MARS update

[OneReef]

Well, it looks like WTMRAC heads have thrown in the towel. It's a shame that the club was mismanaged into disbandment. At any rate, MARS was not going to go forward while WTMRAC rallied, but looks like they are closing the doors and donating to charity the thousands of dollars that belongs to the local hobbyists, that could have been used to promote the local marine hobby. But that's their business, so I will try to get something started in the MARS realm soon, so that local hobbyists have a way to communicate, meet, and share information now that there is no reef club whatsoever in Memphis. I have a busy week at work, but this weekend and going into next week, I'll try to get some things in the works. I hope you all will start using the MARS RC forum since WTMRAC is giving up. Let's get things going here. . Be sure to check out our Facebook page as well, it is very active and people post lots of pictures on there, usually daily.

 

[OneReef]

By the way, MARS has 90 members on Facebook. We need only 10 more members to join to get to the LED lighting pendant giveaway raffle.

 

[pmcarbrey]

looks like they are closing the doors and donating to charity the thousands of dollars that belongs to the local hobbyists, that could have been used to promote the local marine hobby. But that's their business.

Been watching this whole thing because I know a couple members and figured I ought to quote something you posted a month or so ago:
If I remember right when I typed up the bylaws on the WTMRAC website, it said that if WTMRAC disbands, all club monies go to local charity like St. Jude. While St. Jude is a great organization and a cause worthy of our funds, I would like to see the money be used to promote the marine hobby and use the funds as a catalyst to fuel participation."

 

[OneReef]

Been watching this whole thing because I know a couple members and figured I ought to quote something you posted a month or so ago:
If I remember right when I typed up the bylaws on the WTMRAC website, it said that if WTMRAC disbands, all club monies go to local charity like St. Jude. While St. Jude is a great organization and a cause worthy of our funds, I would like to see the money be used to promote the marine hobby and use the funds as a catalyst to fuel participation."

You are exactly right. And I am the one the noticed this fact and brought it to light. I feel that before the club shut its doors, they could have done something for the reef community with that money to benefit the hobby, and then decided to close the doors. Therefore bypassing the bylaw. There are ways around anything. I just would have liked to see that money benefit and promote the local hobby. Just like I said in your quoted statement.

 

[neuroslicer]

Jay P., I know you're upset that you didn't get the $600 you asked for to set up MARS podcasts. But that was never going to happen. We did bring it up at both the July and August meetings and as a group we decided against it.

 

[OneReef]

Jay P., I know you're upset that you didn't get the $600 you asked for to set up MARS podcasts. But that was never going to happen. We did bring it up at both the July and August meetings and as a group we decided against it.

What i am upset about is that in your 2 years as president of WTMRAC, it managed its biggest decline in attendance, was so poorly run that sponsors left, members were unhappy, all to the point of the club disbanding. MARS is no longer your concern, so we are going to get things going again because Memphis deserves a good marine organization. But to clarify for you since you seem confused, I am referring to the $2000+ that WTMRAC had in the bank, that could have been used to benefit local hobbyists and the marine hobby. WTMRAC could gave stayed viable long enough to put the money to good use for the hobby. There are 50 things that the money could have been used for to give back to the local reef community, none of which have anything to do with a podcast. In reference to that, my idea of combining MARS and WTMRAC and using MARS as a new vehicle for communication and ideas was turned down by you. I wanted WTMRAC to succeed, as I noted several times in my private messages with you. I even closed down MARS for the benefit of WTMRAC so that there was no confusion or pulling apart of members, as you wanted. But 5 members voted to close the club, so none of it matters now anyways, as it is done. I am focused now on providing memphis with a quality marine organization and to help Memphis marine hobbyists communicate, share ideas, and have fun. If that is not your interest, please don't post on our forum anymore, as we want to keep things positive going forward for our reefing community.

 

[MPDBullitt]

Thank you Jay P...as a reef enthusiast I'm glad you are at least trying!

 

[coondog]

Maybe OneReef should have gone to the meeting Sat. night. ????????
I have been keeping reef tanks for 10+ years and was a member of WTMRAC the first two years it was started. And besides that, I can not fathom the idea that people on here are arguing the fact that the money was donated to St. Jude with kids that are fighting cancer or any other organization to help people in need, instead of a club that that promotes us keeping fish and corals in glass boxes in our homes.

 

[HillbillyYoda]

Where's Forest Gump when you need him?

 

[PensFan05]

Where's Forest Gump when you need him?

Lol. Great movie.

