Presidents Report
AGM 19th July 2006
Welcome to the 2006 Annual General Meeting of the Nelson Bays Dive Club. Another year has disappeared somewhere and after looking back I am sure that most of us will unfortunately rue many a missed opportunity to get wet and wild under the waves. I know I certainly haven't donned the neoprene as often as I would have liked.
Very pleasing this year is the crop of new members to join the club with numbers now at a very good level in my opinion. As is usually the case with the itinerant nature of the Nelson area we have again unfortunately lost a few members, all of whom have left the region. We can always do with more members so get your friends along to join up and enjoy the great bunch of people we have got together here.
The club boat has been a particular focus for the club and it was a privilege to participate on the first club trip it was used on. It is being well looked after and I take the opportunity to thank Paul Newcombe, our boat custodian, for his continued efforts and for providing a parking area at his home. A number of club members have now passed their Day Skipper's certification enabling them to utilise the boat on private trips.
Once again we have enjoyed a variety of trips over the past year, this of course being the main reason for the Club's formation. Okiwi Bay, Mikhail Lermontov, Port Gore, Queen Charlotte Sound, Kaikoura, Port Underwood, Delaware Bay, D'urville Island were among our destinations, and of course there was our regular participation in the Nelson Fishing and Diving competition. The annual "Pirates Picnic" held this year on Haulashore Island was a great success - a big thanks to those who organised this. Unfortunately trips to various other destinations were cancelled due to poor weather. Some members managed to get away overseas again, with Australia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, and of course the Galapagos Islands amongst the dive destinations.
I would like to thank Stu Pope for his continued efforts in organising Club trips and events again. It is often a thankless task with people pulling out of trips at the last minute. Please remember that booking a place on a club trip should be a commitment.
A new committee and club officers are being elected 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. It is always good to get new ideas and I am sure those who are on the committee will attest that it is not an onerous task.
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. I also extend thanks to the Nelson Rugby Club for allowing us to use these excellent facilities. Thank you to Pauline 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.
John Hornby
President
Nelson Bays Dive Club 2006