FMAS elections for 2009

[TorryRx]

Treeman, I don't know you...but if you read that first post of yours, you have to admit it was pretty negative and confrontational. It could have been worded much better, especially the "it sure wasn't helping the club" part. I completely disagree with that statement and I feel that helping out members, contributing to the boards, etc is helping the club. There are many ways to pitch in and show support without holding a formal office.

I'm thrilled to hear that Rogger and Chris are interested in board positions again! When I took on President for PBMAS, I had many, many messes to clean up. Rogger and Chris were unbelievably helpful, lending the best advice I could ask for! They also gave me contacts for meetings and Rogger even drove all the way to West Palm to show us all how to make his legendary fish food.

Rogger and Chris both have the perfect temperaments for office...as evidenced by the classy manner in which they have handled themselves on this thread! Very few people would have maintained composure as well as they have in the face of such ridiculousness and drama.

I couldn't possibly think of anyone better to take the helm for FMAS!!!

 

[jessp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13725963#post13725963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Treeman

As I said earlier in the thread, I can not serve on the board. So I do the next best thing, which is to volunteer with my time and money to better the club. I would like to think I am as or more dedicated than Rogger since I do have more than 6,000 gallons dedicated to growing corals and it is my life. I guess you would have to call it my second life since my first was growing trees.

The difference is not who is more dedicated but who is willing to share their knowledge. Your 6,000 gallons is not grown to replenish the wild reefs it is to make money, it is not your life it is your livelihood.

 

[Tyreef]

I been with the club for server years and, also served on the board. I have attended many national aquarium cconferences in this is how I feel.

The most important part of the club future is to have a strong united broad. That's willing to work together in help the club grow. I feel in order for the club to grow we as a club need to have a stable board throughout the year's to come. We need to find committed members for our position that is also qualified (who can bring key Speaker's, who also have relationship with other vender's, etc.). Before we move forward to think of bigger event's we have to work with educating our members and, working together with our stores.

Tiquan

 

[chrisaggie]

Ty, would you be interested in serving as President, Vice President, or Tresurer next year?

 

[Tyreef]

I would like to be the Vice Presidente

 

[chrisaggie]

OK, I will add your name to the list of those interested and speak with Pedro and Julio.

 

[gasman059]

Rogger and Chris both have the perfect temperaments for office...as evidenced by the classy manner in which they have handled themselves on this thread! Very few people would have maintained composure as well as they have in the face of such ridiculousness and drama.

:thumbsup:

 

[Speckled Grouper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13726843#post13726843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jessp
The difference is not who is more dedicated but who is willing to share their knowledge. Your 6,000 gallons is not grown to replenish the wild reefs it is to make money, it is not your life it is your livelihood.

I usually stay FAR away from politics, but this is simply not true.

I have know Matt for a number of years, I have seen his Greenhouse in shreds after Wilma and I have seen him fight pests just like ourselves but on a magnitude unimagenable for a regular hobbyist. He could have easily given up many times, heck, I probably would have, but he chose to continue. I don't know his business but I would venture to guess that he has not made a tenth back of what he invested. Now that I call passion!
Furthermore he is an honest and upstanding individual and I have no doubt that he has the clubs best interest at heart and is not looking for anything in return. I bet, the majority of the members don't even have a clue what he has done for the club in the past, silently and in the background.

It's a shame that commercial members cannot run for office (why is that anyways?), but he would make the BEST president this club has had.

Don't get me wrong, I love Rogger dearly and will support him in any way I can, if he is elected president, but making statements without the proper factual information is not cool.

 

[illal]

Rogger '09
Yes we can!

 

[Treeman]

Torry,

The reason my first post was negative was because it was discussed at the board meeting that RC was not the place to discuss this and 3 days later it is here. And it had been discussed at many other board meetings before that. From what I understand it was because you air your dirty laundry for all to see, members and non members alike.

Jess,

You have no idea about me because if you did you would know it is my life. I started as a hobbiest just like everybody here and found myself driven to do something about the destruction that our hobby does to the wild reefs of the world. I have talked to many of the state people about doing just what you said my system is not for. That was one of the reasons I got into the aquaculture side of the hobby. But things changed when they listed the two most important corals as endangered. Now you cannot do anything with them. The state and federal goverment will not let you possess them unless you are a scientist now.

I don't know any millionares in this hobby. One of the things they say: If you want to make a small fortune in aquaculture is to start with a large fortune.

I am done. Thank you Andrea.

 

[Spooky208]

I think Rogger has helped this club a lot in the last year. Maybe not the same as others have in direct volunteer but he helps the members. I'm sure everyone on the fmas forum has called or pm Rogger at one time or another for help. And that helps club members in a tremendous way.
I do agree that the club members should be more informed of how the board of directors and volunteers are helping. It would be great in the future to thank those who have set up and let us know who puts there time into organizing or getting things together. It would show the clubs appreciation more and the members would definitely appreciation the effort put into the club more.

 

[gasman059]

If you want to make a small fortune in aquaculture is to start with a large fortune

SO SO true. Matt there's a fine line between hobby and biss, i learned that the hard way a few years back when I tried a exporting enterprise to soon find out that more money goes out than in.

Anyways I do appreciate what all of you guys do behind the scenes for us stragglers that show up to a meeting here and there and to the swaps.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of u involved in such a great club.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

Where is our club headed?

Where is our club headed?

I would like to see a post here from those who are to be nominated stating what their agenda will be for the coming year. Running a club with 300+ members and dealing with alot of cash will be important positions. What direction is our club headed? Let's hear from you!

