1st Year Anniversary!

Dec. 29, 2012, this group was officially registered with forumotion. It took a few weeks and some external help to get it presentable, so really, mid-January was it's "publish" date... What about that January meeting being a Anniversary party? Bring a dish, swap meet, whatever folks would like! Who wants to railroad this through? Bill

Another thought... We can once again, ask of Rama (Skoolzoffish) to accomodate a meeting there!.. ONe time I brought a big ol batch of Sloppy Joes... we could do something along that line! Thoughts? Bill

I'm sure Rama wouldn't mind. I can ask him if you guys give me time and date???
EDIT- Happy one year anniversary.

I'd think you and the other Admin's should discuss the date/time issue... Previously, Sundays have shown the best availability for the general membership... Bill

Rama has agreed to host an anniversary celebration come Jan!... Who's going to carry the ball?

Very nice! When did you go see Rama??? I guess you picked up something very nice?

Naw... No visit... I rarely "cross the river"... but he and I have worked together organizing 2 prior meetings so I just emailed him our query... His response:
Anything I can do to help.
That would be fine.

The last meeting we hosted at Skoolzoffish was a bit of a weather disaster. Storms all up the coast that pre-empted a number of our Tidewater area members from joining us... Rama supplied a boat-load of chicken, I brought a pot of sloppy Joes.. and Ira and I stood out in the rain, smoking and drinking watching over the chicken.

That last meeting, I donated a 10G fully set up, a couple of bags of Angels (I had a ton at the time), some bags of plants etc. Rama stepped up to the plate and gave away store credits and other prizes... Ira donated a bunch of stuff too!..
I'm low on Angels so can't contrib but I could come up with a set up from my stash!
Any other offers?
Bill

I have blushing angels and some shrimp. That I can give but he already has some of those for sale.

It is a bit of a sticky situation in that we'd be GIVING fish away when the shop is trying to SELL fish!... An issue I've yet to come to peace with.... BUT... If memory serves me right, Rama and the shop does quite well as far as sales even with our meager offering of door prizes...
In the past, we've given out tickets (Rama supplied) and had periodic drawings for pre-announced lots... I was so rooting to win the Discus door prize that Rama put up but unfortunately ended up being drawn for a door prize I offered!... I think it was a pair of Venustus... too many months ago to accurately recall...

So, I can supply some plants, some MTS's, a 10G set up... Anyone else? Bill

It just hit me... Ira gave away a 6-pack of cory's as well as some other fish! Hate not to extend credit where credit is due.. Bill

Do we want to have the meet at someone's house? If so, who would like to offer their place to host the meet?

We could also have the meet at a public location such as a restaraunt. Any suggestions on which restaraunt to go too? Preferably one with a nice tank. How about Bass Pro Shop?

We could also have it at a LFS that's willing to host it. We would have to respect the owners wishes and keep any sales and trades outside if its during normal business hours. It's just rude to interfere with someone's sale and conduct your own sales in their place of business. Rama has been mentioned above but if he is unable to host due to traveling or receiving shipments, does anyone know of another location willing to host? I work at Petco and can schedule an aquatic workshop seminar but I'm not sure how many members are comfortable with meeting at Petco. I can have snacks and drinks available but no alcohol.

There is going to be a meeting held by the JRAS club on December 20th at 7:30pm if anyone is interested in attending. They don't have a forum like we do but they do meet each month and follow a very planned and organized schedule with their meetings. The only reason I bring this up is because I don't feel that this conflicts with our forum in any way. If anything we may be able to convince more of their members to join our forum and participate in our topics and contribute. I see this as a win win for both clubs.

Amp.. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a member that has an issue with the big-box stores at least in regards to hosting a meeting there... IMHO, the few issues I have with them are: 1. Lack of trained staffers and 2. Their inability to QT and a reasonalble business need to "move" fish rather than real customer care. I do realize that not all of the stores of that type are run in that manner, but I'd also suggest that the majority do so...

As I stated earlier, I suspect that Rama welcome's our hosting of meetings in his facility and I'd bet my bottom dollar that the store generates quite a bit of business from the attending members.

JRAS.. Amp, please post the location and details of the meeting! I unfortunately, will be hosting an out-of-town guest and unavailable... but I'm sure others would look forward to meeting additional fish keepers in the area!
(Why haven't they bothered to put up a page?) Bill

JRAS had someone who was suppose to spearhead the project of starting a website and a forum, but they dropped the ball and no one else seems knowledgeable enough with web design to tackle it. Maybe one day they will but it's been almost two years.

Let me ask Dennis for permission to publicly post the information. Not sure who is hosting the meet but they sent out an evite to the members. In the invitation each member is suppose to RSVP if they plan to attend and how many. I'd hate for the host to expect two dozen members and then a hundred people show up. Even though that would make for a great meeting. I'll get back with you with more details soon.

I actually got the invitation. I think it's at someone's house.

who is incharge of this meeting and when?

I guess I'll pick up the reigns!  Rama to be contacted tomorrow for confirmation.  Anyone want to jump in for the effort to set it up? Bill

Ill bring some jerk chicken an veggies just let me know when an where?

Rama confirmed the viability of hosting the Anniversary Meeting. He will be updating us tonight about dates. Initially it was hoped that the 18th would be the date, but consideration is being given to delaying it by a week or more. Thoughts everyone? Bill
P.s. I can wrangle up a pot of chili or something else!

I can definitely bring some door prizes. Maybe some fish food/what I can part with. Keep me updated.

I can bring adoor prizea 55gal

Do we have a final date, time and place? I would love to attend!

Still trying to nail down a date! Sorry for the delay! Bill

I could donate a couple of the cutrst jeuvenile yellow lab cichlids. Have 6 I need to part with & a couple of male angels..I was hoping to trade someone these in exchange for female angels. Got a tank full of sexually frustrated males & 1 poor female being stressed outa her wits! Also have a box full.. prob 30 lbs atleast, of multi colored gravel & some tank decorative stuff. If anyone thinks those things would be useful? Shout out to Bill! And howdy to Ira. Anxious to meet rest of you at Skoolz! Yes, Roma Totally Rocks!!

Well... the last I heard was that Rama was going to call me to finalize a date.. but I'll initiate the call if I can stay awake till after his closing time.  I've heard both 18th and 19th bandied about but that gives us just a few days prep.  I've asked others about the following:  Name tags? (Stickies).. .Food, set-up, clean-up, door prize tickets,  organization of door prizes etc. but have yet to receive any feed back.  
I've hosted/organized three prior meetings and thought someone would like the opportunity to influence it towards their ideas/concepts but I don't mind taking it on again.  If ANYONE has any ideas, issues or suggestions, please chime in now!  Bill