Don't Be A Beach Bum!

Go Dive Now's latest video, "Don't Be a Beach Bum," encourages viewers to live life beyond their social media feed. It promotes scuba diving as a great way to connect with friends and see some amazing things underwater. And for those active social media users, it also allows for some great photos to share on social media! This new video is perfect for embedding on your website or sharing on social media. Watch it for yourself and share it with your social media communities today!

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CA's Spiny Lobster Season is Right Around the Corner - Help Keep Divers Safe and Well Prepared

California's 2017/2018 Spiny Lobster Season begins on September 30, 2017. In an effort to increase diver safety and prepare divers in advance of the season, DEMA is circulating it's California Spiny Lobster Season Public Service Announcement (PSA) and printable visual aid. The PSA materials are part of DEMA's ongoing efforts to encourage divers to refresh their training and maintain their equipment prior to getting back in the water. DEMA Members are encouraged to share the visual reminders with their customers and community to spread this important and timely message.

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Let DEMA Help Share Your Hurricane Recovery Update

In an effort to make dive industry professionals and consumers aware of the operation status of businesses located in the areas impacted by recent hurricanes, DEMA has published a Dive Industry Hurricane Recovery Update webpage.  If your business is located in one of the areas impacted by any of these hurricanes, we invite you to submit a notice informing the industry if and when your business is up and running.  You can submit your notice for inclusion on our Dive Industry Hurricane Recovery Update webpage by completing the online form.

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DEMA Expands Disaster Assistance Program to Aid Those Impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria

**Funds Available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show 2017 **

 
Updated September 19, 2017: The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Board of Directors has approved the expansion of the Disaster Assistance Program to assist DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers impacted by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.
 
DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was first created in 2004 and has been used when DEMA-Member companies are impacted by natural disasters which may interfere with their ability to promote their businesses, products, services and destinations. As funds are limited, DEMA has earmarked them specifically for DEMA-Member companies who plan to exhibit or buy at DEMA Show 2017 and have been negatively impacted by these large storms. Funds will be provided to Exhibitors in the affected areas based on their exhibit size and to Buyers in the impacted areas who attend DEMA Show and stay in a DEMA block hotel.

Exhibitors from the areas indicated below are eligible to apply for the funds to help them exhibit at this year’s Show. Buyers who plan to attend DEMA Show can also apply for funds to assist in covering hotel costs while staying onsite at DEMA Show.  

"DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to Member manufacturers, destinations and other industry-related entities to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2017,” said Tom Ingram, President and CEO of DEMA.  “Registered Buyers from DEMA Member businesses who are staying in the DEMA hotel block are also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”

Exhibitor Assistance Program: DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA-Member Exhibitors who are fully paid by the close of business on September 22, 2017, and physically located in the following areas:

Impacted by Hurricane Harvey:

 
Counties in Texas:
Aransas, Austin, Bee, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Brazoria, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller, Wharton, and Wilson.

Parishes in Louisiana:
Allen, Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vermilion, and Vernon.

Impacted by Hurricane Irma:

• Alabama • Anguilla • Antigua • Bahamas • Barbuda • British Virgin Islands • Cuba • Culebra • Dominica • Dominican Republic

• Florida • Georgia • Guadeloupe • Haiti • Mole • Montserrat • Nevis • Puerto Rico • Saba • Sint Maarten

• South Carolina • St. Barthelemy • St. Eustatius • St. Kitts • St. Martin • St. Nicholas • Turks & Caicos Islands • US Virgin Islands • Vieques

For affected Exhibitors, for each 100 net square feet of exhibit space purchased and paid for by September 22, 2017, DEMA will provide regular Exhibitors with $US 400.00 in assistance.  Funds will be awarded onsite at DEMA Show 2017 to the exhibiting companies who apply and fall within the guidelines deeming them eligible for assistance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum available from the DEMA disaster assistance fund. All interested parties must apply for the assistance funds on site at DEMA Show in Orlando, FL prior to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017. 

Attendee Assistance Program:  DEMA Member Buyers who are registered for the Show and staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block (The Rosen Centre, Hilton Orlando or the Days Inn on International Drive) are eligible for reimbursement as follows; One registered Buyer from an attending DEMA Member business physically located in the aforementioned-affected areas can receive reimbursement for a one-night hotel stay (single occupancy) in the DEMA hotel block prior to midnight eastern time, November 3, 2017. 

Buyers applying for assistance must provide a copy of the receipt for the DEMA Block hotel stay to the the DEMA Office prior to close of business on December 1, 2017.   Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the DEMA disaster assistance fund.  Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program, but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.

For more complete details and disbursement information and to obtain an assistance request form, visit DEMA Central in Booth #1371 at DEMA Show 2017 in Orlando, FL.

 

DEMA Board Member Election Slate Announced - Deadline for Write-In Candidates is October 18th

The candidates for the 2018-2020 DEMA Board Member Election are:  A1: Jenna Meistrell, Body Glove A1: Ronny Roskosch, Cayago AG A2: Kirk Krack, Performance Freediving International A2: Kristin Valette, PADI A3: Jerry Beaty, Dive Training Magazine A3: Linda Sue Dingel, Bonnier Corporation A4: Patrick Hammer, Scuba Emporium A5: Brian Rickman, Dive Georgia, LLC A5: Steve Weaver, Dream Weaver Travel A5: Tim Webb, Caradonna Dive Adventures Write-in candidates will be accepted when required materials are submitted to DEMA no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time October 18, 2017.  NOTE: Write-in candidates and those petitioning for them must be current 2017 DEMA Members AND must be renewed for 2018 by the date of record for the election.

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Important Update for DEMA Show Attendees and Exhibitors Regarding Hurricane Irma

UPDATED: September 12, 2017

Important Update for DEMA Show Attendees and Exhibitors Regarding Hurricane Irma

DEMA Show will be open for business as planned on Wednesday November 1.

Our priority, as always, is to ensure the safety of our attendees, exhibitors and partners and to provide the best safeguards for your business.  

DEMA has no plans to cancel or postpone DEMA Show due to Hurricane Irma.  The DEMA Board has approved Disaster Assistance Funds for exhibitors and buyers located in the impact areas to make it easier for them to attend and exhibit at the show, allowing them to continue making their customers aware that their businesses remain in operation. The Orange County Convention Center is also closely monitoring Hurricane Irma. For updates from the convention center, visit www.occc.net/Irma.  

We have everyone impacted by Irma and Harvey in our thoughts.  Please consider donating to established charities that will be helping in the recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local charities, and others.

Sincerely,

 

Tom Ingram
President and CEO