Next Board Meeting: October 27, 2004
Maurer Dive Shop. 7:30 p.m.

Next Regular Meeting: November 4, 2004
7:30 P.M. at Penn Gables, Ebensburg

Sept. 29, 2004, 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting was canceled.

October 7, 2004, Penn Gables, Ebensburg, PA

President Donna Bender brought the meeting to order with the Royal Conch Blowing.

Treasurer’s Report:
Ron Peterson, Treasurer, reports the following  amounts for September:  income of $0.00, expenses of $152.56 and an available checkbook balance of $1,596.87.

BUSINESS

Kim R. Reese, a newly certified diver through Mauer Dive Shop, submitted an application for membership.  The application will be sent to the Board for approval.

UPCOMING EVENTS/TRIPS

A CPR course is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 26.  Cost is $30. Call Denise Horne 814-674-5333 for more information.

Saturday, October 30, 2004 – Halloween Dive/Chili Cook-Off.  Diving at the quarry from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.  We will party at the rock or at Dan and Diane Turcovsky’s house.  The decision of where to hold the party will be weather dependent.  Call Donna Bender in the morning on the 30th at 695-0540 to confirm the party location.  The decision will be made by then in case anyone is not diving and just coming to the party.

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 access to unlimited shore diving. All meals, rooms, transfers included. $1036 per person, double occupancy. Airfare approx$500. A $100 deposit is needed. Contact Dee Montgomery at (814) 944-8521 or check the website at www.bracreef.com/resortinformation.html for more information.

December 4, 2004 – Christmas Party at Penn Gables.  Dinner choices are Stuffed Chicken Breast - $17; Lasagna  - $17; Stuffed Pork Chop   - $17; and Baked Haddock - $20

December 26-January 10, 2005 - Australia with Sue Morra and Saint Francis University. Approximately $5000.00.  Contact Sue for more information at
814-886-2053 or smorra@sfcpa.edu)

Mid January, 2005 - Cozumel – Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday.  Airfare approximately $482 + $60 for bus and ferry.  Flying Cancun Airlines out of Reagan International.  Dive shop website: www.aquasafari.com 7 nights with 5 days of 2 tank dives plus 4 afternoon boat dives
Safari Inn: $432 (divers)/$157 (non-divers)
Hotel Bahia: $503/$228
Suites Colonial: $475/$200
Casa Mexicana: $662/$387
For more info:  contact Jim Smith at
814-696-1938
jcsdmd1@hotmail.com

Dominica with Jonathan Bird - January 15-22, 2005.  If anyone is interested, please contact Donna Bender at 695-0540.  The cost of the trip is $1,045 plus airfare of $750.  The cost of the trip includes unlimited shore diving, boat diving, accommodations and 2 meals per day.
 

NEW BUSINESS

Nominations for Board members were held and the following club members were nominated: Denny Beecher, Lois Keegan, Greg Lilly, Bert Sharbaugh and Barb Wyland.

Members are reminded to bring any new or interesting “Gizmos or Gadgets” to our monthly meeting to show to their fellow club members.

Thanks to Ron Peterson and Dan Turcovsky for taking care of the grass cutting and weed trimming at the quarry on September 14, 2004.

TRIP/DIVE REPORTS

The annual Raystown Picnic was canceled due to high waters.

A class of five certified at the quarry over the October 2 and 3 weekend through Mauer Dive Shop.  Thanks to check out chums Jerry Lamb, Dan and Diane Turcovsky.
 

PRESENTATIONS

Barb Wyland volunteered to be the speaker at this month’s meeting.  She gave a very interesting and informative talk on the topic of Hypothermia. Barb spoke about the various levels of hypothermia and their causes and symptoms.  Barb discussed ways to prevent hypothermia, and she also explained how to care for someone who is displaying symptoms of hypothermia. A discussion was also held on the various thicknesses of wetsuits, hoods, and gloves. There was lively and enthusiastic participation from the audience with several suggestions offered by club members on ways to keep warm.  Questions from those in attendance included how to help someone who is suffering from hypothermia and how to determine when it is time to seek medical attention. Barb concluded her presentation with a song originally composed and sung by the Reefer Singers.

John Augustine volunteered to speak at next month’s meeting.  At newsletter press time, his topic was unknown.

The daybook was $20!  Winner was Denny Beecher who was not present at the last meeting – so his winnings were $10.00.
 
The door prize was a hanger. - Won by Diane Turcovsky.

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 wkerc@uplink.net Thank you!

The next Board meeting will be at Maurer Dive shop on October 27, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.

The next regular Club Meeting will be on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at Penn Gables at 7:30 p.m.

--Wendy Kerch