Posted by Chamber Day Committee on March 30, 2002 at 15:20:08:
Hopefully you're aware of Chamber Day and Chamber Evening (May 1 this year) as a critical fund-raiser for the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. Two of the biggest problems we've always had with Chamber Day are:
1. Not everyone can take the day off.
2. We've only got a relatively limited number of spots available.
This is why we created "The Flying Dutchman."
As you probably know, the Flying Dutchman is a mythical ship destined to cruise the oceans of the world forever. And because it's a mythical ship, we though it was the perfect choice for a mythical dive. So last year, we enlisted the aid of the Dutchman for the first time, specifically aimed at people who couldn't take the day off or couldn't get on one of our real boats (since we sold out the event last year). And we got 25 people to sign up, each receiving a special commemorative Flying Dutchman Chamber Day t-shirt (only available to those doing the Dutchman) as well as raffle tickets for the daytime raffle.
This year, we're back with the Dutchman again and we need your help to fill it. The best part is that we can put as many people on this mythical boat as want to go. It's perfect for the diver (or even non-diver - my non-diving mother has been the first to sign up both years) who simply can't take the day off or even don't live in Southern California, but would like participate in Chamber Day and financially help support our Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.
As with last year, all Dutchman divers will get a special t-shirt available ONLY to those who "dive" the Dutchman that says "Flying Dutchman Crew" with a special Flying Dutchman logo on the front, and the Chamber Day logo on the back. All Dutchman divers will receive 5 raffle tickets good for the daytime raffle (which right now has well over $10,000 worth of prizes going for it). We'll also conduct a special onboard raffle for the Dutchman divers (same as we do on other boats), and will be awarding books, lights, knives, and other smaller prizes to lucky Dutchman divers.
Cost of this is the same as for Chamber Day - $75. But the success of this really rests on those of us in the dive community who embrace the playful spirit of the Dutchman. And I'm hoping you'll be willing to join us in that spirit. You can sign up either through the web at "www.chamberday.org", or by calling 310/652-4990 (Reef Seekers Dive Co., who coordinates the overall event).
The point is that this is a great event that benefits the entire diving community (I happen to know the Chamber crew spent most of the day yesterday - Good Friday - doing a treatment) and it's a safety net we can't afford to lose. By working together, we can make this the most successful Chamber Day ever.
Ken Kurtis
Chairman, Chamber Day/Eve 2002