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Re: [Killietalk] $26
Mike,
In 100 words or less, what is your point?
Erny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Jacobs" <mjacobs2 at tampabay_rr.com>
To: <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2005 3:16 PM
Subject: [Killietalk] $26
>I DON'T THINK THIS WENT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME I SENT IT THIS MORNING! IF
> IT DID I APOLOGIZE!
>
>
>
>
>
> It is a very interesting question that some of you have asked as of late.
> Why should I join the AKA for $26.
>
>
>
> At first I saw it as the same problem that all aquarium clubs are having.
> I
> think all aquarium clubs has cyclic attendance records but overall
> probably
> most are not quite what they were years ago. The answer is rather simple
> and straight forward, I think. The INTERNET. The internet is killing all
> Aquarium Groups. The need to belong to aquarium groups (societies) in
> the
> past was born out of a very real drive and need for information. I
> remember
> that most of the folks that grew up as fish keepers in the 50's, 60's,
> 70's,
> 80's and 90's simply couldn't get enough information about the hobby.
> Book,
> books, books and periodicals and TFH and FAMA and AQUARIUM SOCIETIES were
> the bastion of information for all of the aquarium keepers of the past.
> Quite frankly right now I could find more information on the internet on
> most any fish keeping topic I wanted by doing a "Google" on any topic that
> you could possibly get from any speaker in the hour they would spend
> talking
> at the local meeting. Let me see: "Fundulopanchax gardneri" . . . 17,000
> different web sites dealing with Fundulopanchax gardneri were found . . .
> You want a bit tougher . . . "Rivulus atratus . . . 235 web sites dealing
> with Rivulus atratus. We are talking pictures and text and "How To's". If
> this is so then, really, what is the point to joining aquarium clubs . . .
> AKA, TBAS, SKS . . . !!!!!!! I belong to all of these (check the URL's at
> the bottom of this E-Mail). Why! I can only respond in a personal
> fashion
> but I think that it probably applies to most of you and if not then, well,
> quite frankly maybe you should NOT join the clubs.
>
>
>
> 1) This tropical fish hobby has given me so much enjoyment over the
> last 40 years I feel I owe the hobby itself $26 for the AKA and $15 TBAS
> and
> well, no dues for the SKS unless you belong to the AKA so essentially for
> $26 you get the AKA and the SKS all wrapped into one fee . . . by the way
> .
> . . someone was bragging about their AKA affiliate club being 70-80%
> members
> of the AKA . . . I think the SKS is NEAR 100% (I digress). If that is not
> your personality then fine . . . but don't knock what floats my boat.
>
> 2) Charlie Nunziata, Harry Specht, Bill Shields, Brian Skidmore,
> Brett
> Kempker, Charlie Rose, Ken Normandin, Hugh Moore, Roy Klinger, Earle
> Fisher,
> Mike LoBello, Dzeno Fiala, Doug Dame, Christina Cockrell, Henri Debruyn,
> Carl Johnson, Larry Swanson, Jim Cormier . . . you don't know all of these
> folks but they are just a PART of the SKS, AKA affiliate group (I did
> leave
> 6-8 out and I do apologize . . . they will understand. This was off the
> top
> of my head!). You guys know a handful of these guys! I couldn't have
> chosen a more wonderful group of real killifish folks AND tropical fish
> fans
> than these guys. All of them are also folks that you would want to call
> friends regardless of what we share and we all tolerate the individual
> mannerisms of each other better than any group of people I have been
> associated with in all of my adult years.
>
> 3) This $26 that is in question allows anyone in the killifish hobby
> to
> hob-nob with the best in the business . . . I mean 98% of the best in the
> business can be talked to directly and with a bit of investigating the
> rest
> could be talked to (E-Mailed) as well. Barry Cooper, Brian Watters, Lee
> Harper. Dr. Dan, Dr. Robert Goldstein, Ian Sainthouse, Henry Debruyn,
> Harry
> Specht, Charlie Nunziata, Montey Lehman, Wright Huntly, Bob Morenski, Tony
> Terciera . . . Oh, damn, I'm in deep now and I am leaving 30+ off of this
> list that I shouldn't have . . . forgive, again this is off the top of my
> head and boy the memory is getting worse since I hit 60 . . . just sit and
> watch the list of people on the Killitalk! These people are the movers
> and
> shakers of this hobby and they will all sit and listen to you as though
> you
> were a long lost friend. You don't have to agree with all of them. Why
> is
> that a necessity . . . how boring would that be? These, and the others I
> left off are the best there are . . . and you have access to them most any
> time you wish . . . just holler. I know . . . with the internet you can
> talk to a lot of people now a days but it is made 100% easier if you are
> within the club . . . $26. These people are as good as it gets within a
> hobby and people are wondering why I spend $26. If you can't find enough
> of
> a reason to spend $26 now then it is maybe best you don't. I am not
> trying
> to kick people out of the AKA but really folks . . . $26. I know I am
> leaving off most of the people over the "big pond" but with a little bit
> of
> work through the folks we know they are not hard to reach either.
