Who's going to MACNA XX?

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13165103#post13165103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Yep, the gala banquet is at the G.A. between the two tanks. Beluga Whales on one side, and whale sharks on the other side. Wolfgang Puck is the chef for the evening too.

Plus those going to the banquet get to get in early, and check out the aquariums.

Did they get more whale sharks? I thought they killed them all already? That would make the star attraction of the Ocean tank the 'Banjo Guitarfish' then... that was my favorite fish in that tank... as well as Anita's sister (the JAG lawyer)... she didnt believe me that male sharks have two, um, well... you know... and then she saw the ones on the Banjo and her jaw dropped!

Honestly, I still think that aquarium is 90% commercial, 10% substance like a Petco... where places like the Shedd, Baltimore, or Monty Bay are the other way around.

Wolfgang Puck is the chef?!?! Are you pulling my leg?

 

[melev]

No, I'm not pulling your leg. They announced it last year at MACNA XIX.

When I was at the G.A. last March, I saw all four whale sharks. You can see one or two of them in the pictures I posted above. They have two males and two females, and they range from 20' to 35' long.

I saw that Banjo Guitarfish too, now that you mention it.

 

[raddogz]

I'm so there.

Cocktails anyone?

 

[davy182]

I will be there as well.

 

[purebullet417]

i posted a thread like this a few days ago but ill be there for real this time

 

[skey44]

i'll be there Saturday. hope to meet some rc folks

 

[Ralph ATL]

I'm so here.

 

[Margi]

The Banquet hall at the Georgia Aquarium has private viewing windows into the Beluga Whale exhibit as well as into the Ocean Voyager Exhibit.

Wolfgang Puck's Catering Service will be making the dinner (so if he will actually be there is doubtful - but who knows). We are going to have a southern style meal!

I worked all day yesterday trying to put the raffle prizes so far promised into a database (along with a lot of OTHER MACNA stuff!) - there are TONS of raffle prizes - it is very exciting!

You should not need a taxi. From the airport - you can get onto MARTA (the rail transit system) from inside the airport (near the south baggage claim) - a one way ticket is $2.25 (or you can purchase a single or multiple day pass). Get on the train - very clean and safe and ALL going in the right direction - then get off at stop N1. Go towards the Harris Street Signs - when you get to the street - turn right - you are 1/2 block from the Westin. VERY EASY.

The Westin is in the Heart of Downtown - which has cleaned up A LOT. Within EASY walking distance are DOZENS of restaurants, the Centennial Olympic Park; CNN Center; the Georgia Aquarium; the New World of Coke; and much more. You can also hop back on MARTA and go shopping up at Lenox or Phipps - or just go exploring.

IF people are interested - we can rent a 15 passenger van on Thursday to drive around and visit the local fish stores - let us know (cost to cover van rental; insurance and gas - probably about $12 per person plus gas if it fills up).

Don't forget about the kids program from 5 - 12 year olds! If you are planning on bringing your children, let us know so we can have a good number of chaperones available. We can also arrange babysitting for smaller children - but again - let us know ahead of time!

Anyone know of anyone interested in getting a booth - let them know we will NOT run out of room (our tradeshow hall is HUGE) - so no problem. In the tradeshow hall we will also have the raffle area; a concession stand (selling snacks, sandwiches, beer, wine, pop...); and a lounge with wireless internet.

 

[MyReefCreations]

As of this morning - these are the companies involved with MACNA - nearly 100% of these have booths.

Aqua FX
Aquactinics, LLC
Aquarium Lighting & Supply
Aquarium Specialty
Aquatic Eco-Systems
Blue Grass Corals
Blue Life USA
Boston Aqua Farms
Bowtie, Inc.
Boyd Enterprise
Brightwell Aquatics
C - Journal
Cappuccino Bay Aquarium
Caribsea
Central Aquatics
Champion Lighting & Supply
Cherry Corals
Coral Dynamics, Inc
Coral Reef Aquarium
CPR Aquatic Inc
Current USA
D-D The Aquarium Solution
Deep Water Rock
Dirk's
Drs Foster & Smith
DT's Plankton Farm
Ecological Laboratories
EcoSystem Aquarium
Ecotech Marine, LLC
Einstein Aquatics
Emperor Aquatics, Inc.
Fiji Gold
Fins Reef
Georgia Aquarium
Hikari Sales USA Inc
Hydor
Joe's Juice
Keen's Reef
MACNA XX
MACNA XXI
Marco Rocks
Marine Depot
MARS fishcare
MASNA
MCU Research
MOFIB
Mosquito
Mr Coral
My Reef Creations
NanoTuners
National Aquarium Service Organization
Neptune Systems
Ocean Inspirations
Ocean Nutrition
Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums
Omega One
Pascal Lecocq Painter
PFO Lighting
Precision Marine
Premium Aquatics
Prodibio
Purely H2O
Red Sea Fish
Reed Mariculture
Reef Exotics
Reef Gently, Inc
Reef Optics
Reefbuilders LLC
Reefer DNA
RK2 Systems
Salifert
SaltwaterU
Seachem Labs
Sera North America
Sunlight Supply Inc
SunPet
Taam Inc
TECO / Fritz Industries
Tropic Marin USA
Tropical Fish Hobbyist
Tunze USA
Two Little Fishies
**************
United Pet Group
UPS Store
USC Sea Grant
USHIO
Vue Technology
Warner Marine
Wholesale Aquatic Supplies

 

[manofcoral]

I am on the west coast. Tell them it is time for another L.A. meeting. Thanks

 

[Margi]

We have people coming from all over the WORLD - Africa; Asia; Europe; South America - and maybe even Australia...

