Pledge: Brian DeBlasiis
Prayer: Gary McCauley
Song: Bill (Velvet Fog) McLaughlin
Sergeant’s Report: Joe Arcari
Happy Bucks: Many for students and guests, looking forward to an extra hour of sleep (Fall Back), happy to be here, the beautiful day, sad buck for the victims of the fires in California.
Guests: Alan Schwarz: prospective new member.
Announcements:
Dictionaries will be distributed to the schools on 11/6 and 11/7. Sign up with Charlie Norz to help out with this worthwhile project.
Mark Patterson urged us to Share our Facebook Page, highlighting the Wine Tasting Event, with our Facebook Friends. Mark is looking for volunteers to distribute Event Posters in Old Lyme.
Brent Taylor’s brother recently passed away. Thoughts and prayers are with Brent and his family.
11/6 luncheon meeting is at Luigi’s at noon. Rep. Joe Courtney will be our guest. Please arrive early in order to accommodate the larger than normal attendance.
Program: O.S.H.S. Honduras Expedition: Amber Scherber, trip advisor, introduced the students who participated in the two week marine biology field trip. The first week was devoted to everyone earning their SCUBA diving certification, while week two involved various marine biology research projects. The projects included: a micro plastics survey (part of a worldwide study), a coral reef watch (observing quadrants at a depth of 60 feet), and a reef mapping study. The students shared their best memories and their most challenging experiences.
Memories included: being up close to a wide variety of sea life, completing the diving certification process, meeting new people, working as a team on projects, and testing lionfish catching robots. Most of the major challenges were concerned with becoming accustomed to diving without fear. Issues included: buoyancy problems, breathing calmly while underwater and pressure, diving skills, handling mask problems, and becoming comfortable with trusting dive partners. The trip was a huge success and plans are already being made for the next one.
