November 29, 2023,

It’s time to look ahead to the 2024 dive season, when I hope a new dry suit zipper will allow me to do more Jersey diving.

I have four important items to report on here and that we will discuss at our Nov. 29 meeting:

Ocean Wreck Divers Flea Market–OWD is again having another flea market after a successful post-COVID return this year. The next flea market will be on March 10. They are offering us a free table but ask that we lend them our three tables to help defray rental costs. I can provide my own table for the council. This is a very fair deal, in my opinion. The chances of an ad journal are uncertain because the woman who produced it has stepped away from that role. OWD also secured a second room for 2024. The only significant complaint this year was that there wasn’t enough room. The second room is in a different building about 150 feet from the room that was used this year. If you can navigate a wreck, you should be able to find the other room.

Elections – I am asking individuals, businesses and clubs that are members of the council to put forth candidates. At a minimum, we really should find a fourth officer. Any candidates will likely need to submit a nominating letter and seek the nominating committee’s approval under our new rules. It’s not fair to ask one person to hold two offices. We’ll also get a report from the nominating committee at our Nov. 29 meeting on people who are automatically eligible for nomination.

Beneath the Sea – Beneath the Sea is moving the council to Booth 224, one row over from our location last year. NJHDA is asking for an adjacent booth. I’m also hoping that the New Jersey council of search and rescue teams will take a third booth so we can have a similar set up to what we’ve done in past years in EDBA does not submit an appliction. EDBA was a no-show last year. I am also proposing seminars.

Website update – Progress on the website has been limited due to circumstances at work, some foreseen and others that came out of the blue. Things are calming down now, so I should have time before the end of the year to devote to the website.

Please email me at njcdcdhair@yahoo.com or call me at (732) 266-7239 if you have feedback, questions or ideas.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mike Lavitt
Chair, New Jersey Council of Divers and Clubs