The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin

Transcription

1 FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION November 2012 Volume 19 Issue 11 Inside this Issue The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin page 1 FCDA Donors I page 2 October Meeting Raffle Winners page 3 Events of Interest to FCDA Members page 3 FCDA Member Ads page 3 Still Standing pages 4, 5 FCDA Donors II page 4 FCDA Donors III page High Pressure Air Hoses - Recall page 6 Annual FCDA Holiday Party page 7 Next FCDA Meeting page 8 The Presidents Corner by Matt Rownin The clocks have been turned back; it s getting dark earlier and the summer is beginning to be a distant memory as we look toward the Holiday Season. But as we turn this corner in the year many of us; our friends and family along the East Coast are picking up the pieces to a once-in-a-lifetime event, Hurricane meets Nor Easter or Superstorm Sandy as the media has tagged it. A storm that ravaged and damaged much of the East Coast and in many cases has changed parts of our shoreline forever. Millions lost power for more than a week and we saw gasoline shortages much like the 1970 s oil crisis where there were mile long lines or rationing of gas. Our population has been tested by Mother Nature and all of this on the verge of an election year. Many went to the polls in makeshift voting booths and in almost complete darkness to have their voice heard. And for the second year in a row, many towns cancelled Halloween, what a horror. But it is in our nature to pick ourselves up and move on but also not to forget. If you are fortunate enough to have not been affected by this storm do what you can to help those that have; they have lost their homes, their cars, and in some cases their lives. The good news is that it seems for the moment that the Coast Guard Cottage has remained standing and suffered some minor damage but should be sufficient for us to hold our next monthly meet and the last meeting of the year before the Holiday Party. For our November meeting our own Jeff Susa will come out of his shell and provide us with a presentation on snorkeling with the Manatees in Florida s Crystal River. So come one, come all and give Jeff your undivided attention..oh who am I kidding.come down and let s heckle the crap out of him. But remember our meeting is a week early due to Thanksgiving, so we are scheduled on November 16, Don t forget the Holiday Party on December 1; we will be at Ristorante Cinzano's, 1920 Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield, CT starting at 7pm. This is always a great time and the food is excellent as well as the company, we will have a cash bar and Grab Bag. The cost is $33.00 per person; $66 for two people and if there are three of you it will only cost you $99.00!!! How could you go wrong. Your reservation and payment are due by November 24, so don t delay send it in or bring it down on the 16 th. Ciao, and as always..safe Diving.. Your co-president Matt. PS We are also having our own election coming up this year. So stand up and get involved and nominate yourself. You know you want to!!!!

2 Page 2 FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. New England's Tech Diving Center! New England Dive Center 476 North Colony Street Wallingford, CT Fax Dealer for OMS, UWATEC, Oceanic, Mares, D a c or, C r e s s i - S u b, P o s e i d o n, Scubapro, Bare, O ' N e i l l a n d Henderson. P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT Internet mail: fcda@aol.com Presidents 2012 Board Matt Rownin & Mike Cassetta Vice-President Mark Shannon Secretary Treasurer Charles Blanchette Paul J. Gacek The region's foremost source for scuba and technical diving gear, t r a i n i n g a n d everything for the r e c r e a t i o n a l o r serious tech diver. Draeger Atlantis I Rebreather training, certification and rental. New England Dive Center offers complete training for all levels of diving, from Open Water through the most advanced technical courses. Our instruction provides certification through SSI, PDIC, TDI and IANTD. Visit us on the Web:

3 Page 3 October Meeting Raffle Winners After a presentation by Dr. David Charash, the club held its regular raffle to support our DAN Platinum sponsorship. The winners were: Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon DVD donated by NE Dive Center - Dave Charash;BC Life donated by Orbit marine Dive Center - Tom Thomes;Princeton Tec ECO Flare donated by NE Dive Center - Jim Purcell;Vinyl Decal donated by NE Dive Center - Mike Cas- setta;dive Alert Signal donated by NE Dive Center Mike Cassetta;2 Regular Air Fills donated by Rex Dive Center-John Hill;2 Nitrox Air Fills donated by Rex Dive Center-Dave Charash; Dive Gloves donated by NE Dive Center Katy Zaprzalka; BC Life donated by Orbit marine Dive Center - Toni Morgan;Zip Care donated by Orbit marine Dive Center - Dan Shannon;R- SB (Secondary) donated by Orbit marine Dive Center - Dan Shannon; Dry Box donated by Orbit marine Dive Center - Toni Morgan; Thanks to New England Dive Center, Orbit Marine Dive Center and Rex Dive Center for donating tonight s raffle prizes for our DAN raffle. Remember, you can't win if you don't buy tickets and you can't buy tickets if you don't get up and come out to FCDA events and meetings! Events of Interest to FCDA Members December 1, 2012 FDCA Annual Holiday Party 7pm Cinzanos Restaurant. For more information see page 7. FCDA Member Ads Hey - have you got a non retail-diving business that you d like to share with fellow members of FCDA? Get your business card size ad in the FCDA monthly newsletter Surface Interval for only $50.00 for one year. Give your business a boost and help support the production of our monthly newsletters. For more information, write to FCDA, P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT or to fcda@aol.com.

