melev
Well-known member
Every year, I strongly encourage hobbyists to attend the three day conference, and every year there is a large group of people that simply don't know what the big deal is nor why they should go, nor why they should have to pay. I've written several articles on this topic, and there are plenty of threads that you'd be able to Google.
Here's a truckload of pictures from last year's MACNA: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1207158&highlight=macna+xix
<b>Do you enjoy the club meeting?</b> How would you like to go to a huge club meeting that lasts for three days in a row? I know that sounds crazy, but the reality is you'll have a blast. MACNA is for hobbyists, not experts or vendors. Newbies will benefit greatly. Those with more experience still come home with all kinds of neat tricks that they picked up at the conference. Year after year, I'm there and never regret going. There is always new information to discover.
<b>Do you enjoy the raffles?</b> How would you like to win some awesome prizes? I'm not talking about winning a frag or a rose BTA, although those are also in the MACNA raffle. How about new light systems? New tanks? New skimmers, calcium reactors, etc? Over the past few years, trips to Fiji were raffled off, and people have won entire set-ups worth $10,000 or more fully stocked! The local winners always score the best because they can keep it all. Us visitors have to sell / give away the animals and content ourselves with the tank, stand, canopy, sump, & equipment. To be honest, if I ever won a full set up with 50 adorable clownfish, I'd find a way to get them home. MINE! This year's MACNA has a UPS Booth to help ship stuff home for people like me that have to fly to Atlanta.
<b>Do you enjoy learning about new equipment and upcoming technology?</b> Sure you can see it online, read about it in threads here on RC, or see it at your LFS. At MACNA, you'll be immersed in it day after day. The vendors hall is huge, like Home Depot huge. Talk to the vendors about their product lines. If you have a beef about some device, tell them in person. If you doubt the product can do what was promised, ask more questions. If you want it now, buy it on the spot. I love the vendors' hall and tend to spend most of my time there each year.
<b>Do you like to learn more about this hobby?</b> With all the speakers flying in, you'll have to look at the schedule closely to choose what topics you want to hear. At a club meeting, you get one topic - like it or leave it. At MACNA, go to the talks you want to hear. Learn learn learn. Every bit of information you soak up means you'll be a better reefkeeper - and be able to help others here on the forums too.
<b>Do you have a favorite author?</b> Meet them in person, get an autographed copy of their book, hang out with them and drink alcohol.... You'll definitely hear some stories.
<b>Do you enjoy hanging out with fellow hobbyists?</b> At the meeting you get to visit with a small group. At MACNA, about 1000 hobbyists are milling about. Get to know more people you've only chatted with online. Name badges will display their usernames too. Meet your buddy from SoCal, New England or Texas finally. The nice thing is there is no pressure to talk to others. It usually just happens naturally if you let it. Listen to the conversations, jump in if you wish. I really don't recommend being a wallflower at MACNA. Why limit your total experience?
<b>Do you like livestock?</b> HAH! There will be tons (literally) of water housing all kinds of animals. Get those cool corals, bring them home get them in quarantine. If you are not local, the vendors will mark your corals as sold and move them to the back of their tanks, which you can pick up Sunday. UPS is there to help ship livestock home too, from what I understand. Keep track of those MACNA treasures, and when you post pictures in the future, let us know you got them at MACNA XX. That tells us it was purchased in September 08, so we have an idea of how long you've had it when we see those pictures months later.
<b>Have you been to the Georgia Aquarium yet?</b> Want to see it again? I know I do! I just got an email that Gala-attendees get to go in from 5pm to 7pm to see the aquarium at no additional charge before the wonderful dinner & presentation. How cool is that? Thank you MACNA Organizers & the G.A. for that!!
Check out the beautiful whale sharks and the shoaling fish.
Here's a guy standing in front of the 6.3 million gallon tank, which is a long as a football field from front to back, and 65' wide.
Alright, if you are still on the fence, now's the time to just go on faith and sign up. You are paying for the full experience; this isn't just a trade show. You are NOT paying to get in to buy stuff. The entry fee covers all the speakers, all the vendors, the social, the gala, attend the raffle... You guys buy corals all the time at $40 to $90 a pop. The entry fee isn't much more, and you'll get SO much more out of attending than you will staring at those two new corals in your tank.
