Thoughts on inaugural OC Hunter meeting.

[Prodigal Son]

FYI for Orange County spearfishers, OC Hunters diving/surfing club had their first meeting last night at Hennessey's in Dana Point. Julie Riffe (one of the directors) and her father Jay were there. The meeting was well orgnized, and the setting was comfortable, but a bit loud. They raffled off a lot of stuff with the grand prize (in my mind) being a really neat weight vest system by SeaSoft. It was a nice start and the directors expressed some rather grand (if not a bit overambitious) plans for the club. The majority of attendees were freedivers, with a smattering of people focused mainly on scuba or surfing. Orange County desperately needs something like this, without some of the rigorous membership requirements of the clubs up north. The only things I did not like were:
1. Membership fee of $40. That's a bit stiff for a nascent club like this with a limited niche.
2. Combined surf club aspect (or "wave riders" as they now want to be called). Surfing is a disparate interest in my mind, and I never cared much for the surfer-types in my younger days.
3. A couple of the directors, one in particularly, struck me as a bit seedy. However, they clearly have some good people at the helm.
Overall, I'd recommend you guys attend the next meeting to check it out. The website is www.ochunter.com. One thing though, they announced that the next meeting will be focused more on surfing, with some discussion about an upcoming lobster meet. I'm going to give this club some serious thought, but I'll wait until they've had a few events get off the ground before I take the plunge.

[Stodelle]

I was actually quite impressed with the group. I had the pleasure of dealing with Steve Schur before the meeting and he was more than helpful with questions I had. Each person he sent me to for additional answers (also board members) were just as helpful. The meeting was even better as it allowed me to meet so many others.

I will say that within 48 hours of the meeting, I had 3 offers to go spearfishing. This is the main reason I joined (I currently have a flaky dive buddy), and I'm sure that is why most of the others are joining. The whole purpose is not to promote 1 specific sport, but to promote comraderie within the sports we choose, whether it be surfing, spearing, diving, etc.

Remember, all new clubs and organizations start off with visions of grandeur. Depending on the numbers of members, will determine how much of it actually comes to fruition. It's just nice to have a group located further south than the Neptunes. I'm sure if you give them time, they will become just as big. And with the Riffe's on board, I can only see the spearing getting better.

I'm just glad to be a part of a group, where I no longer have to mumble the words "spear fishing" under my breath in hopes of NOT starting some political argument over who's killing what.

[Kyle]

I was all ready to have a great time at the meeting but of course I was called into the office and was tied to my desk for 5 more hours of work that evening. I will be sure to attend the next one.
I really look forward to meeting new people and being surrounded by fellow hunters.

See you all laters.
Kyle.

[jfg]

Hey prodigal Son and Stodelle,

Sounds great, hope it all comes together, but so far it sounds like they sure want it to. Good luck.

I grew up there in Calif. Lived in Torrence, Inglewood, Gardena, Holly Park, Hawthorne. First skin dived at the foothills of Palos Verdes, then around Hila bend(sp) further up into palos verdes, you know around where Marineland was located. What a great area back in my growing up days.

I'm headed out that way for an educational seminar second week of August. Going to be at Garden Grove with my sister who still lives out there. I hope to get to see some water time, but don't know for sure if time will permit.

Glad to see you guys coming together. Best of luck on the club.

[Prodigal Son]

Stodelle, you're points are quite valid. Please understand, I very much want this club to work. It sounds like you plunked down the yearly fee already; more power to you. I did not want my post to imply a personal attack on any one member of that board. Overall, I think they show much promise. I was just communicating a first impression about a couple of them; I hope I'm proven wrong. If they can at least get a private message board up on their website where spearfishers can arrange to meet, I'll pay the money for that alone. Let me know how it goes with any future dives with other new club members. Maybe I'll see you on a dive soon. Incidentally, I was the guy who won the Riffe visor. My raffle number was just one below the one that one the weight vest...Doh!