Hi club.

Well I've had this idea for a while, and Jake has as well.  The other day we were discussing an idea of holding our own aquarium mini-conference here in Salt Lake.  Neither of us feel that our club is capable of hosting MACNA or IMAC or something like that.  But seeing the things I've seen recently, and knowing how much I learned at the past few conferences, I would really like to see our whole club attend these types of things.

So our (Jake and I) idea is to have a one conference.  Like a Saturday in February where we bring in around 4 speakers.  One lecture on corals, one on fish, one on inverts, and one one tank setups.  Then after each speaker there is a long open forum/question answer type of thing. 

So it would be a one day long meeting basically.  We would have to charge around $20 per person non club members, and $10 per person for club members.  Before we take this to a presidency meeting and hash it out, I thought we should check and see if there is any interest, or if people would rather see one speaker per month, like we do now.

Adam

I would guess in a hotel.  I never thought otherwise but since we put speakers in a hotel most conferences are in hotels. 

But just trying to get a general feel for now.  Would 20 people come, or 120 people.

Adam

I would definately be there.  And...Like Mark I would put money on over 100 people in attendance. 

Would this be something the club would try to advertise even outside our area for people to come to Salt Lake and attened similarly to MACNA or IMAC?

I love the idea!  Kind of a Rocky Mountain Symposium.  We could invite the boise and denver clubs too...

Will and Jon,

That is exactly what I was thinking.  Jon even guessed the name I had thought of for the event.  I don't think we'd get people from far away, but I was thinking we would invite Rocky Mountain Reefers, BoiseReefs and Las Vegas Aquarium Society.  I don't know if many or any of them would come but we'd invite them.  I'm really dissapointed with the turnouts at IMAC and MACNA, so I doubt they would come here, but worth a try. 

It's hard for people to see the value in conferences.  I can see lots of people coming for a half day or for one presentation, but for a 4 speaker all day thing, I wonder how many local SLC people would really be interested in this idea.

Adam 

I think there would be more interested parties in a regional conference over a national one.  I'm pretty sure I could talk my wife into driving to Boise or Vegas and spending the weekend (if only one day were consumed by meetings).  Maybe if the other local clubs found this interesting we could rotate the meeting yearly... or screw 'em and have it in SLC every year .  Either way, I would attend.

Jon,

There use to be that exact thing.  It was called the Western Aquarium Conference (WAC) and it rotated clubs yearly.  It eventually faltered (after like 5 conferences or so).  I'm not really sure why it failed because the last conference was like in Seattle around 1996 and I can't remember what all happened.   

But even if no one else showed up, as long our club had a large showing it would be okay. 

Adam

Count me in too!

BTW, Adam, I used to run an archery club in Malad, Idaho.  With "special" events, we would get people from as far south as PHX, as far north as, well, Idaho (Caldwell area), as far west as CA, and from back east as far as AR.  We did not get many from down south though!

I think you'd get 120+ with just a little advertising!

I think it would be a great idea. First the reef tour - then the RMS (Rocky Mountain Symposium). Go WMAS!

I think it would be great to get some speakers in here to do something like this. I for one dont think that I will ever be able to 1) afford to go to IMAC or MACNA and 2) Ever be able to talk my wife into going to IMAC or MACNA. So the next best thing would be something local! I love the idea.

jfinch wrote: I'm pretty sure I could talk my wife into driving to Boise or Vegas and spending the weekend (if only one day were consumed by meetings).

Really?  You think so?

I just asked my wife just now if she wanted to go to a conference with me in Boise..... she thought I was nuts.  Boise???  She just asked me "what would I do there?".  I feel that way about most local conferences, which is why we are discussing this. 

However, it isn't hard to talk my wife into going with me to conferences in big cities that's for sure..

Adam

Yes we did get some great stuff for the BBQ and with Diana doing PR I feel very confident in our future endevours.  Actually, this whole topic was something I shyed away from for many years.  But now..... well I'm seriously considering heading this up.

Adam

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Bringing back this thread

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So would you rather have a one day conference with 10 half our presentations from 10 people, or would you rather have 5 one hour presentations from 5 people. 

Adam

Kirk had a great format for the seminars. Keep it under 45 minutes each speaker. Anything beyond that and it gets rather boring.

You can also invite vendors to set up outside of the meeting rooms and allow enough breaks in the general area for the conferencees to visit those booths and speak with the vendors. You can also do this around a lunch. Then, you can also charge a booth registration fee to help pay the cost or whatever.

