Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago

Meeting Minutes 27 May 2009

General

Approximately 30 members met at 6:30 on the 8th floor of the Helix Building, 310 S. Racine at Jackson.
Tonight's meeting was run by Joan Forsberg, with food provided by John Gerty.

Board and Committee Reports

Secretary - John Bell provided copies of the minutes from the last meeting, which were approved.
Membership – Scott Reimer provided updated membership rosters.
Treasury – Bob Gadbois reported on the state of UASC finances.
- Dues are past due ! Please get checks and ( updated ) info to Bob.
- CDs not earning enough interest to be worth it, so funds transferred to checking.
- Some new and renewed memberships have come in.
- New accounting information has been prepared for the board.
- Contact Bob for further information.
ICSSD – Claire Gadbois reported on the Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers:
- DiveHeart welcomed as the latest new member of ICSSD.
- Kevin Vaugn coordinating an underwater puzzle competition as a fundraiser for diabeters.
- July 26 - Jim Haigh Memorial Dive at Haigh Quarry
- Sept 19 - International Beach Clean Up
- Oct 4 - Underwater Pumpkin Carving Dive at Haigh Quarry
  - CASA and Tritons hosting.
- Oct 10 - President's Night Banquet and Raffle
  - Burnham Yacht Club, same venue as the Xmas party.
  - Chicken Marsala, Grilled Salmon, or Pasta Primavera.
  - Credit Cards required for the cash bar.
- Nov 3 - ICSSD Budget Meeting
- UW Christmas Tree Decorating?
- DiveHeart support
  - April 7 training for "Get a Vet Wet", 7 to 8 P.M. at Diveheart Headquarters.
Newsletter – Cris Kohl
- The March/April newsletter was distributed.
- Cris thanks all who contributed to the newsletter.
- The May/June newsletter will be distributed at the June meeting.
Dive Coordinator - Michael Angelo Gagliardi
- Michael e-mails his reports to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., as he cannot make meetings.
- May 11 - Straits of Mackinac ( fun dive. )
- May 25 - Rotarian - blown off, re-scheduled for Monday June 15th, one spot open.
Other:

Old Business

None

New Business

Buccaneer - Bob Rushman
- Next workday scheduled for next Saturday or Sunday, TBD.
  - Redecking the stern, and general cleanup this weekend.
  - Wear old clothes, knee pads, eye protection, gloves, etc. & bring a lunch.
- Buc is now resting on the bottom, since the river level dropped two feet.
- Steam cleaning to hopefully be done this weekend.
Chicago Maritime Trail
- Cris & Joan visited Thurnderbird center in Alpena and spoke with the people who did the WI Maritime trail.
- They will be providing full information so that we can extend the existing trail around the Great Lakes.
- Then we will contact politicians for funding.
N.A.S. Course in Underwater Archaeology
- Cris - Wayne Lusardi is one of the few qualified instructors, has been teaching the course in Alpena.
- He will come down here and teach for free, since he is NOAA supported, IF we have enough people.
- 3-day course. ( Part I out of IV possible. )
- Scheduling will be challenging.
- $65 textbook + $10 certification card, otherwise no charge.
- UASC cost - gas money, meals, lodging ( chez Kohl & Forsberg )
Chicago Maritime Society -- Call 312 665-7334 (Trigg Waller) for free membership
UASC’s new Chicago shipwrecks DVD
- $15 for the public, $12 for members
- 40% discount available to anyone who buys 10 or more. ( $9 each. )
Tentative Club Dives:
- George Morley shore dive & picnic -- Cheryl Wickstrom & Dean Nolan coordinators.
  - See attached flyer for full details.
  - Saturday June 20th.
    - 9:00am-9:30am – Arrive
    - 9:30am-11:30am – Gear up, and dive
    - 11:30am-1:00pm – Picnic
    - 1:30pm – 3:00pm – Tour of Dawes Mansion and Grounds ( Evanston Historical Society)
  - Dawes Park / Greenwood Streat Beach / Dawes Mansion in Evanston, IL.
  - Picnic cost will be free for members, $5 for non-members. ( not including beach access. )
  - $8 / person beach access fee.
  - RSVP to Cheryl Wickstrom ( clwickst at yahoo dot com ) no later than June 17th with the following info:
    - Name
    - Number of members for lunch
    - Number of non-members for lunch ( $5 each. Includes family members if your UASC memberships status is individual, but feel free to upgrade.. )
    - How may total prefer a vegetarian option.
    - Number of divers
    - Number to take the tour of the Dawes Mansion
    - Contact # in case of cancellation.
  - Dawes Mansion / Evanston Historical Society across the street.
    - Very interesting place to visit, but only open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
    - George Morley anchor on the front lawn.
    - Other very interesting artifacts and research opportunities.
    - Closed until May, free until June, then paid admission.
Washington Island (Door Co.) -- Labor Day weekend -- Ruth Magnus, coordinator
- 10 Acres chez Magnus
- 14 divers showed hands of interest
- No air on the island, but tanks available in Chicago.
Rotarian survey dive, 15 June 2009.

