[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by IPZ

Lets not put the cart before the horse here... Jim's poll is simply to measure what kind of intrest there is in starting a reefing club.

I think that the idea behind this group is to allow people who share the common bond of reef keeping, to get together on a monthly basis, share ideas, experiences, and make new friends within the hobby.

As my company is prepared to sponsor the costs of a meeting place, ect, there should be no need for anyone to have to pay any fees.

soooo ..... hows about we just schedule a meet !

exactly, same thing that pops up every year and is put on the back burner because there isn't enuf people on the island to make it realy work.

People are already talking about bringing people in to speak, well they do speak for free, but you have to pay there transportation, lodging, food, ect while they are here. I do belong to the Puget Sound Aquarium Society(and thats where I will most likely stay) they have over 300 members that pay 20.00 per year for a membership and still have to charge a feb bucks when they have guest speakers and such.

On the island I am sure we could scrape up 100 people but it would be so spread out and you would get poor turnouts for meetings. also I have a hard time seeing the vendors on the island supporting a club like the ones in the seattle area support the Puget Sound Aquarium Society, ie. one meating I was at one of the local stores donated about 15 mother colonies (sps) and about 32 frags (sps) and about 25 soft/LPS assorted corals so Anthony Califo could do a fragging demo/workshop and everyone went home with about 3 or 4 frags. I think that would put most local vendors out of business also for a formal club you need to form a elected council to run the club. idealy they have to be from the same area so they can easily get togeather for meatings and they have to have the TIME to do it. you need a constitution and so on and so on (this isn't bad as you can read another well established club's and modify it o fit yours but the club still have to vote on it and pass it.

so as you can guess I voted no because I have seen this come up every year for the last 3 or 4 years and quietly go away because of lack of interest or ability to put it togeather, plus I am already a member of a society.

Steve