So everyone, how was the swap?

[rickyfins]

Joe,thanks for your input. These are things to look at but you also have to keep in mind that this really isn't a club, it is a non profit organization, whose main purpose of a frag swap is to generate money for its real purpose. Updating members, come up with new ideas, goals, members meetings, swapping all through Conservation and education. These swaps do educate and help conserve, but keeping these swaps in the same location will not generate enough $$$ over and over. This is the reason for moving around, drawing in new people, new members, new vendors, and new experiences we can all learn from. We do have regulars but we do bring in about 2-4 new vendors a year as well as up to 10 new members sometimes more. This also gives most the chance to drive less once in awhile. I on the otherhand always have had a long drive. There was only one time I didn't have an exceptionally long drive and that was the previous PSU swap. I am looking forward to the spring swap which will also be in the PSU area.

In the long run, these swaps may get more spread out, maybe even out of the state. The societies original idea was to be a platform where multiple clubs could get together as a whole and make a bigger difference. It is not out of the question to have a swap near Pittsburgh or anywhere. This isn't out of the question now, but we haven't pursued this lately. We need to talk to members about where they would like to go, as well as let them know our current plans.

Although NCPARS member base is in the North Central area, we should really look at NCPARS as what it is, similar to the United Way and other non profit societies which seek funds anywhere they can to achieve a goal, spread their word, do new things, expand, and stay in business.

This is why we have raffles, to generate money to do school projects among other things. With the last swap we didn't generate enough revenue for any new projects. I will accept responsibility for that as there were not enough raffle items.
This will not be the case in spring as we plan on having a huge raffle.

I hope that people are more generous at the next swap for the raffle as the club is in need of capital to do school projects and other items that are on the agenda. I don't mean to sound like I am begging here, but that is what the raffle dollars are for; that is after we pay the swap expenses. In addition, we are discussing some new ideas currently and will inform everyone of the final plans at the spring swap members meeting.

We are in need of volunteers for multiple projects. Anyone with knowledge of grants/grant research, project management, committee volunteers for nominations committee, public relations committee(raffle crew), webpage development, and more. If you are interested in any of these contact me at rickyfins@hotmail.com

I am going to post a new thread with definitions of job duties in our forum.

I hope to hear from some willing individuals soon. Just send me your name, phone number if possible, and what you want to do and I will contact you as soon as possible and get you setup.

thanks all!

 

[Sanjay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10947393#post10947393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by insanefishguy
I am surprised that noone through this out there about the turnout. A lot of us know what these things are all about and dont worry about the distance traveleing to get there (even if ours spouses do), but with the group called North Central Pennsylvania Area Reef Society, this one was REALLY south. Heck we were only 20 miles from Maryland! For those who dont know how much fun the swaps are, it could have been a factor.

Overall, I thought the swap was great. It would be nice to have it a little later in the day to give people some more time the day of to get all their corals together before the swap.

Joe:

For the swaps to be successful events - from the perspective of the hobbyiest as well as the club.. nothing drives it more than attendance.

- more people attending = more frags + more buyers
- more people attending makes it worthwhile for vendors to justify comming, and to come from long distances
- larger the swap the more the potential for businesses to be willing to spend some of thier advertising $$s

Its a snowball effect, the larger the attendence the larger the next swap gets.

Look at the Ohio swap.. why are people willing to drive from mid PA to the swap ?? Its seems to get bigger every year and more attractive to people.

Part of our justification for moving it around, was to attract people from nearby areas to come to the swap. Ones that would not normally come to it, but once they did they would have the potential to become regulars. having it in York, theoretically would have made it more attractive to people from Baltimore, DC, and other parts of MD to make it.. only a 2 hr drive from most of these places.

I think for the benefit of the club members these events have to have larger attendance.. esp given that we only do 2 events a year.

sanjay.

 

[rickyfins]

Very well put Sanjay, and the spring swap should be a great example of this if everyone does their homework on time!

Mine too. hehehe