Possible ideas for future meetings?!

[Sailor612]

Hey yall-
I just wanted to introduce myself on the forum and suggest an idea for a future meeting/event..

My name is Michael, I am 22 yrs old, and a full time student at UWF for Marine Biology! If you were at the Jan. 6 meeting, I was there for the first time. I have been diving for 10 years as a basic openwater diver, and just this past summer I finally got my Advanced OW and Nitrox cert. I've live in the area for about 19 years and couldn't picture life without the water being almost at my back door! I LOVE BEING ON THE WATER! I am also a member of the UWF Scuba Club.

Ok...now on to some ideas for a meeting/events in the future.

One thing I have always wanted to get involved with in regards to scuba is UW photography/videography!! Not only does it seem like a fun hobby, I feel that gaining knowledge of how to do it, techniques, and experience will also help me out in the future after I complete my Marine Bio degree!!! To me UW photography is a little intemidating with all the "cool" looking camera/accessories, I just don't know where or how to start without kicking myself in the butt later on for spending too much or not enough on equipment and having to count pennies for a year to pay it all off, or replace it with something better to get the results I want...

Another thing that was mentioned at the Jan. 6 meeting was a clean-up dive....
If anyone was around and saw the flyers/sign-up sheets last year about the Ft. Pickens Clean-up, that was put together by me....
Sadly, the weather didn't hold that day and we weren't able to do the dive...but I definatly put a lot of work into getting it together and working with ALL the local dive shops.
If that is an idea that comes up in the future, I'd be willing to assist getting it put together...i still have all the information from when I was putting it together. I think with the help and structure of the club, it would go VERY smooth! It was definatly difficult for one person to put it all together and make it happen. I dealt with many captains/boat owners who all agreed to help with "transporting" people to and from Pickens, the dive shops to help with cost (from gear rentals, tanks, air fills, raffles for prizes, etc...), park service to get the permits, and friends to get lunch plans!
It all went as planned until that morning, we loaded the boat up with all the food and spare tanks, and me and one of the captains headed out to the jetties to set stuff up and realize it was WAY to windy to make it successful

One more idea for you to think about...
The UWF Scuba Club is a large organization of many student! In my opinion, I think it would be great for the two clubs to get together at some point and hang out (maybe a club group cookout or something). It would be fun for students (many who are new to diving) to get a chance to meet other divers outside of their age group and experience level! I also think it would be a great "networking" opportunity for students to see what kind of diving things go on outside of campus!

Just some ideas....
Look foward to meeting more of yall in the future!
Michael

 

[seadoggirl]

Michael I love all three ideas. Also, you guys have a great instructor at UWF - Pomroy (?) Maybe we could talk him into being a guest speaker at one of the meetings to talk about marine ecology. I send him emails when I can questions about stuff I see and he is unbelievable at identifying stuff.

Also, if we do the clean up and get the UWF group to help, we could also make it a cookout. Fun brings people. I'm IN!

Great to meet such a wonderful group of divers

Sorry I had to try my newly learned skill from Mr. XRay

 

[seadoggirl]

Oh my goodness - This is too cool for words! I did it!

 

[MRXRAY]

Sailor612, Awesome input! Love the ideas! I take a good amount of pictures and would also LOVE to have someone who can come in and advise about Photosetup and ideas! Do you know anyone local who has had pictures published or would be considered a educator in this field? I think we could try to get this put together for the Feb. 3rd meeting! I'll ask the question on SB and see if anyone has any feedback.

I also love the idea for a Ft. Pickens Cleanup. I had heard about your cleanup efforts but wasn't going to be in town at the time. This is really an untouched area that needs a lot of help to prepart for the upcoming road opening. I think that this would or could be our first club trip assuming the road opens as scheduled this spring. If we could bring UWF out with us I feel it would be a win/win! Please tell the UWF club that they are more than welcome to join our club and we'd love to have a guest speaker come out and talk about the local discoveries, and maybe bring some artifacts with them! Let me know if this is a possibility for a future meeting!

Hey yall-
I just wanted to introduce myself on the forum and suggest an idea for a future meeting/event..

