Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Socialize at 6:30, Business at 7:00, Featured Presentation at 8:00
Zoom Only
Hello Members and Friends,
Our first meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, January 25th, at 7:00, at the Chicago Maritime Museum, located at 1200 W 35th St, Chicago, IL. This is in Bridgeport Art Center Building. Enter at the door under the awning that says North Entrance off the north parking lot and go downstairs. We will have a lot to catch up on in preparing for the new year.
Among the topics we will discuss are our surveys for the year, possible NAS seminars, and possible 501c3 status.
I also want to remind everyone that we will have a booth at the next Our World Underwater, which will be held this year on February 24-26th at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont. Please check the show schedule and come prepared to with what time slots you can volunteer to help in the booth. It is a great way to meet people who are interested in our resources underwater who might be interested in our underwater history as well.
After introductions, we will show a short video on Bub Brain, one of the pioneers of local diving who passed away recently at the age of 94. Bud was wreck diving well into his 80's and has a fascinating story, which includes his participation in the D-Day invasion in WWII, and his roll in the raising of the the schooner Alvin Clark.
Our speaker will be Kenneth Schoon. A few years back he wowed us when he talked about his book, "Calumet Beginnings", which discussed both the geological and human history of the Southern part of Lake Michigan. He has written several books since then, including "Dreams of Dunelands" and "Shifting Sands: The Restoration of the Calumet Area" which continue this discussion. This should be a talk none of us will want to miss.
I hope to see all of you there!
-Dean Nolan
UASC President
UASC Meeting All Welcome
Featured Presentation
“Dirty Waters,” by Robert Nelson
Confessions of Chicago’s Last Harbor Boss
What: Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago monthly meeting
When: Wed., Nov. 30, 2016. Reception at 6:30 p.m.; Meeting 7 p.m., Presentation 8pm
Where: Chicago Maritime Museum, 1200 W. 35th, inside the Bridgeport Art Center
UASC Meetings are Free and Open to the Public
Dirty Waters is a wry, no-holds-barred memoir of Nelson’s time controlling some of the city’s most beautiful spots while facing some of its ugliest traditions. He takes us through Chicago’s corrupt bureaucracy and deep into the city’s political morass. His story is a tale of morality and of what it takes to stay ethically afloat in a sea of bribery and corruption.
Before Nelson arrived, the Director of Harbors and Marine Services was a position so mired in corruption that its previous four directors ended up in federal prison. Nelson inherited angry constituents, prying journalists, shell-shocked employees and an office bearing a door that the FBI had smashed in. Undeterred, Nelson made it his mission to follow the law—and he took lots of notes.
“A revealing insider’s tale of a Harold Washington–era reformer battling for change. It’s written for those who want to know how government really works.” — Dick Simpson, former Chicago alderman
“This bookis an honest, fascinating and often startling story of how politics, bribery and just plain ineptitude often plagued the ‘City that Works.’”― Dominic Pacyga, author of Slaughterhouse: Chicago's Union Stock Yard and the World It Made
Greeting All,
We're getting pretty close to the end of the year, Thanksgiving has passed and the last UASC meeting of 2016 is upon us. As we don't schedule meetings for the month of December this the last opportunity to get a meeting until 2017.
The primary business item this month will be the election of the UASC Officers for 2017. The slate of officers who have volunteered to hold office are: Dean Nolan - President; Colin Bertling - Vice President; John Bell - Treasurer; and Carol Sommers - to return as Secretary. If anyone else is interested in an officer position you are welcome an encouraged to run.
We have also just begun the membership drive for membership renewal; if you are interested I'm joining the UASC now is great time. Come to a meeting and join in person or send me a note of your interest.
Our guest speaker this month will be Bob Nelson. Bob was vice president of Grebe's boat yard, Harbor Master for the City of Chicago and most recently Harbor Master at the Hammond Marina. Bob has recently released a book entitled: Dirty Waters: Confessions of Chicago's Last Harbor Boss. Dirty Waters is a wry, no-holds-barred memoir of Nelson’s time controlling some of the city’s most beautiful spots while facing some of its ugliest traditions. This promises to be a very interesting presentation. Attached is a flyer advertising this months meeting and our guest speaker. As noted, our meeting are open to the public and there is no charge to attend.
UASC meetings take place the last Wednesday of each month; refreshment and meet/greet start around 6:30 pm and the meetings begin at 7:00 pm. The Meetings are held at the Chicago Maritime Museum located at 1200 West 35th Street, Suite OE5010, Chicago, IL 60609. Free parking is available adjacent to the facility. Use the entrance next to the loading dock on the north side of the building (same side you will park on). The door is at ground level and the museum is on the lower level down the stairway.
I hope to see some of you at the meeting this Wednesday, new faces are always welcome.
Thanks,
Bob Rushman
UASC President