Karl hit the nail on the head.  If the vendors are going to be present then they will really push the event in their stores. 

This may have the "unfortunate side effect" of adding more hobbists to the WMAS. (I think the idea is great.) Now Karl don't come down on me for getting too mushy, but can we stay away from Valentines Day? 

I will third the motion on a 45 minute rotation with 15 minute breaks.

Maybe the five or six closest members could even be set up for a mini reef tour after the event?

15 min breaks?  we don't need no stinking breaks!

Richard L. wrote:   Now Karl don't come down on me for getting too mushy...

I won't... but I WILL kick your butt for spelling my name with a K!!!!!!!

jfinch wrote: 15 min breaks?  we don't need no stinking breaks!

OK, now it's 20 min breaks... wanna go for 25? Watch your mouth tough guy! You just keep talkin'! Maybe we'll go for 30, how would you like that? Oh, ok... NOW THE ENTIRE FRIGGIN CONFERENCE WILL BE ONE BIG BREAK... HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?

"C", I'm sorry. 

Ya gotta catch me first. 

And I 'm almost as fast as Suzy, as . . . well ok you win!

7 presenters for 45 minutes with 15 or 20 minute breaks sounds good to me.  As an instructor, I find myself swamped with questions during the break and for a while after class.  Depends on the subject, of course - but I have seen that happen with our presenters this year. 

I am going to play devils advocate here .. Why because Carl did not .. My disclaimer: I would still go & I would still pay if I couldnt go...... Now I will move on.. Oh & whatever Adam said....

Why do we need to have an all day conference when we already do this at each meeting? Those who have a true interest in this hobby, attend every meeting anyway hoping to bring home some new piece of information, meet a new member they have been chatting with on the board, or pick up rotifers. can you say GEEKS... ( Note: I have been to every meeting since my first  Jake, please change my name to the Queen of Greekdom.....

Anyway, my point. I like the frag meeting the least as the people attending doubles. Not because they want to do the above BUT because they want a cheap piece of coral and have no real interest in that kind, how to care for it, etc. But it was only 5 bucks.... Did you notice not one person who was not a regular at the meeting, bided at the auction??? OR has been on the board to comment on it....

Why would we do a day long meeting? Is it to raise awareness or our members or to raise money?? I think the members do a wonderful job of researching subjects to get the accurate and complete answers of other members already. As for the money... Dues are WAY to low.... Increase the membership fees...

I think that Adam, Jake, Shane, Mark, just to name a few do a great job on the monthly meeting. You try to find interests of members and keep if fun for all.....

I don't think that the a conference will stir up too much local interest in the club.

However, I think that it might for WMAS on a national level as well as for TLP on a more local level (not really directly but it might indirectly). Also, the conference could bring people to the area from neighboring states that may not have a local club to get information from.

First meeting I was able to attend was the frag meeting, and I was late so I was clueless as to what was going on for just about all but the demonstrations and didn't feel it was right to comment on anything. Sadly it looks like my next meeting that I'll be in state for is in Dec....hopefully.

Hi all,

You will figure out very soon (if you havn't already) that I have a very red personality.  I'm a manager and a planner.  It seems to me that we have determined:

1.  This conference would be attended if we put it on.

2.  There needs to be classes that appeal to everyone - approximately 45 minutes in length.

3.  We want to hold it at a local hotel in conference rooms with food possibly so there is going to have to be a fee, there is no way around it.

4.  We want to market it to all the reefers (no not pot smokers ) in the world so there needs to be some sort of marketing plan.

So Adam...where do we go from here?    Do we need a planning committee? I'm teaching at the University of Phoenix on the next meeting night so I won't be able to attend.  I would be willing to assist if necessary.  I'm a good planner but marketing is not my thing.   Let's go for it!    Susan

Presidency met last night and discussed this.  I'll get back to everyone... oh probably mid next week.

Adam

How funny this came up again today.... the possibility of doing this made huge strides today.  Next 3 days should be very enlightening.

Adam

Adam, you are being a tease again....  no fair!

Renee

Adam Blundell wrote: How funny this came up again today.... the possibility of doing this made huge strides today.  Next 3 days should be very enlightening. Adam

Have not heard anything about this since September 3rd . . . .Any updates Adam?

Ummm, sort of.  Goodness, not sure what to say. 
Basically if a few local fish stores offered to pay $1,000 each we could easily do this.... and so far a couple have agreed.  The key is what about just a couple more. 

Working on that.  In fact today I went over part of this with a pres member to get more insight.

Adam