US Scuba Center
US Scuba Center and the Rochester Mills Beer Company sponsored the Annual Manatee Benefit at the Rochester Mills Beer Company in Rochester on Sunday October 21, 2007 from 4:00-6:00PM. It was a great time to socialize, win some spectacular prizes and do your Christmas Shopping early. Join us at next year's annual event where everyone...divers, snorkelers and Manatee Lovers come together for a great cause.!
It is always a GREAT SOCIAL, talking with old friends and meeting new ones! We have wonderful items on the "Silent Auction" tables - more special than ever and more items than ever. A lot of Christmas shopping takes place while helping a great cause! You can even have your Christmas Card picture taken with a Manatee (Special Thanks to Jack Sellick for his caricature of Manny the Manatee!)
All proceeds go to the Hubbs Sea World Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Program.
The appetizers are always delicious (thanks to Drew Ciora and Jerry at Rochester Mills Beer Co.).
THE GRAND TOTAL THIS YEAR WAS.....$5,000 raised for HUBBS!
It is not too late to still send a donation.
Let's top that amount next year!!!!
Bud and Heather want to thank every person who support and attend this annual event along with all our great local businesses and friends who donate so generously every year.
This is a sampling of the gifts available this year, with more postings on the way. A special thanks to Jerry Powers from Powers Distributing,
| Limited Edition Bronze Turtle Sculpture | HUBBS |
| Two Tank Shark Dive from Stuart Coves & an autographed Staff T Shirt from Stuart | Stuart Cove |
| Paint Creek Tavern | Paint Creek Tavern |
| Oakland University Dept. of Theatre & Dance Theatre Tickets | Oakland University |
| Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Tickets | Macomb Community College |
| Autographed Red Wing Hockey Puck - Paval Datsyuk | Red Wings |
| Indian Rive Lagoon Tour & 2 Nights Hotel | Sea World |
| Colorful Aquatic Picture Frames | US Scuba Center |
| Scalawags Restaurant | Scalawags |
| Atomic Aquatic Donation | Atomic |
| Aqualung/SeaQuest Donation | AquaLung/SeaQuest |
| Science Tour and 4 Tickets to SeaWorld Orlando | HUBBS |
| Designer SeaHorse Box | Anonymous Local Business |
| Swarovski Crystal Magnets - Great Christmas Stocking Stuffers | Swarovski |
| Aquatic Wine Glass Markers | Anonymous Local Business |
| Gift Certificates to Local Restaurants | |
| SeaShell Soap on a Rope | |
| Sea Horse Soap on a Rope | |
| Aquatic Candles | |
| Mermaid Dolls | |
| Aquatic Mouse Pads | Innovative Scuba |
| Snorkeler Dry Box | Innovative Scuba |
| US Scuba Center '07 Commemorative T Shirt | US Scuba Center |
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra Tickets | Detroit Symphony Orchestra |
| Deep See Mesh Back Back Bag | Deep See |
| Henderson Lycra Skin | Henderson |
| Gift Certificate 7 Days Complimentary Parking at Qwik Park | Qwik Park |
| Gift Certificate 7 Days Complimentary Parking at U.S. Park | U.S. Park |
| Great Scuba Accessories - wonderful stocking stuffers | Innovative Scuba Concepts |
| More stocking stuffers for your favorite snorkeler or diver from IST | IST |
| Stahl Sac Gear Bag | Jim Stahl from Stahl Sac |
| D&H Oil Change - an oil change worth $40! | D & H Oil |
| Meadow Brook Theatre Tickets | Meadow Brook Theatre |
| Trident Stocking Stuffers!!!! | Trident |
| Princeton Tec Light | Princeton Tec |
| KID'S ONLY TABLE: fish books and many more fun items!!!!! | |
| Mr. B's Gift Certificate | Mr. B's |
| Ikelite Light | Ikelite |
| Lots of Great Books for Kids & Adults | |
| XS Gift Certificate by Tatoo Artist Mike Welshons | Mike Welshons |
| Brass Manatee Statue | HUBBS |
| Ocean Wave Picture - Framed | SeaWorld |
| Pygmy Sperm Whale Picture - Framed | SeaWorld |
| Scalawags Gift Certificate | |
| DIVI Resorts - you will love this one!!! | |
THE FUTURE OF THE OCEANS IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS. . . "Never double that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" Margaret Meade
One of the most impressive marine mammals that Heather Sellick and Bud Uren, co-owners of US Scuba Center have encountered on their travels across the world is the West Indian (Florida) Manatee. According to Heather, "The Manatee is one of the most magnificent marine mammals that we have ever seen, it is also the one that tugs at our heart strings and reminds us of the great damage humans have inflicted on the animals with whom we share this planet."
What is the fate of the Florida Manatee? The destruction of the Florida Manatee over the last century has been tragic. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 protect the Florida Manatee. For millions of years this gentle giant was once plentiful in the Florida Rivers and coastal waters. Now even with the protection laws, the Manatee's survival is in serious trouble. The slow moving Manatee has been known to reach lengths of 13 feet and up to 3,500 pounds. They evolved from four footed land mammals that entered the water 60 million years ago. The estimated Florida populations of Manatees are now only 2,000. Manatees are herbivores and eat the equivalent of 10% of their body weight daily in sea grasses. They cannot tolerate water cooler than 68 degrees. During the winter months when the ocean cools, the Manatees move into the water canals and rivers where the water temperatures are warmer.
Several factors have contributed to
the decrease in numbers of these wonderful marine mammals
all directed attributed to humans. Encroachment of
people on their
habitat has affected their food
supply. Pollution has made them more susceptible to
virus. Fast moving boats do not allow the Manatees to
move out of the way of propellers and discarded fishing line
can be lethal to them.
US Scuba Center, Inc. has been involved with the protection, rescue and rehabilitation of the Manatee for over 13 years. Once a year, US Scuba Center takes a group to the Crystal River area of Florida and introduces them to the Manatees. The annual visit is not only fun, but educational and culminates with a behind the scenes seminar and visitation of the Hubbs Sea World Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Program. The annual program this year will be January 31 - Feb. 3, 2008.
The Manatee Benefit is open to the public, and all Manatee Lovers are invited. This is a wonderful opportunity to have some fun and work together to get the Manatee off the endangered species list. If you would like a preview of just some of the items that will be available at the "Silent Auction" view the above list.
Thank you for being one of those who care about our oceans and marine life preservation and sharing our passion
"to return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it."