Re: [Killietalk] Shows and new members

[LeeH920226 at aol_com]

I have experienced a lot of walk-in joiners at local shows and meetings. They 
fall into at least two categories -- keepers and non-keepers. How many long 
term AKA members got their start the same way I did? I regularly stopped at a 
small well run tropical fish store on Friday evening on the way home from work. 
One Friday he had a couple pairs of Blue Gularis on sale at $9.99/pair. That 
was a lot of money in 1968. Nevertheless I bought a pair. A few weeks later he 
had some Aphyosemion australe on sale for, I think, $6.99/pair. I bought 
them. This same scenario played at least once or twice more and he ran out of his 
supply of new killies. He then handed me a brochure advertising membership in 
the AKA. The rest is history. Others have come into the fold via shows, local 
aquarium societies, word of mouth. The bottom line is all methods of publicity 
will find some fish ready to bite. However, the AKA has been without a 
Publicity Chairman for several years. Someone with advertising experience, publicity 
experience or just plain enthusiasm, please volunteer. The membership 
brochures made available for distribution at clubs, shows and shops is one good step 
-- that is what hooked me. The TFH articles and information in magazines in 
general is another good way.  Maintaining a speaker bureau for local clubs, a 
resource for slides, VHS tapes, DVDs, Powerpoint presentations, etc., etc.

Lee Harper
Media PA
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