Benefits of Membership

[angel]

I bought supplies at the Aquatic Critter yesterday and received a 10% discount off an already great deal. This was for being part of the MCAA. You will, once you join and get a membership card, all receive this discount. Thanks Chris!

[jessikarabbit]

We made the cost of the membership back in one trip to Aquatic Critter. The 10% definitely helps!

[Jess Puff]

"like"

[fuzzylogic]

Is there any other benefit? I rarely go to the critter

[bnoel210]

Jon also gives a discount also

[fuzzylogic]

And what does the club do with the money?

[glenoweth]

I also give 10% Discounts on normal priced fish. the 10% does not apply to the Weekly specials unless noted.

[bnoel210]

Club uses money for our swap/meets, club events and hopefully when we are big enough ACA functions

[jon carman]

I am going to move this thread and we can continue discussion

[ree123]

River11 sells very nice angels and livebearers and offers the 10% discount as well.
There are also several other folks here that log on from time to time with items to sell and offer the 10% when they have fish to sell. If you raise fish, you could be one of these members as well.

Being a member also offers you a vote for club business, when business includes the membership.
Example;... very soon I will be opening a thread for nominations for some of the officer positions for 2012, and only members will be able to nominate and then vote later on these nominations.

There is a Members only board that only members can see and use as well. If you are a non member you are unable to see and use this section at present.

Then we also have a policy that states only members can sell in the classifieds, although everyone can see and buy from them.

And, if you choose to attend the bi-annual swap/meets and you want to sell your fish or dry goods, you must pay a $5 table fee to sell if not a member. This option is free to members. Thus to sell as a non member, twice per year, costs $10, so $15 gets cheaper sounding all the time.

So, if you are active in selling or buying or care to have a say in the going on's of the club business, then it pays to spend the annual $15.

No pressures to join, but we would love for everyone to be a part of the full club, and not just a forum user. We will always welcome every person who wants to be a part of our group. Members and non members alike all love talking fish and about all the aspects of our fantastic hobby we all love so much. But,... being a club member offers a lot more than just a one store discount, hoping that everyone can find purpose in joining and gain from the annual due, in one way or another.

As was already stated, the funds are held in a bank acct. for future use of advertising to help our club continue to grow, and for paying for future speakers at swap/meets that all members and non members alike will enjoy. There are several speakers in the wings we are talking with about joining us at future swap/meets, and fees would be involved.

If we can ever grow large enough in membership to have 50+ members on an average of most days, logging on to chat and share with one another, we will then qualify to solicit the ACA for a sponsorship which would promote our club even further. A great future goal we all have a part in playing to acquire.

We also have found, so far, free locations for having our swap/meets. There is always the possibility of being charged for locations in the future. Funds are held for this possibility as well.

So, you see, you are investing in not only benefits for yourself and opportunities for various discounts for fish, foods, and/or dry goods when you submit dues, but you are providing stability for the clubs future, which I would think every forum user would want to support.

My personal goal for any who have not heard it is; I want to represent this club as its President and lead our fine group of members towards a more stable and secure club. I would like to assure that fellow hobbyists among us, who will serve in officer positions in the future, will have the ability to continue to have the opportunity to lead us in growth, prosperity, and stability of the club.
I want to see this club aspire to a membership level in numbers significant enough to acquire sponsorship of the ACA, and possibly even have the opportunity sometime into the future of hosting an ACA event associated with our club. Now that would be a great honor for all of us !

We are a young club of less that 3 years of age, and comparred to many clubs in the U.S that are 25 to 50 years old, we are just infants, but we are steadily growing,and I have the goal for that to continue for many years to come, long after I am a general member again, and then even long gone.

These are the main components of how the money is used and planned for use into the future.

Anyone is welcome to be a part of our forum, and we will always hope and promote that everyone will find gratification, and knowledge to insure that their hobby grows to new heights for each of them.
The club is an added bonus that forum users can become an active part of, in order to help support the growth, and secure the clubs current and future aspirations, while having a great time being a part of the events presently planned.

If I, or any officer can answer any specific questions, remember we are here to support each of you, help each other to grow within our specific areas of interests within the hobby, and to represent you with our current plans and future plans for a long lived association we so fondly call, the Music City Aquarium Association.

Respectively,
Rick Easterly
MCAA President
aka ree123

[ree123]

Remember, we have 3 sponsors to date, all found on the forum face page, and listed under all my posts. They all 3 offer the 10% discount, in the event one is closer to any of you than another.