ODC May 2014 Newsletter
Owatonna Divers Club
ODC News Letter
Owatonna Diving Club | PO Box 232, Owatonna MN 55060 | May 26, 2014 |
Upcoming Events
May 31st 2014 Dues Deadline May 31st Kholmeyer Buoy's June 10th Monthly Meeting June 14-15 Open Water Checkout | June 29th Mille Lacs Lake July 8-12 Isle Royale July 30 – Aug 2 Bayfield |
Every Thursday, 7:30 Pump Nights
2014 Owatonna Dive Club Officers
President – Troy Matejcek
Vice President – Denny Javens
Secretary – Bob Kierski
Treasure – Jim Zabel
Board
One Year – Jeff Kirchner
Two Year – Pete DeGrood
Three Year – Delbert Kepka
Club Meetings
We encourage all members, family and new students to attend the monthly club meetings to share experiences, laughs, and ideas for future dives, as well as the state of the club. We meet at 7:00, the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, June 10th. All are welcome to attend.
2013 ODC Membership Drive
The 2014 ODC membership drive is almost done. If you pay by May 31st the dues are $20.00 for the year per family. If you pay after May 31st they are $25. Stop down at the club for pump night, club meeting night, visit, and see your friendly ODC treasure Jim Zabel to renew.
You should have received a contact information form with the contact information that we have on file. ODC uses this information only to keep you informed about club events, or other activities related to diving in and around MN. ODC does not sell your information to anyone. If there are changes to your contact information, please send me a message with specific instructions about what needs to be changed. If there aren't any changes, please send me a message letting me know that nothing needs to be changed.
To obtain Lifetime membership with the Owatonna Diving Club, you can enroll in one of two ways:
1. If you are at least 50 years old, pay $200.
2. If you are at least 55 years old, pay $100.
Lifetime membership enrollment can be made anytime during the year. Once you are enrolled, your name will be added to the plaque at the Club House.
If you are a Lifetime Member, you have also been asked to update your contact information. You should have received a contact information form. Please take the time to send me a message with (or without) corrections to your contact information.
If your contact information changes at other times of the year, you can always update your information by sending me email at owatonn...@gmail.com. Thanks for your cooperation and support.
2014 Hydro Testing
Any SCUBA tanks stored at the ODC Club House that needs Hydrostatic Testing in 2014 was tested by a DOT approved mobile inspector on April 29th. ODC calculates the fee we charge for Hydro Testing, by taking the bill from the Hydro tester and dividing it by the number of tanks that were tested. ODC does not include a profit for the club in the fee we charge for Hydro testing. This year, the fee for Hydro testing is $25. Because ODC is expected to pay the entire Hydro testing bill within 30 days, we ask that you pay your Hydro testing bill as quickly as possible. If you know you have tanks at the Club House that needed Hydro Testing in 2014, please send a check to the PO Box at the top of this newsletter.
Building Maintenance
We started talking about Building Maintenance issues back in March of 2013. We had a list of projects that needed to get done. Almost all of those projects have been finished. Fixing the sidewalk is the last of the external projects that need to be finished before we start working on the internal repairs. At the May meeting, we decided to repair the sidewalk rather than replace it. The concrete is still in very good condition. It just slopes toward the building. Jacking the sidewalk will be done sometime in June. Thanks to all those who've been involved in getting bids, making plans, and especially those who've been doing the work.
Isle Royale
The annual trip to Isle Royale is coming up quickly. We leave from the ODC Clubhouse sometime in the morning of Tuesday, July 8th. There are plenty of vehicles going and we can usually make a detour to pick up someone along the way. The caravan drives to the “McDonalds At The Top of the Hill” around lunchtime, where we meet up with anyone who’s driven separately. From there, we proceed up the scenic North Shore, stopping along the way at Super One Foods in Two Harbors to pick up block ice. When we finally get within spitting distance of the Canadian border, we stop and make camp at the marina/campgrounds in Grand Portage. If the weather is nice, we make the crossing Tuesday night. Otherwise we settle in for the night and make the crossing in the morning. If the weather cooperates, we will have 3 full days of diving, with the possibility of an additional morning dive on Saturday before we head back. Food and shelter are provided. All you need to bring is sleeping equipment (cot or mat, sleeping bag), a lawn chair (if you want one), extra snaky food or drinks, and of course... your dive gear. If you are interested, there is a signup sheet at the ODC Clubhouse. For more information contact Don Matejcek.
Bayfield (Gateway to the Apostle Islands)
Camping at Little Sand Bay Campgrounds is filling up fast. This is a Drive-to-Dive and Family Camping event for the club. If you are interested in going, there is a signup sheet at the clubhouse, or contact Don Matejcek.
Also... There are a lot of things to do in and around Bayfield. If you’ve gone in the past and have ideas about what people might like to do (or might like to avoid) please send me any information you have. I would like to include in the June newsletter as many ideas as possible.
Owatonna Junior High Pool Sweeping
Park and Rec has purchased a Robo-Vac for keeping the JH Pool clean. They will no longer need our sweeping services. Thanks to all those who've come out each month to help sweep the pool. We got feedback from Park and Rec that we really made a difference and they appreciated our work.
