Christian,
You have indeed brought many wonderful people together to enjoy SoCal diving and each other's company.
You've encouraged new divers to keep going and learning. You've nudged hard-core beach-divers into trying boat diving. You've wrangled hard-bitten boat divers onto the warm sands of the beach and the craggy rocks of the points.
You've gentled angry and disruptive voices on the board in a way that left everyone intact, no one humiliated, and the S'Board forums safe for the more tender participants.
You've coached quietly skilled people into gentle leadership.
You look constantly for opportunities, moving smoothly around obstacles until they are just small bumps in the rearview mirror.
You dream. And then you act. And you keep dreaming.
You've worked gently behind the scenes to smooth over misunderstandings between friends.
You speak inclusively in your posts, without flexing power, without ego getting in the way. Yet you dare to make big plans and nurture consensus and enthusiasm. You take risks so more divers can come together and keep having fun.
You make a difference in small circles, medium ponds, and large seas.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Claudette