>
> 4) Some would say that for $26 I don't get access to the "financial
> books" and no one listens to me or any new members. I am always amused by
> this kind of talk. Let me see . . . so you want to join the AKA for $26
> today and next month you want all of us, ALL OF US, some of which have
> been
> in the AKA since it's inception in 1962, to turn the reins over to you and
> change the club all around to the way you would run it and put you in
> charge????? Do you folks really believe that should happen? Do you
> really.
> I get this all of the time in the local aquarium society as well. "I just
> joined the club and I( think we ought to meet on Saturday and not
> Monday!!!!!" You try to explain the process to the complainer in order to
> change "things" and they don't want to do that. They don't even want to
> listen. They don't want to come to the BOD meeting and make and discuss a
> proposal and listen to all of the arguments on all THREE sides . . . they
> just want it their way or they are going to take their ball and go home!
> Well, quite frankly, they need to take their "ball" and go! There are
> certain procedures and protocols that need to be followed when clubs have
> more then 2-5-8-10 people in them. If you are not willing to go through
> all
> of the appropriate steps then you don't really want to be a part of a
> group
> you simply want to run things but you don't want to be in charge. The
> people that suggest radical changes in the TBAS . . . I go to them and ask
> them to run for the BOD . . . "Oh, no!!! I don't have that kind of time
> but
> you guys are really dumb and should be doing things my way!" Give me a
> break! TBAS is a successful club! Financially and member-wise. If you
> want to change things then you have to propose and go through channels . .
> .
> and be willing to accept the occasional "NO!" when the voting does not go
> your way. Do I agree with everything the TBAS does? . . . right . . . and
> I
> can fly too! What does agreeing with everything have to do with running a
> club?????
>
> I will cut this a bit short . . . despite its length. At this point the
> AKA
> is successful. Do we have everything right . . . probably not, but for
> sure, if we got all of those dissenting folks and the folks that won't
> spend
> a lousy $26 in one room to discuss the future of the AKA and new rules for
> the NEW AKA I would doubt that they could agree to agree . . . and they
> would come out of the room without an AKA CLUB! Some people are simply
> not
> "Club People" . . . OK . . . that's fine but don't begrudge us that which
> we
> find acceptable. I am sorry we can't satisfy you and what you demand . .
> .
> feel free to start your own club and you can do anything you wish but
> again,
> don't keep bad mouthing what is, at least for the moment, for us, working.
> Change . . . I am for change . . . I remind you again of the time I stood
> up in the Syracuse Board Meeting at the AKA Convention (1997-98???) those
> many years ago AND NO ONE KNEW ME, and I spoke for E-Mail as the primary
> method of contact and bulletins and voting . . . I felt all of the shots
> being fired at my back and was sure I wasn't going to make it out of the
> BOD
> meeting to make it to lunch . . . then but I worked within the RULES and
> kept voicing my opinion and look at what we have now . . . not because of
> me
> but because sometimes good change is slow. I could have gone away and
> taken
> my ball home but I decided that these people were good people and meant
> well
> and within a given time frame all would work it all out . . . I will spend
> my $26 and make sure I vote . . . by the computer . . . for the people who
> feel as I do. In the mean time I will not deprive me or the AKA by taking
> my ball and going home and if someone is elected I don't particularly
> agree
> with I will wait until the next election. It's really that simple. For
> me
> the AKA is worth a minimum of $26 a year . . . I am sorry that it is not
> for
> you!
>
>
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> AKA 2006 Tampa, Fl. See you in the sunshine!
>
> <http://mtfb.com> http://mtfb.com . . . On-Line Aquarium Magazine
> <http://southernapistos.com> http://southernapistos.com . . . Apistos &
> More On-Line
>
> http://sks.aka.org <http://sks.aka.org/> . . . Killifish Club St.
> Pete/Tampa, Fl
> http://tbas1.com . . . Tampa Bay Aquarium Society
>
>
>
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>
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