GIRS Spring Frag Auction

[phishcrazee]

Most of the local hotels have conference rooms of various sizes that would would work well for an auction and are not too pricey. They also can provide some basic things like tables, pitchers of ice water etc, included with room rental. Another nice thing with having two auctions is more members could/would attend if we had them in different parts of the state. We could also have each auction on a different day, Sat. vs. Sun. as some people work one or the other...........

I like the idea of inviting the local vendors to set up a booth/display. It would help defray room rental cost, give members/potential members more incentive to come and help promote local businesses.

 

[jbrunken]

Where will the auction most likely be held? I'm fairly familar with the hotels in the CR area. I'm involved (or have been involved) with a couple of different groups that have rented them on occassion:

For example, the one (that used to be the HoJo) by the CR airport just off of 380 has a gigantic room that they usually rent for about $100 a day.

I'm hoping to make the Frag auction myself. Hopefully my new tank will be up and running by then so I can start getting some more interesting stuff.

I should be able to auction my Kenya Tree and GSP frags for around $75 each right? (JOKE)

-JB

 

[Atticus]

I personally like centrally located meetings/ frag auctions. Des Moines meetings are a long drive for the Quad City and Waterloo area members. Cedar Rapids is not a bad choice, but it does add another 20-30 minutes to the Des Moines crew.

So, I would like to see major meetings such as Frag Auctions and Speakers held in Iowa City. Frag trades would be great things to do with your local group and if you cannot attend an auction local trades would still allow you to get some new items from those that attended the auction.

 

[Atticus]

Do we have an idea on date for the first auction, how about location (City)?

If the board could set a date and city we could get a couple locals to start setting up deals with area conferance halls.

Also, side note...

Anyone heading to Rockford?

 

[glaspie69]

We're working on it, almost done with the whole calendar.......I know it's a shock

 

[phishcrazee]

Iowa City isn't necessarily centrally located for everybody, but ok for one of the auctions......... that's why I think it would be a good idea to have one in another spot.

 

[overanalyzer]

yeah it is hard to set aside a whole day to hit IA City for all the major events. Which is why I too think two differnet auctions two different times of year.

 

[mnballard]

Hotel Cost

Hotel Cost

Just for an idea on cost, I just set up an even at a Des Moines Area hotel, all day event, 160 person room, $250 roughly, pretty bare bones event. Did some comparison and this was about $200 cheaper than some others in the area. Let me know if you want some more information, my 2 cents.

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9104914#post9104914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishcrazee
Iowa City isn't necessarily centrally located for everybody,

It is for the majority.

Unfortunatly, organizations cannot function focused on the minority. That is why local groups are vital. The biggest question I have for those looking for multiple locations is where would it be fair to have the second one? Waterloo has a big and very active core group, Davenport has one of the other large and more active cores, neither of these sites have hosted any major event.
Des Moines has produced some of the smallest showings for events and would be out of the way for the majority of members, would it be fair to go there again? These questions are some of the things that need to be answered as a core location is vital to the club. The other Aquarium Societies in Iowa do not spread themselves around, there is probably a good reason.

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9104905#post9104905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glaspie69
We're working on it, almost done with the whole calendar.......I know it's a shock

That is awesome news. It will be nice to have a calendar to rally behind. I think things will be very smooth once this key item is finished. I can't wait to see what we are doing this year.

 

[overanalyzer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9112021#post9112021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
It is for the majority.

Unfortunatly, organizations cannot function focused on the minority. That is why local groups are vital. The biggest question I have for those looking for multiple locations is where would it be fair to have the second one? Waterloo has a big and very active core group, Davenport has one of the other large and more active cores, neither of these sites have hosted any major event.
Des Moines has produced some of the smallest showings for events and would be out of the way for the majority of members, would it be fair to go there again?

OK just hit the GIRS website members area and did a count of who is where.... realize I moved to DM from KC so I don't know the state - but here is what I found for registered members:

total 52
DM/Ames 14
WL/CF/Ind 7
Iowa CIty/CV 8
Davenport 8
unknown 15

I just want to make sure we keep the total membership in mind. Of course almost all of my unknowns could go to one of those main locations or another.

