Chamber Day/Eve 2004 update - May 3

[Ken Kurtis]

As I write this (8PM Monday night), we're less than 36 hours away from the
start of Chamber Day/Eve 2004 on Wednesday. This is truly the home stretch and
with a little extra push, we could still stand a shot at beating last year's
total. Here's where we stand as of 5/3 at 8PM:

CHAMBER DAY
We've pretty much sold out the daytime, with 339 of the 347 (98%) available
boat spots accounted for. In fact, the ONLY available spots now are on the
Horizon out of San Diego. Here's the rundown:

Aquatica (USA Scuba) - SOLD OUT (27)
Bottom Scratcher (Open boat) - SOLD OUT (27)
Cee Ray (Sport Chalet & Reef Seekers) - SOLD OUT (28)
Encore (Open boat) - SOLD OUT (36)
Great Escape (Open boat) - SOLD OUT (36)
Horizon (Sport Chalet) - 20 sold, only 8 more available
Island Time (Sport Chalet) - SOLD OUT (22)
Magician (Westside Aquatics) - SOLD OUT (30)
Mr. C (CA Wreck Divers & Rod Francis) - SOLD OUT (25)
Pacific Star (Scuba Schools of America) - SOLD OUT (28)
Psalty V (Scuba Schools of America) - SOLD OUT (6)
Second Stage (Scuba Schools of America) - SOLD OUT (6)
Sundiver (Ocean Adventures) - SOLD OUT (26)
Westerly (Douglas Dive Club, Golden Reef Dive Club, & Dive 'N Surf) - SOLD OUT
(24)

Flying Dutchman - 56 sold, PLENTY of spots available (duh!!!)

So at this point, if you can't do the Horizon, we'd love to have you on the
Flying Dutchman, our MYTHICAL boat for the day. But it gives you a chance to
feel part of the event, plus you get a unique commemorative "Flying Dutchman
Crew Member" t-shirt that's available ONLY to those who "dive" the Dutchman.
You can book on by calling our central number at 310/652-4990 or through the
website.

CHAMBER EVENING
So far, we've sold 319 of the 340 (94%) seats available for this evening event,
to be held once again at the magnificent Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.
Doors open at 7PM, you'll have over an hour to mingle and stroll through AoP's
exhibits (including Shark Lagoon), and buy some evening raffle tickets. Dinner
starts around 8:15, with our program (raffle winners, thank yous, etc.)
starting shortly after 9PM.

Cost is $75 which gets you in the door, dinner, two non-alcoholic drinks, 5
raffle tickets, and tons of fun. Stores/organizations sponsoring tables so far
include: Reef Seekers Dive Co. & Ken Kurtis/Bill Wright (3 tables), Scuba
Schools of America & Rusty Berry/Dan Barrows (4 tables), LABUE, Catalina
Conservancy Divers & Tom Turney, Burbank Dive Club, Laguna Sea Sports &
Gordy/Tammy Boivin (4 tables), West LA Dive Club, RA Buck/Barnacle Busters/Lost
Patrol (2 tables), Sundiver & Ray Arntz, LA County & Tom Wetzel,
ScubaDivernet.com & Sergio Herrera, SoCal Dive Club of the Inland Empire,
Hollywoodivers & Hal Wells, Birds Love Us, Sole Searchers, D.D.D. Club & Bill
Holzer (2 tables), Ocean Adventures & Steve Ladd, Sea d Sea & Barry Friedman,
Sport Chalet & Jim Guido/Clara Galvan/Mary Garner (2 tables), Ocean Institute &
Ken Kling, Aqua Adventures & Szilvia Gogh, and Blue Water Dive Club & Jim
Hoffman.

We're happy to squeeze you in at the last minute but we've REALLY got to lock
down the count for the caterer. You can reserve your seat by calling our
central number at 310/652-4990 or through the website.

CHAMBER CHALLENGE
Each year, we also issue a challenge to the general diving community to
contribute funds directly to the Chamber in addition to what might be
contributed through the daytime and evening events. As of May 3, we are at
$16,275. We hope you'll heed to call to keep the Chamber financially healthy
with your donation. You can get your name added to the Challenge list simply by
calling us at 310/652-4990 and let us know what you'd like to give.

OVERALL
Last year the event raised around $77,000. Right now (factoring in the
estimated expenses for catering at Chamber Evening) we're a little over
$53,000. (We also project another $10,000 from the raffles and merchandise
sales day-of-the-event.) So we've still got a ways to go and the reality is . .
. this is crunch time.

If you've been on the fence, NOW is the time to hop down and support your
Chamber. We simply can't do it without your help. We hope you'll join literally
thousands of your fellow SoCal divers who over the years have pitched in to
help insure the financial health of our Chamber. Get involved this year and
help us make Chamber Day/Eve 2004 the most successful ever. Thanks.

The Chamber Day/Eve 2004 Committee
Ken Kurtis, Chairman
www.chamberday.org