Extra Skills Night
ODC held our first "Extra Skills Night" Wednesday April 30th. The students got to practice towing a float and flag. They got to experience low viz conditions, 7 deep water entries (including some boat entries), and competed for an ODC tee shirt. Those who participated had a good time. The winner of the shirt was Thor.
Thanks to all those who helped make this a successful event. If you have suggestions about what we can do next year, please talk with Corey, send me an email, or come to a meeting.
Open Water Checkout (Big Blue)
Our annual Open Water Checkout weekend has been moved to June 14th and 15th. We need someone to volunteer to be Iron Chef for the Saturday lunch cook out. ODC will provide all the food. We need someone who's skilled with the tongs to (wo)man the grill while the Instructor, Students, and Dive Masters are in the water. If you are willing to be Iron Chef for the day, please let me know. If we don't have a volunteer, we'll have to revert to "On-Your-Own" style lunch.
Lake Kholmeyer Byoy'sn
Park and Rec asked that we push back the date for putting in the Lake Kholmeyer Buyo's by one week. We'll be meeting at the beach at about 9:30 on Saturday May 31st. We should be done around noon. If you plan to help, and need a tank, please let me know so that arrangements can be made. If you plan to help, please contact Troy.
Spring Northshore Dive/Hespar Buoy
I don't think the weather could have been more perfect. When we got to the "McDonalds at the Top of the Hill," the car thermometer read 82, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. When we got to Silver Bay, it had cooled to a comfortable 76. We had low humidity, and hardly any wind. In fact, looking out at the lake, it was like a sheet of glass. The weather was so nice, we decided to do an extra dive – "Brent's Wreck" (aka Crystal City).
There were just 3 from ODC that drove up the Northshore on Sunday, May 25. Don and Troy Matejcek drove from the ODC Club House and picked me (Bob Kierski) up at the McStop in Lakeville. We were a bit ahead of schedule so we decided to stop in Two Harbors for lunch, and just got gas at the top of the hill.
The water temp was about 36, and visibility was over 40 feet. After we finished up on Brent's Wreck, we went out to the ice field. Yup! There's still ice on Superior. That's probably why the water was so cold.
There were a lot of people out enjoying the weather that were curious about what we were doing, what we'd seen, and why we were wearing such weird equipment. A few people stopped to tell us they were divers too.
|
|
|
|
These pictures look a little fuzzy because someone couldn't keep their fingers off the camera lens. The sky and water are actually blue…. You'd had to have been there to appreciate the awesomeness of this iceberg field, straight out of Titanic, on a sunny warm day…. Only in Minnesota can you do an ice dive on an 82 degree day.
On the way home, we stopped at Gordy's for burgers and malts.
Diving in Lake Kholmeyer
Because of the incidents that have happened recently, people get a little nervous when they see divers in Lake Kholmeyer. As the result, the city is asking that we notify them before we do any SCUBA diving in the lake. That way, when they get the 9-1-1 calls, they can say "Not to worry… That's just ODC playing around."
Mille Lacs Lake
Chuck, Don, and Troy are planning a day trip to Mille Lacs Lake to look for anchors, lours, cameras, wallets, and any other treasure they can find. The date is Sunday June 29th. If you're interested in his fun outing, please contact Chuck, Don, or Troy.
Pump Night Operators Needed!!!
We need a few more people to volunteer to be in charge on Thursday Pump nights. We will be holding a training session. Even if you're just interested in learning more about compressor maintenance and operation, we encourage members to attend this. If you're interested, please send me a note, or contact Troy.
Newsletter
If you have a story you would like to write for the Newsletter, or would like to see something in a newsletter, please send me an email at owatonn...@gmail.com. The next Newsletter is scheduled to go out June 29th. Please have any material to me by noon June 28th if you want it in the Newsletter.
Dive Safe, Dive with a Buddy!
Owatonna Diving Club Classifieds
This section is dedicated to club members who have an item for sale or wanted items. If you have an item, please send me an email at owatonn...@gmail.com. If your item sells or you have found the item you are looking for please contact me so it can be removed.
From Trudy and Brian Haugen (haug...@gmail.com) Phone 507-456-3463
I have two complete dive suits I would like to sell as whole units. The descriptions are as follows:
1. Parkway Farmer John Style Wet Suit - size XL
U S Diver Aqua-Lung BC Calypso Style - size XL
U S Diver Conshelf 21 Regulator with Octopus and Guages
Turboflex SP Fins - size L ( one fin has a broken strap )
US Diver Mask and Snorkel
Hood - size L
US Diver Boots - size L
Dacor Gloves - size L
US Diver Carry Bag
I would like $ 200.00 for this complete set.
2. Henderson USA Farmer John Style Wet Suit - size M
US Diver Aqua-Lung BC Marier Type - size M
US Diver Cousteau Regulator with Octopus and Guages
Aqua-Lung Fins Pulse Type - size S
Optinna Mask with Dacor Snorkel
Henderson Aquatic Hood - size L
Deep See Boots - size 7
Deep See Gloves - size M
Us Diver Carry Bag
I would like $ 200.00 for this complete set
I also have three other pieces for sale:.
A. US Diver Stainless Steel Dive Knife with shield and holder - $15.00
B. Dive Tank Plastic Protective Netting - $ 1.00
C. Weight Belt with Seventeen 2 1/2 pound lead weights - $20.00