The Board Meeting was held on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at Penn Gables.

Present:  Denny Beecher, Donna Bender, Joe Gordon, Greg Lilly, Ron Peterson, Donna Sabol, Bert Sharbaugh, and Chuck Zupon.

Approved membership applications included  Ron Mlinarchik and Shannon Hoffman
Membership pending - Terry Crissey, James Kerr, Lori Kerr, and Justin Kerr

The next Board Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Treasure Dive. New officers are asked to help out at the prize and registration table.

The web site was discussed.

The audit will be held on Tuesday, August 2 at Ron’s office in Ebensburg.

Board Meeting was adjourned.

President Donna Bender called the meeting to order with the blowing of the Royal Conch.

Treasurer’s Report:
Ron Peterson, Treasurer, reports the following amounts for June:  income of $145.00, expenses of $1,494.86 and an available checkbook balance of $1,728.78

Welcome to new members – Shannon Hoffman and Ron Mlinarchik!

Welcome back to Diane Malloy!

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OLD BUSINESS

Thanks to John Augustine for taking care of the fundraiser.  The list of winners is as follows:
May 30 086 Not Sold
May 31 386 McCully
June 1 679 Chuck Zupon
June 2 491 E. Newkirk
June 3 453 Sue Morra

Club Membership Dues should be paid in July.  Please note:  Member dues must be paid before you sign up for the Treasure Dive.  Dues are $24 a year for the first member of the household, $16 for the second member, and $8 for each consecutive member.

Last Day to sign up for the Treasure Dive is July 9.

NEW BUSINESS

There will be a Swap Meet at the August meeting.

Volunteers for the audit in July are Sylvia MacKinnon, Sandy Smith, and Diane Turcovsky
The audit date has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Ron Peterson’s office in the Ebensburg Mini-Mall.

Laurel Divers received a thank you from D & R Divers. D & R raised over $20,000 for Make-a-Wish this year!

Laurel Divers will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.  Jim Hostetler is putting together an anniversary presentation.  There are plans to contact the media to see if they will attend the Treasure Dive.

Joe Gordon spoke about Lake Erie.  Divers are needed to tie buoy lines, photograph and document wrecks.  Joe will request more information so he can pass it along to club members.  He will find out if a boat is provided, how many divers can go out at a time, the cost, and what days are suitable.

UPCOMING EVENTS/TRIPS

July 8 & 22, 2005 - Every Other Friday Night Dive

July 12, 2005 - Quarry Clean-up

Treasure Dive – July 17, 2005
Sign up sheets were passed around during the meeting so members could write in their food donation and what job they would like to do. The tent erection party will be Friday night.  The quarry will be available all day Saturday for open diving.  Registration for the Treasure Dive will be from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Diving on Sunday will be from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

August 5, 2005 - Every Other Friday Night Dive

August 27, 2005 - Susquehanna River in Lockhaven: The dive will be under a bridge; it’s shallow, clear warm water.  Contact Denny Beecher for details.

Saturday, September 3 – 5, 2005, Labor Day weekend - Dutch Springs trip:  We will depart for the quarry on Saturday and camp overnight, dive all day Sunday (also a night dive Sunday), then return home on Monday morning.

September 9 - 11, 2005 - Thousand Island Trip, Kingston, Ontario with Clyde Mighells:
$100 deposit is 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 includes the following dives:
Friday evening:  Arrive at Alexander Henry, a 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

PRESENTATION

Sue Morra gave an interesting and informative presentation on Coral Reefs.  She explained the different types of reefs and how they form and grow.  Sue also explained the relationship between coral and algae.

TRIP/DIVE REPORTS

Dan Turcovsky spoke about the recent trip to Morehead City.  The group completed two wreck dives on Friday. On Saturday, the boat had mechanical problems and the weather was becoming uncooperative.  Sunday, the group dove twice.  First they dove on the Schurz and then heard over the radio that the visibility was better on the Papoose. Visibility was good on the Papoose.  Dan got to see his first Lionfish and Sandy Smith pointed out a large nurse shark to him. Visibility was about 60’ and the water temp was in the 70s. Laurel Divers extends special thanks to Jim and Sandy Smith for all their work to make this trip a successful one!

Sandy Smith told an amusing story about husband Jim’s encounter with a shark while spear fishing.  She will bring photographs to pass around at a future club meeting.

Bert Sharbaugh reported on the dive to Millbrook Quarry in Fairfax, VA. Ten divers participated in this day trip.  Bert said the Millbrook Quarry is a little bigger than our quarry.  Millbrook is mostly used as a teaching facility but does have overnight camping.  There was a distinct thermocline.  Water temperature ranged from the 60s to the 40s.  Bert said it was worth the trip; the group had a good time!

Lois Keegan talked about cleaning the aquarium in Pittsburgh.  Donna Sabol had previously told club members that the aquarium was looking for divers to help clean the tanks. Divers must complete checkout dives before being given the okay to participate. Lois, and Dan and Diane Turcovsky volunteered their services and were put to work cleaning windows and scrubbing rocks, etc.  They said it was fun.  They wiped, scrubbed and waved at the kids. Lois’ earring was stolen by a wrasse that also decided to bite her ear twice.  Donna Sabol confirmed there is definitely a biting wrasse in the tank. They all agreed, though, it’s a lot of fun; if any other divers are interested in volunteering at the aquarium, please contact Donna Sabol for more information.

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The daybook winner was Harry Murtland.  He was not present.

Sue Morra won the door prize.  She won a hanger.

Before the meeting was adjourned, Donna presented the Royal Conch to new President, John Augustine.

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!

Reminder

The next Board Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the quarry.

The next regular Club Meeting will be on Thursday, August 4, 2005 at Penn Gables at 7:30 p.m.

--Wendy Kerch