<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10569256#post10569256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FiberLux
Patrick, I am not trying to minimize your concerns, but you are reading way too much into this event and those others you have mentioned. You can interpret the words of the CMAS Constitution and Bylaws to mean different things, but the following is clear:
1. CMAS is not financing any event at DLC. We are having a picnic at the home of one of our members, who has been gracious enough to provide a location for the picnic, a tent in case of rain, a grill and some refreshments.
2. CMAS is paying for the food for the picnic.
3. No CMAS member or CMAS Sponsor or LFS will profit from the CMAS picnic.
4. CMAS has not financed meetings at any LFS.
5. No CMAS member will be soliciting business at the CMAS picnic.
There is no 'hidden agenda' here, just an activity planned to allow our members to get together for food, fun and reef stories.
As a side note, the CMAS Board will discuss the bylaws and constitution and whether any wording needs to be changed. If the board decides that changes are necessary, we will act within the CMAS bylaws.
Thank you for your concerns.
Boyd
Boyd,
Thanks for the reply but I have to point out a couple things.
1. The DLC store and their home are the same location. They will be open for business during the picnic.
Having a picnic at their home is the same as having a picnic at their store. Since CMAS is paying for the food and the member's residence and DLC store are the same location, CMAS is financing a picnic at DLC.
Other local fish stores, like Sharky’s, should not be penalized because they work out of a regular retail location.
2. Since CMAS is paying for the food we are financing the event at DLC.
3. No CMAS member or CMAS Sponsor or LFS will profit from the CMAS picnic.
"The event will start at 12:00 PM and the food will be served from 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM.
If you want to do a little shopping at the Dark Lord Coral reef store, it will be open until 4:00 PM. Boyd "
That is how you billed it. Is DLC giving stock away for cost? Unless they are, there’s a profit being made.
4. CMAS has not financed meetings at any LFS.
Why only do it for DLC? Sharky’s was gracious enough to host an event, why didn’t we buy food for it? If we are paying for food at DLC then we should do it for other lfs.
5. No CMAS member will be soliciting business at the CMAS picnic.
"If you want to do a little shopping at the Dark Lord Coral reef store, it will be open until 4:00 PM. Boyd "
How would you classify this? How can that be construed as anything but soliciting business.
Let's not play favorites.
If CMAS is going to finance events at local fish stores, let's do it for all of them.
Patrick