Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago
Meeting Minutes
30 September 2009

General

•  Approximately 25 members and guests met at 6:30 on the 8th floor of the Helix Building, 310 S. Racine at Jackson.
  • Guests and members of the Chicago Maritime Society.
• Tonight's meeting was run by Joan Forsberg, with food provided by Dean and Karen Nolan.
• UASC mourns the loss of Joyce Hayward, who passed away early this morning.

Board and Committee Reports

• Secretary - John Bell provided copies of the minutes from the last meeting, which were approved.
• Membership – August rosters were available. Non-paid members will be removed.
• Treasury –  Bob Gadbois reported on the state of UASC finances.
  • Dues are VERY past due ! Please get checks and ( updated ) info to Bob.
  • Very little recent activity.
  • Contact Bob for further information.
• ICSSD – Claire Gadbois reported on the Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers:
  • Sept 19 - International Beach Clean Up
    • Haigh Quarry Zebra Mussel Roundup
    • Several UASC members participated, and took the top 5 prizes. ( Cris Kohl top prize. )
    • Burnham Harbor had 80 - 95 divers.
    • Ruth Magnus arranged a third event.
  • Oct 4 - Underwater Pumpkin Carving Dive at Haigh Quarry
    • Tritons hosting.
  • NOVEMBER 14th NEW DATE - President's Night Banquet and Raffle
    • Burnham Yacht Club, same venue as the Xmas party.
    • $32.00 - down from 42 last year.
    • Chicken Marsala, Grilled Salmon, or Pasta Primavera.
    • EXCELLENT Raffle!!!
    • Credit Cards required for the cash bar.
    • Cocktails at 6:00, Dinner at 7:00
    • Bring a new unwrapped non-violent toy for Toys for Tots.
  • Nov 3 - ICSSD Budget Meeting
  • New Slate of Officers:
    • Margo Miller - President
    • Vice President -Chuck Miller
    • Dean Nolan - Executive Vice President
    • Bob Gadbois - Secretary
    • Claire Gadbois - Treasurer
    • Kevin Vaughn - Delegate
  • Ongoing project for dive safety - In process of updating Z-folders for boaters.
  • Nominations needed for Diver of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, and Club of the Year.
• Newsletter – Cris Kohl
  • July/August issue was passed out at tonight's meeting.
    • Copies will be mailed to those who were not present tonight.
  • Cris thanks all who contribute to the newsletter, past and future.
• Dive Coordinator - Michael Angelo Gagliardi
  1. Michael e-mails his reports to members@uaschicago.org, as he cannot make meetings.
• Other:

Old Business

1. Washington Island trip chez Magnus was FANTASTIC!!!
   1. Approximately 20 UASC members and friends attended.
   2. Five dive boats carried 18 to 20 divers to wonderful dive sites.
   3. Thank yous to our hosts, and all those who brought dive boats.

New Business

1. Buccaneer - Hank Fiene
   • Paperwork filed
   • Expect an inspection in the next 30 days.
   • Please direct all questions from the media to Jim Gentile.
   • One week left of comment period on public notice - No objections so far as far as we know.
   • Pumping out of last dregs.
2. UASC’s new Chicago shipwrecks DVD
   • Joan has shipped a few for which we received orders
   • $15 for the public, $12 for members
   • 40% discount available to anyone who buys 10 or more. ( $9 each. )
3. UASC's Survey Reports for Wells Burt, Sea Bird, and David Dows available.
4. Tentative Club Dives:
• On a Wed. eve, anchor over the wreck of the Flora M. Hill, dive there, and watch fireworks from Jim Gentile’s boat (a fun dive)
5. UASC Polo shirts - Chet Childs will be taking over this project - Contact Joan if you ordered a shirt.
   1. John Gerty will be looking into getting more / new nametags.
6. DiveHeart / UASC Project - survey dive.
• Return to the Tacoma to see how it has changed since the last survey?
• Gene Hasiak is our new coordinator with DiveHeart.
  • Diveheart has training programs every month for dive buddies, including training trips.
  • Looking for boats on which to take out disabled divers.
• There is a new e-mail group for UASC members interested in helping DiveHeart - Contact John Bell to get added.
• Need a dive boat big enough to handle a disabled diver, two assistants, and some UASC members.
• DiveHeart Luau is next month.
  
7. NAS Course
   1. Wayne Lesardi ( sp? ) would teach us the course at ( no ) cost IF he had time in his schedule.
   2. Mark Holly could also teach the course, 1st weekend in Nov ( 7th & 8th ), $225 / person, Traverse City, MI
   3. Manuals $45 to $65 depending on source.
   4. Associated Banquet - contact Cris Kohl for full details.
8. SURVEY PROJECTS 2009: Surveys/Drawings to be completed; detailed reports to be written:
• See below for further details.
9. OTHER:
• Ruth Magnus - Zebra Mussel Remediation.
• Our World Underwater - Speaker requests submitted for UASC Presentations:
  • Explore Chicago Shipwrecks, based on the DVD
  • Booze, Bullets, and the Buccaneer
• Nancy Boucha has an article in Midwest Dive News regarding local diving, with recommendation to join UASC.
• Dan Kasberger - Vote to back the bid online. This is an opportunity to promote Chicago diving & shipwrecks.
  • Festivities at Daley Center Friday morning.
• Two Birthdays - Gene Hasiak and Dan Kasberger :-)
10. THANKS to Dan Kasberger ( Refreshments Coordinator ) and everyone who brought tonight’s refreshments.
11. NEXT UASC MEETING: 6:30 PM, Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
• Speaker will be Kimm Stabelfeldt from the Ghost Ships Festival in Milwaukee
• Refreshments will be provided by Delphine Pontvieux
• Refreshment coordinator for 2009 is Dan Kasberger.
• ( Cow ) costumes are highly encouraged.

Shipwreck Survey Projects

• Buccaneer - To be scuttled in 2009 in ??’ - Clean-up Leader: Bob Rushman.
• Material Service - Sank on July 29, 1936 in 38’ - Project Leader: Jim J./John L./Tony K./Cris K.
  • Contact Cris or Joan if you have any relevant materials - Report to be generated soon.
• Barge No. 2 - Sank on Sept. 29, 1906 in 40’ - Project Leader: John Loftus
  • Project may be nearing completion.
• The Rotarian - Scuttled on September 28, 1931 in 80' - Project Leader: Tony Kiefer
• The Straits of Mackinac - Scuttled on April 10, 2003 in 78’ - Project Leader:Needed

Guest Speaker - ALL UASC Members

Tonight was a Pot Luck presentation night by all members on "What I did with My Summer 2009" Presenters included:

• John Bell - Various local and travel dives
• Bill Messner - Video of the Rotarian
• Bob and Claire Gadbois - Images from the northern Great lakes.
• John Gerty - Images from Door County and other trips.
• Tony Kiefer - Pictures from the mid east and the Mac.
• Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg - video from Door County Washington Island trip and several other wrecks.

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.