DECEMBER...   and Beyond

                                                        - By Dave Schneider, Vice President, Calendar

        Phone numbers of event coordinators are not posted to ensure privacy.  If you are a Club member please consult your Buddy List for the number you need.  If you do not have a copy of the Buddy List one will be available for you at the next General Meeting.

        Just a quick reminder.. The Calendar exists for the information of all our members.  Should you see an event that is of interest to you please contact the Coordinator directly.  You can sign-up for the event's) of your choice at any time of the month. The Coordinator will be more than pleased to place your name on the list and tell you where to mail payment.

HELP MAKE YOUR CLUB BETTER ! ....  We need more people to step up and run events.  If you are interested in coordinating a dive.. a trip.. a dinner or any other type of event please contact an E-Board member. Any member of the Board will be more than happy to assist you.

November 19   Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday)  Joe and Julie are taking us to the subcontinent for some exotic fare at the Royal India, 3801 Griffin Road, Dania Beach. Those who have been there before can attest to the quality, so you will want to be there when they ring the dinner bell at 7:30. Sari optional.

November 22:   8:00 AM Show  8:30 AM Go "Private" Boat Dive (Saturday) Once again the intrepid sailors of SFDI are taking their seaworthy vessels onto the open ocean for a day of underwater fun.  They are shoving off from John U. Lloyd State Park and, as always, be on time or wave at their wakes.  Call John Kansman for more details or to sign on board.

November 23:  Julie's Jewelry Extravaganza (Sunday)  What a fun way to make some extra cash selling off your old and unwanted baubles.  Gold is pretty much at an all-time high so gather them goodies and trek to Julie's place for a evening of laughs and profit. The fun will begin at 5:00 PM.  Julie will have more details and directions at the September meeting. 

November 27:  Thanksgiving

December 3:   General Meeting  7:30 PM (Sharp!)   Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club.  Election night!  We look forward to a great turn-out for the last meeting of the year. Directions elsewhere on the website.

December 7:  Jazz Brunch  Cancelled

December 8:  SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road. Everybody welcome, so come join us. Meeting starts at 7:30 sharp.

December 13:  Holiday Party  This is the "big one".. need we say more?  If you haven't put it on your social calendar as yet do so now 'cause you don't want to miss it. As always a nominal charge of $10.00 per person for lots of fun, food, holiday cheer and DJ Frankie. A covered dish is required and we will want to know what you will be bringing so we can assure a well-rounded banquet table. I.T. Parker Community Center, Dania Beach will once again host the event.

December 20:   8:00 AM Show 8:30 AM Go  Annual "Trim the Tree" Dive  Always a lot of fun, this year we plan to use the Blue Runner out of Dania Beach. At this time we are planning for two dives, one to sink and trim the tree and the second on a shallow reef.  The cost should be $55.00, tax and tip included.  Call Gerry Cowen or Joe Smariga for details and call Dave Schneider to sign-up.

December 20:   Annual Intracoastal Lights Cruise  This year the cruise will move a little north to view a different section of the Intracoastal.  We will be boarding the Lady-Go-Diver out of Deerfield Beach.  The cruise will run from 7:00 to 10:00 PM (or longer if everyone is so inclined).  We will be able to board 40 people, but since this "sells out" quickly you will want to sign-up at the November meeting or give Dave Schneider a call to be added to the list. The cost will be $20.00 per person and, as always, a covered dish or appetizer is a must.

December 22:  Hanukkah begins

December 25:  Christmas Day

December 26:  Kwanzaa begins

January 1:  Happy New Year!

January 17:  Wine Tasting!  What a great way to spend a chilly January evening!  Susan and Ray will once again host this popular event at their home. Starting time will be 5:00 PM.  As always, bring a bottle of your favorite wine and a tasty side dish (please let Susan know what you are bringing so we can get a good spread). Call them for more details and directions.

January 24:  "Hair of the Dog Party" (Saturday)  The Tomlin's are back again for the third straight year and this one promises to be the best one yet with plenty of food, beverage, karaoke and possibly even a live band!! You won't want to miss this first big bash of the new year!  More details to come.

