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Post by paddysdaddy on Jul 16, 2012 21:57:36 GMT -6
Hello everyone! First, I am new here and am likely to make mistakes. Probably many mistakes and maybe big ones, so here goes: I know Rick asked at the swap "What do you want from the MCAA?" I am not in the loop so answers may have been provided, but by no coincidence this is the same question we are soon posing to the ACA forum members. This isn't a trick question or an attempt to embarrass anyone! It is a simple question. This IS an attempt to do what YOU want, to find out what you would like the club here to do. So even if we all know what you want, help out the newbie here  And if you have been silent, SHAME ON YOU! Speak up, PLEASE! This is a humble attempt to provide what YOU want. Keep your requests semi-reasonable, no "angels for 4 cents" answers but speak up, say what you would like to see, say what you THINK might be a good idea, say what you have heard that would be fun to do here and please be specific! I know Rick and Jon want this group to congeal into a vibrant, fun and active fish club. Many others here want that as well, me included. As I said at the swap, this group is very fortunate that the leaders do not have a specific direction in which we must all travel, like or lump it. They are receptive, cheerful, flexible and willing to do whatever you want within the realm of reality. So GO FOR IT! Let's hear it, step on toes if you need to but we all have our big boy and big girl pants pulled up so S P E A K U P ! ! !No idea is impossible, farfetched perhaps, but if so, you are just ahead of your time |
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Post by paddysdaddy on Jul 16, 2012 21:59:04 GMT -6
To get everyone comfortable, I'll start and start big!
I want it all! A BAP, being a C.A.R.E.S. affiliate, monthly meetings, friends-fun-information-visiting each other between meetings just because we want to! Members calling each other on the phone, group orders, mini collecting trips, excellent networking for deals you want and I don't or vice versa, tours of local fishrooms, road tripping to producers of stuff we all use, an annual show/big auction and yes, even hosting an annual show like the ALA, ACA, a saltwater show or WHATEVER YOU WANT.
Don't say I just took your answer either, your answer is what we need to hear here. Multiple people wanting the same things is a consensus and is what the officers will (very likely) consider a goal as a club and will implement it immediately. I've seen or done every part of what makes a club survive, grow (or die) and if nothing else I can give tons of examples and advice!
The time to be shy, asleep or on cruise control is passing quickly, that which does not grow DIES.
This group has far too much going for it to die, let's mold it into what Y.O.U. want.
Sorry for the caps, I have seen many clubs whither and die. This hurts and it is a lonely hobby when you do it alone. Growing and growing together is far easier than trying to resuscitate or recreate anything.
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Post by kyangelsncorys on Jul 16, 2012 23:02:54 GMT -6
Well said SCOTT and i agree 100% im glad to see someone thats not afread to say what needs to be said , now if we can just get a few more to speak up . i say if they can`t say what they want to see then they shouldn`t have the rite to complain about anything
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Post by paddysdaddy on Jul 17, 2012 7:37:23 GMT -6
Everyone that reads this forum needs to post an opinion. Lurkers are not going to build this forum into something real, if apathy and silence is what the leaders get instead of ideas, this area will not ever enjoy the rewards that many fish clubs/associations/societies generate.
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Post by jon carman on Jul 17, 2012 11:07:14 GMT -6
I want activity and growth. I don't care how it happens. We have taken q few babysteps, but basically the same
2 swaps and 20-30 daily users with a post or two a day except for weeks before and after swap.
I support anything now as long at it is something. I think we should so it in an orderly fashion so we don't go start 20 things and see none of then through. I was hoping baps would be well on its way by now.
I don't want to write anymore threads about what I want to see happen where every sentence starts with "I", I want it to be about how "we" have grown and what "we" have done or are going to do.
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Post by tpindell on Jul 17, 2012 15:19:06 GMT -6
Projects projects projects. I have been interested in DIY videos on you tube.
Product reviews may be cost prohibitive and other places I imagine do them.
Since many here are focused on Cichlids, how about an idiots guide without going elsewhere? I am interested in fish the same way I am interested in Star Wars. I love the movies but dont know the entire lore, so when someone shoots out a list of proper names for things I have to look things up.
I guess the way a newcomer to the hobby may see this as an advanced site with members that have a strong grasp on things and may not have anything to contribute. To break that barrier you could separate some sub groups dividing the new from the advanced allowing people a transition. I know I feel silly sometimes posting things knowing dang well I cannot speak at the level of many here.
Typing this from my phone sucks so I can expand later tonight.
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Post by bnoel210 on Jul 17, 2012 17:25:19 GMT -6
BAPS, more swap meets or get togethers, more activity on the forum, members knowing how money is being spent before its being spent, no more bold bumps, field trips ( doesnt have to be a fish room we go see but i like having people over my house to show my tanks and i only have 10 tanks), go to other clubs auctions together with other members. Ill stop there before i sound greedy lol.
