Presidents Report
AGM 20th July 2005
I welcome you all to the 2005 Annual General Meeting of the Nelson Bays Dive Club.
This year has flown by with the club growing from strength to strength both financially and in membership. It has been excellent to see most of the new members participating on trips on a regular basis.
We have had organised trips every month for members to attend, with Okiwi Bay, Mikhail Lermontov, Chetwode Islands, Kaikoura, Abel Tasman, Riwaka Caves, Pupu Springs, and D’Urville Island being destinations. We are extremely lucky to have so many places to dive right on our doorstep. We have also managed a few social events during the year with the “Titanic” theme night, Pirates Picnic, and Mini Golf at Motueka all well attended and enjoyed by all. Some members managed to get away to Fiordland and Stewart Island while others have travelled overseas for some wonderful diving experiences. Only two trips this year have been cancelled due to the weather, while one other was changed from a charter to a shore dive. At this point I would like to thank our Club Captain, Stu Pope, for his continued efforts in organising these trips and events. Well done Stu.
The highlight of this year of course has been the purchase of the Club boat – a 5.9 metre Osprey, which has been collected. This has been the culmination of a lot of hard work beginning in 1998 when we first began fund-raising for this project. It would be remiss of me not to mention those whose initial efforts in selling raffles and collecting, selling and delivering firewood were at the core of the initial fund-raising and enabled us to reach our goal. Past Presidents Gavin Cleary and Richard Muggleston, whom I sat down with and prepared the first pub charity application, Monique Hardiman, Murray Cleary, Jenni Chappell, Rob Mason, Rod Bradley, Dean Fletcher, Paul Aydon, Dean McBrewerty, Alan Dobbie, Ross Carter, Blue Horton and Ron Wall.
There have been many others who have passed through the club, most leaving because they have left the region. There are now only two of us left from that initial effort and it has been very gratifying to see that we have finally reached our goal. We have had numerous options with boats over the past few years and have come very close to purchasing a craft on a few occasions. We must remember the efforts put in by those who have researched vessels and put them forward for the committee to consider over the last few years when we had funds to allow a purchase, Angus Perham, Ross Carter, Stu Pope, Bruce Lines and Bob Llewellyn to name a few.
But I think it quite fitting that one of the founding members of the club, Paul Newcombe, was instrumental in searching out and obtaining details of the boat we have finally purchased. Well done Paul and thank you for all your hard work. Also Congratulations to this year’s committee who carefully considered each option before making what I consider is a sound purchase.
A boat committee has been set up to administer and sort out the rules for the boat usage. We also need to obtain all the necessary safety equipment before the boat can be taken on its maiden voyage. Some items will have to be purchased. Some members have offered to donate items, so if anyone has anything spare lying around i.e. anchors, oars etc the club will happily accept all offers.
Places on the committee and as elected officers are being offered tonight. If you want to assist in the running of the club, or simply have a say on how things are done, or maybe steer it in a new direction please put your hand up to be elected. Remember many hands make light work. Some of us have been on the committee for 8 years now and we may need some new ideas!!
A big thank you to our sponsors also, Mario and Craig down at Big Blue, and also The Copy Machine and Combo Marketing who have given us support throughout the year. Thank you to Gary and his staff, and Joel respectively. I also extend thanks to the Nelson Rugby Club for allowing us to use these excellent facilities.
Thank you to Paul for organising the nibbles for tonight. And last but not least a big thank you to the committee who have put in a great effort over the past 12 months. You have certainly made my job easier.
One last thing, we can always do with more members. We keep hearing about people who are keen to join up – get them along and make it happen. The more the merrier I say.
Remember – Dive Safely
John Hornby
President