Top Island Econauts

Top Island Econauts – Annual General Meeting Minutes; November 6th, 2007

1. Call to order/introductions/new members (quorum = 6)  Apologies: Ken, Jacqui, Watsons  Present: Gord, Garth, Glen, Andy, Jackie, Markus  Gord take minutes.

2. Approval of Minutes of September 4th ; note no meeting on October 2nd as there was no quorum  First: Glen Second: Andy (all in favour)

3. Update on Action Points Action Update Jacqui  Measurements for console cover On hold Markus  Tomblin re. Rebreather Called and explained our position  Pricing on 2nd hand 4-strokes Under Emerald Express Jackie  Director’s liability Under financial  Update re. Robson Bight funds Now looks like government will finance. Would get cheque back if not done as a NGO effort. Andy  Box outside fire station for cylinders On hold Sean  Look into price for boat trailer in CR On hold  Ladder for Ernie’s boat To be done, if possible, by next MLW. If not done – let divers know this vessel does not have dive ladder Gord  Install GPS Glen  Contact Marty re. Engine Done. Now runs perfectly.  Storage locker key Still to be done  Contact Sean re. Potential trade in of Evenrudes No contact  Contact Chris re. Helping Gord install GPS Will do tomorrow  Geordie dive in TC Done with Ken. Thank you Ken and Glen! Garth  Gas credit to Furney Done  Hydro due on compressor cylinders Will do. Gord will help.

4. Administrative  No election – all in by acclamation: President Jackie Hildering; Vice President Gord Jenkins; Secretary (+Newsletter)  Jacqui Engel; Treasurer Garth Jickling; Two-year Directors Lee-Ann Watson and Markus Kronwitter (Glen is alternate); Dive Coordinator Andy Hanke; One-year Directors Sean Watson and Ken Kollman  Great thanks to Executive. Discuss membership involvement.  Assign audit committee (to complete audit before December meeting) past/new President; past/new Treasurer; two chosen non-executive members. Glen and hopefully Ursula (Garth to contact). Aim at meeting in week of November 12th.  Society form –filled in, society fee ($25) done. Sent off by Jackie Nov 8th  New Econauts: Alf Scragg from NZ. Rob New. Both have done check-out dives. Terry and Christine Hind deliver membership forms (won membership at MLW)  5 applicants from UBC dive club (see correspondence). Discuss as potential members. Would join us this weekend. 4 divers have acceptable dive histories.  Presentation will be Markus re. “specialty” certifications and membership – rebreather and mixed gas. See notes at end.  Note Markus gone from Nov 11th to April 1st. Shop still operate.

5. Executive - Minutes of October 9th meeting discussed. No issues put forward for executive.

6. Financial  Financial report (Garth) – Oct and Nov.  Cheques: $60 ($25 cylinder + $20 membership + credit)  Cash:$30 from Scragg and $30 from New (both pro-rated membership $20 and one dive Oct 14th);  Bills owing: $150 Jackie pay for econauts.org and topislandeconauts.org as domain names for next 5 years; $124 storage; $193.21 Furney.  Bills paid: $192 for two years for Killer Whale Adoption; $500 Save Robson Bight  Letter to Stubbs re. Bursary. We accidentally paid $500 to bursary recipient. Stubbs has paid back to club. 1  Directors’ liability insurance (Jackie) – no property or bodily damage covered so (unanimously) decide not of interest.  Quotes for dive trips under point #14  Previously on hold: bursary increase (voted on at Executive meeting to remain at $500 October 9th) , trailer for skiff ($2000 reserved); subsidy for local classes to whale watch

7. Newsletter (Jacqui) – Emerald Expressions Will not be a November newsletter but JH will email the scheduled dives to all.

8. Reports/Correspondence Bursary request from NISS (will deal with in Jan) Email from Kate Woods (UBC Scuba Club) see Nov agenda for text.

9. Regalia - no one currently able to take this on.

10. May Long Weekend next discussed in December Saturday May 17th, departures will be 07.00 (9.5’ E F) and 13.40 (6’ F E) Sunday May 18th, departures will be 07.30 (10’) and 14.25 (6’) Monday May 19th, departure 08.10 (10’) or 15.00 (6’) Note: Markus moves we up participation to 60 divers (discuss in December)

11.Emerald Express – vessel  Update on maintenance. Marty repair solenoid. Works really well now. Agreed that we put the investigation of getting alternate motors on hold.  Boat needs scraping.

