March 2008 Calendar..   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 advise and assist your efforts.

February 20:  Dinner-at-Large (Wednesday)  Julie Taylor wants to bring out the Irish in all of us as she rings the dinner bell at Field's Irish Pub on Griffin Road. This is a well established fun spot so bring your appetite and a smile and be ready for a super evening. Julie plans for the festivities to commence at 7:30.

February 20 & 23:  Nitrox Class (Thursday & Saturday)  Gerry Cowen has offered to coordinate a Nitrox Class at Coastal Marine, 641 E. Dania Beach Blvd.  There will be a 2  hour class starting at 6:30 on the 20th. and a two tank certification dive trip on the 23rd.  This will be an 8:30 Show, 9:00 Go aboard the Blue Runner. The cost will be $149.00 for everything, including course materials.  Please note:  anyone who is taking the course must  pick up the course materials in advance and be prepared  for the classwork.

February 23:  1:00 Show PM 1:30 PM Go (Saturday)  The diving venue turns slightly north as Dave Schneider plans to lead a group off the stern of the Lady-Go-Diver out of Deerfield Beach.  Put on the heavy neoprene and join in the fun.  Cost will be $50.00, tax and tip included.  Call Dave for more details or go to www.dixiedivers.com. 

March 5:  General Meeting  7:30 PM (Sharp!) Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, 2029 SW 20th. Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33315.   [driving directions here]  www.flpowersquadron.org/   This will be the last meeting at this location.

March 6:  Monty Python's "Spamalot"   (Thursday)  Joe Giandinoto has arranged for a group to go to the Carnival Center in Miami to see the award winning "Spamalot".  The performance begin at 8:00 PM.  This promises to be a great evening so be sure to sign-up or give Joe a call to get on the "preferred" list.  The cost is $75.00 but will be reduced to $68.30 if he gets 15 or more people.

March 8:  1:00 PM Show  1:30 PM Go (Saturday)  The waters off Palm Beach County beckon and Dave Schneider wants a group to join him on the Starfish Enterprise out of Lantana.  Here's hoping the seas are warming up, the vis is good and the marine life will be out in force to greet us.  Dinner at the Old Key Lime House is always an added treat.  The days diving will cost $50.00, tax and tip included.  For more details call Dave or go to www.idivestarfish.com. 

March 9:  Daylight Savings begins

March 10:  SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road.  The meeting starts promptly at 7:30.  We encourage any and all members to attend and assist in making your Club even better than it already is.

March 16:  1:00 PM Show  1:30 PM Go (Sunday) Parrot Island Adventure  Chris and Stan have "found" a new boat for us to use in the new year.  We will be diving off the Fathoms of Fun out of Pompano, near the Hillsboro inlet.  Total cost will be a bargain $45.00, tax and tip included.  This should be a great afternoon so be sure to sign on.  Call Chris and Stan for more details or go to www.parrotislandscuba.com for more info. 

March 20:  Dinner-at-Large (Thursday)  Let's join Chris and Stan for an evening of culinary delights at TropicBleu, a student-ran restaurant on the campus of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu School.  Dinner bell at 7:00. They do not have a liquor license, but you can bring your favorite bottle of wine!  Conveniently located at 3221 Enterprise Way (off Miramar Parkway between Red Rd. and Palm Ave.).  For more information call Chris or you can reach the restaurant at 954-438-8828.
 

March 22:  Shark Valley Bike Ride (Saturday)  Julie Taylor has her bike greased and ready to go into the wilderness of Shark Valley.  Throwing caution to the wind, Julie says "come on out and watch me wrestle some alligators".  The ride will start at 11:00 AM so get a good nights rest and enjoy a day in the great outdoors. For more information give Julie a call.

March 23:  Easter Sunday  

March 28-29-30:  Advanced Open Water Class  Kyle Russell has arranged an Advanced Open Water class to be held at Divers Direct.  The cost will be $325.00 (+/-) for everything.  Classroom work will be on Friday evening, lake dives and instruction Saturday and ocean dives on Sunday.  This is a great opportunity to get your advanced certification before the upcoming overseas trips and the summer diving season.  Call Kyle for more information.

March 29:  8:00 AM Show  8:30 PM Go (Saturday) "Private" Boat Dive  Dave and John are ready to lead a flotilla to sea for a day of good diving and camaraderie.  This is an "almost the last day of lobster season" event so get your snares and nets out and join the crazed bunch as they savage the feisty crustaceans. The fleet leaves from John U. Lloyd State Park at 8:30 sharp so be sure to be on time or you'll be buying your dinner at the local supermarket

April 2:  General Meeting  7:30 PM (Sharp!)    New location to be announced!

April 4 - 6:  3rd. Annual Camp & Canoe Weekend  Well attended for the past two years and back by popular acclaim, Craig and Linda Sandel beckon all into the uncharted wilderness of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound.  Ok, so there are electrical hook-ups, running water, clean restrooms and canoe rentals, it still is a weekend in the woods amid the splendor of Mother Nature. As always, you will have to supply your own tent, gear, food and beverage and maybe some firewood.  Craig and Linda will provide the trees, campsite, racoons and other wonders of the great outdoors.  Some great trail biking and nature walks are also at the park. Information packets will be available for those that sign on.

April 7:  SFDI Executive Board Meeting at Connections for Business, 2843 Pembroke Road, NE corner of I-95 and Pembroke Road.  The meeting starts promptly at 7:30.  We encourage any and all members to attend and assist in making your Club even better than it already is.

April 12:  Pig Roast! (Saturday)  We've got the date, we've got the place (Lauderdale Isles Yacht Club, 2637 Whale Harbor Lane, Ft. Lauderdale) and we got the pig.. well, maybe not the pig quite yet, but you get the idea.  Starting time will be 5:30 PM, somewhat earlier for the pig.  For the bargain entrance fee of $5.00 per member and first guest, $10.00 for each additional guest, plus a covered dish to share you will be able to feast like a king (or queen) on chicken, pork and assorted side dishes and desserts, quaff beer and wine to your hearts content and revel the night away.  This is one of our most popular social events (the pig would take exception if it was still able to speak) so be sure to be there.

April 17:  Dinner-at-Large (Thursday)  It's time to go back to John Kansman's favorite restaurant, Don Arturo's, for some outrageous Cuban cuisine.  The festivities will begin at 7:30.  Conveniently located, Don Arturo's can be found at 1198 SW 27 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  For more information give John a call.
 

April 18 - 20  Ocean Fest

April 20:  Passover

April 26:  Pete Stephinson's Annual Golf Scramble (Saturday)  Pete will be hosting his annual golf outing at the Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club in Boca Raton.  A $50.00 fee pays for golf, cart, trophies, prizes, buffet lunch, beer and sodas.  Such a deal.  All abilities are welcome so contact Pete for more details.

April 27:  Taurus Birthday Blow-out (Sunday)  The April birthday boys and girls welcome all to a party to end all parties.  The details aren't finalized yet but it will be held at Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield.  More information as it becomes available.

INTERNATIONAL TRIPS FOR 2008

May 31 - June 7:      Cozumel - Iberostar Resort    Jeff Raffa, Coordinator                                                                     Space still available

June 15 - June 21:    Roatan - Fantasy Island Beach Resort    Dave Schneider, Coordinator                                                                                   Space still available

July 12 - July 19:     Dominica - Castle Comfort Lodge    Peter Stephinson, Coordinator

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.

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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