Making the urs more formal

[Willistein]

OK, I read through this thread and it seems like there are a few different topics recirculating. It's been made clear by people who have tried before that taking a loosely knit group of people and making a formal club is pretty difficult thing to do. Jeff, I think maybe it would help if you explained specifically what the goals would be for this club that you envision.

As far as I'm concerned I like the informal get togethers based on whoever wants to have a meet. Back in the good-ol-days, which were really even a couple years before I joined, the group was small and frequent meets were easy to do. Now you almost need a retail store (or a doctor's office wing) to get everyone together. With that said, however more organized and active people want to be is great, too. I'll probably just be on the sidelines.

 

[jfl14609]

Dan all I was thinkIng was a small group of people that volunteer to help organize meetings but it seems like the general consensus is to leave things as they are

 

[mr86mister]

20 minutes of reading to get back up to speed. Hmmmm, I feel the tension but lets just take a second and see where everyone is coming from.(If you cant sense tension you're full of it) lol. We need to categorize what a formal group means. Everyone has a different idea of what it could mean. So I need everyone who is discussing to at least say what defines a "formal reef group". What I think one means may different than someone else. I think that will help clear a few things up regardless of past experiences.

There is also support out here from the shops in the 'Cuse. We are just 5 years into the reef world so we're a bit cautious on how we do things and things we are involved with. Though I'm so mad I've been missing all the good swaps lately!

 

[jfl14609]

Dan all I was thinkIng was a small group of people that volunteer to help organize meetings but it seems like the general consensus is to leave things as they are

I think I shouldnt have used the words I did when I said formal group

 

[puter]

Simply put: formal = money.

The reason to have a formal organization is to DO something that requires pooled money, that carries liability risks and/or is subject to legal requirements.

So, specifically, what do you want to do?

The answer to that question will dictate whether a formal organization is warranted or not.

We began considering creating a formal offshoot to the URS because:

• membership in the club had grown to the point it was becoming impractical to hold meets in member's homes
• the response to the Zoo Event seemed to show there was enough support to hold larger scale events locally which featured nationally recognized speakers (and I was reluctant to continue assuming the liability and fronting the thousands of dollars required to put on those events)
• such an organization would be required for us to host an event like MACNA
• several of us were considering pooling funds to obtain some expensive spectrum analysis equipment

Before the club became so large we would meet in people's homes, with very little pre-planning, have some beers and sit around chatting about reefkeeping. Everyone knew everyone else. The focus was much more about the art and science of reefkeeping, and much less about getting or hawking frags.

What we were trying to do with the URSNY, from my perspective, was to carry that focus forward as the club grew. Some of the concerns we were trying to address, such as securing meeting spaces large enough for the meets, have been met through the generosity of guys like Randy, Dr. Klier, G., and ABC. They, through their businesses, have provided venues and absorbed the costs and liability risks of the club's meetings, and obviated much of the need for us, as a club, to go through the considerable effort required to establish and maintain a legally recognized organization to do those things.

So, again, what specific things do you want to DO?

 

[jfl14609]

I kInd of feel like I am just saying th same thing over and over I guess it's just hard to communicate online. I don't know why this is being compared to ursny. What you buys did was a huiuge undertaking. All I was proposing is a small group of people that would be able to help organize meetings and swaps. Let's say gm decides to do another meeting. He could contact these folks and have some help from a few urs members. Rather than letting him do all the work. I just think these people have work family lives just like we all do. Maybe we as a club could do something to help them out.