4 Page 4 Still Standing by Charlie Blanchette FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Pictured above is our beloved Auxiliary Coast Guard Shack, after Hurricane Sandy hit the shores of NJ, NY and CT with wind and astronomical storm surge which left thousands with out power and for some a home the Auxiliary Coast Guard Shack, our monthly meeting place with stood the forces of Sandy. Pictured above is the channel to the marina do you notice anything different, maybe something is missing, like the channel markers. (see next page)

5 Page 5 Still Standing (continued) FCDA Donors The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association. Well you can find them down below on Jennings Beach next to the Coast Guard Shack. If you tried to get into the parking lot pass the guard house it would have been hard unless you had a boat or your dry suit to get pass the guard house below. Rex Dive Center Offers Technical Diving Classes Interested in taking your training to the next level? Well it is still standing after all of this, so see you on the 16th of November. TDI Instructor George Sharrard (# 10270) is offering: Intro to Tech Advanced Nitrox Decompression Procedures Stop by Rex Dive Center to talk about schedules, class requirements and gear. Or, georges00z@aol.com for more information.

6 Page 6 2,900 High Pressure Air Hoses Recalled Is yours on the list? It s time for a quick check of your high pressure air hoses. Some high pressure hoses imported by Innovative Scuba Concepts in Colorado Springs, Colorado Trident Diving Equipment in Chatsworth, California and A-Plus Marine in Gulf Breeze, Florida which were manufactured by Li Chung Plastics Ind. Co. Ltd. In Taiwan are being recalled due to a possibility of rupturing. The importers have so far received reports of nine such hoses bursting, none of which have resulted in injuries. People who own a hose on the recall list should immediately stop using them. There are about 2,900 units which are suspect. The black braided high pressure air hoses vary in length from 6 to 40 inches and are about one centimeter in diameter. The hoses are used to connect high pressure gauges, and were sold under the Phantom and Mesh Flex brand names printed on the product packaging (note that these names were not printed on the hoses themselves). The hoses were sold at retail stores and online from August 2011 to August The air hoses have production date codes stamped into the metal fitting that attaches to the regulator with the following codes: Innovative Scuba Concepts: 11Q3, 11Q4 and 12Q1 Trident Diving Equipment: T0811, T0911, T1011, T1111, T1211, T0112, and T0212 A-Plus Marine: 11Q3, 11Q4, and 12Q1 Consumers should stop using this product, which is being recalled voluntarily, unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. If you own one of these hoses and purchased them since August 2011, contact the company below to obtain a free replacement: Innovative Scuba Concepts at (800) or visit their website at Trident Diving Equipment at Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST or visit the firm s website at A-Plus Marine at Monday through Friday between 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST or visit the firm s website at POSTED NOV. 7, 2012 Reprint from California Diver

7 Page 7 Annual FCDA Holiday Party Saturday, December 1, :00PM Ristorante Cinzano's 1920 Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield, CT Buffet Menu: Tortellini Carbonara, Chicken Marsala, Roast Tip Sirloin, Broiled Salmon Vegetable, Roasted Potatoes & Melange of Field Greens, Coffee, Tea and Dessert; Cash Bar $5 Grab Bag All this for only $33.00 per person! Advance reservations required!! Good Company Dive Raffle Music I want to have a great time at the 2012 Annual FCDA Holiday Party! Name(s) Number of $33.00 per person= Make your check payable to FCDA and mail to: FCDA, PO Box 3005, Fairfield, CT postmarked by November 24, 2012.

8 Page 8 Next FCDA Meeting Friday, November 16, :00 PM Coast Guard Cottage, South Benson Marina, Fairfield, CT Manatees a presentation by Jeff Susa Manatee snorkeling on the spring fed Crystal River in Florida. The endangered manatee is called the cow of the sea and is as big as one. Presented by FCDA member Captain Jeff Susa - rescue diver, under water pirate, wreck diver and all around great guy. Fairfield County Diving Association P.O. Box 3005 Fairfield, CT Address Service Requested