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October 2024 Newsletter

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Vol. 52 No. 10

Plant a million corals (Zoom Speaker)

Plant a Million Corals Foundation

Plant a Million Corals Foundation (PAMCF) is a non-profit (501(c)3) organization dedicated to restoring coral reefs through innovative science, education, and community engagement. Founded in 2019 by Dr. David Vaughan, a renowned coral reef scientist, known for his groundbreaking discovery of a method to rapidly reproduce resilient, fast-growing corals, PAMCF is committed to large scale application of micro-fragmentation. By cultivating and outplanting millions of corals, PAMCF aims to rebuild thriving coral reef ecosystems for future generations. With already over 40,000 corals on site at their facility in Summerland Key, and counting, PAMCF is on the way to reach 100,000 coral production by the end of 2024, and a 1.1million coral production capacity by the end of 2025. This will allow PAMCF to produce 1 million corals per year to be planted on the Florida Coral Reef Tract.

To accelerate coral restoration efforts, PAMCF has developed the Coral Restoration Units (CRUs) program, providing essential equipment and training to individuals and organizations committed to coral reef restoration. Additionally, the foundation offers Coral Restoration Workshops to educate and empower practitioners and organizations to participate in this critical conservation work.

Dr. David Vaughan
Founder, President, and CEO

Dr. David Vaughan has held positions in aquaculture research and development for over 45 years. He directed the Aquaculture Division at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution for 17 years, including the design, build and operation of the 60 acre HBOI Aquaculture Development Park, the world’s only completely recirculating center for aquaculture training and demonstration.

Dr. David Vaughan is often cited with creating the R&D and scale up of clam farming technologies in Florida, and directing the training programs and operations of the nation’s largest hatchery to produce clams used for the retraining displaced fisherman.

He founded and developed ORA, Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums Inc., a large marine ornamental production facility and has worked with Philippe Cousteau and Earth Echo International on coral reef restoration initiatives.

As previous Executive Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory in the Florida Keys, he started the coral restoration program, heralded with developing the new technology of “micro-fragmentation”. Dr. Vaughan is presently helping people globally in this process as a scalable tool for reef restoration as Founder of Plant a Million Corals.

*  Dr. David E. Vaughan has previously worked for and with many other marine science organizations over the years and has now retired from those entities and is solely representing Plant A Million Corals until he reaches this goal.

Dee Dee Vaughan Smause
Co-Founder, Director, Development and Communications

Dee Dee grew up on and under the water. You could say that saltwater runs through her veins. Being raised by a marine biologist meant that almost all things revolved around the ocean, and that has continued to this day. As one of the co-founders of the Plant a Million Corals Foundation, her main role is to raise awareness and build partnerships for coral restoration.

Dee Dee’s professional career started much earlier and has ranged from the local to the global level. Working with the American Red Cross as the disaster response and volunteer coordinator, she handled volunteer recruitment, training, and deployment. While at the Earth Day Network, an international environmental advocacy based in Washington, D.C., she was the Executive Assistant to the President, assisting with organizational management, campaign development, and working with the media as a content contributor and writer. As the coordinator of the Florida Keys Community College Foundation (now College of the Florida Keys), Dee Dee was the lead administrator and fundraiser for the scholarship program supporting the students and programs of the school. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, she coordinated the disaster response for the students and staff, as well as assisting in the fundraising efforts to support those in need in the school. After the hurricane response, she joined the Florida Keys Community Land Trust, raising money and awareness for the lack of affordable housing in the Florida Keys as their Development Officer.

When the opportunity to start the Plant a Million Corals Foundation with her family, and actively support coral restoration around the world, she jumped at the chance to be a part of the founding team. Getting to work with practitioners, scientists, educators, supporters, and the community making coral restoration affordable, accessible, and scalable has been a dream come true!

Dee Dee lives in the Florida Keys with her husband, Jason, and their rescue pup, Isabela.


