NERAC Update

Long Island Andy said:
I have tried to be quiet, but not speaking my mind was never my strong suit. I have attended every Nerac and always go for the speakers. I could care less if we ever had a vendor at the function. It was never intended to be a Frag Swap. If that's what your looking for, then there are surely enough around. It has always been an opportunity to listen to some great speakers, BS with fellow reefers who you don't see that often and enjoy an incredible day at the aquarium. I have no problem with people wanting vendors I just don't think this was ever the forum for them. We are incredibly lucky as a club to have Joe Y and the Aquarium.
Click to expand...

I don't like to get involved with posts that get nasty but I'll add my 2 cents anyway. I agree with Andy....I attend these conferences for multiple reasons:
hang with friends, talk about our tanks, LEARN SOMETHING NEW from experienced well known hobbyists, try my luck at the raffle table and explore the vendor tables. Notice the vendor tables was last on my list. Yes the event could be publicized better however I don't feel it's necessary to start slinging mud and insulting people. Let's understand that our board is made up of volunteers....if you are passionate about something then do as Chris suggested and effectuate a change.

By the way.....Vinny...what is our current attendance count?
Frank
 
Hopefully this address a few things here, NERAC was and still is an educational conference first; have to follow the clubs bylaws. Vendors were always brought in to help draw more attendees in, plus members have asked for them; we moved to the hotel to accommodate more vendors and guests. Our crowd is split, there are some who come for the vendors only while others who attend solely for the speakers and a large portion for both. We approach most vendors (well Vinny does) starting at MACNA, Joe and Laura follow up at the MR swap and Nancy a few weeks later via emails, most respond positively but as the dates draw closer some either forget, double book or decide our attendance is too low to justify the trip. The first question many vendors ask is how many people are signed up, what hurts us is a large majority wait until the last minute to sign up; I won't lie with the numbers but do tell them our past attendance so they know what to expect. Now there are still other vendors we have asked to attend that have not responded, we've never had less than 10 vendors at this event so don't hit the panic button just yet.

This one I can't answer why but in the past there were some LFS who would not allow the club to advertise in their store, we've dropped off fliers only to never see them again. We've had one store claim the club was in competition with them for coral sales. On the flip side there are a few that help tremendously.

The club has asked for the members help in advertising this, yes the club has posts on its Facebook page (it's in every email I send https://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Island-Reef-Association/170485939751646), RC and MR. Sent monthly email blasts. The posts in other clubs forums will be up as the event gets closer, this way it stays on page 1 and people stay interested. RC rules state I cannot start these posts, they must be from a board member of that club. I have already spoken with them and they are ready to post when I ask them to. My issue but I don't bump threads for the sake of bumping unless I have something to add or update. Please if we missed something to help spread the word say so, if you see someone you don't know buying coral or a fish ask about their tank and if they heard of the club"¦ help spread the word.
 
As of now NERAC VIII vendors are Dr Mac, Zoanthids, Marco Rocks, New Era, Tropic Marin, Unique corals/Reefgen and possibly Marine Farmers. A few other vendors have expressed interest but have not been confirmed. I will keep you informed as vendors are added to the list.
 
this isnt something ive been thinking about for awhile and just kept quiet. i read through the thread and thought about only having 2 vendors. if i remember correctly in past years we always have at the very least 5 with live goods maybe another 5 with dry goods.

i said hmm, let me email 2 vendors that someone brought up and said confirmed they would not be there. soon after i received a phone call in response to my email.

that all happened in maybe an hour or so time.

to say im all talk and no action or that i should effectuate a change? thats pretty much what i was trying to do?? i could not have acted any faster. i thought a good way to do it was to sum up what was discussed in my phone call and surface the reasons behind vendors not wanting to come. maybe you would have done it differently but hey, we all march to a different beat of a different drum.

even if some of you guys only go for the speakers, is it not nice to still have vendors there? if so many of you only want the speakers, why not bring the speakers in for our meeting rather than using the aquarium for a day? it was just said by the club president that neracs current attendance is barely that of a meeting, so whats the difference if they speak there or at a meeting?

i can't believe everyone got so hurt over the mud comment. :headwally:
 
Is this "Suzig" person even a member of our club?! She doesn't even know who the club president is!!!!

Her verbose histrionics are ef'in ridiculous. It's a conference, it's a conference, it's a conference.

