I would like to begin by saying Happy New Year and that I wish everyone the very best in the coming months.
 
As part of our annual to-do list it is time for everyone to renew their membership with the TDC.  The updated membership form has been loaded to the Texins website.  The form may be turned in at a club meeting or via mail.  Mailing instructions are included on the membership form.
 
If you did not attend the awards banquet in January, you missed a great party.  The banquet was held at the Holiday Inn Express in Allen with food catered by Jason's Deli.  A slide show of photos from the TDC activities for 2008 was shown and Jim Mularkey entertained the group with stories about the club.  Larry Dickinson reviewed the training provided by the club in 2008 followed by Joe Vaughn who presented an overview of the upcoming training for 2009.  Congratulations go to Larry Dickinson and Mike Higgins as they were the winners of the service awards for the 2008 season and the President's award was awarded to Joe Vaughn.  Lary Harrington, the 2008 President, presented the awards to the recipients.  I would also like to thank Allan Wallace and Van Simms for their efforts in coordinating this year's banquet.
 
The club room is currently preparing to perform the annual VIPs on the air tanks, so if your tank needs to be inspected please bring it by the club room.  Schedule information will be forthcoming.
 
I would like to encourage our membership to consider increasing their scuba skills this year by participating in a specialty training class.  Along with our normal OW and AOW classes a list of specialty classes will also be taught if enough individuals are interested.  The list of classes will be posted to the website soon if they are not already there.
 
While diving and dive training are the primary focus of the TDC we also enjoy many other social events throughout the year.  And to that affect, this year we will be able to celebrate Friday the 13th with a Happy Hour three times.  The first Happy Hour will be hosted by me in February at Houlihan's, 5225 Beltline Road, Dallas.  This is on the north side of Beltline Road between Preston and the North Dallas Tollway.
 
The next TDC board meeting will be Thursday, February 5, at the Texins Activity Center, in conference room 3 at 6PM.  And, our February club meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10 at Joe's Crab Shack.
 
I am looking forward to a busy and exciting year with the Texins Dive Club and I hope that all members enjoy it as well.