WOW! What can I say? The support from the diving community for Chamber Day 2006 was nothing short of incredible! For the last few years the goal of $100,000 was a pie-in-the-sky mark that we had, and this year our updated initial estimate of $ $103,376 surpassed that goal. These funds help to ensure that the Chamber will maintain its ability to be here to help the divers who are in need. We are in the process of completing the bookkeeping for Chamber Day and should have the final Chamber Day 2006 figures by the end of the month.

We want to thank everyone who helped us achieve this great success; all the divers, shops, clubs, publications, manufacturers, and organizations. Without your help Chamber Day could not succeed. Special thanks go to the owners and operators of the thirteen Southern California Dive Boats (Aquatica, Bottom Scratcher, Cee Ray, Great Escape, Island Time, Magician, Mr. C, Pacific Star, Psalty V, Sea Bass, Second Stage, and Sundiver, and Sundiver II). Without their help Chamber Day on Catalina would be impossible.

Thanks also to the top level Chamber Challenge Donors. Our Gold Level ($1,000 - $4,999) Chamber Challenge Donors; Kendal Raine III; Mike, Pat, & T.J. Emmerman; Ocean Institute; Sport Chalet; Dive Vets; Drs. Ron & Sue Bangasser; Robert Wagner; and Michael Kane. At the Platinum Level ($5,000 - $9,999) a bittersweet appreciation to everyone who contributed to the Leon Slavin Memorial Fund, raising $8,275.

In particular I want to thank everyone on the Chamber Day Committee, especially Chairman Ken Kurtis, for making this event come together. The following people give of their time and energy in exchange for dinners of mediocre pizza, soft drinks & tea, chocolate, and the occasional can of Pringles:
Ken Kurtis – Chairman, Billy Wright - Co-chair & raffle prize procurer, Committee members: Rusty Berry, Clara Galvan, Steve Ladd, Jerry Nickelsburg, Annette Rocha, Derek Smith, Mark Tulin, and Tom Wetzel. We are always looking for people who are interested in getting involved, joining the Chamber Day Committee, and coming up with ways to keep thing fresh. If you are interested in helping out next year just let us know.

Praise also goes to Ken Niles, who once again outdid himself with the wonderful Chamber Day, Chamber Evening, and Flying Dutchman artwork. We have had quite a few requests to do a tile mural with the Flying Dutchman art (there will be a separate post on that subject).

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the Aquarium of the Pacific and all the volunteers from the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber Crew and the Aquarium of the Pacific who helped out throughout the day. They made for the smoothest running Chamber Day I have ever seen.

Thank you all very much.

Karl E. Huggins
Program Manager – USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber