club

[outreefed]

your club is a joke like a lot of peolpe say you all are reef geeks i went to the meeting in nov and no one said a word to me it left me with a bad taste in my mouth i also posted things to trade and on one would say yes or no to me so may be you need to take ahard like at the club and change the way you look at things have a nice day

 

[loyalty]

sorry you had a bad experience, but my dealings with mtrc have been nothing but positive...and i'm usually pretty critical. FWIW everyone i've dealt with has been a 1st class rep of mtrc and what the club stands for.

 

[CKreef]

ditto loyalty!!!!! Mtrc has been very helpful

 

[fishdoc11]

Re: club

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8960692#post8960692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outreefed
your club is a joke like a lot of peolpe say you all are reef geeks i went to the meeting in nov and no one said a word to me it left me with a bad taste in my mouth i also posted things to trade and on one would say yes or no to me so may be you need to take ahard like at the club and change the way you look at things have a nice day

Sounds like you didn't give it much of a chance

Did you try to initiate any conversations yourself?

I know I allways tried to talk to new people when I was still in Nashville and I know others in the club do as well.

What did you post to trade? Lots of people try to trade sell things on local forums and if there is no interest the corals probably are fairly common and easy to come by. You shouldn't take that personally.

Saying "your club is a joke" is shortsighted based on your limited experience and could very well be taken as a slap in the face.....nobpody likes a slap in the face

Chris

 

[waynesworld]

I think it is funny how some people can be so Ignorant and inconsiderate that they feel that they have to post insults on a thread and then complained how they were ignored. If you come to a meeting and do not talk to anyone is that the groups fault? I know we have grown a lot in the last years and we do not all know each other by sight but I have approached and been approached to by a lot of different people at the meetings. I also think the people in this club are extremely nice and helpful.

 

[turboex901]

Re: club

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8960692#post8960692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outreefed
your club is a joke like a lot of peolpe say you all are reef geeks i went to the meeting in nov and no one said a word to me it left me with a bad taste in my mouth i also posted things to trade and on one would say yes or no to me so may be you need to take ahard like at the club and change the way you look at things have a nice day

im not sure if the trade comment was mildly directed at me or not. im sorry i didnt jump all over youre deal you offered but trading a 125 for a 10 gallon isnt very logical to me being relativly new myself, everyone in the club has been very nice to me and my wife. even though you have taken major offense to the club and its memebers im sure any of us would still attempt to help you with any future issues that may arise with youre tank. best wishes!<~~~steve

 

[Angela Short]

If I am not mistaken the Nov. meeting was at a local LFS? If so there is such a huge turnout and its so impersonable in a way. Unless you recognize someone you already know there is not much talking unless you are just a outgoing personality like I am. I just walked in the the 1st Chatannooga swap and introduced myself to the first folks I saw ( Gflat and his wife in the parking lot actually) and told them I was glad to finnally meet some people in person. I see tons of new faces at the LFS swaps and don't necicarily talk to them because I never know if they are there as a member or a store customer just hanging out or a employee off duty. Not that I am not being freindly at a LFS but at someones home you have a smaller group and its much more personable because everyone there is there for the meeting and reef talk only. Sorry if you felt like we were not freindly but the members are just people also and just like you, many folks just are not comfertable going up to a compleat stranger and inishiating conversations. They find someone to chat with and stay in the comfert zone. You should have tryed another meeting instead of fumming for a few months. I am sure you will be welcomed and talked to if you came to another meeting at someones home.

 

[mamagoose45]

like a lot of peolpe say you all are reef geeks

Reef Geeks? I think I speak for most members when I say, "Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment." I don't think that when people walk into our house and see our tanks that they go, "Wow, you're a bunch of reef geeks" but rather "Holy crap, nice tanks!"

Speaking from our experience with the club, nothing but good things come out of my mouth. We got into the hobby with less than zero knowledge about saltwater tanks, and probably would have said "forget it" and been long gone had we not stumbled upon the club. Between member relationships, the RC forum, and the LFS there is no such thing as a stupid question - trust me, if there was, we would have asked it. People are here to help the hobby grow...

As far as the meeting goes, speak up! You can probably tell that the meetings aren't so much "meetings" as they are a bunch of people getting together to discuss something they love doing. Perhaps we need to make it a rule of thumb to start each meeting by introducing ourselves so that no one feels like they're being left out because they're new and don't know anyone.

Oh, and I'll throw this out there as well... If you decide to give the club another go, don't be offended when people don't remember your first name. It's much more likely that they'll probably know you by your RC name...

 

[crumbletop]

Re: club

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8960692#post8960692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outreefed
your club is a joke like a lot of peolpe say you all are reef geeks i went to the meeting in nov and no one said a word to me it left me with a bad taste in my mouth i also posted things to trade and on one would say yes or no to me so may be you need to take ahard like at the club and change the way you look at things have a nice day

I know I'm a reef geek

I have been to a few meetings and the first couple that I went to I didn't know anyone. Yes, a round of introductions at the beginning would be nice. Name tags would also probably be a good idea. In my experience, people in the club are very interested in helping others out and sharing their knowledge/experience/etc.

