2007 in review:

January:
Tuesday, January 9: General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

Friday & Saturday January 19-20: Discover Scuba
90 minute sessions trying out scuba diving. Thanks to  AUC instructor Carsen and local instructor, Carmen Boivert. Thanks to Greg for tons of work coordinating, and to volunteers Phil, Georgina, Rob, Gary Nunns, Ernie, Patrick and Ron. We had 41 youth and 7 adults attend.

Friday, Jan. 19th: 1-2:30 p.m.          Friday, Jan. 19th 2:30-4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20: 3-4:30 p.m.        Saturday, Jan. 20: 5:30-7 p.m.

Saturday, January 27: Display booth, Mac Island fundraiser, Michelle Boudreau coordinating.

Saturday, January 27: Christmas Party, Ron Cooper's house
Publicity: We're getting regular publicity through the Today Paper and Shaw Cable community events.

February:
Tuesday, February 6: General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center.

New people this year we had new people join us to find out about scuba diving. Many were people - youth, parents and other adults - who had participated in the Discover Scuba. When there were new people, we spent time introducing them to the things that scuba diving holds for each of us, the process for becoming certified, and how we can help.

Videos: several meetings this year we started the meeting with videos: West Coast invertebrates, intro to PADI, etc.

Syncrude Good Neighbours Grant: We received $500 via Chris. Thanks Chris!
Director's Liability Insurance was renewed.
Mac Island event Display table: Thanks to Michelle for setting one up.

March:
Tuesday, March 6: General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

March 13: Transportation of Dangerous Goods training. Thanks to Georgina for facilitating, and Blair for organizing! Attending was Blair, Rob, Wayne, Michelle, Carmen and Ron.

Donation: We gave $150 donation to the Dug Out for their youth programming.
Casino Final Financial Report: completed by Kitty and Georgina for Gaming.
Scholarships: We gave 4 scholarships of $1500 each. Congratulations to the recipients!

April:
Tuesday, April 3: General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

Friday-Saturday April 27-29: Spring Trade Show. Thank you to Patrick Boudreau for coordinating. Thanks to people who did shifts: Michelle Duffy, Carmen Boivert (2), Rob Duffy, Don Holloway, Greg Halinda, Blair Steeves, Dave Allen, David Coppard (3), Chris Sand, Marlene Sand, Darina, Al Boudreau, Michelle Boudreau

May:
Tuesday, May 1: Annual General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

May long weekend Jasper Aquathon and River Race. Hosted by Alberta Underwater Council. Michelle and Patrick went.

Equipment: all tanks got their vis checks.

June:
Tuesday, June 5: General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center
Maintenance: Ron did air compressor maintenance. Dean gathered air samples for tests. Came back all clear.

Saturday June 23, Golden Eagle Campground Clean-up Thanks to Darina Valentik and Kathryn Morrison  for organizing, cooking, hauling the trailer and cleaning up. Thanks to Ron, Michelle, Patrick, Kitty, Greg & Gwenna for coming out. And thanks to scholarship recipient Bailey Nicholson and her mom Karen who came out to clean!

Sunday June 24, Gregoire Lake Provincial Park beach, and Snorkeling Demonstration for kids. Thanks to Darina and Kathryn for again organizing, cooking, hauling the trailer and cleaning up. Thanks to Michelle, Patrick, Lyse, Daniel, Carmen, Ron, Doug, Greg, Kitty and Gwenna for coming out. And thanks to scholarship recipient Brett who came for the event. The snorkeling demo was postponed as it was a cool day so few families were at the beach.

July:
Tuesday, July 3 : General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center. Tribute to Darina Valentik.

Thursday, July 5: The loss of club member, Darina Valentik. Memorial for her at Catholic Church, and at the Sands' house afterwards. Our scholarship will be renamed the Darina Valentik Memorial Scholarship in her memory.

Sunday July 8 Triathlon Thanks to Dean, Ron, Floyd, Lyse &Daniel who helped out. They were on shore and on the water making sure cold tired swimmers didn't sink (the boat is now more of a hindrance than a help). We're considering other boat options.

August:
Tuesday, August 14:  General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center, but only a couple of people showed up.

August 18, 19: Underwater Rodeo Competition, Cold Lake, Big thanks to Carmen for all the organizing, Rob for hauling the trailer down and then up. Thanks to Rob & Michelle Duffy & kids, Carmen Boivert, Daniel, Lyse & Vincent Gauthier, Boyd Ash, Steve Sibley, Brian Miles and Leslie Molzan who all helped out. 54 people came from all over northern Alberta, and it was a great time.

September:
Tuesday, September 11: 7:30 General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

Thursday, September 27: Centennial Pool. Gear check up in the pool. Thanks to Michelle for coordinating it! Michelle, Patrick, Blaire and Daniel popped in the water.

Saturday, September 29: Pumpkin Dive, Clear Lake, Wainwright. Hosted by Buffalo Divers and Davco. Rob & Michelle Duff and kids went, representing Fort McMurray. There was a big turnout, around 50 divers from all over Alberta. The weather was awful; the warmest it got the entire day was plus 7 with a strong wind, and water temp was 52 degrees. The lake is nice as it drops off fast from 5 feet to 20 then to 50. The vis was horrible. You're lucky if you could see 4-5 feet. At 44 feet it was pitch black with about 2 feet of vis. The pumpkin carving went well. Rob dove with Red who did all the work. Lots to see at the bottom if it was clear. The Davco group sank a lot of stuff. Prizes were good, some from Davco, AUC, and a few other dive shops. Most of the Cold Lake crew showed as well as Jeff from Peace River, whose daughter is now certified. All in all it was a good event.

Donation: We donated $1200 to the Stollery Children's Hosptial and local S.P.C.A. in Darina's name.

October:
Tuesday, October 2: 7:30 General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center
September/October: A lot of people moved. We said thanks, good luck, and come back often to Phil, Georgina, Marlene, Ernie, Carmen and the Duffys.

Open and Confined Water Courses for Youth: our club now reimburses full course costs for people age 21 and under. Courses must be taken in Alberta.

November:
Tuesday, November 6: 7:30 General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

Friday & Saturday Nov. 30, Dec. 1: Discover Scuba, Centennial Pool. Thanks to Greg for organizing,  Carsen Ganci of AUC & Carmen Boivert for teaching, and to all club members who helped out. It was a fabulous success! There were 33 participants. Thanks to Bill Bowie of Outdoor Essentials for helping take names.

Friday Nov. 30 8 p.m. Social evening. Carsen and club members met at Delaneys.

Saturday Nov. 30, Sunday Dec. 1, 9 a.m. Dan 02 courses completed with Carmen. Thanks to Carmen for a great course!

Trailer: We decided to trade our trailer in for a lighter, smaller one. Thanks to Floyd for all his work with that.
Transportation for courses: Since Carmen moved, we now will reimburse members up to $150 for gas to go out of town (in Alberta) to take courses.

December:
Tuesday, December 4: 7:30 General Meeting, Bob Lamb Training Center

Training this year:
8 people practised skills out of province, $1200 each.
4 people took Visual inspection courses, $170 each
7 people took Dan 02 course with Carmen, $150
Other courses taken include: St. Johns Ambulance First Aid, Nitrox, on-line Dan, Apeks regulator, Solo Diving, Dry Suit

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