Chamber Day/Eve update (4-15-05)



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Posted by Chamber Day 2005 on April 15, 2005 at 14:45:31:

As of 4-15-05 . . .

The event is less than three weeks away and we need to turn up the heat a bit. We’re not in bad shape but we can always do better. Below you’ll find the particulars for each aspect of the event.

But we want to emphasis what a needed safety net the Chamber performs. It’s available to us on a 24/7/365 basis. That need cannot be more evident anytime there is a diving accident. Many times, one of the factors that helps spur rescuers on is the knowledge that if they can get the victim to our Chamber, they’re giving the victim every possible opportunity and the best possible chance for survival..

Sadly not every outcome is successful. But we can certainly tell you that without our Chamber, chances would be even smaller. And that’s where you come in.

Your donations of any amount helps keep our Chamber strong and keep it going. Not only does our Chamber act as a vital safety net for divers, but our Chamber is also involved in many programs designed to make diving safer. Such things as EDAM courses, the recent Dive Boat Safety Seminar, and other activities help spread the mantra “Dive Safely” throughout the community.

So give some though to diving one of our boats, doing the Flying Dutchman if you can’t actually dive, attend Chamber Evening, make a donation to the Chamber Challenge, get some raffle tickets, &/or buy some Chamber tiles or even the entire tile mural.

But get involved. You can do it through many local dive shops, through our central 310/652-4990 number, or through the web at www.chamberday.org . We’re looking forward to having you with us.

CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2005
$8745 total (Updated 4/15/05 @ 1:30PM - last updated 4/8/05 12:30PM)

New donors:
Sport Chalet
Deep Sea Supply
Gloria Salick
Kevin Rottner
Christine Ryback
Conoco-Phillips (matching grant)
Burbank Dive Club
Laurie Powers

Gold ($1,000 and up)
Michael & Patricia Emmerman
Kendal Raine
Sport Chalet

Silver ($500-999)
Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Karl Huggins
Ocean Adventures
Don Lake
Jim Krasne
Stacy Friedowitz - Corporate matching
Deep Sea Supply
Gloria Salick

Bronze ($100-499)
Scott Cox
Jeanne Sleeper
Frank O’Donnell
Hal Frankl
Fran & George Ollweiler
Sue Ollweiler
Diver.net
Jerry Nickelsburg
Micheal Sweeney
Mary-Louise Quinn
Joe Takahashi
Kevin Rottner
Christine Ryback
Concoco-Phillips (matching grant)
Burbank Dive Club
Laurie Powers

Others (under $100)
Randy Barker


CHAMBER DAY BOATS
You pay $85 for the day (all the proceeds go to the Chamber) and choose from the available boats. This year, all the boats are doing food-and-air-included so we’ll also collect $20 from you for that (making the total tab $105). There will be an free on-board raffle on the way over to Catalina. You’ll also get a commemorative Chamber Day 2005 t-shirt, five raffle tickets (you’re encouraged to buy more on your boat or at the Chamber), you’ll make two dives at Catalina, plus get a 75-minute walking tour of the Chamber and facilities.

Here’s where we are as of 4-15 on the boats (along with whether they’re sponsored or open):

Aquatica (Douglas Dive Club, Dive N Surf, Sea Sabres) - About half full
Bottom Scratcher (Open) - About 20 spots available
Cee Ray (Reef Seekers) - 13 spots left
Encore (Open) - FULL
Flying Dutchman (Open) - Only 14 sold, unlimited availability
Great Escape (Open) - FULL
Island Time (Sport Chalet) - FULL
Magician (Sport Chalet) - FULL
Mr. C (CA Wreck Divers, Rod Francis) - 8 spots left
Pacific Star (Scuba Schools of America) - FULL
Psalty V (Scuba Schools of America) - FULL
Sea Bass (Aqua Adventures Dive Club) - 6 spots available
Second Stage (Pacific Wilderness Dive Club) - FULL
Sundiver (Ocean Adventures) - About 15 spots available

CHAMBER EVENING
Right now, we’re right around 200 people signed up for the evening. Our capacity is 400 so we’re about halfway there. The event is a great chance for divers to hang out and socialize, as well as to get up-close-and-personal with the Aquarium’s 12,000+ residents. There will be munchies available when the doors open at 7PM until the serving of dinner around 8:15. (All four bars will be open as well.) Dinner is a sit-down affair and the caterers at SMG always take good care of us.

Cost of the evening is $85 and for that you’ll receive tickets good for two (non-alcoholic) drinks (coffee, tea, and water available with your meal as well). You’ll also receive 5 raffle tickets, good for some special prizes we’ll have on hand for the evening. Plus, there will be opportunity (and encouragement and arm-twisting) to buy more raffle tickets while you’re there. Total value of the evening raffle prizes will approach $10,000 and includes regulators, BCs, computers, and even a complete gear set. (See the website - www.chamberday.org - for a complete listing of all prizes and donors.)

Although seating is open, if you’ve got 10 people, we’ll be happy to reserve a table for your group. And because we’re limited in the number of people we can have attend (we cap this at 400), the earlier you sign up, the better.

As with Chamber Day, Chamber Evening tickets can be purchased by calling our co-ordinating store at (310)652-4990 or by going to our secure server at www.chamberday.org. Just indicate how many tickets you want and how you want to pay. It’s as simple as that.


CHAMBER TILES AND MURAL
We’ve gotten great comments all around on the log this year. Chamber Day has embraced the history of Catalina Tile this year. Our 6-tile scene (designed by local artist and diver Ken Niles) depicts a diver ascending through the kelp while a Garibaldi, Sheephead, and Black Sea Bass hover nearby, and a dive boat awaits on the surface with Catalina in the background. The Chamber is represented in abstract by the corner tiles.

Catalina Tile was unique to Catalina Island, manufactured on the island from the late 1920s to mid-1930s. William Wrigley established a ceramics plant at Pebbly Beach, just south of Avalon. The plant created tens of thousands of items (tiles and pottery) from the unique red clay endemic to the island. The tiles produced were noted for their striking designs and colors, unique from other styles of California tiles, and can still be seen in many places on Catalina, including storefronts and buildings in Avalon, the Wrigley Memorial, and the Airport-In-The-Sky.

During their heyday, Catalina Island tiles and pottery were known worldwide. Eventually, demand for the tiles slowed, and the factory shut down in the late 1930's. Today, original Catalina tiles are highly sought after, with some individual tiles and sets fetching thousands of dollars.

Our tile logo is available for sale this year in a variety of formats. The Chamber corner will be available as a 4x4” tile ($15 donation) that will make a great coaster. The Dive Boat upper left panel will be available as a 6x6” tile ($25 donation) that’s suitable for use as a trivet or hot plate. And for a donation of $500 (we‘ve already sold 10), you will receive a limited edition of the entire 6-tile scene complete with border and Chamber corner tiles mounted and suitable for hanging (roughly 22”x30”). Any of these can be ordered through our secure website (www.chamberday.org). Please allow 4-6 weeks after the event for delivery.

We hope you’ll be as excited about this year’s logo as we are. Not only is it a great way to tie the history of the Chamber to the history of Catalina, but it’s also another great way for us to raise some money for our Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.


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