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2011

June 2011 Minutes

Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago

Meeting Minutes 29 June 2011

General

  • Approximately 25 members and guests met at 6:30 on the 8th floor of the Helix Building, 310 S. Racine at Jackson.
    • New Members: Vicki Reyes and Bob Vawter,
    • Guests: Steve Easton
    • Guest Speaker -- Dan Howard - "Haigh's Underwater Archaeology Site & Training Course" - See below for full details.
  • Tonight's meeting was run by Don Doherty, with refreshments provided by John & Kat Bell, Todd Hitzeman, Dan Kasberger, and Don Doherty

Board and Committee Reports

  • President - Don Doherty
    • Welcome
  • Secretary - John Bell provided copies of the minutes from the last meeting, which were approved.
  • Treasurer – Bob Gadbois reported on the state of UASC finances.
    • Contact Bob for further details
  • Membership – Rosters were provided by Scott Reimer. No changes since last month.
  • Steering Committee –The Steering Committee did not meet this month.
    • Plan for Wednesday the 13th for the next meeting, to be held online via GoTo Meeting.
  • Survey Coordinator - John Gerty
    • Car Ferry project hampered by John Loftus' damaged boat.
    • Initial sidescan survey of Northerly Island and other sites by John Bell with help of Dean Nolan and John Gerty.
    • Brian Abbott of Nautilus Marine Group coming July 15th & 16th.
    • Don Doherty's boat, Count Your Blessings, is now in the water. He is hoping to explore Val's Wreck.
    • No new activity on the Flora Hill project.
  • Safety - Chet Childs
    • Nothing to report at this time.
  • Web Site - Jack Bolous
    • Working on establishing a members-only area which will require that paid member sign in with their e-mail and an assigned password.
    • Send any information or suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
      • Sarantis - Can we post a flyer explaining UASC onto the web site for download?
  • ICSSD –Chuck Miller reported on the Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers:
    • July 31 Jim Haigh Memorial Dive
    • Oct 2 Pumpkin Carving Dive
    • Oct 9 International Beach Cleanup. Need certificate of insurance.
    • Oct 22 President Night's Dinner at Sawa's. Applications available next month.
    • Helicopter is not going anywhere this year. Margo thanks everyone who participated in the petition.
  • DiveHeart Liaison - Gene Hasiak
    • Ongoing classes this month for the Buddy program.
    • Trips going on for trained buddies.
    • 31st Picnic to benefit wounded warriors.
    • July 31st Jim Haigh Memorial Dive at Haigh Quarry. Proceeds to be split between SUDS and DMW.
    • Check the DiveHeart web site for info on upcoming events.
  • Other

Recent and New Business

  • Haigh Quarry Day, June 5th
    • Great turnout, at least 20 people, including lots of new members and new divers.
    • Conducted a training course including on-shore surveying exercises.
    • Most people got at least one dive in, some did more.
    • Dan Howard ( tonight's speaker ) joined us and told us about Artifact Park and the UW archaeology program that goes with it.
  • Planning Northerly Island Underwater Park
    • A meeting was held at the old terminal building on Northerly Island
    • Over 20 people, mostly UASC
    • All boat owners e-mail info to Margo
    • July 6 or 7 Chuck and Margo will meet with Bob Foster
    • July 9th 11:00 a.m. all participants will meet at Mr. Beef and Pizza
    • July 23rd diving, in the water by 9:00 a.m.
  • Recent UASC Presentations to Outside Organizations:
    • June 11th - Tony Kiefer presented his Tool Crib Disaster presentation at the Chicago Fire Acaedmy, 558 W. DeKoven Street, as part of a day of presentations put on by the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago.
    • June 11th, Indiana Dunes State Park,Indiana State Dunes Centennial: 100th anniversary of the J. D. Marshall sinking. Don Doherty filled in for Jim Jarecki, who was under the weather. Gene Hasiak did the Shipwreck Detectives project. There was a reporter present, not yet published.
    • Bill Strauss Chigao Maritime Museum requested a speaker from our group for their meeting on Sept 20 or Oct 18. Would like a demonstration of how to solve a shipwreck mystery, e.g. with the historical research. Sub Chaser would qualify.
  • OTHER: Miscellaneous new business items should be brought up – briefly – now.
    • Speakers are always needed.
  • THANKS to John & Kat Bell, Todd Hitzeman, Don Doherty, and Dan Kasberger for providing tonight's refreshments.
  • Sign up for meeting refreshments - Dan Kasberger Refreshments coordinator.
    • July -
    • Aug -
    • Sept -

 

Underwater Archaeology

  • Sector Scan Project -
    • Brian Abbott of Nautilus Marine Group is unavailable June 1st and 2nd, and has rescheduled for July 15th and 16th.
    • John Bell has done some preliminary sidescanning of some of the proposed sector scanning sites, to identify specific coordinates to drop the sector scanning unit.
  • Chet Childs - Built a sled with a video camera for surveying the swimming area around 12th street beach.
    • Ideas were discussed to improve the safety and efficiency of the operation.
  • Sidescan Sonar Survey of Southern Lake Michigan Shipwrecks
    • John Bell provided a progress report of new work done between May 25th and June 29th, in the form of a short PowerPoint presentation.

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday July 27, 2011

Refreshments to be provided by TBD

Speaker: - TBD

Guest Speaker -- Dan Howard -- "Haigh's Underwater Archaeology Site & Training Course"

Our special guest presenter this month is Dan Howard of DJ's Scuba Locker in Lyons, Ill. Dan explained his four-part training program written to educate and certify recreational divers on the techniques of underwater survey work. To complement the classroom and pool training, Dan has also built an open water training site at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, and has developed a number of innovative underwater surveying tools.

  • Underwater Archaeology Course, Level One.
  • Students forced to do lots of underwater work, including use of lots of different tools.
  • Course includes classroom time, pool time, and open water time.
  • Special facilities built underwater at Haigh Quarry, Artifact Park, Anchor Alley, etc.
  • Affiliated with many organizations, including SDI/TDI, Boy Scouts, Explorers, and UASC.
  • Developed lots of special toys and tools.
    • Surveying "horse" of PVC pipe, with lots of details to measure.
    • Inverse plumb-bob
    • Inclinometer
  • $325 fee for the course
  • 18 students have completed the course. Levels 2 to 4 are under development.

John Gerty - Bucaneer's Past Life as the Dexter

  • Photo album taken by a crew member of the Dexter donated to a museum in CA.
  • Kira Kaufman? of the Commonwealth ??? Group- ???
  • Conducting a survey of shipwrecks in IN waters.
  • UW Archaeologist and SCUBA instructor
  • IN DNR intersted in CF 2, Material Service Barge, and other shipwrecks in IN waters.
  • Considering a marine preserve to protect them.
  • Funded by NOAA

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.