Joint OKAA and COMAS Meeting

[captbunzo]

Come on Gary, aren't you planning an Aquarium for Oklahoma City???

Seriously, though, I love where this is going. My only concern is cost.

In January, I attended Next Wave in Dallas (DFWMAS). It was a mini, 1-day reef reef conference. They had 4 speakers that were all very good. Attendance filled a good size room (200 people, perhaps). Cost was about $45 per person to attend, which was a bargain for the education provided.

I would LOVE to see COMAS start something like this.

Let's say we got 50 people there. At $45 a head, that would be $2250. Perhaps another $1000 could be raised via vendor booths. That's a decent sum to hold such a conference.

Also, you can fill a day with less speakers. Anthony Calfo was prepared to do both a coral propogation lecture AND demonstration, but was only able to do the later do to time constraints. Other speakers were a good hour long or so.

Anyone else think it is doable?

 

[Gwalker]

Some of our OKAA members say a joint meeting would never work because the clubs are too different.

Diversity in this field is what makes it so fun and interesting. I think its a shame when someone only wants to concentrate on only one aspect of this hobby. There are so many very interesting aspects of both freshwater and saltwater (can't we all just get along!!! ). There is only one way to find those differing aspects of this field and that is to try and experence them! Learning from somebody else's area of expertise might just get you interested in something that you would have never thought of, but that'll never happen if you keep your head in the sand. I think its great that you have started venturing into saltwater (Gerald) since I hear you have be in the freshwater arena for a long time.

and yes I know what the "M" in COMAS is for but I think a combination of clubs every now and then is a good idea. Experencing something new will only give you a fresh and renewed appriciation of what your main focus is when you go back to it.

2cts.

G.

 

[herpchat]

Boy did I open a can of worms here;

Yes Gas prices are out of hand, and I agree that OKC is the ideal place to have any joint activities.

Like I said I was just tossing out ideas.

I will say this, this club is very active.

 

[pwhitby]

Im not upset, nor do you make me uneasy.

As I said, I have looked at getting joint meetings together and I have been working towards that goal. I have organized large international meetings and it takes an enormous effort. Its easy to say we should do this..... and then ask everyone opinions but at the end of the day someone needs to organize it and get it going. That takes time and effort, some of which has already been invested by myself towards that goal.

 

[captbunzo]

I agree completely with Gary. For instance, after you work on this marine fish breeding bit for a year or so, Gerald, it would probably fascinating to hear you give a talk comparing the two experiences, processes, etc.

Just a thought.

 

[herpchat]

I so know that one.

It was commented that the American Cichlid Association Should have its aniversery meeting in OKC since there is where the first one occured.

A number of the club members said great, lets do it. Dean Hougen and I stood up and said OK how are you guys gonna pull it off? Everyone was like we just will, I went on with do you know how much work is involved. Dean added that our club is in no possition to pull off such a massive meeting. We angered a lot of our club but the truth is the truth. I do understand the amount of work involved in pulling off anything of great size or magnitude. You virutally dedicate your life to it for several months and when its all done you hope you don't get burned out.

 

[Gwalker]

Gerald,

I just got 10 H. erectus from the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Ca. last week. they're from their breeding program and I plan on breeding them as well. If you are doing erectus maybe we could trade some out in the future for a good genetic mix. I'm also almost finished building the Sooner Seahorse facility in Choctaw, maybe you would like to check it out soon. We got about a third of the racks running yesterday and the rest will be done after the building inspectors are done. Its not a bad little facility, if I say so myself. They will probably be able to do some serious propagation when its all said and done.

Gary

 

[herpchat]

I do plan on doing erectus eventually. There are just so many fish and not enough tanks. Right now would settle for my reidi to give me a good batch. I have all the right foods to feed the babies so I am just waiting on him to pop out those foals.

