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South Florida Divers, Inc.
CONTENTS |
President's Message Tis the season...........
~ By Pete Stephinson
It seems like no time at all since I wrote last December's President's letter. For me, the year has really flown. We have had an action packed year with lots of fun dives, activities and social events. I for one had a great year - I thoroughly enjoyed trips to Saba and the Bahamas as well as the many other local dives and activities. Recently, I dove with Debbie Bradford on Captain Slate's "Creature Feature" dive and had a blast. It seems such a short time ago that we had our last holiday party -- and, here we go again. I look forward to seeing you at this year's party, on December 5th, the highlight of our social calendar. You'll be surprised at how well some of your dive buddies clean up when not wearing their wet suits. So get out those dancing shoes.
We have a tradition at South Florida Divers of supporting a charity at our annual holiday party. Usually, it has been a worthwhile cause such as Toys for Tots. Last year it was SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled SCUBA). This year, in memory of two of our members, Nansy McKenzie and Chris Hinckley who passed away during the year we have decided to support the American Cancer Society. We will be accepting donations at the party, please give generously.
The water is still reasonably warm, and we are having some beautiful sunny days, so there's still some good diving to go. We still have dives on the calendar, including of course the traditional tree trimming dive. For those of you who are new to the club, that's always a lot of fun. We sink the tree from the holiday party and install it on the deck of one of the local wrecks. Wear your most festive dive gear and enjoy the fun as we decorate the tree with delectable, (biodegradable) goodies. You will be surprised at how many local residents stop by for a holiday treat !!!!
We opened nominations for the 2010 eboard at the November meeting. If you have enjoyed club activities in 2009 and prior years and haven't been a part of the team that "makes things happen" - now's your chance. All positions are up for election. Yes, you too could stand for President !! The Executive Board (eboard) benefits both from continuity, having members who have contributed over a long period, and the fresh new ideas that come from more recent members. I encourage newer members to get involved. You only get out of the club what you put in, and joining the eboard is a great way to get involved with the club. If you're thinking of joining the eboard for 2010, have a chat with me or one of the other eboard members to learn what's involved. We'll be pleased to have somebody nominate you (or you can nominate yourself)
With the New Year, it's also time to renew your annual membership. At $55, membership of South Florida Divers is a hell of a deal. And what's more, additional family members can join at only $15 each. Dives, trips and events organized by the club are at group rates giving you significant savings. We have a list of dive shops, charter boats etc that will give members a discount, and we have a number of great social events throughout the year. And how can you put a value on the friendship and camaraderie among SFDI members ? I suggest you renew early as we charge a $5 late fee for those members not renewed by the end of The February General Meeting.
Looking forward to 2010, our calendar is already filling up. We have a trip to Crystal River in February and our annual spring camping trip to Jonathan Dickensen State Park and an overseas trip to Tobago.
Wishing you and yours all the best for a very happy Holiday Season
Pete
email: President@SFDI.com |
Notice of Elections for Eboard positions for 2010
With the end of 2009 approaching it is time to elect our Executive Board Members for 2010. All positions are up for election. Nominations were solicited at the November General Meeting and will be solicited at the December General Meeting at which time an election will be held for any positions for which there are more than one nomination.
The Executive Board Positions are:
President
Secretary
VP Membership and Membership Assistant
VP Calendar and Calendar Assistant
VP Programs
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
Webmaster
Greeter
Editor
Sergeant at Arms
Members at Large (6)
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2010 Membership Renewal Reminder
With the end of 2009 approaching it is time to renew your SFDI membership for 2010. At $55, membership of South Florida Divers is a helluva deal. If you need reminding of the benefits of membership, click here. Application forms should be completed when renewing. An additional $5 is charged for renewals after the February General Meeting.
To renew your membership please do the following: 1) Print and fill out the New Member Application Form (Verify your address etc.) 2) Print and fill out the Yearly Renewal Application Form 3) Make a copy of your c-card 4) Please write a check for $55.00 made out to South Florida Divers Inc. for a single membership or $70.00 made out to South Florida Divers Inc. for a family membership. If the application is made after the February meeting, add $5 to the check amount. $60 for single and $75 for family. 5) Bring along all four items to the monthly meeting (preferred) or mail it the following address: Joe Smariga |
MEETING LOCATION !!!
Location for General Meeting
Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club, 2637 Whale Harbor Lane, Ft. Lauderdale
The Same Place We Have The Pig Roast and Seafood Fest !!
