ETRC Club Announcement

[ct_vol]

First off, I would like to say that I'm not p!ssed, I'm just disappointed, as I was saying before...

You guys know how busy I am... I have my own business, am in my first year of marriage, and am finishing up 19 credit hours for this semester...

I want this club to be something... All I have been hearing for the past 3 years that I have been a member is that we do nothing, and that there are no benefits to being a member... This year as president I have tried my best to get people involved in the club and do things in order to attract interest in the club... I am glad I no longer hear that we don't do anything and that there are benefits of being a club member... The lack of participation is what I am disappointed in...

I know not everyone is into this hobby as much as I am... I have tried to keep the club open to everyone for all levels of interest... I have gone out of my way to help all new members and make myself available to anyone that needs anything at all... I am willing to carry most of the burden of keeping the club going even...

When I post that we are considering taking a trip to the Chattanooga Aquarium and there is overwhelming interest (I think it was close to 25 people wanting to attend), and then a few months later after I have worked hard to get the tickets for us, and not one person can go, I don't know what to say... I postponed the trip once, called everyone interested individually to make sure the date was ok, and still everyone backs out... Participation in Group orders has also been lacking...

I am going to continue to work hard to make our frag swap a success... But I can not do that alone... I have gotten a bunch of donations, and more are on the way... We will need people there... If you guys do not want to do this, LMK and I will call all of our sponsors and send the items back... Besides which, Eddie has to inform his church... Please let me know sooner rather than later...

After the frag swap in June I will be stepping aside as President... I'm thinking that perhaps the club needs to be taken into another direction and maybe someone else can do that... Our normal elections are held in June with the new officers taking over in July, so I don't forsee this as a problem...

This is a time when I wish we did have a private forum, for this is private club business... If you are not a member of our club, please keep your comments/opinions to yourself... If you are a newer member, please understand the club has been through some turbulence the past couple of years... ETRC members please feel free to comment your thoughts...

 

[cee]

Funny (not really, but ironic) as I was just thinking that the "participation factor" had declined substantially after reading the other Chattanooga aquarium thread. I somewhat feel your pain having been in your shoes in the past and attempting some of what you're trying to accomplish with limited success. I took some time off after that stint as Prez and eventually came to the conclusion that I would let the club morph into whatever the masses desired. I came to realize that the passion that I have for the hobby (which I believe you share) was not shared equally amongst all club members, and once I came to terms with that, my club experience became more fulfilling.

I for one think you have done an excellent job in your role! You came into the office at a difficult time when the club was in the process of becoming a social club without any structure or organization. So, in retrospect, if you consider where things began under your leadership, you really have a lot to be proud of!

I too am concerned about the swap and was commenting to Rob at the CR last w/e about how the "hype" isn't there yet like it has been at other regional frag swap.

Just my $0.02. Your mileage may vary...

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

Well, my club experience has for the most part been positive... I do understand that some people's passions do not lie in this hobby... If we want this to be a social club and do very limited things then that is fine... We did try that and believe it was unanimously decided that we ALL wanted more for the club... I just don't want to do the work when no one is going to take advantage of it... It seems like most are comforted that the club is doing things, they just don't want to participate... But if the particiapation isn't there, there is no point in doing the set up work in the first place...

 

[EvilMel]

Seriously...I encountered the same problem when I was on the board (for years) and people complained and complained about us not doing anything but no one was willing to help out.

It's nothing new, you're just seeing it now with open eyes because you're president. It's a very *jading* experience being president, I have to tell you. I don't think it has to be, but that's been my experience and it seems to be being yours as well.

I normally participate in things but I got busy this weekend. I am the first to admit that I'm certainly not as *into* this hobby as I used to be. That's due to my circumstances changing and whatnot, but I've tried to be supportive throughout the newer changes the reef club has made.

 

[digidana]

i know i'm new and don't have much input, but i just want to say that as a newbie, randy, you've been invaluable to us. you've helped us out tremendously! we would have even gotten the wrong tank if it wasn't for you. i can see where you're coming from with the aquarium trip, that would be very frustrating. i can't do much about that, but i can promise that i'll be there for the frag swap. i've never been to one, so i'm not quite sure what all needs to be done, but just put me to work doing whatever, whenever you need. if a flyer has been decided on, i would be happy to help distribute up our way.

i don't know what the club was like before, but personally, i've really enjoyed it the couple months i've been a member. to me, it seems to have a nice mix of business AND pleasure. i think you've done a fantastic job.

 

[omreardon]

I know I'm technically not a member, I've got other commitments on the third weekend of each month so I didn't think it was fair to join and not be able to participate in the meetings and such, but I'm willing to help out at the frag swap. I would love to see it go over well and become an annual event. I can sell tickets or something that doesn't take much skill for a shift.

Olivia

 

[ct_vol]

I don't want this thread to turn into whether or not I've done a good job as president... That is done with and in the past... Many people told me that I was electected because I wouldn't tolerate bunk from the club... This is me trying to establish some sense of order/direction before I step aside... Righting the ship so to speak... I want to know what you guys want for the future of this club you all belong to... Would you be happier with the club doing nothing besides the occassional group order and our monthly meetings, little more than a social club??? Or do you want this to be a fully functioning reef club, where we do things reef/SW related such as field trips, frag swaps, more frequent group orders??? I thought the key to getting this club going would be to get some "new blood" into the club... We've had about 6 or more new members join this year... This is mostly thankful to CR's help hosting club meetings and giving out our information... In order to keep getting new members and keep our newer members we need to follow through on what we say the club is...