And my personal pet peeve is that she does not sign her posts. Is it Su Zig? Zat her name?

IGNORE HER. STOP ARGUING WITH HER.

Unbelievable.

George
--
 
And let me reiterate...

Reach out to Tracy Morgan -- get him and you'll see the attendance go through the roof, in my opinion.

George
 
For some reason I did not get notices from PayPal when people sent money to the club.
Everyone has been notified that they are registered or have paid dues.
Cards are in the mail for membership.
Total for NERAC is about double now.
We are on the way and more vendors are on board.
 
suzig said:
this isnt something ive been thinking about for awhile and just kept quiet. i read through the thread and thought about only having 2 vendors. if i remember correctly in past years we always have at the very least 5 with live goods maybe another 5 with dry goods.

i said hmm, let me email 2 vendors that someone brought up and said confirmed they would not be there. soon after i received a phone call in response to my email.

that all happened in maybe an hour or so time.

to say im all talk and no action or that i should effectuate a change? thats pretty much what i was trying to do?? i could not have acted any faster. i thought a good way to do it was to sum up what was discussed in my phone call and surface the reasons behind vendors not wanting to come. maybe you would have done it differently but hey, we all march to a different beat of a different drum.

even if some of you guys only go for the speakers, is it not nice to still have vendors there? if so many of you only want the speakers, why not bring the speakers in for our meeting rather than using the aquarium for a day? it was just said by the club president that neracs current attendance is barely that of a meeting, so whats the difference if they speak there or at a meeting?

i can't believe everyone got so hurt over the mud comment. :headwally:
Click to expand...

Listen......I don't think it's a bad idea to help the club....any help is good help...but maybe you could coordinate your efforts with a club board member so that efforts aren't duplicated and no one's toes are stepped on. Increasing attendance and vendors are both a good thing but try not to offend anyone when making comments...try to be more diplomatic. Just my 2cents.
Frank
 
Long Island Andy said:
I have tried to be quiet, but not speaking my mind was never my strong suit. I have attended every Nerac and always go for the speakers. I could care less if we ever had a vendor at the function. It was never intended to be a Frag Swap. If that's what your looking for, then there are surely enough around. It has always been an opportunity to listen to some great speakers, BS with fellow reefers who you don't see that often and enjoy an incredible day at the aquarium. I have no problem with people wanting vendors I just don't think this was ever the forum for them. We are incredibly lucky as a club to have Joe Y and the Aquarium.
Click to expand...
x2...I totally agree with you Andy. It's a conference so the main focus is the speakers and being with friends, old and new, for a few laughs. The food also just makes the day more enjoyable, but having a few vendors isn't a bad thing either to generate alittle revenue and to go home with a few goodies. However it shouldn't be the primary focus, but this seems to be the trend in recent years to spend lots of money on fish/coral and not really understanding the species. Then do what I call the dump and pray that they live. Being an orginal member and old time reefer there is much more information available now then there was years ago..here's an opportunety to take advantage of it.

[/QUOTE]Listen......I don't think it's a bad idea to help the club....any help is good help...but maybe you could coordinate your efforts with a club board member so that efforts aren't duplicated and no one's toes are stepped on. Increasing attendance and vendors are both a good thing but try not to offend anyone when making comments...try to be more diplomatic. Just my 2cents.
Frank[/QUOTE]

x2...we have elections every year..so anyone who wants to donate their time and efforts has the opportunity to do so...IMO the guys and gals of the board do a great job and should be commended!
 
update guys and gals.....

Fins Aquarium, A&A Aquatics and marine Farmers are now signed up to make the vendor list 10 now.

Laura is in contact with Tracy's agent, with A LOT of luck we can work something out.

Lastly; for the record suzig along with a few others have reached out to the board to offer ideas and assistance.
 
Jake Adams has been added as the 3rd speaker and Fins Aquarium, A&A Aquatics, Marine Farmers and Dan Riegle have been added as vendors. Will keep you updated as more vendors are added.
 
Nerac

Nerac

Time to bring this to the top.
Jake had to cancel but we do have another fellow.
I just can't remember his name.
Comes highly recommended by Charles Delbeek.
The date is slowly approaching & we would appreciate early sign up so catering is on board with the numbers.
:cool::rollface::frog:
 
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