MACNA in Tampa Bay? Why not?

janes_mw said:
LOL - call me for the beer drinking! I am an expert at that and will debate anyone on the art of good beer drinking!. Always up to that challenge :)

anyway, just kidding, but not kidding on the beer drinking!
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Tampa Bay Beer Drinking Club - Sponsored by Reefers.... If you didn't know any better that sounds like trouble.

Oh well, this thread should now serve as "The Official, Why MACNA will not Come to Tampa Bay 2016!"
 
Arrrrrg, Cuzza it's not an issue of coming up with creative ways to attract members that is the problem. Gimmicks, give aways, raffles, frag auctions and the alike attract mostly fairweather "hobbyists". Forgive, my bluntness but "the whats in it for me crowd". While their presence swells a club's membership, these folks are also less likely to volunteer effort for special events. Whether it be a simple beach cleanup or sending several boring hours in a ticket booth on a Sunday afternoon, they simply aren't that motivated to get involved with the inner workings of the club. This has been the reoccurring story of the TBRC. Sadly it seems, finding those that possess my previous detailed qualities are a rather rare find in the Tampa Bay Area.
 
ichthyman said:
Arrrrrg, Cuzza it's not an issue of coming up with creative ways to attract members that is the problem. Gimmicks, give aways, raffles, frag auctions and the alike attract mostly fairweather "hobbyists". Forgive, my bluntness but "the whats in it for me crowd". While their presence swells a club's membership, these folks are also less likely to volunteer effort for special events. Whether it be a simple beach cleanup or sending several boring hours in a ticket booth on a Sunday afternoon, they simply aren't that motivated to get involved with the inner workings of the club. This has been the reoccurring story of the TBRC. Sadly it seems, finding those that possess my previous detailed qualities are a rather rare find in the Tampa Bay Area.
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I'm in agreement with you. And there's no doubt my generation is the self entitled, participation trophy, occupy this and that, "what's in it for me crowd" little brats. But, you have to have members first in order to persuade them to become more active in volunteering, etc. I hate to believe that is what all hobbyists in this area are, but you're probably right.

My point comes somewhat from my experience. In the past 8 months of being on RC, talking to other hobbyist, LFSs, today was the first time I even truly heard what TBRC was all about, benefits, fees, etc. Granted I didn't previously search for that information, but I never saw a thread marketing TBRC, etc.

For example, every single person alive should have the services my company provides, but no one ever calls me, I call them. Marketing. Of course my company is for profit and passion and the dynamics of a club are not the same. But marketing is marketing and I think it applies here just as it does to my company or yours or anyone's.
 
Just putting my 2 cents in but money seems to be a motivator in the tamp bay area. I know a couple people who would join the club if there were no fees or very little. Not saying 25 year is not cheap but people here seem to be more motivated when there not dishing out money. So to get people to sign up, pay, and volunteer just those not seem to be the type of crowd in this area.
 
I think I'm going to attend my first meeting next month and who knows maybe I'll become an "official member." But I think we know what topic will be brought up and discussed in person. I like the beer idea.
 
If macna comes to Tampa, I pledge to work all days :)


Disclaimer.... By work I mean visit each booth and make purchases, buy raffle tickets and enjoy the presentations from the speakers.
 
The TBRC has a very active FB page along with this forum and we also have many threads here regarding events, benefits of membership, etc. FB has every event posted, notes regarding our bi-laws, files for other documents, LFS sponsors, etc. One simply has to look for the info to find it or come to a meeting and learn more. Please remember that no one gets paid to market this club. Nor do we get paid to store the equipment at our homes, do the accounting, file the appropriate paperwork w/ the state each year, shop for the meetings, set up & coordinate the meetings, find education topics and the list goes on and on. Everyone one of us works FT, most of us have families and some of us have way too many fish tanks that we take care of. It's always great for folks to have ideas on how to do things better but attending a meeting would be the first way to actually see how the club works. We are a casual group of folks who like to get together monthly and talk about our hobby however these monthly meetings do require work of the BOD and so few people want to participate on a deeper level. I've been honest in why having MACNA in Tampa will not work w/ the current financing and manpower needed by the TBRC. Honestly, even 5 years ago, the TBRC could not have pulled off MACNA. Could we in a few years? Maybe but that depends entirely on more folks volunteering to be officers(attend at least 4 club meetings a year/attend BOD meetings as scheduled and then perform the duties of the office) and then get all the work done to accomplish bringing MACNA here and then actually pulling it off.
 
ichthyman said:
Even delusions of grandeur and tyrannical flair couldn't make a MACNA happen when tried.
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That made my day. :lmao:


The last several MACNA's have started with a speak about how to host one. John hit most of what they are looking for in a club. Add club's attendance of past MACNAs, a 2-3 year bidding process, $10,000 in available club funds and a 200+ page proposal. Plus, let just say you get all your ducks in a row and start the bidding now you may qualify for an event 3-4 years away. A lot of things can happen within a club in 3-4 years.
 
