Stay-Focused Conducts Seventeenth Program!

The second program of summer 2009 brought six divers together again, including our first mother and daughter team. Participants included Katie Chasar, Chelsea Crytzer, Jessica Ebanks, her mom, Joenell Parsons, Derry Hill, and Ryan Neiswender.

Leading the Program

Joining the group: Roger Muller, Founder/President of Stay-Focused; Trisha Yurochko, Stay-Focused Board member; JenFu Cheng, Stay-Focused medical advisor; and, Brian Siemann, Stay-Focused alumnus and mentor for the group. Many thanks to our core Stay-Focused Diving Instructors Tony Chisholm, Chris Brandson, and Marty Banks who ensure our dives are both safe and fun. And, thank you Nick Lawton and Greg McMechean, diving instructors who volunteered their time to assist us – thanks guys!

Surprise Guests

It was great to have Bob and Kelly Parish join us for a morning of diving – and many thanks to Bob and Kelly for picking up our Lone Star lunch tab!

Dan Waters, former GM of the Courtyard Marriott, came along for a couple of dives as well – and also picked up our Lone Star lunch tab! Hey, thanks Dan!

Responsibility Code

As part of each Reunion trip, we revisit our Responsibility Code, which outlines the rules of conduct we all agree to abide by during our time together, as well as the acronym DIVER, to which we assign words to each letter that reflect the collective opinion of the group. In both cases, the group agreed to stick with the original versions.

1. Be on time
2. Stay hydrated!
3. Respect one another
4. Stay together with your dive buddy
5. Show support for one another
6. Keep track of your own dive gear
7. Have fun!

D Determination
I Incredible
V Valuable
E Exceeding
R Responsibility

Ambassadors of the Environment

Many thanks to Jess Leblond and our friends at the Ambassadors of the Environment program at the Grand Cayman Ritz-Carlton for providing us the opportunity to kayak in the mangroves and engage in some fun-filled, team-building exercises. We all had a great time and were reminded of how important it is to work as a team.

At the end of the trip, each member of the group set a goal for the remainder of the year. The goal is meant to be realistic, achievable, and measurable. Here are the goals for 2009.

Brian: Qualify for Men’s National Team for the US Paralympics

Chelsea: Make a foul shot - basketball

Derry: Connect with 3 basketball players on the U of Wisconsin (Whitewater) team

Jessica: Dive 3 – 4 more dives this year

Joenell: We didn't get one from Joenell – what’s up with that?

Katie: Dean’s List – first semester

Ryan: Honor Roll all 4 marking periods

Good luck to all of you in achieving your goals! We’ll be watching…

Roger Muller
Founder/President
July 2009