Re posting something for trade with no reply -- that happens to me. No one wants my Remora, LOL! It's a great skimmer and is in great shape -- but I never took that as something personal.

I recommend giving folks a second chance.

 

[EvilMel]

That's what we tried to do in the beginning...Name tags.

It's really great if you can start off by putting your real name and your RC name on there. It's totally how we all got to know each other at first.

We try to do so still, but I usually end up forgetting both the name tags and the membership cards. I gotta start remembering that!

We also try to actively talk to new people we see, just like you guys. Sometimes we are better at it than other times, but we are a smaller club than you guys anyways.

My experience with MTRC has been great. Every time I've seen them at swaps...it's been like "HEY! Mel!" and "Hey Gary!" or "Hey Chris!"

You might get a better response from them if you come on here and be like "hey everyone...I was at the last get together and no one knew me...so I want to introduce myself" rather than acting like an effin' baby.

 

[montemans]

The Nov. meeting was also my first meeting. Everyone made me feel right at home. I also made the Dec. meeting, but had to leave before it was over. Once again, everyone from both clubs were as helpful and as nice as anyone could be. Thanks for making me feel welcome in club. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Frag Swap.

 

[luckyfish]

I would encourage you to give it another try. I've had a very positive experience here. I've been a member of both West TN and Middle TN clubs and can tell you folks are more than willing to talk shop (that's why we have the club because our significant others have said if you mention that tank one more time I’ll kill you). It is important to take some initiative and both initiate conversation and listen to what's going on. Your tone isn't exactly conducive to folks wanting to invite you back in to sing Cumbya but others have covered that. I will say that you may have a point as I've noticed both clubs have a tendency for folks who are familiar with each other to fall into patterns of swapping stories and swapping frags but I think that's natural. I invite you to be part of a solution to this potential issue by raising it in a way that encourages the members to think about it rather than circle the wagons. If you give it time I'll bet a frag that you will learn from the members, that one day you'll need something and that they will come through.
Proud Reef Geek,
Tim

 

[DgenR8]

I think this is the first time I've been asked to look at a thread in this forum. I was asked to look, as someone was offended by the first post in this thread.
It appears to me that this is a pretty stand up bunch, and rather than rip the new guy apart, you're all extending an olive branch, despite the original post, and the tone behind it.
Kudos to all of you, this is honestly what we were hoping for when we started offering forums to local reef clubs.

 

[Hurley12]

I've only been to one meeting, but I felt right at home. I am relatively new to the hobby, and I know multiple people Gary, Angela, Daniel, and others I know I am leaving out that have been an amazing help stocking my tanks, and not to mention answering my elementary questions, haha.

 

[gflat65]

I hate you feel that way, outreefed. We certainly try to make everyone feel welcome... Did you get a frag at the Nov. meeting? Everyone was offered one, even if they weren't in the club. I know most people but don't know everyone, but usually make a point to say hi to those I don't recognize so I can put an RC name with a face (but as I'm sure you're aware, I was busy with fragging, so it was difficult to get socialization time). As most others have stated, give it a second shot. This is a great bunch of people (as are all of the people I know from all the clubs we have worked with/been around.

And to stand with the others- there is nothing wrong with being a reef geek. It is an aspiration for all who truly love to geek out on their tanks.

 

[outreefed]

no i did not get a frag at the meeting im at work right now but will be back later

 

[stlver1]

I found this club when i moved to tenessee from california. and without knowing anyone or them knowing me i was welcomed. i was invited into a clubmembers home and was treated very well. (That never would have happened were im from) There is a wealth of knowledge between everyone in the club who shares. Like was said before its not really a meeting from what i can see, but a get together to talk about somthing we all share an intrest in. So, speak up, if i wasent turned away or made to feel unwelcomed then theres no way that you will. youll most likely be known by you RC name im guessing at first...when i go to a metting im Stlver1 or silver or some variation. I want to say thanks to all who are involved. you made me feel welcomed and look forward to contributing in the future

 

[Del123]

Man, I was going to come to the frag swap till I found out how unfriendly you guys are think I still may give it a try.

 

[Angela Short]

Why didn't you grab a frag? I was the very last one there and most people had already left and I still got one. Gotta love the LFS meets, always a nice goody to take home. Which is ussually why the high turn out. I clear my calender for the LFS meets!

 

[atvdave]

Heck.. I wish I lived closer to all of you so I could come to your meetings.

Just in the short time I have posted in your forum all of you have been nothing but nice to me.

I look forward to seeing some of you at the Frag Swap.. Just hope I'm able to make it.