I have been thinking about this for some time - not just during the swap but before and since:
I am afraid that if I start thanking folks, I will leave someone out. It is not going to stop me. So, I apologize right now for leaving "œyou" out.
I will start with Janie and Dana. If they had not been there to help, If I had tried to do it all myself, I would have done more than I did, but 75% of it would not have been done. You folks in the club do not know how much these folks have given to the club for this swap. A frag swap is a lot of work. It is a lot of work during the swap. It is at least "“ I do not know "“ 10 to 20 times the amount of time in planning and "œdoing" before the swap. If think I am bragging on me, you got it wrong. --- We would have one of our many meetings about the swap, and I would come up with something to do and one of them would volunteer to do it even before I had finished explaining what it was. We would be sending emails back and forth and each other, and Janie or Dana, usually both would be explaining the stuff that they had started doing "“ sometimes (many times) stuff that we had not even discussed "“ and then -- an email saying it was finished. I sometimes felt left out "“ they did so much. Not really left out BUT"¦.. "“
The local fish stores (Coral Reef, Aquatic Marine, Sustainable Aquatics) advertised for us, donated to us (stuff for the raffle prizes and stuff to do the swap "“ saltwater) and more. They also donate all through the year "“ A big thanks for that also.
Sponsors for raffle drawings - stuff I won and the other stuff too, Ha! HA!!! Sponsors do not have to sponsor local reef club events. If you need some stuff, find it at one of our sponsors, please.
Sponsors, who were also vendors, a double gift to the club.
Vendors "“ a frag swap would not be much without vendors.
Club members who helped in the planning stages, vendor and sponsor "œgetting" stages, working the kitchen, at the sign-in tables, at the ETRC vendor tables. (I would not have been able to do all the running around that I did if not for those folks). A big thanks to those you came early on Friday and stayed late on Saturday, also.
Folks who came out to swap or buy. A swap is not much without these folks too.
A lot of folks spent a lot of time and effort for this swap. Several drove a long time to get to Knoxville and back home. I thank you all, and I hope to see you next year. I met a lot of new folks. I missed a few and I am not pleased about that, sorry.
I will say thanks for your efforts several times more I am sure - especially to club members.
BUT, I do have this to say to all those folks out there that sold me stuff.
You guys let me spend wwwwwaaaaaayy to much $$$$$. I felt like a little kid in a toy store except nobody was telling me NO! You guys have got to be more responsible. I cannot be spending all that money. I got some great corals. Actually, I would have gotten more if I would have had more time. And, you guys would have let me buy them too, I am sure. Now, some of you do not know me. So, for some that are from out of town, I have a little less finger shaking. But, you folks in the club especially, just let me buy and buy"¦"¦
Thanks
Eddie (Trimax)
Lots of words - I had lots to say. :celeb3:
