treesprite February 20, 2011 February 20, 2011 We were talking about some sort of co-op thing on this thread which I didn't want to hijack Reference thread . I'm posting this here because as stated in the above thread, such a thing would be open to all SW hobbyists who meet certain qualifications, and can't be affiliated under WAMAS because it would put non-profit status at risk. (Member Only board implies it as only WAMAS affiliated). THE MISSION: to have a place for saltwater aquarium hobbyists to obtain financial resources for the purpose of supporting their hobby endeavors, and to promote conservation of our world's reefs and oceans through aquaculture. - hobbyist participants must meet specific qualifications (TBD) - I am proposing a traveling location in order to give more hobbyists an opportunity to participate, and because it would spread the philosophy and practice of conservation to a wider area - the items sold must be hobbyist home aquacultured or DIY items only. This could include fish, corals, macros, DIY foods, DIY equipment, and other non-commercially bred/grown/made/built items. - participants MUST be home hobbyists, must NOT be a commercial vendor or service provider - I would prefer that participants be required to have membership in a legitimate club or organization that is not just an online forum or group - participants would pay fees for usage of space and utilities - participants would use their own equipment and supplies - times scheduled should be as often as there are enough people to cover facility costs at whatever facility is going to be used, and places should be wherever there is big enough interest - information should be provided on all hobby forums - Clubs and organizations should be encouraged to come to promote themselves - Local fish stores (NOT online vendors) would be welcome to advertise their stores by handing out FREE promotional items, BUT they must NOT sell anything. My reason for putting this in is to make it clear that our purpose would not be to compete with them, but to have enough money to support our own ability to support their shops Ok, I'm idea-ed out at the moment and I need to do a late night run to the all-night Harris Teeter store.
gmubeach February 20, 2011 February 20, 2011 Wow very confused maybe I missed something? Is this an event or a general forum idea. Thanks Forrest I'm just confused!
gmubeach February 20, 2011 February 20, 2011 Anyone heard of SEA SAVE out of annerundal county? I think they do this? I've heard mixed results some like it some don't my father has a friend and he goes exclusivly through them. I told my dad about sea mass and wamas to no avail. http://seasave.net/ I found them to be very well not children oriented. I brought in a few of my fainces families kids to explain to them about the hobby and stuff and they were rude to the children and too busy to make the effort. Also they do group buys to their store front. A mixed bag if someone else has an opinion I'd like to hear it as I have little experience like 3 or more times. Two of which made me extremly mad and the last time I went by myself. I see on thier website cover they have children looking at the sharks. I talked to them about the hobby by myself like how thier program works and stuff and they were applying for thier non profit status. It may just be the management, but I believe children are the future no children and the hobby dies. Not sure if you should keep sharks in swimming pools, not really an expert in keeping large marine life. They have several nurse sharks.
treesprite February 20, 2011 Author February 20, 2011 Wow very confused maybe I missed something? Is this an event or a general forum idea. Thanks Forrest I'm just confused! Just an idea that came up on a thread in the members only area - someone mentioned co-op and I had some ideas but didn't want to steal the thread with them. I actually get lots of ideas that I never share....
LanglandJoshua February 22, 2011 February 22, 2011 Just an idea that came up on a thread in the members only area - someone mentioned co-op and I had some ideas but didn't want to steal the thread with them. I actually get lots of ideas that I never share.... that is called filtering your thaughts GJ! As for the DIY only, I think that may severely limit us. I dont know about you, but Im not about to attempt to make a heater...it may be possible. But there are just some things better left to a factory. of course there are some things we could have real fun with, like the acrylic. Also, I think a moving aquarium would only serve to stress the marine life. Here are some ideas to help "and to promote conservation of our world's reefs and oceans through aquaculture." I was thinking of a small place where we could as a group get a "show" tank running, and invite the public. I was on a trip around the Chesapeake bay and found a place that actually had hands on touch tanks, and a large tank with small sharks. They caught them each year and released them at the end of that year. It was a neat idea, and they charged $15 for entry. Im sure we could do something similar, as well as having a reef tank that is permanent with perminant fish/corals. We have over 1,500 members, although I am sure our paying member numbers are much smaller. Maybe we could do something more? Even just pooling some money each year and going to a different school. Ive got an old Oceanography teacher who would love to have her reef tanks looking as good as they could. But thanks to school budgeting she cant. Because of that, alot of people miss the point of it all . There is little interest with a couple fish, and some rock. She has told me that she would appreciate any help that the club would offer. Besides, the school tanks could be used for club aquaculture. As long as what is grown there is shared, not purchased. Or used as a fund raiser for the school. Think of all the highshools in our area, one classroom each, aquaculturing. Just letting coral grow as it does, and fish breed at their own rate, it could do alot. My whole idea is to take the hobby out of our homes, and into a public place . As I think someone said on another topic, the future of this hobby is bringing it to kids. Or people that have never seen it before. does any of that sound "doable"?
