2008 M.A.R.S. Frag Swap March 1st

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11478138#post11478138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
I wouldve felt compelled to say something, but moreso as soon as I saw duncans brought up For 25$ a head and as prolific as GSP once in an established system cant but help differ with that opinion.

Justin, I can understand where you are coming from. I respect your position, but the three of us have a very specific goal for this frag swap. We want to expand the group of individuals who contribute to and benefit from the "rare" category. I believe that the term Paul and Mike and I agreed on was extra-ordinary, meaning more than ordinary. This will probably give you a better understanding of what we're shooting for here. We're looking to open up the category to things that aren't just super rare SPS.

With a 2 head minimum on Duncan, by your estimate, which I think is a fair going price, that makes a duncan frag a $50 piece. I think this falls easily into the extra-ordinary category.

If the ultimate effect of broadening the special category mean that there are less LE SPS but more people can go hoe with something special, because more people are able to contribute to the category, then I think we have done our job as a club trying to foster the hobby to masses.

Perhaps the next frag swap, like the last one will have a more stringent rare category.

 

[MrMikeB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11478138#post11478138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
How come no vets are judges? Im finding it hard to bring up the topic without offending you good guys,(or makig me sound like an @zz in the process )but with all due respect theres not much experience with coral identification nor the years to be able to deem what is truly rare and what is "hype".

-Justin

It is a good question Justin. Our goal for this swap is to bring out a lot of good stuff and people. To reach the most people and encourage folks to bring out their super nice pieces (even though they are not on this months' $100/frag list), we felt broadening the category and criteria would help achieve this. I think there are a lot of nice an exceptional pieces out there from the tank pictures we have seen that might not have LE attached to its name, but I still want to see them on the tables.

I do not pretend to be an expert in all things reef, hell I would argue the opposite might be true. What I am an expert on, is realizing who the experts are, and how to elicit their support. Collectively this club has hundreds of years of experience - it would be foolish to ignore this. This is a 'club', and a long overdue club sponsored frag swap, so as a club we will put this together and make it great. Wanna help? Great! Post your pics! Post your comments on other peoples pics! Tell your friends! Tell their friends!

 

[P.Kelly]

Oh, and for the record, a frag of the GSP is out. Sorry Steve

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11478768#post11478768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by petes97
I respect your position, but the three of us have a very specific goal for this frag swap.

Why don't the three of you just get rid of the rare category and/or bonus tickets if it is just going to be nice stuff. IMO,The whole rare thing should be for the raffle and side trades because ones mans rare (gsp) is another mans aptaisia. Keep it simple and you will limit your headaches.

 

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11478871#post11478871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marko9
Why don't the three of you just get rid of the rare category and/or bonus tickets if it is just going to be nice stuff... Keep it simple and you will limit your headaches.

We appreciate your suggestion, but we are committed to opening up the special category to more people and still encouraging people to bring extras by giving bonus picks for their generosity.

We can always try another format in the future, like we are doing now.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11478871#post11478871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marko9
Why don't the three of you just get rid of the rare category and/or bonus tickets if it is just going to be nice stuff.

We did exactly that at our last BAR swap. I have to say that it did work out very nicely.

There were lots of different kinds of "rares" of all types including sps/lps/softies. And after 3 passes through the picking order, there were still stuff on the tables like Superman, Pokerstar, Purple Deaths, Nuclear Greens etc.

We'll likely not have a rare/bonus category for our February swap either.

 

[pbetito]

March 1st... See you there!!!

 

[sagitariuscbc]

Hey there,
Maybe we should have this sticky taken down and start a new one with the correct info?-)

!-)

 

[KMP]

can a mushroom be rare/exotic...beautiful color

 

[pbetito]

It sure can!!! If its a yuma :lol:
While beautiful Kenny, it is not quite up to par with the extrodinay criteria. I do however love the contrast of the red mushroom against the purple one. Very beautiful.

 

[iairj84]

So let me get this straight... I'm a newbie to reef keeping as well as frag swaps but will be attending your guys' swap assuming all works out. I go to the Chico Reef Club and I know we have some members that will attend also.

Anywho... My question would be, I've read it multiple places that if one was to bring say 5 pieces they would get at least that back (which makes sense.) But I've also read (I think on this thread) that you will come home with at least 1 more than your brought. How is this so? If 10 people brought 5 frags how could those 50 frags turn into 60 frags? I'm assuming you just have people bringing a ton of frags and not wanting to get that many for their own tank....

Either way forgive my newbiness, I have a few nice frags I'll be bringing myself

 

[KMP]

it is not quite up to par with the extrodinay criteria.

i knew it wouldn't; was digging through some photos and thought i'd show them off. they are actually more orange than red. bought 2 from CRS over a year ago; now have 15 of these guys.

 

[pbetito]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11484129#post11484129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iairj84
So let me get this straight... I'm a newbie to reef keeping as well as frag swaps but will be attending your guys' swap assuming all works out. I go to the Chico Reef Club and I know we have some members that will attend also.

Anywho... My question would be, I've read it multiple places that if one was to bring say 5 pieces they would get at least that back (which makes sense.) But I've also read (I think on this thread) that you will come home with at least 1 more than your brought. How is this so? If 10 people brought 5 frags how could those 50 frags turn into 60 frags? I'm assuming you just have people bringing a ton of frags and not wanting to get that many for their own tank....