It's up to you now. Are you really going to miss the premiere event of the year? Seriously? www.macnaxx.com
<b>Are you already going? Post in this thread so we can watch for each other. See you in three weeks!</b>
Here's a truckload of pictures from last year's MACNA: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1207158&highlight=macna+xix
<b>Do you enjoy the club meeting?</b> How would you like to go to a huge club meeting that lasts for three days in a row? I know that sounds crazy, but the reality is you'll have a blast. MACNA is for hobbyists, not experts or vendors. Newbies will benefit greatly. Those with more experience still come home with all kinds of neat tricks that they picked up at the conference. Year after year, I'm there and never regret going. There is always new information to discover.
<b>Do you enjoy the raffles?</b> How would you like to win some awesome prizes? I'm not talking about winning a frag or a rose BTA, although those are also in the MACNA raffle. How about new light systems? New tanks? New skimmers, calcium reactors, etc? Over the past few years, trips to Fiji were raffled off, and people have won entire set-ups worth $10,000 or more fully stocked! The local winners always score the best because they can keep it all. Us visitors have to sell / give away the animals and content ourselves with the tank, stand, canopy, sump, & equipment. To be honest, if I ever won a full set up with 50 adorable clownfish, I'd find a way to get them home. MINE! This year's MACNA has a UPS Booth to help ship stuff home for people like me that have to fly to Atlanta.
<b>Do you enjoy learning about new equipment and upcoming technology?</b> Sure you can see it online, read about it in threads here on RC, or see it at your LFS. At MACNA, you'll be immersed in it day after day. The vendors hall is huge, like Home Depot huge. Talk to the vendors about their product lines. If you have a beef about some device, tell them in person. If you doubt the product can do what was promised, ask more questions. If you want it now, buy it on the spot. I love the vendors' hall and tend to spend most of my time there each year.
<b>Do you like to learn more about this hobby?</b> With all the speakers flying in, you'll have to look at the schedule closely to choose what topics you want to hear. At a club meeting, you get one topic - like it or leave it. At MACNA, go to the talks you want to hear. Learn learn learn. Every bit of information you soak up means you'll be a better reefkeeper - and be able to help others here on the forums too.
<b>Do you have a favorite author?</b> Meet them in person, get an autographed copy of their book, hang out with them and drink alcohol.... You'll definitely hear some stories.
<b>Do you enjoy hanging out with fellow hobbyists?</b> At the meeting you get to visit with a small group. At MACNA, about 1000 hobbyists are milling about. Get to know more people you've only chatted with online. Name badges will display their usernames too. Meet your buddy from SoCal, New England or Texas finally. The nice thing is there is no pressure to talk to others. It usually just happens naturally if you let it. Listen to the conversations, jump in if you wish. I really don't recommend being a wallflower at MACNA. Why limit your total experience?
<b>Do you like livestock?</b> HAH! There will be tons (literally) of water housing all kinds of animals. Get those cool corals, bring them home get them in quarantine. If you are not local, the vendors will mark your corals as sold and move them to the back of their tanks, which you can pick up Sunday. UPS is there to help ship livestock home too, from what I understand. Keep track of those MACNA treasures, and when you post pictures in the future, let us know you got them at MACNA XX. That tells us it was purchased in September 08, so we have an idea of how long you've had it when we see those pictures months later.
<b>Have you been to the Georgia Aquarium yet?</b> Want to see it again? I know I do! I just got an email that Gala-attendees get to go in from 5pm to 7pm to see the aquarium at no additional charge before the wonderful dinner & presentation. How cool is that? Thank you MACNA Organizers & the G.A. for that!!
Check out the beautiful whale sharks and the shoaling fish.
Here's a guy standing in front of the 6.3 million gallon tank, which is a long as a football field from front to back, and 65' wide.
Alright, if you are still on the fence, now's the time to just go on faith and sign up. You are paying for the full experience; this isn't just a trade show. You are NOT paying to get in to buy stuff. The entry fee covers all the speakers, all the vendors, the social, the gala, attend the raffle... You guys buy corals all the time at $40 to $90 a pop. The entry fee isn't much more, and you'll get SO much more out of attending than you will staring at those two new corals in your tank.
It's up to you now. Are you really going to miss the premiere event of the year? Seriously? www.macnaxx.com
<b>Are you already going? Post in this thread so we can watch for each other. See you in three weeks!</b>