My name is Michael, I am 22 yrs old, and a full time student at UWF for Marine Biology! If you were at the Jan. 6 meeting, I was there for the first time. I have been diving for 10 years as a basic openwater diver, and just this past summer I finally got my Advanced OW and Nitrox cert. I've live in the area for about 19 years and couldn't picture life without the water being almost at my back door! I LOVE BEING ON THE WATER! I am also a member of the UWF Scuba Club.

Ok...now on to some ideas for a meeting/events in the future.

One thing I have always wanted to get involved with in regards to scuba is UW photography/videography!! Not only does it seem like a fun hobby, I feel that gaining knowledge of how to do it, techniques, and experience will also help me out in the future after I complete my Marine Bio degree!!! To me UW photography is a little intemidating with all the "cool" looking camera/accessories, I just don't know where or how to start without kicking myself in the butt later on for spending too much or not enough on equipment and having to count pennies for a year to pay it all off, or replace it with something better to get the results I want...

Another thing that was mentioned at the Jan. 6 meeting was a clean-up dive....
If anyone was around and saw the flyers/sign-up sheets last year about the Ft. Pickens Clean-up, that was put together by me....
Sadly, the weather didn't hold that day and we weren't able to do the dive...but I definatly put a lot of work into getting it together and working with ALL the local dive shops.
If that is an idea that comes up in the future, I'd be willing to assist getting it put together...i still have all the information from when I was putting it together. I think with the help and structure of the club, it would go VERY smooth! It was definatly difficult for one person to put it all together and make it happen. I dealt with many captains/boat owners who all agreed to help with "transporting" people to and from Pickens, the dive shops to help with cost (from gear rentals, tanks, air fills, raffles for prizes, etc...), park service to get the permits, and friends to get lunch plans!
It all went as planned until that morning, we loaded the boat up with all the food and spare tanks, and me and one of the captains headed out to the jetties to set stuff up and realize it was WAY to windy to make it successful

One more idea for you to think about...
The UWF Scuba Club is a large organization of many student! In my opinion, I think it would be great for the two clubs to get together at some point and hang out (maybe a club group cookout or something). It would be fun for students (many who are new to diving) to get a chance to meet other divers outside of their age group and experience level! I also think it would be a great "networking" opportunity for students to see what kind of diving things go on outside of campus!

Just some ideas....
Look foward to meeting more of yall in the future!
Michael

 

[MRXRAY]

Awesome job Seadoggirl! :wave:
It wasn't that hard was it? Do you know of anyone that is a photo pro that lives in the area?

Oh my goodness - This is too cool for words! I did it!

 

[MRXRAY]

I'll post this in the meeting as well, but I wanted to get some pics of the meeting up! Thanks for everyone for attending..... 25 people I think!

 

[seadoggirl]

Actually, Scott Bartel is unbelievable. His work is actually being used on many of the Oriskany T-shirts that you see. Also what about a panel of photographers - you, Walter, Scott. Ya'll could all bring sample gear also and that gives members a chance to touch and feel before they buy. A photo exhibit of everyones best pictures - something easy like slide shows or actual printed pictures on poster board would be cool. I have another projector like we used last night and my laptop. We could hook up two or three and review pictures with the different gear. Make sure everyone knows the price of what they are seeing. That way new photographer will be able to see the equipment, see the end product and know the price. AND they will have the photographer right there to talk about the good and bad of the equipment. Chas with Underwater Works in Fairhope Alabama also knows tons about underwater equipment and use.

 

[MRXRAY]

That wounds like a great idea! Do you have a contact for Scott Bartel? Is he in SB? Let's plan on making the next meeting a "Underwater Photo" exhibit and touch and feel! I talk to some local divers and see if they can bring there gear, as we have a wide range of cameras and housings and setups. I'd really like a guest speaker to talk about "How-to", Tips and general knowledge and field FAQ's. That would tie the whole thing together!

 

[seadoggirl]

I'll get in touch with Scott and Chas to see if they are interested.

 

[Sailor612]

Yes, Seadog....Dr. Pomory is correct! I last semester I took Zoology with him! He is VERY knowledgable about marine science and a GREAT teacher!!!! I definatly look foward to his other classes! He would make a great speaker for the club too...i doubt he knows me very well at this point though (we had 150 something people in the class), so you'd have to handle mentioning that to him since you communicate through e-mail.

I will also mention this club to the UWF club at our next meeting also!!!

Thats an amazing picture also seadog!!!!!!!!!!!