Overseas Diving Update

Upcoming trips 2025:

See details on: https://usadiveclub.org/Overseas

  • LCBR - May 31 - June 7 - The details will be ready by 10/3
  • Philippines - Aggressor (I) - July 12-22 - we might add a land based extension the week before - details and signup form is posted on the Overseas web page
  • NOTE - Our ability to hold on to unsold spots for Aggressor will expire shortly - Please call me at your earliest convenience if interested 
  • Roatan Aggressor - Sept 6-13, 2025. details are already posted

    Nils Jacobsen
    VP Overseas Diving


      Presidents Waves

      Fall has officially started. I hope everybody is enjoying the start of weather cooling down. So far this year it doesn’t seem very significant though. Please be aware that we are entering the most active portion of the hurricane season. Please double check your Hurricane Plan and be prepared since it is projected as an active season. We dodged a serious hurricane with Helene.

      Local diving is in full swing with many options available, please sign up and join the club out diving. Please keep an eye on upcoming dives and join in if you are inclined. It is always a lot of fun catching up on the boat and having lunch afterward with friends. The Blue Heron Bridge crowd is still very active also.

      Our October speaker is Plant a Million Corals Foundation which will be a zoom speaker.

      It is that time of year again for Board of Director elections, the Board is proposing the following slate of electors.

      • President – Chris Hardham
      • VP of Programs – Rick Dayan
      • VP Overseas – Nils Jacobsen
      • VP of Social Events – Lureen Ferretti
      • VP of Local Diving – Ryan Goheen
      • Secretary – Amy Welman
      • Treasurer – Ronnie Farr

      There are several positions on the Board of Directors where help would be greatly appreciated. It is a great opportunity to learn about the club and our membership. The members that volunteer their time would appreciate some new blood to join the BoD and help guide the club into the future.Additionally, there are several appointed positions that will be filled after the new year, please reach out if you are interested.

      Our overseas participation has dropped this year compared to last year, this is a major benefit of our club and source of revenue. If you have locations you would like to visit, please let Nils know so he can look for good deals at DEMA this fall.

      Please come to meetings and help our club grow.

      Happy diving,

      Chris Hardham
      President

       

      Local Diving

      Overseas Dive Trips

      Educational Blog

      This article represents the views of the author.  The article has not been fact checked by myself, the Board of Directors or any member of the USA Dive Club.

      Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

      DIVING SAFETY

      How Current Are Your Rescue Skills?

      By Wally Endres and Christine Tamburri. 

      When was the last time you had an in-water emergency while diving where your reaction saved a life? Maybe we should ask a more critical question: was it an event or was it actually an emergency? Are you a proactive or reactive diver? 

      For the full article in InDepth magazine, please use the link below.

      How Current Are Your Rescue Skills? - InDEPTH (indepthmag.com)

      Membership


      Just a friendly reminder to keep this in mind: While you're out on Halloween and you come across a ghost, goblin, or haunted pumpkin, strike up a conversation about our fantastic sport of scuba diving. You never know, you might just be chatting with a ghostly scuba diver who's looking to join a club.

      As always, we invite you to browse through our extensive Photo Gallery to take a look at our social and diving activities.

       

      Hospitality Hut


      Happy Halloween From The Hospitality Hut,

      The Hut has no report this month.  Unfortunately we did not have any guests attend the September meeting.

      It is always nice to see old friends and catch up on what we are all doing. It would be a treat to see many more of you come on up to the Aloft in Delray and socialize before the meeting.

      I encourage you to visit our home page www.usadiveclub.org  Please click on the calendar and keep up to date on all the diving and non-diving scheduled activities. You may also take a look at the photo gallery and take a peek at past events.


      I wish you all Happy Diving.

      Clare Anthon

      Hospitality Coordinator


       

      LOBSTER POT

      USA's Lobster Pot drawings Include CASH prizes, and a variety of PRIZES donated by Sponsors or Club Members.

      Funds from ticket donations help to support our many club activities. Congratulations to all our Lobster Pot participants. Be sure to visit our Local dive shops who support us and say 'Thanks'.


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