As someone who's club has hosted 3 MACNA's and I hope do another in the future.
There has to be a core group that will dedicate a couple of years of their life to hosting the event. LMAS first in 95 took me and my good friend 2 years to get all the right contacts and business people in line. A lot of the business end has gotten better but there is so much stuff to get under control it is quite a task that falls on just a few.
 
Membership costs

Membership costs

asmodyus said:
Just putting my 2 cents in but money seems to be a motivator in the tamp bay area. I know a couple people who would join the club if there were no fees or very little. Not saying 25 year is not cheap but people here seem to be more motivated when there not dishing out money. So to get people to sign up, pay, and volunteer just those not seem to be the type of crowd in this area.
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You don't need to be a member to come to the meetings FYI....been that way for years and it doesn't make a difference!

Come check it out sometime there is no obligation...

The education director is the curator or one of them at Guy Harvey outpost, 2nd to last meeting we watched videos of the set up and build.

I provided catering and guess what didn't charge anyone lol. 10 people came....:sad2:
 
Sounds like we have some people in this thread that should run for the TBRC board in the next couple months. They sound very motivated.
 
reefwiser said:
As someone who's club has hosted 3 MACNA's and I hope do another in the future.
There has to be a core group that will dedicate a couple of years of their life to hosting the event. LMAS first in 95 took me and my good friend 2 years to get all the right contacts and business people in line. A lot of the business end has gotten better but there is so much stuff to get under control it is quite a task that falls on just a few.
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And y'all did a heck of a job...was a great show......long time ago.....and I had the pleasure of being a speaker....Jim...was instrumental in making that happen I hope he is still trying to breed those angel fish lol.... they had some heavy early hitters speakers there...tyree....headlee...sprung....wilkerson...Jaubert .to name a few....was some of the early pioneers ....


Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface::rollface::rollface:
 
I know a club member in miami/Ft.Laut mortgaged their house to pay for the bid for MACNA Ft.Lauterdale.

A joint club venture would be best bet IMO like SWFMAS and TBRC, along with the money you need a large amount of volunteers every day and before the event etc.
 
I had no idea it was the local clubs that orchestrated the MACNA shows. I assumed it was MASNA that set it all up. That is quite the undertaking. Tampa is always a great venue.
 
Nah it is the clubs that lead to a bid, just like the countries that go for the Olympics and what not. Funding is needed as well as venue with adequate space and housing for attendees (which shouldn't be hard) however a large item I know is like I said volunteers to run everything at the show. It is all up to the club members to make it happen more than anything. I am sure it is possible though, the FL shows attract a ton of people.
 
liverock said:
And y'all did a heck of a job...was a great show......long time ago.....and I had the pleasure of being a speaker....Jim...was instrumental in making that happen I hope he is still trying to breed those angel fish lol.... they had some heavy early hitters speakers there...tyree....headlee...sprung....wilkerson...Jaubert .to name a few....was some of the early pioneers ....


Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface::rollface::rollface:
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Richard sorry to say Jim died 6 years ago. Me and Jim where like brothers. I miss him every day. I am working on redoing the club back to the level me and Jim had gotten it to. Love the time me and Jim came down to visit you in Tampa. Fun times.
Yes we had a great show the first MACNA wiTh live stock vendors. As someone who was thee at the beginning with MACNA and MASNA it is interesting how things have grown over the years.
 
reefwiser said:
Richard sorry to say Jim died 6 years ago. Me and Jim where like brothers. I miss him every day. I am working on redoing the club back to the level me and Jim had gotten it to. Love the time me and Jim came down to visit you in Tampa. Fun times.
Yes we had a great show the first MACNA wiTh live stock vendors. As someone who was thee at the beginning with MACNA and MASNA it is interesting how things have grown over the years.
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So sorry to hear that..Jim was a real special guy......I treasure the time we all had together.....He had a passion not equaled in this industry. Just remember the good times....and someday we all meet again at the MACNA in the sky...

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com
 
Just an FYI on funds. You're going to raise a considerable amount of money in the 6-8 weeks leading up to the current years MACNA that will really help you get going. It's important to reach out to the host club early so you have a good working relationship with them. This will allow you to reach out to potentials sponsors to get the cash flow going. This isn't to say you don't need any money in the bank because you will need some to get to MACNA the year you plan to bid. Good luck if you chose to bid at some point and don't hesitate to reach out to us should you want to bid or have won the bid as we are more than willing to help. Knowing the bidding process is a huge first step.
 
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