If nothing else I hope that I am considered a person of dignity... All of you know you can count on me to do the things I say I will... I have gone out of my way for this club, and put my name on the line for this club... For the Club I had my friend get us as many Aquarium tickets as possible and she put herself at risk doing so... For the Club I have been on the phone for hours talking with sponsors, sending e mails, and writing letters... I am friends and do much business/trading with many of our sponsors... I have spoken with a few owners of the businesses and told them I'd meet up with them at MACNA XX... I feel like an @ss that you guys are not participating... It reflects poorly upon me when I say the club is going to do something and you all do not follow through...

Bottom line is that it needs to be decided what you the club members want... I do not want empty promises, I want the truth... Perhaps not what you want, but what you are willing/able to do with the club...

 

[knoxtnreef]

let me know what I can do to help besides being a elected member..I don't have time for that. I can update the website and help at the frag swap.

 

[tangboy]

I know personally I am very busy and cannot always travel far to do things :/ Since I am a Seventhday Adventist I haven't frequented the Saturday meetings because I'm at church or out spending time with God somehow (if ya have questions ask ) and knew that going to a reef club meeting would be keeping my focus off of what the Sabbath is for me.

I have truly appreciated the meetings at the CR because of its location and the last one was Friday evening which meant I could come hang out for a bit and see some familiar faces. Of course I forgot my name badge but my wife, brother and his wife were able to come along and hear some of the chit chat and meet a few people. My brother was jealous that he doesn't have a club this "social and energetic" where he lives.

I am excited about the frag swap but am not sure if my internship in Townsend will allow me to make it. Once I figure out if I can make it I'll sign up for some responsibilities. I guess I probably should have voiced that in the other thread but just kinda swept it under the rug.

I am not sure where I am going with this, I guess just shedding some light on what I have enjoyed, seen, and would like to see. Its a fun club with a lot of helpful people willing to go out of their way to help everyone else out. I hope that I can return the favor with starter frags, equipment etc. Its been a great experience for me this last year and look forward to more years to come!

-geoff

 

[imsqueak]

My enthusiasm with the hobby is wearing thin. Darn hair algae! I'm about to loose control and put tangs in my tanks! I just know that if I did, I'd get ick or something, but I still might do it.

I also made the decision not to attend the mtgs when it's our weekend with our grand daughter. Just had to ask myself which was more important to me. I did want to take her to the aquarium, but guess what? not our weekend so that bummed me out and I didn't want to go either.

I post a lot less now than before too. Not sure why because I read the board almost every day. I guess I'm in a slump for the time being. I'm sure I'll get over it.

Although it's not the point of this thread, I thank you for doing such a great job as pres. You've brought us a long way!

 

[fishdoc11]

This reminds me of my favorite Bill Cosby quote:
"I don't know the key to success but the key to failure is trying to please everybody"
There is a lot of truth to that.
What it boils down to is we have all different kinds of people in the club that want different things (and that's a good thing). Some want strictly a social club while others want a club with meeting minutes, set times for everything etc...
That reminds me of my favorite Forrest Gump quote:
"It's a little of both"
Finding a happy medium is always the hardest thing to do in life. I know I typically go kahunas to the wall when I'm trying to improve something and then tend to back off a while, maybe too much, and then hopefully eventually find a happy medium.
The club has come a long way in the last year....it has been "saved" so to speak.
You have done an excellent job Randy but blaming yourself for the apathy of others isn't fair to you or the club. I too was supprised at the lack of enthusiasm when the aqurium trip was actually set in stone. What seemed like a trip that had too many suddenly had none. Why did that happen? The time of year (this IS the time of year everyone starts forgetting about their tanks), commitment fear, other things to do......I don't know.
I do know we still have a lack of people willing, or unable, to serve. That's probably going to be a problem we have to work around for a good time to come. If we want to at least keep things going we will have to have some participation. We don't have to be like the larger clubs, at least not any time in the near future, but I think keeping what we do have going is important to all of us.
The bottom line is we can only do what we can do and let the chips fall where they may.......and they will fall, one way or the other.
The frag swap is comming up and I intend to put a lot more work into that once my finals are over. It's impotant that others step up for that also as that IS something the club has commited to and will hopefully be at least a moderate success.
I share your dissapointment Randy but I also share your enthusiasm.
We'll see where it takes us
Chris

 

[Pandarian]

Randy, I love you man :love1:

 

[tangboy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12406180#post12406180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pandarian
Randy, I love you man :love1:

*takes a step in the opposite direction* Ummm so this is turning into a "kiss Randy" thread?

Randy, done a good job, helped my school out by helping sell us some LR and I count that as a big thing in my book. A lot of people in the club have tossed a few frags this way or whatnot and even though my schools tank isn't doing very well my kids have enjoyed it and it goes to show what type of people we have in the club. Can't wait to see where the club leads next

-geoff