Origami February 22, 2011 February 22, 2011 I'm confused about the "traveling location" part of the first post. Parts of the first post sound like it could be accomplished just as easily with a frag swap (think of a frag swap meet), either within a single club or with the participation of multiple clubs. Participation would be key to success here. Don't we already do some sharing of corals amongst hobbyists through both sales and our SWAP (Share the wealth and propagate) programs, as well as our annual Frag Fest? Of course, we don't hold this event as a way to redistribute income. As for tanks in public, we already support multiple tanks in the public schools and have re-established our connection with the National Aquarium in DC.
treesprite February 23, 2011 Author February 23, 2011 By traveling I just meant not always do it in the same location. Yeah, is kind of like a frag swap - thought about it being similar... I have a headache and worked 13 hours today, so I can't clear my head enough to say what I'd be thinking if it wasn't foggy.
LanglandJoshua February 23, 2011 February 23, 2011 ouch 13 hours...tylonol and rest. I just finished about two weeks of 1-3 hours of sleep a day....one off was awsome, slept through the whole thing...
gmubeach February 23, 2011 February 23, 2011 Yes I missed the orginal point too. I would love to see some kind of outreach we tried to run it at super pet expo. Didn't work out excatly how we pictured I don't think.
treesprite February 23, 2011 Author February 23, 2011 Yes I missed the orginal point too. I would love to see some kind of outreach we tried to run it at super pet expo. Didn't work out excatly how we pictured I don't think. I have had that pet expo in my mind when pondering over this topic. I always thought of a frag swap as a bunch of "more experienced" hobbyists trading corals. What I'm talking about would be something that even beginners could come in and buy inexpensive frags, get education from the sellers including hobby stuff, livestock, and conservation... encourage them to be responsible hobbyists. By travelling, I just mean that there wouldn't be like a single storefront. This is where I kept thinking of the pet expo, because it travels from place to place to reach as much of the public as possible. It's about being responsible hobbyists, and about the hobby. The hobby isn't just having a tank, it's the creativity, ingenuity, specialized knowledge & education, exploration, plumbing and carpentry skills, artistry, all kinds of stuff. That's why I said just DIY things. Emphasis is given that by selling items (instead of just swapping), it gives hobbyists a way to make their hobby at least partly self-supporting.
FearTheTerps February 23, 2011 February 23, 2011 Maybe we should have more frag swaps?? Maybe even one open to the public? Say, pay a small entrancee fee, but the frags themselves would still be free.
Origami February 23, 2011 February 23, 2011 Maybe we should have more frag swaps?? Maybe even one open to the public? Say, pay a small entrance fee, but the frags themselves would still be free. Or maybe something more of a swap meet where hobbyists could sell to other hobbyists. I think this fit more in line with what the OP was looking to do. That is, "to have a place for saltwater aquarium hobbyists to obtain financial resources..." We already have an event where the frags are free. It's called Frag Fest. Membership (which you've already paid for) gains you admission, otherwise there is an entry fee. A lot of volunteer hours go into Frag Fest. Doing it more often would require a lot of additional resources - not only workers, but donations. While there's also likely to be much labor involved in a frag swap (and $$, too, as venues don't come for free), because of the commercial activity focus, it may not be something that WAMAS (as an organization) can host without considering our 401©3 status. The board has, by the way, been approached by another club to explore the idea of a multi-club frag swap meet. It's an idea that's in its infancy, without substantial detail, but if it comes to fruition, it may be just what the doctor ordered.
treesprite February 24, 2011 Author February 24, 2011 Or maybe something more of a swap meet where hobbyists could sell to other hobbyists. I think this fit more in line with what the OP was looking to do. That is, "to have a place for saltwater aquarium hobbyists to obtain financial resources..." There you go. People would have to pay fees to cover space & utility usage. I was not really thinking of WAMAS sponsoring. Some group of hobbyists, however, would have to get together to organize the thing. Could go around boards looking for people. Who paid for the electricity used by display tanks at that Pet Expo? Was it just part of renting the space, or was there an extra fee?
zygote2k February 24, 2011 February 24, 2011 Forrest- Look into co-op stores and see if this is what you are talking about. They could have the buying power of a Price Club, have paid membership, yearly dividends, elected officials, and overall lower prices. There are several examples in modern society that work well.
extreme_tooth_decay February 24, 2011 February 24, 2011 Anyone heard of SEA SAVE out of annerundal county? I think they do this? I've heard mixed results some like it some don't my father has a friend and he goes exclusivly through them. I told my dad about sea mass and wamas to no avail. http://seasave.net/ I found them to be very well not children oriented. I brought in a few of my fainces families kids to explain to them about the hobby and stuff and they were rude to the children and too busy to make the effort. I went there once, and saw enough. Amusing thread here: LINK
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