My point is - we need to spread our events evenly. When we ad the gentleman in from the Omaha Zoo in Des Moines the place was packed - just like IA City was for (what's his name... man I have his book - will RC allow me to type it?? haha)

So maybe the frag auction (at Dan's was the last one right?) could've been handled differntly or in a more public area??

When I sit and look at my calendar and balance my family obligations and needs versus driving to IA City for every main event I have to look at which events I attend, what's the weather like, what is on our calendar here, etc. and I know everyone has to do that ..... so having two auctions spread out throughout the year would work. Especially if we plan them out well in advance.

Just my 2 cents (.5 cents afer taxes).

Also - do we have any members from the western parts of iowa?

 

[xroads]

I think unfortunately it is more the central & eastern iowa reef society. I think 50% of our members are along the 380 corridor with 25% an hour each way east or west. To me that makes Iowa City & Cedar Rapids the two most convenient places for the most people. Iowa city is a long haul for the Des Moines people (100 miles), Waterloo area is about 75 and QC about 60. But to me it is the most central location we have. Des Moines location would be about 165 for qc people and 110 for waterloo people. I think we should stay in the locations that is the shortest average drive for all members which would be the IC/CR areas. I will go to as many events as I can regardless of miles as my schedule allows. I really enjoy this club & realize that no matter when or where we have something, it sucks for some people. Somebody always has a wedding, birthday, vacation on any date we may pick. Alot of people are going to have to drive a good hour or more at any location we may pick. I think the best thing to keep in mind is to find solution that works for the most people.

I will stop rambling now

Craig

 

[phishcrazee]

I believe the thinking behind having 2 locations was so you could go to one auction or the other, and not have to take a day off to travel because the auction was 100 miles away. With 2 auctions it can be convenient for most everybody to attend at least one auction or the other. We want to keep the members we have happy

 

[xroads]

Good point. I would be up for one in IC & one in DM

 

[sgarrett1108]

Food for thought if we seperate them we could risk not having as high of a turn out for each individual auct as maybe a large one. Just curious why do we limit the events to the larger cities. We could have it in Grinnell!!! lol.

scott

 

[glaspie69]

Just a thought, it's not our intention to separate anything, having two auctions a year will help more people to attend one or possibly both auctions. It's not meant to convenience anyones travel plans, ever! Locations are picked according to the event or speaker, we do our best to accomidate as many members as possible. It's the best we can do, and we hope it works for everyone

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9113463#post9113463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glaspie69
Just a thought, it's not our intention to separate anything, having two auctions a year will help more people to attend one or possibly both auctions. It's not meant to convenience anyones travel plans, ever! Locations are picked according to the event or speaker, we do our best to accomidate as many members as possible. It's the best we can do, and we hope it works for everyone

Now that is an awesome response!!!


Great input everyone, I like to see what everyone is thinking!!!

As we are seeing it is assumed that the second location would be Des Moines, but that is coming from those that would benefit from a Des Moines area auction. We need to look at this objectivly and take your personal preferance out of the equation. I used to drive monthly to Des Moines from the QC when we were starting the club. Not fun, but I was willing to do it because that is where we started the club. We originally thought Des Moines would be the anchor, as xroads pointed out, we were wrong. The 380 cooridor is the hot bed and connection for the majority. Would everyone that wants 2 auctions be as happy if we made one in Iowa City and one in Waterloo? I bet not.

As for attendance and travel plans, those are your personal choice not an organizational obligation. With this calendar being developed you will have the opportunity to pick and choose what you are available to attend.

Moving the auctions further away from any section of the state would limit the number of members that could reasonably drive there, thus upsetting those members that were excluded due to a 2+ hour drive. At what point is it fair to make the Waterloo or QC people drive 2+ hours because the Des Moines people could not take a 1+ hour drive? Again would it be fair to put the second one in Waterloo or how about the QC? Then Des Moines would have 1+ hour for the first and 2-3 hours for the second auction, not fair to Des Moines at all.

