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VDA at 90

RJ,

       I did not mean that the usual Convention fare had to be done away with 
but only cast in a new light. Of course, there will be a show, auction, 
sales, awards, programs etc... but maybe the focus can shift some. What if 
the lectures/workshops were built around the history of killies and the AKA? 
Can you imagine that just as much, if not more, practical information could 
be communicated? Rosario LaCorte could do the evolution of spawning mediums 
from Dr. Meder's charcoal, Jacob Scheidnass' spawning mops to Za's #3 
aquarium gravel and everything in between. Bruce Turner, Al Klee and John 
Pafenyk could all describe John Gonzales' large commercial killifish raising 
operation. Alan Fletcher could talk about the attempt to form the American 
Panchax Asso. before the AKA and The Aquarium Magazine's support of the 
killie hobby through its Panchax Exchange column. Henrik Kozen? could come 
from Denmark and share his research into Scheel's life work. G. Kallus and 
others could share the growth of the killie hobby in Chicago and its 
contribution to the formation of the AKA. George Maier's famous shop could be 
discussed as the meeting place for killie people. Tirbak, Langton, Ricco 
(maybe), and Ingersoll could cover the history of the BAKA. Hoelter and 
Mackowiak could cover the history of the N&RSC and the introduction of many 
new fish over the years. With all this talent in one room there could be a 
big session on fishrooms, feeding, breeding and raising that would be 
unforgetable. It would be amazing if someone could come up with Franz 
Werner's old 1964 slide program introducing killies and the AKA to aquarium 
societies around the country. (I wonder why the AKA doesn't have such a 
program to rent to aquarium societies today?) Then, of course, Klee, Turner, 
Haas, Weitzman, and others could all come together for a session on the 
foundations of the AKA. Weitzman is a student of ichthyology and one of the 
great ones himself. He knew most of the big ones -- he was Myers' student -- 
and could do a great program on the ichthyologists that were central to the 
science of killies.
      I do not know if the book will become a reality. I have alot of 
thinking to do. It wuldn't be 400 pages as the german book covers many more 
years, people, fish and clubs. It would not be a book just to go read in a 
hotel room. But maybe the current members of the AKA don't really care about 
where they have come from;  what their hobby is built on and what the old 
guys might still have to teach to us today. I don't want to get into 
something like this and discover that no one really gives a damn and just 
sees it as some nice quaint trip down memory lane.
        And what if this convention had more volunteers than just the host 
club? What if all the local clubs -- since they are so influential in the 
AKA's life now -- helped with this Convention? What if that became an 
unofficial requirement for local clubs? It would be a way to train more local 
clubs in the process -- to some degree -- of hosting a Convention. I know the 
work involved as I Chaired a FOTAS (Fed. of Texas Aquarium Societies) 
Convention once with 2 large banquets, two main speakers, a day of workshops, 
a national show/auction, a magazine for the Convention and about 100 guests.

Robert E.
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