Greetings from the President, June 2025
Jim Driggers | Published on 5/26/2025
Hello Aqua Tutus,
Thanks to Gil Zeimer for his presentation during the May general meeting. He gave us 13 tips to help those interested in writing about their underwater experiences, sharing those experiences with others, and in his presentation modeled his embrace and practice of these tips:
1) Be thick-skinned
2) Be bold
3) Be promotional
4) Be aware of what editors like
5) Write about what you know
6) Be persistent
7) Be opportunistic
8) Promote SEO keywords
9) Be networking
10) Be thinking outside the box
11) Be generous
12) Be lucky
13) Be funny
For the June general meeting, we'll have our first members night of 2025. I'm planning to put together a short montage of clips I've shot at MacAbee Beach and Metridium Field. I understand only a handful of people have provided Dave Chervin with their material to show for the upcoming members night. This is a great opportunity to practice the 13 tips Gil gave us. Please remember there's no minimum number of pictures or amount of time for the presentation. To allow time for others to share, however, there is a limit of about five minutes for each person. Do let David Sheh and Dave Chervin know if you're interested in sharing some of what you've shot. An easy way to do that is to post on the "Members Night June 5" thread in the Club Event communication forum or contact them directly.
Also in June will be elections for the three at-large board member positions. The position's responsibilities are pretty simple:
* commit to serving as point-of-contact for at least one club dive during your term
* create a slate of officers to present at the October general meeting
* attend the monthly 1-2 hour board meeting on Zoom
* provide input to the board from your perspective as a club member
If you have any questions about these responsibilities, contact the current at-large members Derek Suring, Giuseppe Ciaravino, Lindsay Martin, or any of the other board members or see Board of Directors, Elected Member & Volunteer Coordinator Duties.
It's with a sad, but thankful heart that I announce Oliver Edwards will be stepping down at the end of this year from the multiple roles he's filled over the last five years. Oliver currently serves as the club's
* vice president
* newsletter editor
* webmaster
Finally, while Oliver has agreed to fulfill these roles through the rest of the year, the board will be actively looking for volunteers to fill those and the other officer roles. Like all clubs, Aqua Tutus only survives because volunteers make time in their personal lives to support it. Nearly all of the current officers have served multiple years, and several would like to follow Oliver in stepping down when our terms are over, me included. If you're approached by a board member and asked to consider taking on a role, please know you're being asked because you're respected and believed capable of fulfilling the role. None of the roles require more than a few hours of work each month, and all provide an opportunity for more fun and interaction with others. Not a bad deal, especially if you're feeling alone, afraid, or powerless.
Hope to see you all at the next meeting.
Warmly,
Jim Driggers
Club president