WELCOME TO THE REDWOOD EMPIRE DIVERS

INTRODUCTION

The Redwood Empire Divers club, located in Sonoma County, California, was established in August, 1985 to provide an opportunity for divers to meet, coordinate dive trips, and share diving experiences. We provide our members with a monthly newsletter, a current club roster through which dive buddies can be contacted, and several club campouts throughout the year. Membership is open to divers, non-divers, and their families.

MEETINGS

General meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of every month, in the large meeting room of the Round Table Pizza located at 2065 Occidental Road (just west of Stony Point Road) in Santa Rosa. In addition to discussing upcoming dives and other events, the general meetings frequently include either a guest speaker, a slide show, or a video which relates to diving. General meetings always allow time for finding a dive buddy or boat ride, planning your next dive, or socializing while enjoying your dinner. A raffle is held every month, with various dive equipment or dive related services offered as prizes.

Business meetings are held the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at various locations, announced at the general meeting. The club officers meet to discuss and organize upcoming functions, and to conduct club business. All business meetings are open to club members and participation is encouraged.

DIVES

The club organizes one Club dive and an alternate dive each month, usually scheduled for the weekend immediately after the general meeting. Club dives generally consist of one day local dive trips along the North Coast, with several weekend campouts during the summer. The club pays the camping fees for current club members and their immediate families. Other traditional annual dives include weekends in Monterey, and a three-day live-aboard lobster boat trip to the Channel Islands in southern California. Dive activities include spearfishing, photography, free-diving for abalone, and observing the phenomenal diversity of underwater life which exists in our area. Suggestions for new dive locations or alternate dive activities are always encouraged.

The majority of the dive sites the club visits offer easy shore entries. Several members of the club have inflatable boats or kayaks which are frequently used to reach the best diving. Anyone interested in diving from a members boat should make arrangements in advance with the owner of the boat. As for boating etiquette, please assist the boat owner with launching and removing the boat from the water, and pay particular attention to handling of spearguns or other gear with sharp points. If you are inexperienced at diving from an inflatable or a kayak, please communicate with the boat owner for instruction.

DUES

The membership year is from April 1st through March 31st. Annual dues are $40.00, payable on April 1st. Dues cover membership for the diver, spouse, immediate family members, or significant other if residing at the same address. New members joining after October 1st will be assessed $20.00 for a half year. Dues are utilized to support the newsletter and other club functions including campouts, raffles, holiday parties, competitions, etc.

NEWSLETTER

The Bottom Times is produced monthly and mailed to members prior to the general meeting. It is also available as a three-month free trial to interested parties who attend a general meeting. The newsletter contains a schedule of events, the club roster, and discussions of previous and upcoming dives. Members are encouraged to submit articles and items of interest relating to diving.

Millenium Officers
President - Jock Doss
Vice President - Mike Mendoza
Secretary - Jed Douglas
Treasurer - Bob Simpton
Newsletter Editor - Rich Gibson

For additional information, please contact one of the following by telephone, or email by clicking on an underlined name:
Gary Baumoel (707) 763-8300 Jed Douglas (Secretary) (415) 509-5771 Rich Gibson (Editor) (707) 664-9128