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Post by charden on Jul 17, 2012 18:53:24 GMT -6
I am not trying to be a dick but seriously? We post this every other month but nothing ever happens...No offense but I would love to see this forum take off,,,but it never will if we dont generate interest. We have a handful of people that post out of all the members....We MUST find away to get other folks to participate....MY idea is we have a monthly raffle,,wether it be a tank or even a fish,,,something is better than nothing,,,I mean hell if i need to auction off a fish of my own to get something going I dont mind,,,but IMO this forum has become stale.
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Post by paddysdaddy on Jul 17, 2012 21:58:37 GMT -6
Charden, I wasn't aware this question has been asked often but I asked because I see a frustration among a couple of the club leaders about wondering what might spur the members and forum participants into action. My own frustration was seen at the swap, I was just amazed that the MCAA has many crucial things going for it and there is not a club with monthly meetings and more in the Nashville area.
What do you think will generate interest? A monthly raffle sounds good, my fear is a donated item would be picked up and no changes would be seen after that. What other ideas can you think of? Not to put you on the spot, you are one of the few that responded and thanks to everyone that has, but I think some great ideas have been posed, some have been implemented and here we are: still typing on a forum.
A DIY approach is great, I used those frequently in a club long ago when I was scheduling meeting presentations. This presumes a monthly meeting is taking place. It served as one part of the answer that got people to meetings. Other steps were a monthly bowl show, yes a BAP, collecting trips, road trips to other clubs, shows, fishrooms and farms. All of these are within the reach of the MCAA.
Jon said "I want activity and growth. I don't care how it happens." Same here. He mentioned 20-30 daily users and how many responses has this request for ideas generated? 5 or 6.
I agree this will become stale if it does not evolve into a physical club with monthly meetings.
How to get there is OUR challenge.
Let's hear from the other forum users.
Speak up or forever watch your fish alone and surf fish sites or youtube.
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Post by davidtcb1 on Jul 18, 2012 13:03:18 GMT -6
I'd like to see (and continue to see) a healthy group of like minded people who are energetic about the hobby, and a place where all levels of experience are equals. Not to single Tpindell out, but we shouldn't have people who feel they shouldn't post because their aquatic vocabulary isn't what someone else's is, etc. This is certainly something to work on....a more welcoming vibe.
I think more frequent meetings/get togethers, etc. will help a lot toward keeping people interested and active. At the end of the day, some people just can't post everyday. There has been a lot of talk lately about "this many views and only X amount of replies" but some people just have more or less time to devote to it than others. I'm out of town working right now and have popped onto this thread (each a separate "tick" on the count of viewers I'm assuming) several times in passing just to see responses, but am just now having the time to sit down and spend five minutes adding my two cents.
Everyone will have a different list of wants for the club based on their interests. I would like to see every forum user become a member of the club. Additionally, I think everyone who is an active participant and can do it should hold one of the board member spots at some point. A good healthy rotation there will be a great thing long term.
As Scott said above, we have the infrastructure to build something great and long lasting. We are attempting to make a relationship with the Nashville Zoo right now to accommodate a regular meeting spot and a place for aquatic-related trips, etc. Hopefully this will come through.
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Post by signde on Jul 18, 2012 21:46:00 GMT -6
i just like having a place to trade a few fish every now again. if there is one thing i've learned in 20 years of keeping fish it's that my interests change constantly and this forum/club has been a great conduit for that.
as for all this talk about how the club isn't big enough, not growing, or how it is going to die (like mike's comment the other day and now this thread) is really a bunch of noise to me. things are working out just fine for what i want.
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Post by paddysdaddy on Jul 18, 2012 22:08:08 GMT -6
^ thanks for the positive comment! Do you have any ideas on how to better the club or a way it can serve your desires better than it does now? Thanks!
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Post by jon carman on Jul 19, 2012 6:05:36 GMT -6
I think a lot of our problems are solved with more members- advertising!
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Post by davidtcb1 on Jul 19, 2012 13:01:00 GMT -6
More people will make things better. Getting them here is the number one goal. It will bring more activity on here, more sources for info and experience of all types, more sources for fish, dry goods, equipment, etc.
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Post by jgentry on Jul 20, 2012 20:45:39 GMT -6
What I would like to see from the club. Growth, 6 meetings a year with expert speakers, 2 auctions, BAP established.
I think in many ways the club got off to the wrong start with a huge set of by laws and tons of rules that are not needed. Another problem is that there are tons of forums these days. Several that have large sponsers that ship every kind of fish. This makes if very hard to get local trading and selling going. I use fry as feeders all of the time because I couldn't give them away if I wanted to. This area is pretty dead for SA/CA cichlids so there are few people with my interests to talk to and swap with. It also does not help that I have no free time at the moment to promote these types of fish with others in the area and help spread them around. There is pretty much only african keepers on this forum so that leave Me, Reagan, bgates and Scott to all trade fish around. Sure am glad they are around or I'd have no one with shared interests in this area.
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