Directions:
1. Take I 95 to Davie Blvd. Head West.
2. Turn Left on 27th Ave, (Riverland Road ).
3. Follow around and Stay on Riverland Road
4. Turn left at Whale Harbor Lane.
5. Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club is on the Right
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PLEASE SEE NOTE ABOVE !!
SFDI meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club. The meeting starts at 7:30 If you are not a member, and you are reading this on the Internet, please join us because visitors are ALWAYS WELCOME! In an attempt to condense the length of the meetings, we are going to start the meeting PROMPTLY at 7:30. Please come earlier to socialize before the meeting starts. |
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WELCOME YOUR NEWEST DIVE BUDDIES!
We are delighted to welcome new
member: Steve
Weinberg As a Reminder to Everyone, We are a NO-DECOMPRESSION Dive Club. Always adhere to Safe Recreational Dive Depths and Limits.
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One of our members asked me to post this link about save the Dolphins.
The Website claims that the Japanese are feeding the meat to Japanese school children.
http://www.savejapandolphins.org
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS December... and beyond
To ensure privacy please note that event Coordinators phone numbers are never posted. If you are a Club member please consult your Buddy List for the number you need. If you do not have a copy there will be one available at the next General Meeting, or contact Melissa Ames.
Just a quick reminder... The Calendar exists for the convenience of all our members. If you see a future event that is of interest please contact the Coordinator directly. You can sign on to an event at any time. The Coordinator will be more than pleased to place your name on the list and tell you where to mail payment.
Remember.. you are not confirmed on an event until you have made payment. A member who signs on later but makes payment first will receive preference.
November 14: 8:00 AM Show 8:30 AM Go (Saturday) Once again onto the briny with Dave, John and assorted other vessels, departing from John Lloyd State Park, Dania. Going to be a beautiful day for divers and (hopefully) a rotten day for lobsters.
November 14: Pete's Golf Scramble (Saturday) Pete Stephinson will be hosting his annual golf outing at the Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club in Boca Raton. A $55.00 fee pays for golf, cart, trophies, prizes, buffet lunch, beer and sodas. Such a deal. All abilities welcome so contact Pete for more details.
November 15: Bike Ride (Sunday) It's gonna be a struggle but Julie Taylor is planning to drag herself out of bed and over to Hollywood Beach for an 11:00 AM bike ride. We applaud her noble effort.
November 18: Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday) Lynne Schreiber will be our hostess at Tropical Acres, 2500 Griffin Road for a superb dinner. The steaks are great, the seafood outstanding and, of course, your presence will make it a memorable night. Dinner bell will be at 7:30. Call Lynne for more details or go to www.tropicalacres.com.
December 2: General Meeting 7:30 PM Sharp! Lauderdale Isles Yacht and Tennis Club Address and directions elsewhere on the website. E-Board elections! so be sure to make this one.
December 5: Holiday Party This is the big one! Once again at the I.T. Parker Center in Dania Beach we will have lots of great food, abundant libation and endless fun for all. The nominal charge of $10.00 per member or guest gets you all this and DJ Frankie, too. A covered dish is required. There will be a sign-up sheet at the December meeting so you can let us know what you are bringing. Donations to the American Cancer Society in memory of Nansy MacKenzie and Capt. Chris Hinckley will be accepted.
December 7: SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road. Everybody welcome. Meeting starts at 7:30.
December 12: 8:30 AM Show 9:00 AM Go Annual "Trim the Tree" Dive (Saturday) 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 $50.00, tax and tip included. Call Gerry Cowen for details and call Dave Schneider to sign-up. www.coastalmarinediving.com
December 16: 9:30 AM Show 10:00 AM Go "Last Dive of the Year" The water may be getting chilly, so don enough neoprene and join Dave Schneider aboard Scubatyme. $55.00 covers the cost, the fun is for free. Go to www.scubatyme.com for more information and call Dave to sign on
December 19: Holiday Lights Cruise 6:30 PM Show 7:00 PM Go (Saturday) Once again Bob Horin all aboard the Lady-Go-Diver sailing out of Deerfield Beach. This has long been a Holiday Season highlight so sign on soon since we will be limited to the first 40 paid members. Cost will be $20.00 and the "extra" price of admission, as always, will be a covered dish to share. Please bring your own beverage.
