Next Board Meeting: April 21, 7:30 P.M., at Maurer Dive Shop
Next Regular Meeting: May 6, 2004, 7:30 P.M. at Penn Gables, Ebensburg

March 24, 2004 Maurer Dive Shop

Present: Donna, Ron, John, Bert and Dan

The club bought a 50/50 ticket for the Make-A-Wish dive.

The Raystown Picnic money was sent to hold our reservation, the dive will be the 12th of September.

$635 was sent out for the 1000 Islands trip. There are currently 19 people signed up, leaving room for 1 more diver.

The treasure dive is coming up soon; so prize lists are starting to be  planned.

The next board meeting was moved to the 21st of April because of vacations planned.

The board made the decision to password protect e-mail address on the Laurel Divers Web page.

April 1, 2003, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

Donna Bender called the meeting to order.

Treasurers report:
Ron Peterson read the treasurer's reports. There was a total income of $1,715.00, total expenses of $959.32, with a current checkbook balance of $3,274.12; but subtracting the trip accrurals of   $1,105.00 allows an available checkbook balance of $2169.12

BUSINESS:

Nominations for officers took place, and the nominees are:
President: Donna Bender;
Vice President: John Augustine and Joe Gordon; Secretary: Lois Keegan(declined), Wendy Kerch(declined but considering…), and Laura Butler declined (I'm in school and can't make it to the meetings, thanks for taking notes mom and dad!);
Treasurer: Ron Peterson and Peterson, Ron

Have you been selling your fund-raiser tickets? Do you need more tickets to sell? The tickets are $2 each. The ticket holders have to chance to win $100 a day for 5 days based on the lottery numbers for May 24-28. Ticket money must be turned in to John Augustine by May 15th.

Denise Horne is willing to teach a CPR course, the tentative date is for April 16 from 6-10 at Denise's house. The cost is $30.

The club bought a 50/50 ticket from the Make-A-Wish foundation for $100 with the chance to win $5000. If we win, the monies will go to the treasury.

Deposits are due now for the June 25-27 trip to Morehead City. The amount is $150. The final payment of $105 is due by May 6th. We need to know what room arrangements you want so that the rooms can be booked. This trip has now been opened to non-club members. The sign up is now on a first come first serve basis. There are currently 17 people signed up for the trip leaving 1 spot available.

For anyone interested in the Thousand Island trip, we need a $70 deposit to hold your spot on the second boat. The remaining spots have been opened to the Nittany Divers. The final payment of $70 will be due by July 1st meeting. There are currently 19 people signed up for the trip with room for 1 more diver.

July 2-4, we are planning a trip to Dutch Springs. We will be driving down Friday night and coming back Sunday evening. The Cost is $22 per day, $5 for a night dive, with an advanced certification necessary for the night dive.

The Treasure dive is approaching! July 16-18 is the fun filled weekend, kicking it off will be the tent party on Friday.

For anyone interested, Saturday July 24 there will be a microbrewery exposition in State College at the Penn Stater Hotel. The exposition will be featuring Larry Bell and a special guest. There will be 50 prestigious microbrewers and specialty imports and 150 craft brews. Tickets are $32 for the 12-4 session and the 6-10 session. The admission includes: Gourmet International Buffet, a Souvenir Pilsner glass, unlimited sampling, and admission to any of the BrewForum Interactive tasting seminars featuring Stephen Beaumont. The tickets will be available after May 1st.

There is a Nitrox class being planned for the 1st part of July, Tim Laurito will be the instructor. The cost will be $195, which includes the books and tapes.

Congratulations to Sandy Smith won recently won 1st and 2nd place in the macro and wide-angle lens categories in a photography contest in North Carolina.  To see the photos: http://www.aquariums.state.nc.us/newsite/photocontest03/contest03archives.htm or follow the link on LaurelDivers.com

TRIP REPORTS:

A group of Laurel divers went to the "Beneath the Sea dive expo in New Jersey the weekend of Mar. 26-28.  This is a great educational and fun trip that should be considered by any serious diver. Exhibits and festivities started Friday evening and ran through Sunday afternoon.  The Meadowlands Expo center was filled with everything and nything that deals with SCUBA diving.  .Equipment manufacturer reps were there to demonstrate the features of their newest gadgets.  You can easily go from booth to booth and compare before you buy.  You can see, touch and hear the reps extol the latest and greatest.  Every kind of dive gadget or accessory was there to look at and buy.  Many things got into the must have category before the day was over.   Dive destinations were represented from all over the world so that you can plan your next major dive trip.  Even if you have to postpone it until later, you can see what is available out there.  Artists were present showing and selling their beautiful creations.  Wyland, the noted mural painter was there painting new pictures of whales.   Each hour also had seminars and workshops to attend.  Most were in the near by Holiday Inn.  Seminar subjects covered wreck diving, technical diving, photography, digital, film and video, diving areas around the world, large animal encounters, shipwreck, etc.  Many seminars were scheduled each hour allowing you to schedule a time to sit, relax and enjoy a subject of your choosing after walking around the Expo Center.  Workshops were also scheduled each day.  This were for a fee not like the free seminars.  Some of the workshop seminars subjects covered tank inspection, equipment repair and commercial diving.  You could get instruction in aspects of underwater photography, video or take classes in DAN oxygen first aid or hazardous marine life.  Saturday evening had the film festival and Cayman decompression party.  Noted filmmakers were there showing excerpts of their commercial films.  We were disappointed in the party and ended up in the sports bar in the lobby where we could get are favorite refreshment and still be able to carry on a conversation without yelling.  Back at the hotel, we were treated to an impromptu  serenade from a group of high school students from Richmond, VA. they had just won a  singing competition in New York City.  We traveled back Sunday and are already looking forward to next year.

UPCOMING TRIPS/EVENTS:

April 17, 2004, after Easter dive, 1 p.m., at the quarry.

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. Contact Tom Davis for more information. (814 768-3483)

May 18, 2004 Quarry clean up and road repair, 6 p.m., bring a shovel and lend a hand.

May 21, 2004, 7 p.m. this Friday will be the kick off for our Every Other Friday Night Dives or EOFND.

May 22, 2004, Make-A-Wish dive, 12 p.m. Contact Donna Bender for more information. (814 695-0540)

June 24-28, 2004, Morehead City, $85 per day, three days of diving will be $255. $150 due when you sign up for trip. The balance is due by May 6, 2004. Contact Jim Smith for more information. (814 696-1938 or jcsdmd1@hotmail.com)

July 2-4, 2004, Dutch Springs, drive down Friday night come home Sunday, $22/day, $5 and advanced certification for a night dive.

July 3, 2004, 4th of July weekend dive, 1 p.m. at the quarry.

July 16-18, 2004, Treasure Dive weekend, the set-up will be the 16th, the party will be the 17th, and the dive will be the 18th.

July 16, 2004, Girls only trip to Morehead, contact Sandy Smith for more information. (814 696-1938)

July 23-24, 2004, Indian River Inlet, aboard Surface Interval, departs at 7am, $85 for two tank dive, Northern Pacific 150', contact Ron@LaurelDivers.com

August 13-16, 2004, Thousand Islands, a $70 deposit is required, with the final payment of $60 due by July 1st. Deposit is due ASAP. The first 10
people that signed up will be on the first boat. The remaining spots have been opened to the Nittany Divers. The cost is $65/day, American. Sleeping
arrangements will be made later. Contact John Augustine for more information (814 942-8267)

August 28-29, 2004, Thousand Island trip with Dee and Harvey Montgomery. Contact Dee at (814) 944-8521.

September 4, 2004, Labor Day Dive, 1 p.m. at the Quarry.

September 12, 2004, Raystown Picnic, 8am and 12:30 pontoon boat departure, contact Denny@LaurelDivers.com

November 13-20, 2004, Cayman Brac Resort, six 2 tank boat dives on Brac's pristine reefs, dive the Russian Destroyer Tibbitts, the famous Bloody wall
and have unlimited shore diving. All meals, rooms and transfers included. $1036 per person, double occupancy rooms. Airfare approximately $500. A
deposit of $100 is needed to hold your spot. Contact Dee Montgomery at (814) 944-8521 or check www.bracreef.com/resortinformation.html for more information.

December 26-January 10, 2005, Australia with Sue Morra and Saint Francis College. Contact Sue for more information. (814 886-2053 or
smorra@sfcpa.edu)

A possible trip to Bahamas aboard the Dream Too to snorkel with the dolphins or dive with maximum depths of 65 feet. Possible dates would be for May or early June 2005. The cost would be $1300 per person plus $75 port fees if 11 book the trip. If 10 book the cost will be $1425 plus port fees.

Cozumel 2005, will have the price around July, and will be planning the trip for the end of January or Beginning of February.

The daybook was $41 and the winner was Andy Rupp who was not present. The monies will be rolled over to next month.

The door prizes were scissors and a patch, which were won by John Augustine.

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!

--- Laura Butler