Happy New Year to everyone! I would like to thank everyone who came to the Holiday Party. The party was outstanding and special thanks to those of you who worked to make it the success that it was.
We are already planning next year’s party and it will be on December 2, 2023. Mark your calendars.
This years designated charity was the South Florida Wildlife Center.
They do a great job treating wild animals that have been injured. If possible, the animals are returned to the wild, if not they live out their lives at the center. What’s great is that they are local.
Thanks to the generosity of many of you we raised over $550 for this worthy cause. Hats off to all of you who donated.
The Christmas tree dive was a lot of fun. The tree from the holiday party was fitted with concrete shoes and placed on the wreck of the Merci Jesus. Once settled on the deck the tree was decorated with edible treats for the fish resulting in a bit of a feeding frenzy. All in all it was a great day. This dive has been a club tradition for many years. Plan to join us next year.
I am looking forward to the January meeting and our annual wacky gift exchange. Please bring a wrapped gift. The gift should be comical (wacky) or something nice. Please remember that wacky doesn’t mean junk. Try to bring something that you yourself would be happy to receive. Wear your holiday finery such as ugly Christmas sweaters and or Santa hats etc. This should make for some great Kodak moments.
We have a lot of fun activities on the calendar so check them out and join us. We always seem to have a lot of fun together. Keep in mind that you must be a member to take part in these activities so if you haven’t already paid your dues for 2023 please do so. Our dues are quite the bargain. Even though everything else has gone up in price, our dues have remained the same for at least the past twelve years.
Once again I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Jeff Raffa
President SFDI