Hi - I'm a little reluctant to write this, the subject has been beaten to
death, but I hope that my comments won't offend anyone. The AKA
conventions
have never really been cheap, not bad as compared to almost any
professional
convention, but to attend it does cost a few bucks. I've been to a lot of
them, starting in 1971 and have always figured they were more than worth
the price. I have chaired a AKA convention (and I assure you that I was
working more than 45 hours a week at that time and still am) and have
worked
on several different professional organization conventions, so I've seen
the
problems from all sides. If you think that it is expensive to attend one,
try running one. But, I attend them because it is really nice to spend a
few
days talking to people that speak the same language that you do. Rest
assured that with the exception of Carl Peterson, there's no one within 50
miles of me that even knows what a killifish is, I can't imagine how far
Bob
Morenski has to go to talk killifish. Many years ago a dedicated
hobbyist
by the name of Jack Carr would go to the conventions but never bothered to
attend the lectures. He said I go to them to talk to my friends and get
new
fish and not sit on my butt. (probably not his exact words, Jack could be
a
little colorful, at times) I kind of liked his attitude, but I do usually
take in the lectures. This year's convention is in a wonderful place and I
hope that members will be able to take in some of the available
attractions.
Tom Grady and I are going to try to get to the National Aquarium in
Baltimore on Thursday. I tried to get a room at The Hotel for Wednesday
night and was told it would cost my about $250, plus parking and the 12%
tax. Plan B has us staying at a Super 8 in Joppa, MD for that night at
$60.30. A short drive, I hope, to the Aquarium. I might also mention that
a
big international Bonsai convention is being held the same weekend at a
hotel in downtown Washington. This also does not help with hotel
availability and cost.
At the moment I am financially secure enough that I can attend the AKA
Conventions, but I can well understand many members that may have
financial
problems with dropping this much money on a hobby weekend. I don't think
that the situation will improve in the next few years. I'm afraid that a
convention in Tampa is not going to be cheap. The last one there sure
wasn't. It wasn't bad, but it did cost a few bucks.
I hope that the cost doesn't force too many members to stay away and I
do
wish that there was an alternative, but I'm afraid that things aren't
going
to change in the near future.
Regards, Dan Nielsen
To join the AKA see http://www.aka.org/pages/join.html
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