 

[luvabunny]

Boy am I getting in on this late, but I want to second (or third, or fourth, or whatever it is) the idea that a collective meeting would be good for the clubs. I also agree than an annual collective meeting would be something to shoot for.
Gary, I think you're right on the money that the various LFS could have a booth. I do think they would pay for that privilege to get the advertisement out among all of the club members. I also think that a group swap, whether it be frags, fish, equip, etc would be beneficial. Maybe 1 well known guest speaker, or maybe for the first year, no one at all except for those who may be "experts" in their own rights within their own clubs. I dare say there are some local folks who know every bit as much as these "high priced speakers."
As far as location, as the largest club, and also the club who is in charge of putting this on for the first time, I think the meeting should be somewhere convenient to COMAS members, in or around the OKC area. It doesn't necessarily have to be inside, there are many parks with covered facilities available, or even churches or schools. These 100+ degree days can't last forever, and a fall get together could be excellent! I'm fairly certain I could get the Mustang football or soccer field, and I'm sure there are others who may have influence elsewhere.
Probably an admission could be charged, tho I think 45.00 is excessive. If you keep it cheap enough, more people who are not currently in the hobby will be pursuaded to attend, which is only a good thing for LFS and our clubs. All of the LFS who would want to set up a booth should be more than happy to advertise the meeting for free, and local papers don't charge much.
Anyway, I am officially volunteering to help with this project, &/or be a guest speaker if anyone asked. I would certainly like to hear from more club members re: this meeting. If you think it is a "bad" idea, I would like to hear why, and if you would like to volunteer to help or speak, please do so.

 

[luvabunny]

Sorry Gerald, forgot to add this -
for reidi breeding, be sure your horses are getting 10+ hours of lighting a day, and I have found that a large water change can bring about romantic notions. Be forewarned tho, a papa reidi can birth 500-1500 babies every 19 days! Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone else in Okla who is attempting the reidi, and I've never been successful myself.

Gary, I currently have 3 very lonely female erectus. The first baby I have ever been able to raise will be 3 months old on July 26th. I would like to be included in your propagation program, when it gets to a point where outside genetics are needed. I think I've finally figured out this baby raising thing, and the trick to getting the babies trained to frozen at an early age! Unfortunately, my tank has become entirely female oriented at just about the same time.

 

[Gwalker]

April,

On the booth rental, the stores would use them to sell items most likely at a "fish show" discount. They could also use the booth areas for displays and advertisements for their store.

I only have two males and eight females but once they get going I would welcome diversity.

Gary

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I think we should push forward with a joint meeting. Maybe because this is the first, we should take it slow. Maybe one speaker, if any at all. There will be so many new faces and names, people will be spending the bulk of their time browsing all the new stores (vendors) and meeting all the new people. Maybe because it is the first large meeting, we can have the presidents (or all of the officers) of each organization come up, speak about their club, take questions, and move to the next person. There is a chance that we could hold a livestock sale, auction, or something and have the proceeds either benefit a conservation fund or even help fund the meeting itself. If I had a choice, I would set it up like this.

1) Everyone meets and mingles for a while. Maybe goes and gets some catered food and/or drink.
2) Announcements are made such as "Welcome to the first Oklahoma Aquarium Confrence (OAC)!" Then state what we would like to try to do with the meeting such as goals or slogans.
3) Organization #1 comes up and talks about their group and possibly does a quick introduction of members, a short Q&A, then hands the mic over to the next organization, and so on.
4a) A Q&A from everyone to brainstorm what they want to see at future meetings and how to fund them. Establish goals and such. And whatever needs to be said as a whole.
4b) A guest speaker or other such event. Maybe a presentation from each group
4c) A combination or different order of 1-4b
5) More mingling and heavier emphasis on vendors
6) Livestock Swap/Auction/Raffle etc.
7) Ending announcements

To me, that would be the perfect first meeting. There's too many new things and introducing too many speakers would be a sensory overload. As the years progress and people become more familiar with other members, it might be easier to do more advanced stuff as the years go by.


I would like to suggest that a venue should be too large instead of not large enough. A hotel would be nice, but a convention center would be better.

