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
  • Michael e-mails his reports to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., as he cannot make meetings.
  • May 11 - Straits of Mackinac ( fun dive. )
  • May 25 - Rotarian - blown off, re-scheduled for Monday June 15th, one spot open.
• Other:

Old Business

• None

New Business

• 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.
• Chicago Maritime Trail
  • Cris & Joan visited Thurnderbird center in Alpena and spoke with the people who did the WI Maritime trail.
  • They will be providing full information so that we can extend the existing trail around the Great Lakes.
  • Then we will contact politicians for funding.
• N.A.S. Course in Underwater Archaeology
  • Cris - Wayne Lusardi is one of the few qualified instructors, has been teaching the course in Alpena.
  • He will come down here and teach for free, since he is NOAA supported, IF we have enough people.
  • 3-day course. ( Part I out of IV possible. )
  • Scheduling will be challenging.
  • $65 textbook + $10 certification card, otherwise no charge.
  • UASC cost - gas money, meals, lodging ( chez Kohl & Forsberg )
• Chicago Maritime Society -- Call 312 665-7334 (Trigg Waller) for free membership
• UASC’s new Chicago shipwrecks DVD
  • $15 for the public, $12 for members
  • 40% discount available to anyone who buys 10 or more. ( $9 each. )
• 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.
• 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.
• Rotarian survey dive, 15 June 2009.

• Project AWARE Day -- Beach Clean-up, September 19, 2009
  • Ruth Magnus coordinating efforts with UPS who will be supporting this activity.
• Upcoming Shows
  • Feb. 19-21, 2010: The SPECIAL 40th “Our World -- Underwater” Show, Chicago, IL
  • Feb. 27, 2010:
    • 8th annual “Chicago Maritime Festival,” Chicago, IL
    • “Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival, “Detroit, MI
    • “Dive into the Past,” Minneapolis, MN
  • 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.
• SURVEY PROJECTS 2009: Surveys/Drawings to be completed; detailed reports to be written:
  • See below for further details.
• 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.
• 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.
• THANKS to Dan Kasberger ( Refreshments Coordinator ) and John Gerty for tonight’s refreshments
• 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.