Re: Fish List

[Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>]

Thomas L. McLean wrote:

snip...

> Also, it is clear that if the aka does not step up soon and present a
> viable system for trading killifish and eggs, someone else will.

They have. They are known as local clubs (mostly affiliates) and aquarium 
societies.

They can have frequent auctions of fish, right there in the bag for 
personal inspection.

Shipping hazards (and costs) are reduced to near zero.

The current F&E list has been competing with them for a very long time, 
but very few are willing to acknowledge it.

Since the bulk of all volunteer hours, and most of the income of AKA come 
from those folks out there in those affiliates, I do hope the impact of 
any abrupt change in policy takes into account the total effect on the 
hobby, and not just on one isolated technophobe back up in the 
Appalachians. [The latter is the loud argument often put forth, most 
usually by folks with good computer connections. :-)]

For my part, I'd like to see the AKA devote more effort and money to 
coordinating and financing box exchanges between affiliates and with 
foreign clubs. That could boost the value of being an affiliate, and 
encourage formation of more. Right now, all the rules are "what can the 
affiliate do for the AKA," and not very much is offered in return. All AKA 
benefits are aimed directly at individuals (publications, access to F&E 
lists, etc.) as a holdover from days when the AKA was really just another 
club competing for individual members with the local clubs.

I'd not like to see an on-line F&E be so editable that we would lose the 
good services of folks like Bill Gallagher, who does wonders to keep our 
nomenclature straight. That, to me, would seem like the most urgent 
problem to solve before we can close the current ridiculous time gap.

I just looked at the on-line F&E listing. It was for June, so that meant 
the last accepted entries were in early May. In 2 days it will be August! 
Anything sent to Bill now will be too late for shipping, this year, when 
it gets onto the web site.

How about this way to use the technology? A wish-list page for each 
Affiliate club that desires one, editable by a club-designated editor with 
password access, just like the calendar.

As folks notice a desirable species is no longer showing up on the local 
auction table, they point it out to the editor, who then adds that species 
to the wish list at the AKA site. THEN, when time comes for a box 
shipment, it is an easy thing to see that WAKO doesn't have any 
*chromaphyos* <VBG> and some can be sought to go in their box. This could 
be a real-time ongoing thing, with some responsibility on the editors to 
clear the list as arriving boxes fill wishes.

Just a wild idea that might make things work better, but basically as they 
are working now.

Wright

--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514




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