Either way forgive my newbiness, I have a few nice frags I'll be bringing myself

First off we are really happy to see you guys make the voyage as your club has some really cool reefers and we look forward to hanging out with you.

I understand how this concept can be a bit confusing but you hit the nail on the head. As an example at the last BAR swap I attended with my wife, there were two of us swapping and the minimum was three frags per person. At the time my sps tank was overgrown so I cut 50 something frags and brought them to the swap. There were several there who brought a lot more than that. In the end generosity tends to make these events even sweeter.

 

[wpnorton]

<a
Also for consideration, I would like to recommend that only those that were a member as of 12/27/07 be eligible to partake. [/B]

I'm not trying to make this more complicated, but KMP has a very good point here. If you set a "Member by" date in the future, all your doing is a membership drive. The members that have been here for awhile, are now competing with people that just want to pay a small membership fee, get some very nice frags and never be seen in the club again. I don't think this is the intent of the frag swap. Setting the 12/2707 membership date would eliminate the problem you had at the Christmas Party. 25+ people showed up and bought $25 worth of raffle tickets (essentially) for a chance at a couple very expensive systems. I'll bet most will never be seen again. Not that I blame them...it was allowed.

There needs to be a cut off date of before the announcement of the frag swap to keep this from becoming another issue.

Before I get flamed here, It would just be cool to have some very realistic defined rules that are best for the club and its loyal members. So far, all I see is membership drives for members that most likely will have no intention of participating but gain the rewards of "instant Membership" rules.

 

[P.Kelly]

wp,

Without putting words in Paul of Mike's mouths, our goal is to allow this to be a regional frag swap for members of any reef club. In order to put a cutoff date on membership we would have to regulate every club whose members might come to our swap, which is something we have no interest in attempting, otherwise we would have a double standard for MARS members and members of other clubs (if we cut off on 12/27, but other clubs don't).

MARS has a responsibility to give back to the community. This is in part due to the tax liability and structure of our club. The MARS regional frag swap is one of the ways that we are going to "try" to work on community outreach and promoting responsible husbandry and captive propagation within the greater reefing community.

While we really do appreciate all the comments, I would like to see people get behind the style, format and open nature of this frag swap so that we can move forward and work on making this event a success.

And, on your point about Christmas membership, I will report back about what percent we see again. I'll eat my hat if you'll eat yours?

 

[MrMikeB]

Mmm hats...

Pete is spot on - MARS is a public benefit club and as so, we have to well, benefit the public. Frag swaps are a great way to get our name out there and get people jazzed about we are all about. If that results in more members, great - the more sharing knowledge the better. If we do not see these prospective members again, well, we will wish them luck. We have current members in our own ranks who we STILL do not see again, but support us in ways they can.

My point is simple. The frag swap is going to be a blast! MARS will have a very inclusive policy and the more the merrier. Make it your own by finding your own reason for coming and partaking in what is to be a real shin dig.

 

[pbetito]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11484263#post11484263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wpnorton
I'm not trying to make this more complicated, but KMP has a very good point here. If you set a "Member by" date in the future, all your doing is a membership drive. The members that have been here for awhile, are now competing with people that just want to pay a small membership fee, get some very nice frags and never be seen in the club again. I don't think this is the intent of the frag swap. Setting the 12/2707 membership date would eliminate the problem you had at the Christmas Party. 25+ people showed up and bought $25 worth of raffle tickets (essentially) for a chance at a couple very expensive systems. I'll bet most will never be seen again. Not that I blame them...it was allowed.

There needs to be a cut off date of before the announcement of the frag swap to keep this from becoming another issue.

Before I get flamed here, It would just be cool to have some very realistic defined rules that are best for the club and its loyal members. So far, all I see is membership drives for members that most likely will have no intention of participating but gain the rewards of "instant Membership" rules.

Wayne, we have always tried to be open to any and all who wish to participate. While there may be some that show up just for the swap there will be others that find us there and become productive members.

Please don't look at these people as competiton to MARS members. The more people who bring frags, the more variety we are hoping to see. We are about proper husbandry and propogation of corals and this is a really wonderful chance to convey that message to the public.

It is not a membership drive but instead a really cool event. It just happens to be the case that cool events tend to attract new members. i.e. the Xmas party. We don't have the frag swap to gain members, it just is really cool so people are drawn to the event. I met some new people when we had the scrap swap such as ScubaJim and I really like him and am glad he came out. I have seen him sevral times since. Hopefully some of the new members from the Xmas party will join us again for the frag swap.

 

[wpnorton]

OK...I can see your point as well. I'm sure it'll be a great time and very productive event for all who attend. I'm not going to get hung up on a few details that might or might not make a big difference. I can appreciate the point of the other club membership policy. It would be very hard to try and regulate that issue. With that said, I also appreciate the discussion about how you're operating the event and your willingness to explain rational behind certain aspects. No problem on this end. I'll do my best to come out and support in any way possible. The club has been a big a sett to me as I've upgraded my systems and jumped to more complicated levels of reef keeping. I still consider myself to be a very green novice, but learning all the time.

I'll see you at the next meeting.

Should I wear an edible hat?:bum:

 

[P.Kelly]

No need for eating hats... I like to throw some humor in situations, sometimes at inappropriate times. I'll leave the hats at home... for now!

 

[pbetito]

The date has been officially been changed on the post. The mods are seriously efficient!