Next Board Meeting: May 26, 7:30 P.M., at Maurer Dive Shop

Next Regular Meeting: June 3, 2004, 7:30 P.M. at Penn Gables, Ebensburg

April 21, 2004 Maurer Dive Shop

Present: Donna Bender, Ron Peterson, John Augustine, Denny Beecher, Bert Sharbaugh and Barb Wyland.

BMM:  Pizza courtesy of Denny
Board Meeting Minutes were taken by Her Highness Barb Wyland.

There was a discussion regarding repair of ramp at South end of Quarry.   The Board also discussed road repair at the Quarry.  The North end port-a-john was moved – Ron will check with TP Sanitation and have it returned to the proper location.
 
Board Members compiled the Treasure Dive Prize List.  Letters will be sent to previous donors of the Treasure Dive.
 
Webmaster, Ron Peterson will work on minimizing junk mail through LaurelDivers.com by giving it a password.

Meeting was adjourned.
 

May 6, 2004, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

The Royal Conch Blowing called the meeting to order.

Treasurers report:

Ron Peterson, treasurer, reports the following:  total income $2407.00, total expenses $1940.00, with a current checkbook balance of $3,741.23.  Trip accruals and fundraiser accrual allow an available checkbook balance of $2101.23.

BUSINESS:

Nominations for officers took place, and the nominees are:
President: Donna Bender;
Vice President: John Augustine;
Secretary:
Treasurer: Ron Peterson and Peterson, Ron
If anyone is interested in the secretary position, please contact any officer or board member.

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 21st.

Special THANK YOU to Denise Horne for teaching a CPR course, April 16. We appreciate your time and talent offering this course.

Final payment of $105 for the June 25-27 trip to Morehead City is due by May 5th.  This trip is currently full.  Please make sure your payment gets to Ron in a timely manner.  Any special requests for room arrangements should be directed to Jim Smith (814.696.1938) or jcsdmd1@hotmail.com

THANK YOU to John Augustine & Ron Peterson for repairing the loose boards on the dock at the Quarry.  MMMMMMWWWAAHH! To both!

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 18, 2004 6p.m., Quarry Cleanup Night.

May 21, 2004 First EOFND of 2004

May 22, 2004 Make-a-Wish Treasure Dive
Leaving 9 am from Ron Peterson’s house. Call Ron if you need directions 814.472.2144

May 29 & 30, 2004 Open Water Checkouts.

June 24-28, 2004 Morehead, North Carolina
Jim Smith 814.696.1938 jcsdmd1@hotmail.com

July - Nitrox class with Tim Laurito, instructor. The cost will be $195, which includes the books and tapes.  Call Bob or Rose at Maurer Dive Shop for details 814.344.6641

July 3 & 4, 2004, Dutch Springs, PA
Driving down Friday night and returning Sunday evening. The Cost is $22 per day, $5 for a night dive, with an advanced certification necessary for the night dive.  Contact Donna Bender 814.695.0540 or Donna@Bender.net

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

Ju.ly 16-18, 2004 Laurel Diver’s Treasure Dive weekend.
Friday night erection party (come and lend a hand putting up the tent)
Sunday is the Treasure Dive.  $15 registration by July 11, 2004.  Must have dues paid before you can register.  (See attached Rules for Treasure Dive)  This year’s prizes include a dive computer, tank, reel, list bag, & a roomy, sturdy back pack.

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 dives, Northern Pacific 150', contact Ron@LaurelDivers.com

July 24, 2004, Microbrewery Exposition in State College at the Penn State Hotel. Featuring 50 prestigious microbrewers and specialty imports and 150 craft brews. Tickets are $32. 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.

August 13 – 16, 2004 Thousand Islands.  This trip is filled.  Final payment of $60 is due by July 5th.

August 28-29, 2004 Thousand Islands with Dee & Harve Montgomery.  Contact Dee 814.944.8521

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

September 12, 2004 Raystown Picnic

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 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 University. Approximately $5000.00  Contact Sue for more information. 814.886.2053 or  smorra@sfcpa.edu)

Jan-Feb 2005, Cozumel - more details to come.
 
 

May or June 2005, Bahamas aboard the Dream Too Snorkel with the dolphins and diving.  Cost:  $1306 per person, double occupancy.  Meals, rooms and transfers included.  Airfare will be approximately $500.  $100 is needed to hold your spot.    Donna Bender 814.695.0540 or Donna@Bender.net

TRIP REPORTS:

April 17, 2004, after Easter dive, 1 p.m., at the quarry was reviewed by Ron Peterson.  We came, we dove, we froze.  44 degrees water temp.  Luckily the sun was out in full force to warm us after the dive.

April 24-May 1, 2004, Honduras, Co Co View Resort, Roatan, Honduras Bay Islands. Donna Bender reported on this trip.  As always, great diving with a video to follow.  Land based activites included the canopy tour of the island.  They were treated to fantastic views of the island from above the trees.

Jim & Sandy Smith visited Tortula, British Virgin Islands.  Above average dive operations, and super macro opportunities.  We were treated to a video and pictures of their trip.  A wonderful presentation.  Thank you Jim & Sandy!

Maurer Dive Shop will be hosting an OS Drysuit day.  Call Rose at the dive shop for more details.  814.344.6641
Also available now at Maurer’s is the Pinnacle Semi-Dry suit from Australia.

The daybook was $32.  Winner was Wayne Pappert – not present.  Monies will carry over to next month.
The door prize was a retractor.  Won by Sandy Smith.
Meeting was adjourned.

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!

Newsletter by: Lois Keegan