check in and register with dive officials the day of the Treasure Dive prior to entering the water for the Treasure Dive.

Scuba must be used to retrieve an official Treasure Dive weight.

ONLY 1 official Treasure Dive weight per entrant can be removed from the water.

Weights found by an entrant must be returned to a dive official to receive the prize awarded in conjunction with the weight found.

There will be no awards by proxy – NO EXCEPTIONS
 NO absentee awards will be made.
 NO inability to dive awards will be made.

An entrant who has paid their registration fee and cannot dive the day of the Treasure Dive can notify any dive official of their inability to dive, at which time the official will then attempt to sell the pre-registered “spot” to another Laurel Diver in good standing.  The monies paid by the second party will be then be given to the person of the first party.  If for any reason the first party’s spot cannot be sold, no refund is given to the first party.

An entrant who wishes to trade their prize must register their intention of trade with a dive official.  Their intent of trade will be posted near the dive official’s station.

MEMBERS AND GUESTS

No one is permitted to enter the water on the day of the scheduled Treasure Dive prior to the scheduled starting time.  Only divers placing the official Treasure Dive weights are permitted in the water prior to the scheduled starting time.

Only club members in good standing are permitted to participate in the actual Treasure Dive.

All members participating in the Treasure Dive must be out of the water by the scheduled ending time.

Guests are welcome to partake in all land-based festivities.

Guests are not permitted to dive during the hours of the Treasure Dive.

Members and their guests are permitted to dive only after the Treasure Dive scheduled ending time.

No outside parties are permitted to dive the q..... per regulations set forth by Maurer’s Dive Shop on the scheduled day the LAUREL DIVERS DIVE CLUB has reserved both North & South ends of the q......