--Barbara
:fish1:

 

[newmoon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13728284#post13728284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by illal
Rogger '09
Yes we can!

LOL

 

[REDDAWG43]

Would it be possible to just become a member now in the November Meeting for the 2009 calendar year....
I mean woudn't it make sense for the club to allow individuals to become members now for the 2009 year so that they are able to help vote in the Preseident, Vice President, Treasurer...etc.
It is these 2009 FMAS members that the Preseident and so forth would be serving.

 

[chrisaggie]

Re: Where is our club headed?

Re: Where is our club headed?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13730435#post13730435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lifes A Beach
I would like to see a post here from those who are to be nominated stating what their agenda will be for the coming year. Running a club with 300+ members and dealing with alot of cash will be important positions. What direction is our club headed? Let's hear from you!

--Barbara
:fish1:

Barbara, I thought the club had a breakdown in communication with it's members this year. I noticed the attendance slowly became less, and I feel this wasn't a great year for the Florida Marine Aquarium Society. My love of the club has driven me to help in a time of need.

Rogger and I are very excited about the upcoming year and have clear goals for the club. We feel as though we can revitalize the club by having strong communication with the members and a well plan schedule of events (general meetings, field trips, frag swaps, picnics, family events, etc.)

In 2006 I served as Vice President of the club with Robert as President. Robert stepped down as president at the end of the year and as Vice President I assumed responsibilities of President for the rest of the year. In 2007 I served as club president having one of the largest membership rosters in recent years. Meetings during the 2007 year averaged over 60 members. In 2008 I served as the Auction Chair on the Board of Directors. I organized and ran auctions at the general club meetings which bring a significant amount of money into the club bank account (which is just under $6000 right now).

In the 2009 year if I am elected vice president Iwill do everything in my power to see that emails concerning the general meetings will be sent out 3 weeks, 1 week, and several days prior to each meeting, the year's meeting calendar will be outlined and posted by February on the website and by email, a frag swap will be held (likely in February or March), many fun and educational field trips will be held, the club will both gain from (a terrific place to meet) and give to (knowledge and help) South Plantation High School, and the club will be a fun place to learn, teach and help advance the hobby.

As stated above, one of my major goals is to have the entire year's schedule outlines early in the year. I feel a good beginning to the schedule includes:

Sanjay Joshi (lighting guru) - already scheduled for January
Water Testing and Chemistry of Reef Tanks
Fragging demonstrations and discussions
Sea Turtle Release
Julian Sprung
Jeff Turner
Matt Wittenrich (the mandarine guy)
Basics of Reef Keeping
Calcium/Nielsen Reactors
Miami Seaquarrium
Holiday Party

Field Trip ideas include:
ORA
Georgia Aquarium
Bowling for Fish
Tank Hop
House Hop (an organized day where many club members homes would be open for guests)
John Pennecamp
Picnic
Beach Cleanup

I am very enthusiastic about getting this club on coarse and having a bang up year in 2009. Please feel free to ask me any questions you have.

Chris Little

 

[Rogger Castells]

Re: Where is our club headed?

Re: Where is our club headed?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13730435#post13730435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lifes A Beach
I would like to see a post here from those who are to be nominated stating what their agenda will be for the coming year. Running a club with 300+ members and dealing with alot of cash will be important positions. What direction is our club headed? Let's hear from you!

--Barbara
:fish1:

Thank you for your great questions.
First let me give you some of my background, I have been involved with fish tanks since 1975, at the age of 8, I was giving my first 10 gal aquarium as a present, I had no idea then that this would become a lifetime passion.

I have tried just about everything from fresh to salt water and have refused to get stuck in time and have kept updated with our current technology and techniques.

I have a BBA degree and I also have a culinary degree both of these have proven very helpful in my hobby.

I am a very friendly individual that truly enjoys the hobby and helping others

I served as the FMAS Vice-president in 2007 and learned a lot about the club and the members needs and desires. During this year I was shocked to see the magnitude of the club and also the potential that it had for growth.

I do have a few tasks in my agenda to accomplish and would love to share them with the members but first I want all of you to know that all these tasks cannot be done by one person or even the BOD alone, we will need the support of all members, I am a firm believer that if you ask the right way for support you will get it.

One of my first priorities is to form a strong BOD that will support the club, one that is open to new ideas and willing to execute them. I know we have plenty of talent and willingness among our members and I plan to harvest that.

I would love to modernize the club membership procedures and be able to expedite membership cards in a more timely fashion.

I plan to re-start the tank of the month contest we had in the past, I thought that it was a lot of fun and gave all members a chance to show their talents.

I would like to put the club back in the map, we are one of the oldest clubs in the country and one of the biggest in the region, but yet, we are hardly ever mentioned anywhere, We have awesome members and even some celebrities like Martin Moe (my personal idol), Julian Sprung, Tony Vargas & Jeff Turner. We need to change this, We need to look into the future and move forward, we must be able to attract future members and even future shows like MACNA into our area.

Finally, I would like to be able to re-establish the sense of pride to be part of the club among the members and be able to have fun in the process.

 

[gasman059]

Martin Moe = aqualife right wow that's very impressive that he's part of the club.


Ok excellent- All politicians lie so what's gonna make u do that better than anybody else?

 

[tony varrell]

I would like to ask how do you join this club and how much are the dues??

 

[Lacy]

I am curious if people all of a sudden want to join the club so that they can vote for their buddies?
Will you be coming to meetings now?
If you have come to meetings in the past, why didnt you join then?