Now, my opinion on this might be a little tainted because I'm not a true officer of OMAS and the last word would be from George (GLD). In my humble opinion it would just benefit OMAS more to just send out an invitation without too much involvement. OMAS is a good group, but their activity online is extremely limited. Most people are contacted through email or word of mouth. It would probably be best just to send an invitation that states the who/what/where/why/when on it. Once the invitations are received, OMAS can discuss travel plans, funds, events, etc that OMAS would like to do on their own time in their own meetings; the best place to discuss things.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Also, I speak mainly on the behalf of marine aquarists because there are three marine groups and only one freshwater (that I know of). But, that doesn't mean that OKAA should only have limited involvement. After all, most SW aquarists also have FW tanks. I'm one. I'm limited to a few Bettas, but if some sort of livestock strikes me right, I would be more than happy to make it a new home. Heck, I know that out of the four major contributers for OMAS, three of them have or are setting up a freshwater section. And out of them all, Scott at Aquarium Oddballs is one heck of a Cichlid enthusiast.

 

[captbunzo]

(trying to sound mysterious)

I wanted to interject to let folks know that something is in the works. Discussions are being coordinated between the three presidents of the three Oklahoma Reef Clubs. We will also likely contact the president of OKAA to see if there is any interest there.

I don't want to toss out too many details before we have things really planned out. I will suggest though that:

• we will have one prominent guest speaker
• length of the event will require lunch
• this has been in the works for a while and is going to be awesome
• no clownfish will be harmed in the planning of this event

Due to the complexity of things, the event will likely be planned for sometime next year.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Good to hear, and I figured it has been in discussion for a great deal of time now. Which is good, don't get me wrong. I don't know how easy, complicated, or over complicated it is right now, but the movie Field of Dreams said it best, "If you build it, they will come." In all seriousness, I think if we just get it going and then tell people about it, people will show up (with proper advanced notice)




**Whispers "If you build it, they will come"**

 

[pwhitby]

Travis, and everyone else...

As Paul T said, yes we have been discussing this. I mentioned that earlier. When george became President of OMAS he and I discussed this. When it happens it will be a great event. However it takes an enormous effort to organize a large meeting. Even small ones inside the club take more time and effort than you can imagine.

A venue needs to be found. Meeting outside is not a possibility. The venue has to be able to hold a lot of people as well have a free area for walking talking and viewing, a seated area for talks.

Speakers need to be decided upon. These need to be more than club members..if not..why would anyone come. I ask all the time for people to do presentations inside our meetings....who so far has done one? If anyone would like to, please let me know.

The venue needs to be booked and paid for. If a speaker is booked flights need to be organized and paid for as do hotel rooms. Someone has to do that. Thats the easy part (apart from finding the money).

We then get to deciding topics and themes. Then obtaining sponsorships. To give you an idea, I send 500 plus emails every year to get sponsorships for the club meet iwe have in January. It takes an enormous effort. This would probably be more involved than that and would involve working out advertising and displays etc.

All in all............its a mammoth task.

As for people coming? who from here went to the Dallas meeting? or the One in Arkansas. Anyone who hosts meetings will tell you, that getting people to come is the hardest part.

 

[mskohl]

Paul,

I organized a large southwest regional event in college. It was a lot of work and time consuming. Though, as you said, one of the hardest parts - attendance- was already guarenteed.
Having this experience, I offer my services. I can help you arrange a venue - though I would favor UCO or other auditorium/classroom setting.

I hope this enthusiasm is still available when the plans are coming to fruition.

 

[Russ Braaten]

If you want to have a dud of a convention, which is what you guys are talking about, Have 200 people in a 1000 person room. Want a great exciting convention, have 200 people in a 150 person location.

 

[pwhitby]

yep, thats the exact approach Russ. Its a gamble and a headache. Is it worth doing? yes. Will it get done, I certainly hope so.

Paul.

 

[Russ Braaten]

Paul, You can call on me to help out with any menial task.