Athlone Sub Aqua Club March to May 2009 Newsletter
Equipment Checks
Now that the dive season has finally arrived its time to re-locate your diving gear!
Remember! The kit fairy tends to visit every winter and move things around. So if you can’t find a fin or two be patient. All will turn up eventually (hopefully sometime before the end of October!!).
Also, don’t forget too, that having reacquainted yourself with your gear, check that it is still in working order. The fact that your regulator was delivering more air than water the last time it was used does not mean that it is fine now!
Seriously though, now that many of us are getting ready to dive for the first time this season, please ensure that your gear is serviced and up to the task of diving. It is vitally important to take a little time out to check out dive equipment to ensure all is well before commencing diving for the season.
Remember! The kit fairy tends to visit every winter and move things around. So if you can’t find a fin or two be patient. All will turn up eventually (hopefully sometime before the end of October!!).
Also, don’t forget too, that having reacquainted yourself with your gear, check that it is still in working order. The fact that your regulator was delivering more air than water the last time it was used does not mean that it is fine now!
Seriously though, now that many of us are getting ready to dive for the first time this season, please ensure that your gear is serviced and up to the task of diving. It is vitally important to take a little time out to check out dive equipment to ensure all is well before commencing diving for the season.
Clubhouse Development
An alarm system has been installed in the clubhouse in order to safeguard the club’s premises and equipment. Members will be informed as to when this system will be becoming operational. A coffee dock is also in the process of being installed in the meeting room. Development work on the interior of the clubhouse is almost complete apart from a number of minor items.
It is proposed to hold an Open Night in the summer. This will be an opportunity for the club to publicly acknowledge the Inland Waterways Association (Athlone Branch), who generously supported this project, and to show the Athlone town’s folk the good works that have been done during the last year.
It is proposed to hold an Open Night in the summer. This will be an opportunity for the club to publicly acknowledge the Inland Waterways Association (Athlone Branch), who generously supported this project, and to show the Athlone town’s folk the good works that have been done during the last year.
Administration
For our newest members please remember that €100.00 dive fees are now due! This should be paid as soon as possible. This can be given to either the DO or Club Secretary.
Fundraising
Fund raising took place with bag packing in Tesco and Church Gate collections.
The Fund Raising Committee would like to express a special word of thanks to all members, and parents of members, who helped on the day of bag packing in Tesco. Thanks also to the 3 youth volunteers and their parents who came all the way from Moate at 10am and were sent home due to very few tills been operated in the morning. Thanks also to Bernard Larkin who helped in recruiting our younger members for the operation.
Many thanks go to Declan Walsh and Leo Reddy for organising these events.
Many thanks go to Declan Walsh and Leo Reddy for organising these events.
Grants
Grant applications have been submitted to the following organisations for a number of small projects:
Unfortunately, due to the present economic climate, it does not appear that there will be a Lottery Grants Scheme this year. It is also reasonable to assume that the country’s present economic difficulties will continue to have severe implications for the club for the foreseeable future. Without substantial grant funding the club’s capacity to invest in new equipment, such as replacing one of the club’s RIB’s, is going to be severely hampered.
The club will therefore have to become more self sufficient in its ability to generate funding. With this in mind the club intend organising a major fundraising event later in the year. A proposal being examined is a Benefit Night to be held in Mullingar Greyhound Stadium.
Members will be kept informed of developments!
- Westmeath County Council
- Roscommon County Council
- Westmeath Sports Partnership
Unfortunately, due to the present economic climate, it does not appear that there will be a Lottery Grants Scheme this year. It is also reasonable to assume that the country’s present economic difficulties will continue to have severe implications for the club for the foreseeable future. Without substantial grant funding the club’s capacity to invest in new equipment, such as replacing one of the club’s RIB’s, is going to be severely hampered.
The club will therefore have to become more self sufficient in its ability to generate funding. With this in mind the club intend organising a major fundraising event later in the year. A proposal being examined is a Benefit Night to be held in Mullingar Greyhound Stadium.
Members will be kept informed of developments!
Web Site
Athlone Sub Aqua Club has engaged the services of a web designer to produce a web site for the club. This site will include a wide range of features including pages on joining the club, training, diving, search and recovery, frequently asked questions, club news, archive, gallery, documents and a members forum. It is expected that this web site will be in operation by the end of June.
Extraordinary General Meeting
In accordance with the advice received from the club’s accountants a resolution was passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 6th May 2009 to transfer the clubs assets and liabilities into the name of Athlone Sub Aqua Club Ltd. This resolution was necessary in order finalise some financial details concerned with the club operating as limited company.
Club Trainees 2009
The club would like to welcome and congratulate all trainees who have completed their required snorkels and are ready and eager to dive. Wednesday night training is in full swing so keep up the good work being done.
