Next Board Meeting: January 28, 7:30 P.M., at Maurer’s Dive Shop

Next Regular Meeting: February 5, 2004, 7:30 P.M. at Penn Gables, Ebensburg

January 8, 2003, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

Donna called the meeting to order.

Treasurers report:
Total income this month: $649.00; total expenses: $900.23; leaving an available checkbook balance of $2172.77

BUSINESS:

We would like to welcome our new board members Barb Wyland, the Turcovsky’s, Bert Sharbaugh, and Denny Beecher! Elections for officers will be coming up soon, think about what you could add to the club by being an officer!

We would like to extend a thank you to everyone who had a hand in making the Christmas party this year a success. Sandy Smith contributed the photos for all of the ornaments, Diane Turcovsky donated the knick knacks, Lois Keegan donated the paperweights and sold the 50-50 tickets, Bert Sharbaugh donated the scuba animals, and Maurer Dive Shop for the many gift donations. Thank you all for everything you contributed!
The board will be planning our calendar for this year at the next board meeting. If anyone has any trips that they would like to have put on the calendar please contact Donna Bender with all the information.

The Beneath the Seas convention is approaching. It will be March 26-28. There is plenty to see and learn. The program offers several informational courses. You can go online to www.beneaththesea.org for the entire list of courses and the prices. You do need to reserve tickets online. If anyone is interested you need to sign up. We will be making reservations for rooms on priceline once we get a final count.

For anyone interested in the Moorhead City trip on June 24-28 the deposits are now due.

For anyone interested in the Thousand Island trip, we need a $70 deposit to hold your spot on the second boat. If the second boat isn’t filled, the spots will be opened to the Nittany Divers on the 1st of February. The final payment will be due by the June meeting.

Sue Morra is setting a trip up to Australia for December 26 to January 10th or 11th. There is no price yet.

The club made a donation to D&R Divers for the make-a-wish foundation. This donation will get the club’s name on the t-shirt that is given to everyone who registers for the dive. The treasure dive will be taking place Saturday, May 22, at the Parker Dam State Park.

O.K. folks, lets start warming up for the Scuba Olympics! It will be held at St. Francis February 15th at 2 P.M. For anyone who is interested, we will be going to dinner afterwards as well!

For everyone who gets the Tribune Democrat look for an article on Maurer’s and the dive shop in the neighbor section of Monday the 12th’s paper!

Happy Birthday Bob Maurer! Bob celebrated his 80th birthday the 11th of this month and we celebrated with some cake and song! Bob would like to thank everyone for the cake!

TRIP REPORTS:

The New Year’s Day dive went swimmingly! Paul Brawley and Monica Lacko braved the cold water this year. The best ever vis for the quarry was reported, brace yourselves, 40-50’!! The water temperature was around 39. There wasn’t any ice this year.

UPCOMING TRIPS/EVENTS:

February 5-9, 2004, Key Largo Trip, $475 for 3 day 2 tank dives, 4 nights, accommodation and airfare. Contact Donna Bender or Tom Davis for more information.

February 15, 2004, Scuba Olympics, 2 P.M. at St. Francis, come ready to win!

February 28, 2004, Wegmans Adventure, come to State College, shop at an awesome grocery store and cook your pickings at Sylvia’s!

March 26-28, 2004, Beneath the Seas, contact Donna Bender, or go online to: www.beneaththeseas.org for more information.

April 24-May 1, 2004, Honduras, Co Co View Resort, Roatan, Honduras Bay Islands. All inclusive 7 day package including: 24/7 beach diving and 2-tank boat dive trips daily. $850 + tax. If you are interested, Tom needs $100 to hold the room and you need to book your airfare. Airfare is approximately $650 right now. Contact Tom Davis for more information.

June 24-28, 2004, Morehead City, we will be starting to take reservations at next month’s meeting.

July 16, 2004, Girls only trip to Morehead, contact Sandy Smith for more information.

August 13-16, 2004, Thousand Islands, a $70 deposit is required. Deposit is due ASAP. The first 10 people that signed up will be on the first boat. Another 10 people are needed for a second boat. The cost is $65/day, American. Sleeping arrangements will be made later. Contact John Augustine for more information

The day book was $19 and the winner was Bob Maurer!

The door prize was a set of hangers which were won by Lois Keegan.

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

Laurel Divers patches are available for $3.00.

If anyone is interested in adding any trips to our list please send all information to Laura@LaurelDivers.com. Thank you!