March 14-15:   SUDS Flea Market (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba) - more about this incredibly important program elsewhere in the Newsletter.

April 3-5:  4th. Annual Spring Camping Weekend Okay, it's really a long way off but Craig and Linda have so much fun in their tent that they have reserved the sites and have given us another reason to look forward to 2009. 

                                         INTERNATIONAL TRIPS FOR 2008 - 2009

January 6 - 18, 2009:   Raja Ampat, Indonesia   Seven Seas (liveaboard)     $4500.00+/-                                                               The trip includes 12 nights on the Seven Seas, all diving, meals, coffee, tea, drinking water, sodas, optional land and beach trips.  Trip cost is based on double occupancy with a deposit of 30% and balance due 90 days before departure. Cancellations made up to 90 days before departure are subject to a $500.00 cancellation fee and within 90 days there are no refunds. Not included are all airfares, hotels, transfers enroute to Sorong and mandatory trip insurance. Departure will be on or about January 2, 2009.  Return home should be by January 20,2009. For more information please go to www.thesevenseas.com or give Fred Miller a call.

June 4 - 13, 2009:   Beqa Lagoon, Fiji  -  Susan Judah & Ray Gonzalez                                                                            It's too early to nail down the details so keep an eye out for more information. At this point it looks like the trip will run $3300.00 +/- plus air from here to California (and back, presumably).  We will have 7 nights on Beqa, which will include all meals and 10 dives plus unlimited shore diving.   A sign-up sheet will be at the next meeting and deposits will be accepted from people who sincerely want to go.  

June 7 - 14 2009:  Saba  -  Details forthcoming.  Pete Stephinson, Coordinator

July 11 -18 2009:  Belize  -    Dave Schneider, Coordinator                                                                                We will be staying at Ramon's Village, Ambergris Caye.  The town of San Pedro is a 5 minute walk from the hotel.  There are any number of land-based possibilities for those who do not dive. 

Also in '09 ....  Bonaire  -  Details forthcoming.  Barbara Sabatelli, Coordinator

AND SOME LAST IMPORTANT NOTES...

Club Policies on Dives and Trips:

Dives, Trips, Activities and events are run according to the SFDI Policies and Procedures, which are available to everyone.  If you don’t have a copy, please ask the Membership VP, or other E-Board member at the next General Meeting. Here is a summary of some of the important ones:

1.      Payment for Dives, Events and trips:  A member is confirmed on a dive, trip or event only after they have paid.  Payments for dives should be made when signing up.  Payments for trips should be made according to the schedule as outlined by the trip coordinator.  In the event that a dive/trip/activity is oversubscribed, then those confirmed will be determined by the order of payment.

2.      Cancellation:  Once a member signs on for a dive/event he or she is obligated to pay for that dive/event unless they contact the coordinator for that dive/event and cancel by the specified cancellation time.  Not paying immediately does not eliminate the requirement to make full payment if you do not cancel within the designated cancellation period or simply fail to show up for that dive/event.

3.      Certification Requirements:  Some dives will be restricted to divers with certain minimum certification levels.  For example Advanced Open Water.  In some cases, these requirements will be set by the dive operator.  In others they may be set by the dive organizer in conjunction with the E-Board based on the profile and characteristics of the planned dive.  In these cases the minimum certifications required for the dive will be clearly identified on the sign up sheet and in the published calendar.  No exceptions will be made for any reason.

4.      Special Needs:  Some of our members have “special needs” when participating on a dive or trip. These can be cases where the diver needs extra assistance on a dive boat or a member has particular requirements regarding accommodations. Dive organizers will check for the common ones, such as the requirement for extra assistance getting into or out of the water.  However, it is the responsibility of the member to make sure that his/her needs are known to the organizer and if there is any doubt the member should contact the operator in advance.  It is the responsibility of the club member to verify that their needs can be accommodated prior to the event/trip/activity.

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