Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago
Meeting Minutes
27 May 2009

General

•  Approximately 30 members met at 6:30 on the 8th floor of the Helix Building, 310 S. Racine at Jackson.
• Tonight's meeting was run by Joan Forsberg, with food provided by John Gerty.

Board and Committee Reports

• Secretary - John Bell provided copies of the minutes from the last meeting, which were approved.
• Membership – Scott Reimer provided updated membership rosters.
• Treasury –  Bob Gadbois reported on the state of UASC finances.
  • Dues are past due ! Please get checks and ( updated ) info to Bob.
  • CDs not earning enough interest to be worth it, so funds transferred to checking.
  • Some new and renewed memberships have come in.
  • New accounting information has been prepared for the board.
  • Contact Bob for further information.
• ICSSD – Claire Gadbois reported on the Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers:
  • DiveHeart welcomed as the latest new member of ICSSD.
  • Kevin Vaugn coordinating an underwater puzzle competition as a fundraiser for diabeters.
  • July 26 - Jim Haigh Memorial Dive at Haigh Quarry
  • Sept 19 - International Beach Clean Up
  • Oct 4 - Underwater Pumpkin Carving Dive at Haigh Quarry
    • CASA and Tritons hosting.
  • Oct 10 - President's Night Banquet and Raffle
    • Burnham Yacht Club, same venue as the Xmas party.
    • Chicken Marsala, Grilled Salmon, or Pasta Primavera.
    • Credit Cards required for the cash bar.
  • Nov 3 - ICSSD Budget Meeting
  • UW Christmas Tree Decorating?
  • DiveHeart support
    • April 7 training for "Get a Vet Wet", 7 to 8 P.M. at Diveheart Headquarters.
• Newsletter – Cris Kohl
  • The March/April newsletter was distributed.
  • Cris thanks all who contributed to the newsletter.
  • The May/June newsletter will be distributed at the June meeting.
• Dive Coordinator - Michael Angelo Gagliardi
  1. Michael e-mails his reports to members@uaschicago.org, as he cannot make meetings.
  2. May 11 - Straits of Mackinac ( fun dive. )
  3. May 25 - Rotarian - blown off, re-scheduled for Monday June 15th, one spot open.
• Other:

