I actually talked to a couple people about combining the club. And the draw back is just as you said. You have about 8 people in Redding that were always going to meetings and of those 8 Only Matt and my self have been going to Chico on a regular basis. I know Steve has gone to some in the past. An hour and a half trip once a month isn't bad especially with a car pool.
But Chico has 20+ members per meeting for all but one meeting I have gone to, and asking 20+ people to come up to Redding is a lot to ask.
So sadly yhere is much reason for Chico to want to come up here.
I also suggested perhaps alternating from Chico to Red Bluff then it would only be a 45 minute trip for everyone all around, but then you don't have the tank viewings after wards and such.
I don't know enough brain storming and I sure something will come up.
Normally I would suggest everyone just car pooling to Chico, but I really can't offer that right now my wife is pregnant, so sometimes she may not feel like staying the whole time, or not feeling like going at all, so I really can't offer anyone a ride. Matt rides down with me if my wife goes with that understanding, and if my wife doesn't feel up to it I usually ride down with Matt.
If even two people go in one car and one buys gas, and the other buys the dinner it evens out pretty well.
So something to think about. The last few meetings in Chico have been great, raffles, Joel torn down all the SPS and LPS corals from his tank and auctioned them last meeting, next meeting will probablly have not have anything, and be more of a social affair for the holidays.
The last Meeting the club also decided to file as an Inc. and apply for a non-profit status allowing us to do public fund raiser, as well as legally hold raffles.
Chico is on a great upward swing and I would like to see as many people involved as possible.
By the way Josh how is the tank comming along?