12.Safety Do buddy checks. Seems we are not doing so consistently (Glen)

13.Community Festivals / Support  Dive for whale bones in Coal Harbour. Garth – no evidence of bones. Glen – after 40 years, what would be left seen how quickly the bones break-down that we retrieve for the WIC. Jackie to contact John Ford.  Beach Camp (Terry E.) On hold.

14.Diving  Past dives – no listing  Upcoming dives/events -November 11th (Sunday) - Two dives. Departure from Telegraph Cove at 08.00. Divers: Andy, Glen, Jackie, Leslie, Anne Marie, Vicki, Gregory, Guanjin. Captain: Garth (thank you Garth!) -November 18th (Sunday) - Departure from Telegraph Cove at 10.00 (4' exchange). Divers: Gord, Glen, Andy, Jackie -November 25th (Sunday) - huge exchange so will not be doing a boat dive. Bear Cove shore dive. Meet at the boat ramp in Port Hardy at 13.00. Divers: Gord, Garth, Glen, Andy -November 30th (Friday) - Social: Year End Dinner at the Haida Way. Please contact Jackie to confirm by November 23rd at the latest. Will do a fun gift exchange game (bring $15 gift). -December 2nd (Sunday) - Departure from Telegraph Cove at 09.00. Divers: Glen, Gord, Andy, Garth, Jackie -November 4th (Tuesday)- Meeting at the Old School in Port McNeill 7.30 PM; Room 3. See agenda. Dives will be determined for the rest of December. December 9th (Sunday) - Departure from Telegraph Cove at 09.00. Divers: Gord, Andy, Garth -February 9th (Saturday) - Skills dive and fun at the Port Hardy pool. Please come Econauts to practice those essential dive skills. Bring family to enjoy the hot tub, pool and sauna. Will have a group lunch afterward. -April 5th (Saturday) - Potential dive to Booker Lagoon at $40/diver. Divers: Garth, Gord, Glen, Jacqui, Jackie, Andy, Markus. Maximum divers = 10. Club subsidize rest.  Further Events for scheduling: Gord see if SunFun available for April 5th

15. Any Other Business (AOB) Jackie – everyone okay if club were to write a letter of support for Jim O’s application for a foreshore lease at the mouth of Arrow Pass. Could be used for dive outings. Yes – everyone okay.

16.Submissions Future Meeting(s)?  Post meeting presentation?  MLW including which clubs to be invited; Gods Pocket making boat available; Markus’ motion to move to 60

2  Report back from Audit Committee  Bursary Committee – Jan  Constitution – do we make mention of conservation and do we define non-diver

17.Announcement of next Meeting/Adjournment General Meeting – December 4th, 19.30 in Old School, Port McNeill. Meeting adjourned at: 20.40

Presentation Markus on Nitrox Diving and Rebreathers

Nitrox: Glen point out that club policy is that Nitrox diving is fine in the club. Markus point out we should get more information from divers diving Nitrox. Explain partial pressures, MOD (maximum operating depth) and that with dives getting longer with Nitrox (and potentially rebreathers) we should as part of our briefing, indicate maximum dive time.

Motion: Club policy to become: For Nitrox divers : record MOD and maximum depth in dive log. For all dives, state maximum dive time as part of dive briefing. First: Glen Second: Gord. All in favour

Rebreathers:

Markus explain functioning and anatomy of rebreathers. State new generation has constant oxygen partial pressure of 1.2. Does not change with depth and will never hit critical mass. Discuss advantages and experience as boat operator. Would have to limit dive time (as could stay down for 4 hours) and ask for dive profile. Would be mandatory to have a safe second on the rebreather. Would have to buddy up rebreather diver with conventional diver as the better safety measure. No safety issues with rebreathers. Not for MLW. All volunteers and DM not want to take on responsibility for rebreather in a group. For club – develop policy – must stay with conventional diver and limit bottom time.