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Dear NOGI Fellows,

 

The last year has been very rough for the entire worldwide diving industry.  In the last 2 years, the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences has lost several of our NOGI Recipients:

 

Dr. Paul Auerbach.      Dr. George Bass.      Dr. Albert Bove.       Ernie Brooks.        Bonnie Cardone.        Clive Cussler          Jerry Greenberg

 

Lad Handelman           Dave Parker              Alese Pechter          Dr. Richard Vann          Armand “Zig” Zigahn

 

The NOGI banquet is our opportunity to congratulate the new inductees.  It’s also an opportunity to see our good friends.  It’s a Reunion.  Unfortunately, the NOGI banquet may have been the last time some of us saw these friends.  While some groups have decided not to have events this year at DEMA, the NOGI Awards Banquet is going to happen:

 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17  WESTGATE RESORT & CASINO LAS VEGAS   BALLROOMS A&B

Banquet Tickets will go on sale next month on the Academy’s website.  { www.AUAS-NOGI.org }

 

The first NOGI Award was presented in 1960.  Over the past 20 years, the NOGI Banquet has evolved into a first class quality event.  When a person is elected to receive a NOGI Award, the Academy welcomes them and takes care of them.  For the 5 recipients, we cover the cost of travel & housing; the statuette & medal; production of the video of their life’s accomplishments; the rental of the A/V projection, sound, lighting, stage, etc.  Each year, our upfront cost (before meals & drinks) is between $25,000 - $30,000.  The profit from the ticket sales is never enough to cover these expenses.  We depend on raising money to pay for everything.  The Zale Parry Scholarship and Lee Selisky Future Leaders of the Diving Industry accounts are solid.  We will award the scholarship again this year and we will provide 20+ young people with complimentary NOGI banquet tickets.  If you know of a young person who would like to join us as our guest, please contact Jill Heinerth:  Jillheinerth@mac.com

 

However, these are restricted accounts.  These funds cannot be used to pay for the banquet expenses or other operational expenses.  Unlike some non-profits, the Academy is composed of volunteers.  Nobody in the Academy is paid, but we have overhead costs such as election, accounting, insurance & other expenses. 

 

Just as the Academy has taken care of the past recipients, it is our hope that the NOGI fellows will help us take care of the future generations of NOGI Inductees. 

 

The Academy Needs Your Help.

A NOGI FELLOW HAS OFFERED TO DONATE $10,000 AS A MATCHING DONATION.

We need to raise at least $10,000 by July 31.

 

Please help us reach this goal by doing whatever you can so we can continue to offer this lifetime achievement award.  Donations can be made on the Academy’s website: 

www.AUAS-NOGI.org     DONATE Link

Donations checks can be mailed to:  AUAS   27 West Anapamu Street #317   Santa Barbara, CA   93101

 

Purchasing an advertising or congratulatory ad in the program also helps us cover expenses.  Bonnie Toth, a volunteer, produces the program for us each year at no cost.  She can help you design an ad.   Contact Bonnie directly at Bonnietoth@earthlink.net

The rates are as follows:

            $1500   Inside Front Cover; Inside Back Cover; Outside Back Cover

            $1000    Full Page

              $500    Half Page

              $250    Quarter Page

 

For over 60 years, the NOGI Award has been considered by many to be the most prestigious award in the diving  industry.  Please help us continue this wonderful tradition for generations to come.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Dan Orr, President

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