BAMSAR MINUTES 

Minutes of the August, 2006, BAMSAR meeting, held at Brookhaven. Thanks to Chiefs Fink and Prince for their hospitality.

Present: Hagerman, Brookhaven, Mastic, Mastic Beach and Center Moriches.

Excused: Ed Michels (EHTMP).

Old Business:

Dive Rescue 1 course was again discussed. Brookhaven has 5 divers, Hagerman has 2 divers, and Center Moriches has 1 diver, needing this course. Mastic Beach has 3 divers in basic training at H.D.C., and would like them to get into the class, if possible. The course is planned for the Columbus Day weekend (6-8 October).  We’ll try to get the first day split between Thursday and Friday nights, with full day sessions on Saturday and Sunday. A recommendation was made, and agreed upon, to give Jim Bowra the right of first refusal for teaching this class, as he’s a DRI instructor, and a member of the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol, which is affiliated with BAMSAR.

Boat operator training for running Moriches Inlet was discussed. Center Moriches is interested, as is Mastic Beach. John Foley will talk with Ed Michels further on this.

New Business:

Recent dive rescue calls were discussed. Bill Biondi reminded us that we need to contact the Coast Guard when we’re attending calls on creeks, the bay, or offshore. They are the coordinating agency, and in order for a smooth operation, they need to know who is responding, and with what. Communications were probably the biggest problem in all the recent calls.

A recommendation was made, that we have at least one drill, per month, together, as BAMSAR (in addition to the meeting). All agreed that this was something to strive for. Don Prince suggested that one or two of them, be surprise drills.

John Foley to ask LCdr. Tamez if we can do a table-top drill with the CG, during September. The subject could be a possible accident with the M/V “Rosie”.

We also need to consider preplanning hurricane and “aircraft vs. water” incidents. Members are asked to come up with ideas for both, and we could get started on this at the next meeting.

Randy, of Hampton Dive Center, announces a trade-in offer from Mares and Dacor, for Mares regulators made prior to the year 2000. The offer expires on 30 September, 2006.

Call him at 631 727-7578, or drop by his shop on Rt. 24 (Flanders Rd.), in Riverhead, for details.

Remaining meetings for 2006 are as follows:

September      14        Hagerman

October           12        Bayport

November       09        Mastic

December                   No Meeting

If any agency is not able to host their assigned meeting, please contact the Secretary.

Training:

Center Moriches has a dive at the Inlet scheduled for 1800, on Wednesday, 16 August. Planning meeting will be 1000, Sunday, 13 August, at Center Moriches FD.

If anyone has, or knows of, any training going on that may be of interest to the membership, please feel free to send notice of the training to either the BAMSAR webmaster@bamsar.org  or to the Secretary, at o_foghladha@yahoo.com.              

Next meeting: Thursday, 14 September, 2006, at 1930, at Hagerman FD.  

Anyone needing directions, please contact the Secretary.

Any corrections, additions, or questions; please contact the Secretary.

Respectfully,

John Foley