Member Update

Newsletter of the Calypso Sub-Aqua Club - BSAC 393 - Malta Issue 2 - February 2015

Braving through a harsh winter For the diary

This must have been so far one of the worst win- For those who are still hopeful, we’re still organiz- Wed 18th March ters for diving in recent memory. ing the Sunday dives and so far have had to pass only a couple of Sundays without getting our Together for a Buddy! Fundraising BBQ @ As we’ve been hearing all along this winter, think- elixir of life, compressed air, into our lungs. ing of looking at the weather forecast for an up- ATLAM Clubhouse date of what the weekend weather holds in store If you’re not on the mailing list for the Club Dives, TBA starting March for us seems to provoke a feeling of anguish and make sure Mario adds you and hopefully, for the despair. coming year, we plan to hold more dives in more First Aid Course for places. members and friends Wind, Wind and even MORE WIND! Take a Break hosted by CSAC and for ’s sake, will you?! The Annual General Meeting has just been held a run by St. John’s Am- couple of weeks back on the 17th February bulance Anyways, as the die-hard divers know, we still man- 2015. We’re attaching as part of this newsletter aged a few club dives in the sheltered ports and on the Annual Report for last year. the occasional break in the weather. Now coming up, in one of the major events that This is a good time instead to have a look at your we’ve been involved in for the last years, is a equipment’s needs such as servicing, catch up on Fundraising BBQ for a fellow Diver who’s been bit tips the reading if you’re studying for a new qualifica- taken away from the water by a bend and unfor- tion and for the photographers, to go back on your tunately needs our help. old photos and see how you’re going to improve them in the coming summer months (that is if Mr. We hope you join us to help a little our Buddy in or Ms. Merryweather lets summer come!) need! Better have one (or two) than wait for a Annual General Meeting 2015 miracle!

As those who attended the AGM 2015 on the 17th In the meantime, apart from looking at a few February 2015 know, the attendance has not been more possibly suitable properties, the committee spectacular. This was the only low point of the has held an introductory meeting with a commit- AGM however. tee member of another major and well renowned (non-diving) club. Once the required quorum as per statute was reached, the Executive committee presented the We met to discuss initial ideas about us forming Annual Report for 2015. We are attaching most of some sort of partnership with this club in order it here, but in a seashell, the main discussion re- to make use of some of their excellent facilities. volved about Club dives, premises and funds. We both also saw a potential for their club mem- bers to be able to benefit from this partnership It has been agreed in principle to organize more as well through courses and other assistance we shore dives and training courses whilst we need to might be able to provide. More on this later on as put greater emphasis on everyone sticking to div- it’s still early days. ing limits and plans, especially on boat dives. On the financial level, the Club has throughout The main premises updates are about the exhaus- the year cashed in on the investments held in tion of talks and retraction from the Promise of preparation for the purchase of the property Sale for the Blata l-Bajda property which we were mentioned before. Unfortunately, what happened so eager to purchase. This happened mainly due to after means that now we have to seek to reinvest unforeseen problems related to permits for or utilise these funds and various options were this property on which we were misguided and discussed in the meantime, with timing and fore- which only cropped up as an issue well past after sight being key issues. the Promise of Sale was signed. A unanimous vote was also taken for a number of updates to the Statute.

Page 2 Member Update

Useful Committee Numbers

Boat dive bookings: During this year’s AGM, the standing executive  Shore dives organization, starting with committee members have been reelected. planned Saturday @ Noon shore dives led Mario on 79393393 by Dive Leaders / instructors Positions in the Committee for 2015 have been Emergency: 112 agreed as follows:  Discussion and planning (requirements and what we can offer) for Clubhouse Hyperbaric Chamber at Chairman: Mr. Ian Barbara Mater Dei Hospital location meetings 2545 5269 Hon. Secretary Mr. David Agius & PRO :  Financials: We will place the majority of Nature Trust Wildlife club funds in a Fixed Term Deposit for a Rescue Team Diving Officer: Mr. Mario Azzopardi term of a year until decisions on prem- ises are needed so that some income is Emergency NO : 9999 Treasurer: Mr. Oswin Farrugia 9505 gained. Activity Officers: Mrs. Sarah Gauci Carlton Fisheries Enforcement  Training initiatives: First Aid Course with 80072240 Ms. Anna Degiorgio St. Johns Ambulance, Administra- tion Course and possibility of Instructor Members: Mr. Mark Vassallo Course all to be started in the near term.

Mr. David Mamo  Joint Fundraising Activity with other Dive Clubs on the 18th March at ATLAM Club- The First Committee Meeting has been held on house. Volunteers who want to help are bit tips the 24th February 2015. welcome. In this meeting, following agreeing to the above Does your buddy know positions, the committee discussed and decided  Next Social Activity—After Dive BBQ. who to call if something on the following: happens to you on a dive? Share a number!  AGM 2015 post mortem and updating of non-attending members.

Other points from the diary since the last newsletter

Thanks for all those who attended the Christmas Dinner and thanks to the sponsors of the raffle (DiveWarehouse, SubAqua Supplies and Scuba Systems) held afterwards where many a lucky diver walked away with something :)

Dives Done recently, albeit the bad Weather

Newwiela Point (07/12/2014), Double Arch (14/12/2014), Ras il-Hobz (21/12/2014), Tug 2 (28/12/2014), SS Margit (04/01/2015), MV Rozi (18/01/2015), Tug 2 (08/02/2015), Lantern Point (15/02/2015), HMS Maori (22/02/2015).

Pictures on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/calypsomalta/

Newsletter & Website

Any suggestions or comments, send to David Agius on [email protected]

We are in the process of moving our website away from www.csacmalta.org to www.calypsosac.org. The Facebook page will still be the main point of reference for day to day activities and discussions but our static website is being revamped for many good reasons :)