Reef Tour Suggestions for 2008

I would like to comment on #5 of Carlso63's list.  I like the idea of extending the tour times, however I feel some people might not want to commit that much time to the tour.  Would it be possible to add something to the booklet that states "Tours times range from 9AM to 8PM." then each home could list its own hours.  If they don't want to open until 10 or 11AM, that's fine.. If they want to close up their homes at 4PM, that's fine also. 

I personally would rather see many smaller reef tours throughout the year, or even on different weekends of the same month.  Then you could have an east side SLC, west side SLC, UT county and Davis County.  Attendance would go way up just from club members.  We are, after all, the one's most interested in seeing all those beautiful tanks.  I hardly ever make it to SLC, but if I knew I could see a dozen tanks in SLC in one afternoon, I'd schedule myself out.

I also like Bob's suggestion about sponsoring a tank give away for non-members only.  They could enter 1 entry for each house visited, and those could be collected at each stop and submitted at the next meeting and a winner drawn.

I like the idea of different areas on different days but I don't know if we could support more that 3 areas, 4 if we could get enough people in Southern Utah to open their homes. I'm guessing it would take 5 or 6 to get a number of people to make the drive. I could see North, Salt lake area, Utah County and Southern Utah.

I would like to see a map made on google maps with all the locations placed on there, with the info of each location (address, name, tank description, directions) put on the map. It is easy to do, and it allows people to see exactly where all the locations are so they can better plan their trip.

The biggest one for us down here was the choice of weekends. Please, please, please choose a weekend in September and please do consult with the MB when choosing a date so that everyone can check to see if it conflicts with something else that would significantly detract from the event.

I agree about the choice of weekends. 

I also think that the separate tours is a great idea, simply because so many of us have expressed interest in wanting to see others' tanks on the reef tour but can't because we're on the reef tour.

Earlier in the year is also a good idea because the chance for inclement weather rises as fall keeps going.

About the hours: Does anyone keep data on when 'peak' hours are?  Can we empirically take a stab or just think it through?  If we could target the peak hours that would probably help those who feel like they have to be on the tour for 12 hours.  I also think (no offense) that the individual hour times is a bad idea because it makes people have to work extra to plan which houses they're going to.  This is kind of a strange thing from an outsider's perspective-- just showing up at someone's door and asking to be let in.  The easier we make it on people the more likely they'll come.  I like the idea of keeping it at a good solid block, earlier or later is indifferent to me.  If you can't meet that time as a guest house on the tour, then don't worry about it and don't kill yourself to try to.

This was my first time on the tour.  If I'm still in Utah next year, I'll likely do it again.

I think that depending on the number of tanks on the tour, it is impossible to see them all in one day.  Even in Salt Lake County. I was only able to see about half of the ones listed.  I think a map with the houses listed would also help.  Make it a two day event and give the people who are willing to show their tanks the option to whether they are willing to show their tanks on Sunday.  If not then those are the houses you would need to see on Saturday.  Different weekends might work better also, for North Utah and those South of Salt Lake County.  Salt Lake County could also be divided to East Salt Lake County and West Salt Lake County on separate weekends.  Maybe that would just be too crazy though and doing it on one weekend might be better.

Jake: I would be hesitant to act in the name of the club without being in the presidency.  Would an act of that nature be kosher?  Getting the word out any which way possible (besides hostage situations, obviously...  )

By the by, I'm not too bad with computer graphics.  I think next year I'll volunteer to help the maps.  I had some good ideas but was just too busy to implement them.  If Mrs. Rogers and I around next year, count me in for helping out.

That would have worked for me and possibly others. I understand you want to see lots of tanks but we (as you do too) like to show off our tanks and I would have enjoyed talking to all of you longer.