I keep seeing the post "you have to keep the members happy", stability, consistancy, reliability, convenience, and enjoyment are going to keep people happy. Again, LOCAL meetings are still a great place to pick up frags and trade. AUCTIONS and EVENTS should be as equally available to everyone as reasonably possible.

Who knows, maybe as the club grows we will see a large spurt of growth in the west and Des Moines will need to become the main base for the club again, but until that happens it would be wise to stay central to where the members are.

 

[overanalyzer]

Good points - I would like to see us expand to cover the western half of hte state - but not sure if that is realistic. I also understand having it in two locations and not necessarily being des moines.... but if you do one in IA City and one in Waterloo wouldn't that be a lot of the same attendees?

My point on travel and schedules is that someone stated that Des Moines events were always horribly attended. Depending upon what the circumstances are any location could have a great response or a horrible one.

Lastly - area meetings are good - but on the board if there is a small vocal minority then we need to figure out why. To me it seems like it is always the same handful of people until we get someone selling something. Not that there is a problem with that - nor am I implying those regular contributors are rude or off base - but how can we grow membership in the whole state AND participation in/from all areas? (OK this thread is probably not the place for generating those ideas) ..... I think that is a danger which sinks a lot of "clubs" is not looking to expand to have more quality members join the organization....

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9116074#post9116074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by overanalyzer
Good points - I would like to see us expand to cover the western half of hte state - but not sure if that is realistic. I also understand having it in two locations and not necessarily being des moines.... but if you do one in IA City and one in Waterloo wouldn't that be a lot of the same attendees?

One would hope that everyone would try to attend both or pick one that works best with their schedule. I believe most of the active Des Moines area members would try to attend the Iowa City auction, just as the Waterloo members would.

My point on travel and schedules is that someone stated that Des Moines events were always horribly attended. [/QUOTE]

That was me and it may have been an over generalization on my part. When we had the first real fall out of leadership it was due to low attendance and at that time a good chunk of our schedule was devoted to Des Moines. In all fairness we did have a poorly attended meeting in Iowa City at that same time.

Depending upon what the circumstances are any location could have a great response or a horrible one. [/QUOTE]

True, but if proper research and planning are done, failure or low attendance is avoidable.

Lastly - area meetings are good - but on the board if there is a small vocal minority then we need to figure out why. To me it seems like it is always the same handful of people until we get someone selling something. Not that there is a problem with that - nor am I implying those regular contributors are rude or off base - but how can we grow membership in the whole state AND participation in/from all areas? (OK this thread is probably not the place for generating those ideas) ..... I think that is a danger which sinks a lot of "clubs" is not looking to expand to have more quality members join the organization.... [/QUOTE]

We added 4 new members at the QC pizza party already this year and I have noticed a lot of new posters to this forum that stated they plan on joining. I understand that you are seeing the same faces in leadership, but if you recall we are not getting volunteers. We do not have any retailers on the board this year (that I am aware of), so that should not be a concern. If there is an issue I believe the past has shown this club how to deal with it and move on.

I see this club as a healthy growing organization that just needs to focus on the major details for a little while and gather its collective focus. The new board is talking about releasing the calendar soon which is a huge organizational step forward. They are working hard and I can't wait to see where they take the club this year.

 

[wenszoo]

Ok people as for reasons for meeting locations?
1: when we have speakers we have to accomidate them do to flight plans, lodging or the speakers drive time.
2: DIY meetings would depend on what we are doing and what is needed to do the meeting.

as for other meetings I say vote on location on the forum.

Don't get me wrong. If we could get more members in the western region it would be GREAT to find a centeral location such as Ames which appears on the map to be almost center of the state.
My suggestion is the members in the western part of the state if possible Please help us expand and recruit more members on that part of the state. I have often seen non-club members in the western part of the state on forums wanting to get out of the hobby do to lack of resources ( info, LFS, fellow reefers,ect.). so plaese help us all out and help recruit.

Well that is my 2 cents worth