President’s Message
Happy April everyone! Spring weather is finally with us and hopefully corresponding sea temperatures. It’s still quite windy so we are hopeful that conditions will improve in the near future.
The annual pig roast will be held Saturday, April 27, at 6:30 at the VFW. It is always a fun party for us, for the pig, not so much. Don’t forget to bring either a side dish, appetizer or dessert and a big appetite. Once again, feel free to bring guests, the more the merrier. Unlike the holiday party, we are not allowed to bring any alcoholic beverages to the VFW. The club, a usual, will provide beer, wine, soft drinks and water.
Don’t forget to check the calendar for scheduled events. We have lots of fun events planned including a trip to Cozumel at the end of May. We usually have at least one members private boat dive per month and if you haven’t done one of those you should consider it. We always have a lot of fun.
If you haven’t been diving in a while it might be a good idea to have your gear checked out. That second stage of yours might have something living in it after being in your garage so long. Now is a good time to have it serviced.
If you haven’t paid your dues for 2024 yet, please do so as soon as possible and submit your signed renewal forms
Looking forward to seeing a lot of you either a meeting or on a dive boat.
Live long and lobster!
Jeff Raffa
President SFDI
MARCH PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Well here it is March already. It seems like the holiday party was just a couple of weeks ago.
The lobster hunters among us will hopefully be busy for the next four weeks as the lobster season comes to a close at the end of March. We have been blown out of our past few attempts to dive and the water is on the cool side so hopefully March will have better conditions. After the lobster season ends we can shoot lion fish to give our other reef fish a break from these voracious eaters.
Thanks to Donna Eades we had a great time on the annual Tri Rail pub crawl. I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip.
Our March meeting speaker will be Jim Garber. Jim will show us how to be more creative in our underwater photography.
We have a few dives scheduled in March so check out the calendar and join us for a fun day of diving. We also have a few non diving events for the cold water phobics so think about joining us.
Please remember to pay your dues if you haven’t done so already. Remember, you cannot participate in most club activities unless you are a member in good standing.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the March meeting.
Jeff Raffa
President SFDI
FEBRUARY PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I can’t say that the weather has been conducive to diving lately. It’s been windy and lately it’s been cold. It’s not a good sign when the mid winter water temperature is significantly warmer than the air temperature. As always, better days are coming. Before we know it we will be back into spring weather.
Our January wacky gift exchange was lots of fun as it always is. I think most people were happy with the gifts they received. I know that I was. Thanks to John and Donna for officiating.
Even though we haven’t been doing too much diving, there are lots of fun activities on the calendar. It’s normal for the diving to decrease at this time of year so your Eboard has come up with some great events, some old favorites and some new stuff. Check out the calendar.
Please, if you haven’t already paid your dues please do so either at the meeting or through the mail or email and PayPal. We need proof of dive insurance and the renewal forms filled out also. Unlike everything else, our dues have not gone up in price. This club membership is still a bargain.
Hoping to see many of you at the meeting or at some of the other club events.
Live long and lobster,
Jeff
Jeff
JANUARY PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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 7, 2024 and we will be back to the IT Parker facility. Mark your calendars.
As you know, the elections were held at the December meeting and I’m happy to report that we have some new blood on the Eboard. I think with the new people we will get some fresh ideas that will benefit all of us.
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 2024 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