Old Business

1. None

New Business

1. Buccaneer - Bob Rushman
   • Next workday scheduled for next Saturday or Sunday, TBD.
     • Redecking the stern, and general cleanup this weekend.
     • Wear old clothes, knee pads, eye protection, gloves, etc. & bring a lunch.
   • Buc is now resting on the bottom, since the river level dropped two feet.
   • Steam cleaning to hopefully be done this weekend.
2. Chicago Maritime Trail
   1. Cris & Joan visited Thurnderbird center in Alpena and spoke with the people who did the WI Maritime trail.
   2. They will be providing full information so that we can extend the existing trail around the Great Lakes.
   3. Then we will contact politicians for funding.
3. N.A.S. Course in Underwater Archaeology
   1. Cris - Wayne Lusardi is one of the few qualified instructors, has been teaching the course in Alpena.
   2. He will come down here and teach for free, since he is NOAA supported, IF we have enough people.
   3. 3-day course. ( Part I out of IV possible. )
   4. Scheduling will be challenging.
   5. $65 textbook + $10 certification card, otherwise no charge.
   6. UASC cost - gas money, meals, lodging ( chez Kohl & Forsberg )
4. Chicago Maritime Society -- Call 312 665-7334 (Trigg Waller) for free membership
5. UASC’s new Chicago shipwrecks DVD
   1. $15 for the public, $12 for members
   2. 40% discount available to anyone who buys 10 or more. ( $9 each. )
6. Tentative Club Dives:
• George Morley shore dive & picnic -- Cheryl Wickstrom & Dean Nolan coordinators.
  • See attached flyer for full details.
  • Saturday June 20th.
  • 9:00am-9:30am – Arrive
  • 9:30am-11:30am – Gear up, and dive
  • 11:30am-1:00pm – Picnic
  • 1:30pm – 3:00pm – Tour of Dawes Mansion and Grounds ( Evanston Historical Society)
  • Dawes Park / Greenwood Streat Beach / Dawes Mansion in Evanston, IL.
  • Picnic cost will be free for members, $5 for non-members. ( not including beach access. )
  • $8 / person beach access fee.
  • RSVP to Cheryl Wickstrom ( clwickst at yahoo dot com ) no later than June 17th with the following info:
    • Name
    • Number of members for lunch
    • Number of non-members for lunch ( $5 each. Includes family members if your UASC memberships status is individual, but feel free to upgrade.. )
    • How may total prefer a vegetarian option.
    • Number of divers
    • Number to take the tour of the Dawes Mansion
    • Contact # in case of cancellation.
  • Dawes Mansion / Evanston Historical Society across the street.
    • Very interesting place to visit, but only open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
    • George Morley anchor on the front lawn.
    • Other very interesting artifacts and research opportunities.
    • Closed until May, free until June, then paid admission.
7. Washington Island (Door Co.) -- Labor Day weekend -- Ruth Magnus, coordinator
   • 10 Acres chez Magnus
   • 14 divers showed hands of interest
   • No air on the island, but tanks available in Chicago.
8. Rotarian survey dive, 15 June 2009.
9. Project AWARE Day -- Beach Clean-up, September 19, 2009
   • Ruth Magnus coordinating efforts with UPS who will be supporting this activity.
10. Upcoming Shows
1. Feb. 19-21, 2010: The SPECIAL 40th “Our World -- Underwater” Show, Chicago, IL
2. Feb. 27, 2010:
   1. 8th annual “Chicago Maritime Festival,” Chicago, IL
   2. “Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival, “Detroit, MI
   3. “Dive into the Past,” Minneapolis, MN
3. March 5-6, 2010 (Fri. & Sat.) -- 11th annual “Ghost Ships Festival,” Milwaukee, WI
   • $10 savings to the 2010 show for new members to UASC
   • $5 savings to the 2010 show for regular members.
11. SURVEY PROJECTS 2009: Surveys/Drawings to be completed; detailed reports to be written:
    1. See below for further details.
12. UASC 20th Anniversary Celebrations
• George Morley Picnic and Dive
• If we get the Buc sunk this year, Hank Fiene will throw the party.
• Still looking for other good ideas.
13. OTHER:
• Joan - We went a workshop at the National Archives and were promised access to all their files.
• Certificate of appreciation awarded to Tony Kiefer for his Tool Crib presentation.
• Discussion of a possible environmental survey to be completed, in association with the sinking of the Buc.
14. THANKS to Dan Kasberger ( Refreshments Coordinator ) and John Gerty for tonight’s refreshments
15. NEXT UASC MEETING: 6:30 PM, Wednesday, June 24, 2009.
    • Speaker will be
    • Refreshment coordinator for 2009 is Dan Kasberger.
    • John and Kat Bell to provide refreshments

Shipwreck Survey Projects

• Buccaneer - To be scuttled in 2009 in ??’ - Claen-up Leader: Bob Rushman.
• Material Service - Sank on July 29, 1936 in 38’ - Project Leader: Jim J./John L./Tony K./Cris K.
  • Photographers recently dove on the Material Service and collected info to complete the project.
• Barge No. 2 - Sank on Sept. 29, 1906 in 40’ - Project Leader: John Loftus
  • Project may be nearing completion.
• The Straits of Mackinac - Scuttled on April 10, 2003 in 78’ - Project Leader:Needed
• The Rotarian - Scuttled on September 28, 1931 in 80' - Project Leader: Joan Forsberg

Guest Speakers

• Ed Thiel - The Wreck of the George W. Morley
  • His grandfather ( asst. Fire Chief in Evanston ), was involved in the recovery of the propellor.
• Jim Elliott - Founder and President of DiveHeart.
  • Diveheart supports and promotes as many other similar organizations ( e.g. SUDS ) as possible.
  • DMW, ( Diveheart Military Wounded ), helps ALL disabled veterans, regardless of service branch, war experience, or type of injury.
  • Find vets - as disabled divers and as dive buddies.
  • Welcome to attend buddy course for free if you committ to helping as a buddy diver. ( $250 value )
    • Thursday, Friday night classwork
    • Saturday, Sunday diving.
    • Dates on web site.
    • Mostly at Haigh Quarry.
    • Classes normally at Downers Grove, but could go anywhere.
  • Hook up Jim with Liz.
  • Joan: how can UASC help his divers do survey work?
  • Gene Hasiak coordinater between UASC and DiveHeart.
  • UASC donating 10 DVDs to Diveheart.

Other Business

•  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00, after which a number of members retired to Ricobene's for further discussions and socializing.