 

[coondog]

where's forest gump when you need him?

wow

 

[PensFan05]

I was just thinking of my favorite line in the movie. "Run Forest. Run"

 

[pmcarbrey]

I know my opinion isn't all that important, but don't you think that rather than focusing on all the negatives you ought to go ahead and refocus all that energy on refreshing your image? The best thing you can do right now is present a positive image, and I recommend starting by getting rid of all the past tension and hate. People join clubs because the hobby makes them happy, they do not want to get involved with drama and other crap that I am sure they could find in their everyday lives. So end the bickering and set your eyes on the future. The first thing I'd do to help the club is see if some local newspaper would carry the story of you donating $2000 to St. Jude's, that is something worth people knowing! even if you don't agree with the donation, the fact of the matter is that the money went to a good cause, so use that to your advantage! use the closing of the club to draw attention to get new members and bring what is left together.

just my two cents.

 

[OneReef]

Of course St Jude is a worthy cause. No one is denying that. I am referring to money that belonged to the hobby, being used to promote the hobby. I have a bike, guitars, a fish tank, guns, and cameras. I should sell them all and donate the money because my hobbies aren't as good as St Jude? That makes no sense.

 

[stlcard]

Maybe OneReef should have gone to the meeting Sat. night. ????????
I have been keeping reef tanks for 10+ years and was a member of WTMRAC the first two years it was started. And besides that, I can not fathom the idea that people on here are arguing the fact that the money was donated to St. Jude with kids that are fighting cancer or any other organization to help people in need, instead of a club that that promotes us keeping fish and corals in glass boxes in our homes.

I'm not really involved in this at all in any aspect, and my opinion is about as valuable as a fly on the wall, but i have to chime in briefly and fully second this quote from Coondog. My interest in getting very involved with this club has dropped significantly, and I feel like I'm probably not the only one. To think, I thought the high school drama ended for us after high school..

I support the use of technology like Facebook, forums, and other social media for club integration and communication. I support frag swaps and getting together for those large events on rare occasions (too many can have a negative impact on a club). I agree that WTMRAC probably had some outdated methods that never aged or moved on with the trends of new technology and trends/desires/demands of new member behavior.

MARS has the potential to be very successful if not for the use of Facebook alone, but also the other things that JayP is seemingly willing to put the effort into.

At the same time, while never an official member of WTMRAC I can say that I was hesitant to join (almost joined several times) because the club seemed beyond my age, and really only for the tried and true reefers who have been around here for years and years. It did not feel very welcoming or engaging to younger generations like myself. I can't speak for everyone, but coming over to some one else's home for a fish "lecture" in a very small dinner setting seems awkward and weird to someone of my age and the rest of us "twenty somethings". Especially if we have never met anyone or have any sort of relationship established prior to.

MARS has grown at such great leaps and bounds already because it is welcoming to younger reefers.

This is basically a Netflix vs. Blockbuster scenario...

Its sad that one long standing establishment has seemingly been bombarded and bulldozed out of nowhere. But likewise, we have to be understanding that the reality is, new things come along and if you are not willing or able to evolve and provide a product that your customer wants things will surely fail at some point.

Long ramble short. WTMRAC I'm sorry that things fell through on you so quickly.

MARS, I look forward to the potential of what "could be". I disagree that the funds from another club (WTMRAC) should go towards another clubs events.

The children and families at St. Jude are BEYOND deserving of this money. Although it was never mine to give away or have a matter of opinion on i think most (including the ones not brave enough to post here are all thinking) "come on.... really?"

I'm not against anyone here, and I'm not for anyone here. All I care about is having a place to share with other reefers. To learn more from the salted dogs, and give back knowledge to the newer ones. To share photos of tanks and see photos of tanks. To share frags, and receive frags.

Lets just leave the drama for the high school reunions and **** shows on TV these days.

 

[OneReef]

At this point, I'm frustrated enough that since people seem to know what's best, and has all the answers, they can feel free to run the show. I don't need more stress and aggregation in life.... I have a tank for the fun of it. Not all this drama.... I guess Memphis can just be without a reef organization. I'll just mind my own tank and swap frags with my friends, and you all with the answers can start a club, it would save me massive amounts of work.

 

[stlcard]

I would like to see the money be used to promote the marine hobby and use the funds as a catalyst to fuel participation."

The only thing the money could be utilized for would be, frag swap, a webpage, podcasts (sounds like that was one idea), t-shirts?, giveaways?

All of which promote the Club within itself more so than an actual cause.. like "the hobby"

Here's an idea.. Maybe this will chill out both sides..

WTMRAC why don't you use the money for fish tank kits? and give them away to the kids/ families at St. Jude? Goes to charity, and goes towards promoting the hobby with younger generations who may have never been exposed to the opportunity of keeping fish.