FYI - I just searched for airfare arriving Thursday, Sept 4 and leaving Sunday, Sept 7 - I found flights for as low as $278.

 

[Margi]

OOPS - forgot to mention that airfare was from LAX to ATL!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13171153#post13171153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Margi
We have people coming from all over the WORLD - Africa; Asia; Europe; South America - and maybe even Australia...

FYI - I just searched for airfare arriving Thursday, Sept 4 and leaving Sunday, Sept 7 - I found flights for as low as $278.

 

[hahnmeister]

I booked my flight for $200 round trip on Airtran... although that was earlier.

$278 from LAX to ATL is very good though.

Phipps Plaza... at one time, that was considered the highest end mall in America... the Gap there is 'low end' compared to what else is there, second lowest on the list, maybe the Armani Exchange with $75 t-shirts. I never found it that neat... but Im a guy.

Lennox is nice. A decent size mall, everything you might want really.

I dont know about a thursday shuttle though, I would assume most people wont even be in town until Friday.

 

[Jessy.]

thanks for the shuttle info on thursday, i'll be coming in from san diego. Do you know if it is going to be cumbersome walking from the shuttle to the hotel with luggage? I only ask because after traveling the Paris metro system I never want to get caught lugging up a suitcase up 15 flights of stairs and walking 20 blocks to my hotel again.

 

[Margi]

Regarding taking MARTA - it is actually easier than going to where the taxis are at the airport. To get to a taxi you have to walk quite a ways - MARTA is IN the airport.

There are escalators and elevators - so no - you don't have to take the stair (unless you want to!).

And it is truly only 1/2 block from the exit of MARTA to the hotel -

We are going to have a UPS Store in the tradeshow for shipping out - they are working on getting a Sunday pick-up but right now overnight will mean Tuesday delivery.

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13171111#post13171111 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by manofcoral
I am on the west coast. Tell them it is time for another L.A. meeting. Thanks

I hear this comment year after year. And yet if it was in Los Angeles, there would be a ton of people that would not attend, saying it was too far away from San Diego or San Francisco. MACNA bounces all over the nation year after year, and unless you live in the exact city where it is, travel expenses are incurred.

Once I'm there, I stay there the entire time. For all I know, the hotel I'm in is still in Ft Worth, since I never leave the conference.

To specifically answer your request, your L.A. club needs to offer to host a MACNA event, and that comes with a lot of work. If your club gets chosen, it'll be where you want it.

 

[cobs00]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13170960#post13170960 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Margi
The Banquet hall at the Georgia Aquarium has private viewing windows into the Beluga Whale exhibit as well as into the Ocean Voyager Exhibit.

Wolfgang Puck's Catering Service will be making the dinner (so if he will actually be there is doubtful - but who knows). We are going to have a southern style meal!

I worked all day yesterday trying to put the raffle prizes so far promised into a database (along with a lot of OTHER MACNA stuff!) - there are TONS of raffle prizes - it is very exciting!

You should not need a taxi. From the airport - you can get onto MARTA (the rail transit system) from inside the airport (near the south baggage claim) - a one way ticket is $2.25 (or you can purchase a single or multiple day pass). Get on the train - very clean and safe and ALL going in the right direction - then get off at stop N1. Go towards the Harris Street Signs - when you get to the street - turn right - you are 1/2 block from the Westin. VERY EASY.

The Westin is in the Heart of Downtown - which has cleaned up A LOT. Within EASY walking distance are DOZENS of restaurants, the Centennial Olympic Park; CNN Center; the Georgia Aquarium; the New World of Coke; and much more. You can also hop back on MARTA and go shopping up at Lenox or Phipps - or just go exploring.

IF people are interested - we can rent a 15 passenger van on Thursday to drive around and visit the local fish stores - let us know (cost to cover van rental; insurance and gas - probably about $12 per person plus gas if it fills up).

Don't forget about the kids program from 5 - 12 year olds! If you are planning on bringing your children, let us know so we can have a good number of chaperones available. We can also arrange babysitting for smaller children - but again - let us know ahead of time!

Anyone know of anyone interested in getting a booth - let them know we will NOT run out of room (our tradeshow hall is HUGE) - so no problem. In the tradeshow hall we will also have the raffle area; a concession stand (selling snacks, sandwiches, beer, wine, pop...); and a lounge with wireless internet.

A couple of questions Margi........

1) How long is the train ride from the airport to the hotel?
2) Is there a Marshal's near the hotel?
3) Why are some raffle tickets priced differently ($1, $5, $10) Don't all raffle tickets get you the same prizes? Last year at Macna XIX there was raffle tickets for $1 each.

 

[kryppy]

I will be there. Where is the RC hospitality center located?

 

[Margi]

I will try - please see below!

A couple of questions Margi........

1) How long is the train ride from the airport to the hotel?

ABOUT - 15 minutes

2) Is there a Marshal's near the hotel?

I have NO idea!!

3) Why are some raffle tickets priced differently ($1, $5, $10) Don't all raffle tickets get you the same prizes? Last year at Macna XIX there was raffle tickets for $1 each.

We decided to the raffles differently this year!

 

[cobs00]

Thanks for the responses. Can you please elaborate on the raffles prizes. If I get a $1 raffle ticket, does that give me a chance to win any prize available including the Fiji Trip? Or do I need to get a more expensive raffle ticket. Please explain.

Thanks
C