February 5 - 7: Manatee Mania! Drake & Bonnie Lee Barber will be hosting a hardy group of manatee lovers on our first excursion of 2010. Plans are to stay two nights, snorkel and dive with the marvelous mammals, eat, drink and be happy. Cost of $200.00 covers your room, 2 breakfasts, snorkeling and diving. Sounds like a great time! Contact the Barbers' for more information and be sure to get your $110.00 deposit in soon.
February 17: Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday) Join Pete Stephinson and Jim Ekholm for some Asian culinary delights at Kyojin Buffet, 21073 Powerline Road in Boca Raton. Sushi - Japanese treats - other oriental classics - who could ask for more! Dinner bell will ring at 7:30. Call Pete or Jim for more details or go to www.kyojinbuffet.com
March 13 - 14: SUDS Flea Market
April 9 - 11: Spring Camp & Dive Okay, it's still 2009, but it's never too soon to let everyone in on a good thing. Craig & Linda Sandel have reserved sites again at J.D. State Park in Jupiter. Plan to eat, drink, dive, canoe, kayak, bike, hike and revel to your hearts content. Space is limited so sign up early and be sure to pay the $25.00 per person to ensure your participation. Tents only due to space limitations.
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"POLICIES & PROCEDURES" NOW PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE
The rules and regulations that we must all abide by are now printed in their entirety on the website. I cannot stress enough how important it is that all members, new and old, read and be thoroughly aware of how these rules apply to them. I have summarized below some of the more important points.
Payment: A member is confirmed only after they have paid. Payments for dives must be made when signing up. Payments for trips must be made according to the schedule as outlined by the Coordinator. In the event that a dive, trip, etc. is overbooked than those confirmed to go will be determined by the date order of payment.
Cancellation: Once a member signs on for a dive, event, etc. he/she is obligated to pay unless they contact the Coordinator by the specified cancellation time, as outlined in the Policies and Procedures.
Certification Requirements: Some dives will be restricted to divers with certain minimum requirements, generally as specified by the dive operator. In some cases these minimums may be set by the Coordinator in conjunction with the E-Board based on the profile and/or characteristics of the planned dive. No exceptions will be allowed for any reason.
Special Needs: Some of our members have "special needs" when participating on a dive or trip. These can be cases where the person needs extra assistance on a dive boat, special requirements regarding accommodations, etc. Coordinators are not psychic. It is the responsibility of the member to make sure the Coordinator knows of these needs well in advance of the event.
Please be sure that these rules are clear to you. If not, get clarification from any E-Board member.
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OVERSEAS TRIPS 2010
Tobago 2010
May 8th - May 15th
"The waters of Tobago teem with colorful reef fish and healthy corals, but it is the encounters with the "Giants of the Drift" that truly set this island apart from all other Caribbean dive destinations.
Accommodation: Manta Lodge
Estimated cost for the trip is $1500 and includes:
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Nov
2009
Dinner at large
Tropical Acres
Photos
by Lynne Schreiber
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Captain Slate's
Creature Feature Dive
Photo's by Pete Stephinson
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Vandenberg Dive
photos by Pete Stephinson
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Videos and photos by By David Pressler
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Click here for more pictures and Videos
Vandenberg Dive
Video by John Beals
Photos by Darrell and Nancy Hejde
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Wayne Pantke's Bahamas Adventure Photos
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December Meeting
Program
Club Executive Board Elections
The ABC’s of diving glossary:
December, 2009 notes brought to you
by the letters K & L:
Kelvin - A unit of measurement for temperature. The magnitude of one degree Kelvin is equal to that of one degree Celsius.
Larynx - The organ of voice
production, also known as the voice box; the opening from the back of the
throat into the trachea (windpipe).
Laryngospasm - Severe constriction of the larynx in response to the
introduction to water, allergies, or noxious
stimuli.
Lift Bag - A specialized bag that is used to assist a diver in bringing a
submerged object to the surface. After attaching the bag to a submerged
object, the diver adds air to the bag to increase its buoyancy.
Logbook - A recorded history of an individual's diving experience. Usually
contains, at least, the dive number, location, date, maximum depth and bottom
time.
LPM - Liters per minute. A measurement of a flow rate of gas or liquid.
LWL - Low water level
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A SAFETY MINUTE
Joe G's December, 2009 Safety Minute
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Signal Devices:
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The Wet Zone South
Florida Divers, Inc., |
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