Newsletter January/February 2009

Athlone Sub Aqua Club January/February 2009 Newsletter

Appointment of New Directors

As you may be aware, changes were made to the line up of Directors that were voted in at the AGM held in November 2008. The new appointment of Directors took place at the Directors meeting held 28th January 2009. We now have a full committee again. One nomination was received for each position. The new Directors are welcomed and thanked for taking up these positions.

The new Directors as follows:

Vice Chairman ----------- June Robbins
Diving Officer ----------- Geraldine Fogarty
Training Officer --------- Ger Loughnane

Administration

There is a new process for registration with CFT online. An open day was held on Saturday, 21st February. If any member without Internet access missed this opportunity to register please contact either the Diving Officer or the Club Secretary. Another time that suits can be arranged.

Please remember that fees are due! Any members paying after the 31st of March 2009 will be obliged to pay an additional late fee of €50. This late fee is reduced to €25 for student divers.

Training

Good progress in pool training is being made. We have 8 new trainee divers. Lectures are in full swing and all should be completed by Sunday, 8th March 2009. Ger Loughnane would like to extend his thanks to all the instructors for the effort made in getting these lectures completed. Their hard work is appreciated.

Junior Snorkels

A meeting was held on Sunday, 15th February at 2.30pm in the Clubhouse for all new Junior Snorkels and their parents. This was an opportunity for the parents and juniors to be introduced to the Child Liaison Officers for this coming year, Geraldine Fogarty and Cian Hynes. It was also a chance for the parents to be briefed as to what the club is about and what it expects from its members both adult and junior alike. Copies of the Child Protection Policy Document were handed out and these are to be signed and returned to the club. It is hoped to bring the juniors on day trips during the year. Bernard Larkin, Junior Snorkel Officer, advised that all juniors were great and doing well in training. We would like to extend our thanks to those parents/guardians who turned up. Our juniors are important to our club!

Diving

The first dive of the year (Yeehaw!) will be taking place in Kilkee, the weekend of the 14th March 2009. This dive is for experienced divers only. The hostel in Kilkee will be available. All divers attending this weekend must ensure that the following is in place: Fitness to dive, In date Medical, Self-Assessment & fully paid up membership. If you are not dived up three snorkels have to be done before this weekend. Call down to the club house any Saturday morning to get these done. The Diving Officer, Geraldine Fogarty can be contacted on 086 8216670.


ATHLONE SUB AQUA CLUB - PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2009

RULES OF ENTRY

The A.S.A.C Photography Competition 2009 is open to paid-up Club Members only. All images must be digital and submitted on CD. Print and slide film images may be scanned to disc as a digital image.

The three categories are: Underwater Ireland, Funniest, and Diving Abroad

All images must be captioned (category, title of image, and where taken). The maximum entry is 3 images per person, per category.

Copyright of the image remains with the photographer. All entries should include name, address, and phone number and email address.

All entries must be posted to the A.S.A.C Clubhouse or handed in at the March Club Monthly Meeting.

Closing date 20.03.2009. Entries will not be accepted after this date.

Any Other Business?

On Wednesday 18th February, the Leading Diver brief took place at the clubhouse. There are two candidates from Athlone, Colm O’Reilly and Dominic Kirf. Two candidates from Mullingar and Three candidates from Lough Ree. Best of luck to all concerned.

The Nitrox course has been deferred until a later date. The new date will be confirmed and members informed accordingly.

Dive Ireland 2009 show takes place on 7th & 8th March in Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co Dublin. For more information check out www.cft.ie. A timetable for Trainee Diver and Club Diver lectures is also available on Sunday from Ger Loughnane.

The RNLI collection takes place on the 7th March – volunteers as usual are needed. Collection will take place in Dunnes of Montree only.

Congratulations to Jenny Foy on her recommendation received for her photograph printed in the Sub Sea winter issue 2008/2009.

As always please check our website for regular club updates and remember that club meetings take place on the first Wednesday of every month in the clubhouse at 8pm sharp. These meetings provide club members with an opportunity to have a say in the running of the club.

Welcome to season 2009!