Next Board Meeting:  Wednesday, March 30, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Maurer’s Dive Shop

Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, April 7, 2005, 7:30 P.M. at Penn Gables, Ebensburg

The Board Meeting was held on Wednesday, February 23, 2005.
New members Rich Schnaubert and Jay Epple were approved pending verification from Harve Montgomery.
Quarry expenses and contributions were reviewed and discussed.  Letters summarizing quarry contributions and use will be sent to dive shops; the letters will detail our policy concerning non member use of the quarry and will include notification of a policy requesting $2 per person per day.
The annual fundraiser was discussed.  Tickets will be distributed at the March meeting.
$100 donation to Make a Wish was approved.
Denny Beecher discussed a lecture/presenter for the Shark Research Institute as a joint venture with PSU.  He is starting to set this up for fall.  It will take place at Penn State and be hosted by Laurel Divers.
The upcoming trips and reservation lists were reviewed.
The Treasure Dive prize list will be started at the March Board Meeting.
Board Meeting was adjourned.

Treasurer’s Report:
Ron Peterson, Treasurer, reports the following  amounts for February:  income of $225.00, expenses of $155.07,  actual checkbook balance of $2049.51 minus trip accruals of $550  leaves an available checkbook balance of $1499.51.

Welcome to new members Rich Schnaubert and Jay Epple!
   *  *  *
OLD BUSINESS

Clyde Mighells has volunteered to present a slide show of Kingston, Ontario at the April meeting.
(A trip is planned there in September 2005.)

NEW BUSINESS

Nominations will begin next month for club officers.  Donna, Ron and Wendy are declining nominations for next year.  Members are encouraged to seriously consider holding an officer position.  It’s a great way to meet the rest of the club members!

On Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Adler Athletic Complex at the Penn State Altoona campus, Dr. Joseph MacInnis, a medical doctor and one of the world’s foremost explorers, will speak about diving under the ice of the Northwest Passage and landing a mini-sub on the RMS Titanic.  A sign-up sheet was passed around.  Even though there is no cost, a ticket is required for admission.
If interested, please contact Donna Bender as soon as possible.  For those interested in traveling together, we will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, Ebensburg parking lot and for those not car pooling from Ebensburg, Donna will distribute the tickets at the Adler Athletic Complex at 7:15 p.m.

Fundraiser tickets were distributed.
After the regular meeting, we had pizza and watched the movie “Silent Wrecks of Kwajalein Atoll.”  Bob Maurer brought in old bottles, shells, and other artifacts removed from that area.  Bob’s son has dived many times there.  After the movie, Bert Sharbaugh spoke about his experiences diving in the area.

Ron Peterson will do a presentation on doubles at the May meeting.

UPCOMING EVENTS/TRIPS

The “Beneath the Sea” Exposition will be held on March 18-20, 2005 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey.  For more information, contact Donna Bender. If you plan on attending, please let Donna know if you need a room. You can also check the web site for information.  The web address is www.beneaththesea.org

The 9th Annual Make-A-Wish Treasure Hunt sponsored by D & R Divers will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2005 at Parker Dam State Park.   Registration fee is $25 before April 15 and each diver will receive a free T-shirt.   After April 15, the registration fee is $30 and divers do not receive a t-shirt.

Morehead City trip with Jim Smith and Diver Down - June 23 - 27, 2005.  This is limited to 18 people.  A deposit of $135 is due now to hold your reservation.  The remainder is due by April 25. The cost of the diving is $270.  This does not include accommodations.

Thousand Island Trip, September 9 – 11, 2005, Kingston, Ontario with Clyde Mighells
$100 deposit due as soon as possible to hold your spot.  The final payment is due at the August meeting.  Reservations are limited to ten people.  The itinerary is as follows:
Friday evening:  Arrive at Alexander Henry, Coast Guard Cutter B& B, Night shore dive under the Alexander Henry
Saturday:  Awake to breakfast aboard ship, Two boats pick up divers at Alexander Henry, Two tank dive to Wolfe Islander II & KPH, Return to ship, rest of the day and meals on your own
Sunday:  Awake to breakfast aboard ship, two boats pick up divers at Alexander Henry, Two tank dive to Marsh & Aloha and Effie Mae, depart for home.
Cost:  Diving (without tip) $120 for all four boat dives  $12 for nitrox refills and $6 for air (Saturday night tanks will be refilled), $35 per night per person  B & B (2 people per room, each room has two bunks)
$15 tank rental Nitrox, $10 tank rental air

TRIP/DIVE REPORTS

Scuba Olympics was held on Sunday, February 13, 2005 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Saint Francis University. The Laurel Divers were represented by Jim and Sandy Smith, Dan and Laura Turcovsky, and Donna Bender.  Laurel Divers were the winners.  Winners were awarded the trophy and t-shirts.
 
The daybook winner was Jim Smith.  He won $89.

No door prize this month since we had a pizza party.

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 held on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at Maurer’s Dive Shop.
The next regular Club Meeting will be on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at Penn Gables at 7:30 p.m.                                         --Wendy Kerch