Member of a Fish Club? Why or Why Not...

[dogofwar]

There are some SERIOUS fish people in your area. Folks like Ted Judy (www.tedsfishroom.com) and Jeff Michael (www.aquaticclarity.com) to name a couple.

Did you go to the ACA convention in Milwaukee summer before last?

Matt

No, talked to a few of the memebers here in milwaukee.. and it's alot of cichlid, and killie people from the sound of it.. plus we have a 6 month old... their meetings are less then 15 minutes away.. but we rarely have time to go out as is.

 

[dogofwar]

Yes - a lot of clubs have annual auctions...and many have monthly ones. Members are able to both buy and sell in the auctions. Guests can only buy. We usually have upwards of 150 items (fish, plants, supplies) most months.

Members of many fish clubs also get discounts at LFS. You'd have to check with your local club but CCA members get 10% off at HOT and a few of the other remaining LFS in the area (there aren't many!).

We (and other clubs) also do "group buys" for supplies and fish online. CCA is doing with with Dave's Rare Fish - www.davesfish.com - (in conjunction with ***) right now. Members get 20% off and whichever airport gets the most orders gets free shipping.

When I moved to the DC area, one of the first things I did was join my local fish club. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Not sure why there's not more participation among folks on here? I guess you all like paying retail (and full shipping costs). To say nothing of getting direct access to the collective wisdom of the best fishkeepers in the world...

Matt

i have one where i live but the meeting places are all the way accross the city and auctions are open to the public anyways and i probably wouldnt interact with anyone. but it does only cost $25 and.gives you 10% off at most lfs

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[kenko]

Used to be a member of the GCCA (Greater Chicago Cichlid Association) and the meetings used to be just a minute from my home, but I couldn't do the Sunday meetings because of football during the season, and a baby at home. Plus back then my wife was incredibly bored attending the meetings and I soon realized I became bored listening to the high level of fishy geekdom surrounding me. Yes I consider myself a cichlidiot, but it can at times be like talking to a car geek about a certain tread pattern on tires, or why that extra .01% of compression is beneficial for engines. Just too deep for my own liking, and aside from that, there didn't seem to be any other shared interests among the group.


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[Charney]

I am a member of the northern NJ aquarium society. So far its pretty good.

 

[Dan F]

Plus it's terrible...


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I assume we are talking about the GPAS?

Is it that bad? I've never been to a meeting. Their website is pretty slow/lame, but they all are in comparison to MFK. I did score a free 3/4" acrylic 300G tank there about six years ago though.

I don't have a single aquarist friend other than those I have met on MFK. While I love discussing all things fish online, it is pretty cool (and kind of weird at the same time) to actually have a face-to-face conversation with someone that is into fish. Going to a place where there are a bunch of fish-geeks in one spot seems like it would be awesome, but I could be wrong...

 

[dogofwar]

Other than for folks who are kind of shy/anti-social/agorophobic (and there are quite a few), fish club meetings are a logical extension of interacting online.

Some clubs are better than others at welcoming new folks into the fold. We open doors an hour early and encourage new folks to come. We also announce and introduce new folks to the leadership of the club and others who are "into" the kinds of fish that they are. Many introduce themselves via the website prior to meetings. Having food and snacks doesn't hurt either.

If your club sucks (grouchy old men, boring speakers, bad online presence, focus on killifish , etc.), get involved and see how you can help. Change might not happen immediately, but positivity generally leads to more positivity...

We have speakers on both advanced and basic topics...and on a good mix of new and old world cichlids (we're a cichlid club)....from around the world (Ad Konings, Juan Miguel from CRC, Anton Lamboj)...and locally...on aquarium topics (how to keep...), on collecting trips (Peru, Uruguay, West Africa, etc.) and on how to stuff (fishrooms, etc.).

All of this appeals to me (of course)...just wondering what's not to like for other folks (other than understandable issues with schedules, kids, etc.)...

Matt

I don't have a single aquarist friend other than those I have met on MFK. While I love discussing all things fish online, it is pretty cool (and kind of weird at the same time) to actually have a face-to-face conversation with someone that is into fish. Going to a place where there are a bunch of fish-geeks in one spot seems like it would be awesome, but I could be wrong...

 

[canadian.fish]

we have a local one were i am 20 bux a month to join monthly meetings plus 10% off the LFS i am still wanting to join dont know why i have not. maybe this thread will be the push

 

[dogofwar]

Good - it's probably $20 per year (not month)!

Not sure what kind of fish you're into but folks in our club quickly get hooked on coming ot meetings after buying BAGS of fish (that they can't even find at LFS) for the price of a single one at their LFS (10% club discount or not).

Matt

we have a local one were i am 20 bux a month to join monthly meetings plus 10% off the LFS i am still wanting to join dont know why i have not. maybe this thread will be the push

 

[golcondorus]

Yeah, I just recently joined the GPAS you mentioned in an attempt to help out and make it better. I do agree the website isn't very good, the real problem is membership right now and the members we do have don't come to the meeting very often for some reason. I just scored a full 55 gallon tank with stand and twin t5 lighting and a 4 foot compact fluorescent in the raffle last month. We do have auctions every month, mostly plants. So if you want to get in on the ground floor of a club the greater Portland aquarium society is in need of help and Involved members right now. If we had more people it would be a pretty cool club, visit GPAS.org, the meeting info is on the home page.


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[dogofwar]

Sweet - so you won a 55g tank, stand and high-end hood/lighting system for the cost of some raffle ticket? That must suck!

Thanks to Li, we gave away a couple of brand new 90g set-ups. Members got a ticket for the raffle just by attending (and signing in to) a meeting.

Matt

Yeah, I just recently joined the GPAS you mentioned in an attempt to help out and make it better. I do agree the website isn't very good, the real problem is membership right now and the members we do have don't come to the meeting very often for some reason. I just scored a full 55 gallon tank with stand and twin t5 lighting and a 4 foot compact fluorescent in the raffle last month. We do have auctions every month, mostly plants. So if you want to get in on the ground floor of a club the greater Portland aquarium society is in need of help and Involved members right now. If we had more people it would be a pretty cool club, visit GPAS.org, the meeting info is on the home page.


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