[Buccaneer]

First and foremost, although it may be inexpensive to register a domain, it's not free. Anytime that money is involved, i.e. collected for or paid on behalf of an entity, there has to be accountability -- without accountability, creditability is questionable. This means at minimum there has to be an executive body or committee.

How else do you suggest we get the exposure to attract those Marine/Reef keepers so that we have enough members to formalize ? ... it would seem that we are in a neutral position in that there are not enough here to get started and not growing fast enough to do it in the near future ( If anyone is worried about the website domain registration it is a pittance and I would gladly donate to have it registered but I am not up to website desgn or else kindergarten kids would have a better site than us )

I understand what is involved with starting a non-profit organization ( I am a founding board member for a non-profit charity ) but what I am suggesting is that we need to get our numbers up first ... those up front costs need to be spread over a membership and not burdened on a few ... any suggestions as to how to attract other Marine/Reef members I am open to hear as well.

To borrow a line from a popular ad " membership has it's privilidges " ... when we have our numbers up we can entice more members because we will have more to offer ... some of the clubs in the states get group buys from retailers ( online or local ) etc ( I actually snuck in on the New Jersey Reef Clubs group buy of Refractometers as well as a RC group buy of Algae free rare earth magnets )

Secondly as an online resource it really would be in the same category as this discussion board. If people aren't going to make it to one, then I think it's unlikely they'll make it to the other. I.e., either you're technologically savvy in which case you can probably find your way here, or you're not technologically savvy in which case neither resource will really fit the bill.

So you are saying that if they wont visit a message board such as this one that most people wont visit a website dedicated to local reefers either ? ... I dont necessarily agree because most people I think are naturally shy and so there may be more lurkers but lets assume for a minute you are correct on this point

Thirdly, most online associations have generally been unkind in the words regarding the retailers, and this fact has not gone unnoticed amongst them. We probably have still an uphill battle to win them over at this point. And to be honest, I think a club or association should not be too tightly indebted to a retailer because sooner or later a conflict of interest is sure to rise.

A good point to be sure ... that is why I am suggesting a seperate website for the local hobbyist ( not a discussion board as this one ) ... we have had our discussions regarding retailers before but ultimately we do need each other and can collaborate to a common good ... we only really need one on board as I think most of us have visited them all at some point in time ... I would rather see that happen voluntarily by some of those retailers that frequent this board and we already support.



Marine/Reef enthusiasts ... although we share the common denominators of a glass box/heater with our freshwater bretheren ... I think the similarity stops there ... we have completely different challenges and I believe the end results of our efforts although more difficult are far more esthetically pleasing and rewarding.

I just think we need to figure a way to channel Marine/Reef keepers into one location and hold at least quarterly get-togethers.

I have a unfinished basement in this new place that ( if I can sort some of the boxes ) hold quite a few people and would be willing to volunteer to hold meetings here ... Jonathon also has volunteered his home so a couple more and we can at least have a way to get face to face with the rest of the group on a regular basis

I think a mistake we have made in the past is that we have not set aside a regular meeting ... if everyone knew that every third month the second Saturday night ( only a example ) was a meeting then everyone could plan around that and turnouts would be better. ( when was our last meet anyway ? )

more wood to the fire of discussion ... I am not saying I am right ... these are just my opinions and I am open to any and all suggestions.

Anyhow these are just my thoughts. If the time is right to start the ball rolling again then great, let's get the ball rolling. But I think we ought to have a business meeting and go from there first.

I totally agree that this needs more discussion ... where and when ?

Tony ... why dont you start a thread to get a meet together for at least those that want to be involved from a planning/execution level ?