The reality is that, we are all already involved in this hobby, so "promoting" it within us (frag swaps, podcasts, giveaways, etc.) only is not promoting at all, it's merely a means to justify a desire to grow within ourselves. None of those things listed go towards reaching out to a truly unexposed individual. It's just away of giving ourselves fancy things and attempting to justify it as "promoting the hobby"

Using the money in a way to promote and engage people who haven't thought twice about a fish tank is ACTUAL and logical "promotion of the hobby in the memphis area" IE give the kids at St. Jude some freshwater setups, goldfish, bettas, whatever... We all started this hobby in freshwater. So just pay it forward that way instead.

 

[HillbillyYoda]

I'm not really involved in this at all in any aspect, and my opinion is about as valuable as a fly on the wall, but i have to chime in briefly and fully second this quote from Coondog. My interest in getting very involved with this club has dropped significantly, and I feel like I'm probably not the only one. To think, I thought the high school drama ended for us after high school..

I support the use of technology like Facebook, forums, and other social media for club integration and communication. I support frag swaps and getting together for those large events on rare occasions (too many can have a negative impact on a club). I agree that WTMRAC probably had some outdated methods that never aged or moved on with the trends of new technology and trends/desires/demands of new member behavior.

MARS has the potential to be very successful if not for the use of Facebook alone, but also the other things that JayP is seemingly willing to put the effort into.

At the same time, while never an official member of WTMRAC I can say that I was hesitant to join (almost joined several times) because the club seemed beyond my age, and really only for the tried and true reefers who have been around here for years and years. It did not feel very welcoming or engaging to younger generations like myself. I can't speak for everyone, but coming over to some one else's home for a fish "lecture" in a very small dinner setting seems awkward and weird to someone of my age and the rest of us "twenty somethings". Especially if we have never met anyone or have any sort of relationship established prior to.

MARS has grown at such great leaps and bounds already because it is welcoming to younger reefers.

This is basically a Netflix vs. Blockbuster scenario...

Its sad that one long standing establishment has seemingly been bombarded and bulldozed out of nowhere. But likewise, we have to be understanding that the reality is, new things come along and if you are not willing or able to evolve and provide a product that your customer wants things will surely fail at some point.

Long ramble short. WTMRAC I'm sorry that things fell through on you so quickly.

MARS, I look forward to the potential of what "could be". I disagree that the funds from another club (WTMRAC) should go towards another clubs events.

The children and families at St. Jude are BEYOND deserving of this money. Although it was never mine to give away or have a matter of opinion on i think most (including the ones not brave enough to post here are all thinking) "come on.... really?"

I'm not against anyone here, and I'm not for anyone here. All I care about is having a place to share with other reefers. To learn more from the salted dogs, and give back knowledge to the newer ones. To share photos of tanks and see photos of tanks. To share frags, and receive frags.

Lets just leave the drama for the high school reunions and **** shows on TV these days.

+1 You got my vote!

 

[stlcard]

Been watching this whole thing because I know a couple members and figured I ought to quote something you posted a month or so ago:
If I remember right when I typed up the bylaws on the WTMRAC website, it said that if WTMRAC disbands, all club monies go to local charity like St. Jude. While St. Jude is a great organization and a cause worthy of our funds, I would like to see the money be used to promote the marine hobby and use the funds as a catalyst to fuel participation."

At this point, I'm frustrated enough that since people seem to know what's best, and has all the answers, they can feel free to run the show. I don't need more stress and aggregation in life.... I have a tank for the fun of it. Not all this drama.... I guess Memphis can just be without a reef organization. I'll just mind my own tank and swap frags with my friends, and you all with the answers can start a club, it would save me massive amounts of work.

We're not suggesting you give up on MARS. We're merely suggesting that the transition from WTMRAC to MARS be more tactful. it turned to sour grapes very quickly. Some things might have best been said behind closed doors.

Likewise, just because some of us are sharing an opinion doesn't mean we all assume it is truth and the only logical solution.

 

[pmcarbrey]

We're not suggesting you give up on MARS. We're merely suggesting that the transition from WTMRAC to MARS be more tactful. it turned to sour grapes very quickly. Some things might have best been said behind closed doors.

Likewise, just because some of us are sharing an opinion doesn't mean we all assume it is truth and the only logical solution.

+1, The best thing that can happen for MARS right now is to just bury the hatchet, what's said is said, all you can do now is strive for a successful organization! Make the club what a reef club should be, a group of people who enjoy reefing and teaching others about the hobby. Remember it's just a hobby! it's about having fun! Everyone has their way of seeing and doing things so just make the best of what you can and take the rest for what it is! MARS has the potential to be a great club, no reason to give up over some bad blood!