Project AWARE Day -- Beach Clean-up, September 19, 2009
- Ruth Magnus coordinating efforts with UPS who will be supporting this activity.
Upcoming Shows
- Feb. 19-21, 2010: The SPECIAL 40th “Our World -- Underwater” Show, Chicago, IL
- Feb. 27, 2010:
  - 8th annual “Chicago Maritime Festival,” Chicago, IL
  - “Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival, “Detroit, MI
  - “Dive into the Past,” Minneapolis, MN
- March 5-6, 2010 (Fri. & Sat.) -- 11th annual “Ghost Ships Festival,” Milwaukee, WI
  - $10 savings to the 2010 show for new members to UASC
  - $5 savings to the 2010 show for regular members.
SURVEY PROJECTS 2009: Surveys/Drawings to be completed; detailed reports to be written:
- See below for further details.
UASC 20th Anniversary Celebrations
- George Morley Picnic and Dive
- If we get the Buc sunk this year, Hank Fiene will throw the party.
- Still looking for other good ideas.
OTHER:
- Joan - We went a workshop at the National Archives and were promised access to all their files.
- Certificate of appreciation awarded to Tony Kiefer for his Tool Crib presentation.
- Discussion of a possible environmental survey to be completed, in association with the sinking of the Buc.
THANKS to Dan Kasberger ( Refreshments Coordinator ) and John Gerty for tonight’s refreshments
NEXT UASC MEETING: 6:30 PM, Wednesday, June 24, 2009.
- Speaker will be
- Refreshment coordinator for 2009 is Dan Kasberger.
- John and Kat Bell to provide refreshments

Shipwreck Survey Projects

Buccaneer - To be scuttled in 2009 in ??’ - Claen-up Leader: Bob Rushman.
Material Service - Sank on July 29, 1936 in 38’ - Project Leader: Jim J./John L./Tony K./Cris K.
- Photographers recently dove on the Material Service and collected info to complete the project.
Barge No. 2 - Sank on Sept. 29, 1906 in 40’ - Project Leader: John Loftus
- Project may be nearing completion.
The Straits of Mackinac - Scuttled on April 10, 2003 in 78’ - Project Leader:Needed
The Rotarian - Scuttled on September 28, 1931 in 80' - Project Leader: Joan Forsberg

Guest Speakers

Ed Thiel - The Wreck of the George W. Morley
- His grandfather ( asst. Fire Chief in Evanston ), was involved in the recovery of the propellor.
Jim Elliott - Founder and President of DiveHeart.
- Diveheart supports and promotes as many other similar organizations ( e.g. SUDS ) as possible.
- DMW, ( Diveheart Military Wounded ), helps ALL disabled veterans, regardless of service branch, war experience, or type of injury.
- Find vets - as disabled divers and as dive buddies.
- Welcome to attend buddy course for free if you committ to helping as a buddy diver. ( $250 value )
  - Thursday, Friday night classwork
  - Saturday, Sunday diving.
  - Dates on web site.
  - Mostly at Haigh Quarry.
  - Classes normally at Downers Grove, but could go anywhere.
- Hook up Jim with Liz.
- Joan: how can UASC help his divers do survey work?
- Gene Hasiak coordinater between UASC and DiveHeart.
- UASC donating 10 DVDs to Diveheart.

Other Business

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00, after which a number of members retired to Ricobene's for further discussions and socializing.