David Trotter

David has searched and discovered shipwrecks in all of the Great Lakes (Except Lake Ontario). In a unique odyssey, the years of dedicated effort to discover the largest schooner built in Canada (the 250’ Minnedosa) resulted in surveying over 2,000 square miles of Lake Huron. This has been a one of a kind adventure with 80-90 new sites, including airplanes, the Steamer Daniel J. Morrell, and the Steamer Goliath. The Goliath was designed by John Ericksson in 1846, fifteen years before he designed the ironclad Monitor of Civil War Fame.

Our World-Underwater is proud to present our new Middle Coast Award. This award recognizes the time and effort of individuals of continually keeping Scuba Diving active in their local area.

 Chuck and Margo Miller were married August 5, 1988 and have five children:  Charolette, Karen, Jeramie, Charles Jr., and Justin.  And ten grandchildren:  David, Julie, Karen, Jessie, Karen, Monica, Sebastian, Alexia, Jeramie Jr., and Demetrius.  This is enough to keep anyone busy but Chuck and Margo do so much more.

They joined the Triton Scuba Club in1989, shortly after becoming certified SCUBA divers.  They have also joined Chicago Aquanauts SCUBA Association (C.A.S.A.) in 2006, and the Underwater Archeological Society of Chicago (U.A.S.C.) in 2007.  As members of the various clubs they are active and involved in each organization.

Margo & Chuck first began to work with the Illinois Council of Skin and SCUBA Divers, Inc. (ICSSD) as delegates representing the Tritons around 1993.  Margo was elected as a Delegate to the Council Board in 1995 and has held the positions of Delegate, Vice President, Executive Vice President and is the now the organization’s President for the second time.

Chuck began to work with the Council in the position of Raffle Prize Chairperson around 1993 and has held that position ever since.  He does a superb job and each year the raffle becomes bigger and better.  This is the Council’s principal fund-raising activity for the year.  He solicits donations from manufacturers, dive resorts, shops, etc.  Chuck took this on without any fanfare or accolades.  Chuck saw the need and stepped forward to handle the task.

Chuck served as the Council President in 1997 and was then reelected for a second term.  His leadership and drive brought the Council back after several years of rancor and division within the group.  Chuck was willing to step up and take on the challenge and has been able to bring all sides together and form a unified Council committed to better the marine environment and to promote safer diving.  Under Chuck’s leadership the Council was instrumental in getting the Coast Guard Helicopter re-stationed seasonally in the Chicago area in his 1^st term of Presidency.  He has also served as Executive Vice President, and is the current Vice President of the group.

The Millers are a team.  They coordinate the annual Underwater Competition for the Council.  They make arrangements for the site, line up the volunteers to help as timekeepers, judges, scorekeepers and other duties.  They also fill the role as Master of Ceremonies the day of the event, arrive early to make sure all is set up and leave late at night after all has been cleaned up.

At Our World Underwater, Chuck and Margo are responsible for lining up volunteers to man the ICSSD booth.  They ensure the booth is staffed, compile the literature from the member Clubs (in some cases has printed additional copies with their own funds) and are there to answer questions regarding the Council or clubs. 

Margo and Chuck organized and headed up the Council’s efforts and worked closely with the Tim Early Foundation to prepare the Straits of Mackinac for sinking in 2005.  This vessel was brought to the Chicago area to sink as a dive attraction and fish habitat.  They worked to get clubs and volunteers to help out to prepare the ship for sinking.  This involved thousands of man-hours to clean, scrape, degrease, etc. to get her ready for her voyage to the bottom.  Chuck himself spent hundreds of hours also working – many times he was the only one to show up – he still pitched in and gave it his all.  We are happy to report he was honored with a special award from NAUI for all of his efforts in this project.

Currently the Council is working with both the DNR and the Chicago Park District and is posting placards and handing out information pamphlets concerning dive flag rules and regulations for boaters.  The Council also supplies the Z-folds to the Coast Guard Auxiliary that are used in their Boaters Safety classes.

The Millers freely give of their time and talents.  They willingly pitch in at any dive or social activity, whether it be on the clean up detail, organizing the diving, or helping to solve the logistics.  There is no job that they will not willingly do.  They both do this without thought of reward or acclimation.

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