Its a month away.
Have you figured out your excuse to miss work for this important event, yet?
*cough*
Auntie May is in town.
Cat ate my school work...
C'mon. You gotta be there. If you're a SoCal diver and you've never taken the day off for a couple of mid-week boat dives and a tour of the chamber, and the chance to meet some of the smartest, most dedicated and hardest working people that have your back every time you get into the water - you're missing something very special.
The only thing that can match it is the splendor and pageantry of that I've come to call "Scuba Prom" - that would be Chamber Evening.
Seeing all of your neoprene clad, dive hair sporting, sea smelling homies rolling in their evening best to a fine sit-down dinner at one of the most beautiful venues in all of SoCal - the Long Beach Aquarium, where we essentially have run of the house for a night... its the best thing ever.
All of this serves as the primary fund raiser for the place and the people that will untwist you if something unexpected should happen on a dive. This is THE event, THE day that makes their year. If you're a SoCal diver, you owe it to them to come out and participate.
Plus its just fun fun fun.
I'm going. Haven't missed it for years. I even wear long pants for Chamber Evening!
I sure hope to see all of my SoCal buddies there. The dive boats still have room. There are still seats for the evening event.
And even if you can *cough cough* your way out of work, or if Scuba Prom is out of reach - do us all a favor: Pass on Starbucks for a week (and, gasp, drink the coffee from the machine at the office), log onto Welcome to Chamber Day! and send these guys $25 or $50.
Seriously.
This stuff matters. It matters a lot.
Hope to see you many of you there, either on the boats, at the AOP or at both!
-Ken
(a few shots from last year below)
PREPARATIONS
Lots of volunteers scurrying about making preparations for the raffles, setting up table settings, working with the MC to prepare the 5 computers and 8 projectors for the presentations, etc. Lots going on before the doors even open.
THE LINE UP & THE OPENING OF THE DOORS
Chamber Night is basically Scuba Prom. A bunch of divers dressing up to go meet with old friends (and new ones), have a great dinner, in a great venue, helping a great cause. This event brings out the very best of the the SoCal dive community, and I'm proud to have gone to 7 of these now. I wouldn't miss it.
Lining up early
Meeting friends in line outside
The Doors Open!
Some people head to the bar!
Some head to the raffle tables to look over the booty and get their tickets
With drinks in hand and tickets purchased, its time to head to the tables for the serving of a fine, fine dinner.
PRESENTATIONS
Ken Kurtis was once again the event's MC. He presided over a series of thanks to the fleet, a recognition of the table sponsors and other announcements and awards (and of course, the raffle prizes) that kept the evening moving along.
Tiny Ticket Taker - this little cutie pulled tickets and presented them to Ken
Michael shared some of history of the event, while Ken looks on
And the checks! Jill and Karl
Ken and Karl. You can't see it here, but Karl is sporting the whitest basketball shoes!
.
.
.
.
.
Have you figured out your excuse to miss work for this important event, yet?
*cough*
Auntie May is in town.
Cat ate my school work...
C'mon. You gotta be there. If you're a SoCal diver and you've never taken the day off for a couple of mid-week boat dives and a tour of the chamber, and the chance to meet some of the smartest, most dedicated and hardest working people that have your back every time you get into the water - you're missing something very special.
The only thing that can match it is the splendor and pageantry of that I've come to call "Scuba Prom" - that would be Chamber Evening.
Seeing all of your neoprene clad, dive hair sporting, sea smelling homies rolling in their evening best to a fine sit-down dinner at one of the most beautiful venues in all of SoCal - the Long Beach Aquarium, where we essentially have run of the house for a night... its the best thing ever.
All of this serves as the primary fund raiser for the place and the people that will untwist you if something unexpected should happen on a dive. This is THE event, THE day that makes their year. If you're a SoCal diver, you owe it to them to come out and participate.
Plus its just fun fun fun.
I'm going. Haven't missed it for years. I even wear long pants for Chamber Evening!
I sure hope to see all of my SoCal buddies there. The dive boats still have room. There are still seats for the evening event.
And even if you can *cough cough* your way out of work, or if Scuba Prom is out of reach - do us all a favor: Pass on Starbucks for a week (and, gasp, drink the coffee from the machine at the office), log onto Welcome to Chamber Day! and send these guys $25 or $50.
Seriously.
This stuff matters. It matters a lot.
Hope to see you many of you there, either on the boats, at the AOP or at both!
-Ken
(a few shots from last year below)
PREPARATIONS
Lots of volunteers scurrying about making preparations for the raffles, setting up table settings, working with the MC to prepare the 5 computers and 8 projectors for the presentations, etc. Lots going on before the doors even open.
THE LINE UP & THE OPENING OF THE DOORS
Chamber Night is basically Scuba Prom. A bunch of divers dressing up to go meet with old friends (and new ones), have a great dinner, in a great venue, helping a great cause. This event brings out the very best of the the SoCal dive community, and I'm proud to have gone to 7 of these now. I wouldn't miss it.
Lining up early
Meeting friends in line outside
The Doors Open!
Some people head to the bar!
Some head to the raffle tables to look over the booty and get their tickets
With drinks in hand and tickets purchased, its time to head to the tables for the serving of a fine, fine dinner.
PRESENTATIONS
Ken Kurtis was once again the event's MC. He presided over a series of thanks to the fleet, a recognition of the table sponsors and other announcements and awards (and of course, the raffle prizes) that kept the evening moving along.
Tiny Ticket Taker - this little cutie pulled tickets and presented them to Ken
Michael shared some of history of the event, while Ken looks on
And the checks! Jill and Karl
Ken and Karl. You can't see it here, but Karl is sporting the whitest basketball shoes!
.
.
.
.
.