Junior Snorkels
Congratulations and well done to all our juniors who did very well in their pool tests in April. Activities are being organised for during the summer and all will be notified accordingly.
Rescue Diver Training
Rescue Diver Training is ongoing, lifts etc are being done. Victor Cooney, from Roscommon, held a Rescue Diver Course, refresher & upgrade in the clubhouse on Saturday, 23rd May 2009. Daryas from Mullingar was on hand too to help out. There was a good turnout by members from Athlone and surrounding clubs. The Rescue Diver test is coming up and will be held in Mullingar on the 7th June 2009.
Best of luck to all concerned!
Best of luck to all concerned!
Regional Testing
Testing for Coxan and Club Diver will take place in Teelin, Co Donegal on the weekend of 26th June 2009. If you have all the required dives needed and the hours logged up and are interested in being tested please contact Geraldine Fogarty. If this weekend doesn’t suit then don’t worry, another testing weekend will be held towards the end of the season on 10th October 2009.
Leading Diver
Our Leading Diver trainees are training hard and attending lectures. They are working hard on their fitness and stamina training and are looking forward to completing their pre-reqs and written exams in June 2009 and practical exams, which take place in September 2009.
Cover Needed
Cover will be needed for the following events:
All help will be very much appreciated, so if you can, please let us know.
- 13th June 2009 - Boat Club, Regatta
- 14th June 2009 – Family Day Fundraiser in Balinasloe and Viking Mike, Athlone Day
- 16th June 2009 - Coosan Point, Charity Swim in aid of “Friends of Michael Hanley Leukaemia Fund”
- 18th July 2009 - Tri Athlone
All help will be very much appreciated, so if you can, please let us know.
ATHLONE SUB AQUA CLUB - PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2009
This competition did not take place as previously advertised so it was decided to hold off until the end of the dive season. Results will be announced at the AGM in November 2009.
So come on everybody, get clicking and show us what a great dive season you had this year!!! You have all summer (ahem!!) to get the perfect picture.
So come on everybody, get clicking and show us what a great dive season you had this year!!! You have all summer (ahem!!) to get the perfect picture.
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 any Club Members Monthly Meeting.
Closing date T.B.C.
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 any Club Members Monthly Meeting.
Closing date T.B.C.
Dive Schedule for 2009
Dive Weekend - Dive Location - Diving Officer
14/03/2009 - Kilkee Liam - Sherringham
25/04/2009 - Shannon - Geraldine Fogarty
02/05/2009 - Kilkee - Geraldine Fogarty
09/05/2009 - Kilkee(Cancelled) - Colm O’Reilly
16/05/2009 - Johns Point - Aiden Henry
23/05/2009 - Kilkee - Colm O’Reilly
30/05/2009 - Achill - Aiden Henry
06/06/2009 - Johns Point - Colm O’Reilly
13/06/2009 - Kilkee - Brian Duffy
20/06/2009 - Ballycastle Mayo - Ger Loughnane
27/06/2009 - Teelin - Ger Loughnane
04/07/2009 - Kilkee - Brian Duffy
11/07/2009 - Lacken - Colm O’Reilly
18/07/2009 - Tri-Athlone
25/07/2009 - Inisboffin - Aiden Henry
01/08/2009 - Ballycastle N I - Geraldine Fogarty
08/08/2009 - Ballycastle N I - Ger Loughnane
15/08/2009 - Johns Point - Geraldine Fogarty
22/08/2009 - Lambay Is - Ger Loughnane
29/08/2009 - Kilkee - Stewart McMickan
30/08/2009 - Kilkee - Bernard Larkin
05/09/2009 - Kilmore Quay - Aiden Henry
12/09/2009 - Aran Is - Stewart McMickan
19/09/2009 - Ballycastle Mayo - Ger Loughnane
26/09/2009 -Baltimore - Colm O’Reilly
03/10/2009 - Connemara - Aiden Henry
10/10/2009 - Killary - Ger Loughnane
17/10/2009 - TBA - Brian Duffy
24/10/2009 - TBA - Ger Loughnane
31/10/2009 - TBA - TBA
07/11/2009 - TBA - TBA
*** Please Note***
This program is weather dependent and subject to change. Members will be notified of any changes by text beforehand. Anyone planning to travel should contact the DO or DOD before travelling. A full detailed list will be available on the notice board in the clubhouse.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Ger and Fiona on the birth of their new baby boy, Cian Craven.
Well done to Ger Loughnane who is now an M2.
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.
www.athlonesac.blogspot.com
&
Well done to Ger Loughnane who is now an M2.
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.
www.athlonesac.blogspot.com
