TANK TOUR

[rwilliams26]

A recent post really got my attention when Tim Marvin suggested a "Tour of Tanks" where members would have an opportunity to visit other member's homes, see their tanks and learn more about the way other people approach the hobby. There was some spirited feedback, all positive, but I think it might have been lost in a post that was really on a differnt subject.

Sooooo....I thought I'd try giving the idea a little more airplay and see if others find it as intriguing as my wife and I do!

There are some significant challenges to something like this...like the time it would take and the distances between the major cities in the club....but I still think we can pull it off, and have a LOT of fun in the process.

In addition to being a great learning and networking experience, a tour of tanks...reef crawl....or whatever we'd call it would also be a great way for the club to generate some additional revenue. Something similar to a "poker run", where a playing card would be "purchased" for a donation to the club might be fun. Members could also use the opportunity to work frag swaps. The tour would run for an entire afternoon/early evening and end with members gathering at a designated location to socialize and swap notes. Refreshments could be had along the route, donated by hosting members.

If this is an idea that others feel worthwhile, Jen and I will be glad to help work on the "list" of tour tanks, maps, and other logistical items. We're in Round Rock, so I guess, for OUR part at least, we'd like to see this start in the Austin/Round Rock/Cedar Park area. If successful, another tour could be scheduled soon after for San Antonio.

So, whaddayathink? Is this something that more than just a few of you would like to do? Let's hear some feedback! :grin:

[robertpower3]

I'd be more than happy to let evry one come see my tank and I would also be very interested in seeing every one else's tanks. i live in Cedar park. Let's get the details worked out and do this.

[::pete::]

It sure does sound interesting and would put all the focus on the tanks even if someone wanted to swap a few frags.

[R.Allard]

im in Kerrville but if ppl wanted to come by and see the tank i could fire up the BBQ in the back yard and we could all eat lunch at my house.
i have a bunch of whitetail and axis meat from last season i need to cook up... so if anyone is interested.....
ill cook lunch :-D
R.

[1salt]

dang!!! That's sounds like a plan!

I like the way you think. :-D

[robertpower3]

I would definately go for that :D

[Tim Marvin]

My thought was to break it up. It would require some work, but get everyones homes mapped out and start at say Jim D's place and move effeciently through town until you hit the farthest home. Probably Cedar park. Then the next meeting do the same thing in San Antonio. The whole group could start at house #1 and the next person can lead the pack to his/her home. We could carpool and hit a set amount of homes until we are done. This way the people allowing the viewing can also go from home to home. We would have to set a viewing time of say 30 minutes per tank. Just my thought.

[prof]

Has anyone ever done the Austin Pond tour? This year they split it into two days, North on Sat. and South on Sun. They sell tickets and the owner stays with their tank along with volunteers. It is open to the public and raises money for the Ausitn Pond Society.

Everyone gets a map and visits the different locations throughout the day (9-5). That way you can go at your own pace and visit just the sites you want to see.

We could do Austin one day and SA the next or even split it up more than that depending on the participation level. Invite the pulic and it would be a great hit for the coumminty of would be reefers.

Dave

[Jimnorris]

I think this is a GREAT idea! I'm in!
Jim

[Tim Marvin]

I'm in too.

[rwilliams26]

Okay....it seems we're getting the same kind of response to this idea we had earlier. So let's get this puppy rolling! I'm not sure when there will be another MAAST meeting in or around Austin, and if someone from the club wants to intervene with regard to scheduling this thing, just let me know, but I'll volunteer to coordinate this event (for the Austin area anyway).

How does Saturday, November 1st sound to everyone in the Austin area? If you are in the Austin area and you're willing to put your tank in the tour, drop in a reply, with contact information.

And if someone with MAAST responsibility wants to provide some feedback, or pull rank on coordination or something, I'm more than willing to oblige. I just want to do this thing.....soon! :grin:

SO.....let's do it! Who wants to show off their tanks?

[witecap4u]

I'd be down for this, as stated in the other post. I live about 25 miles east of the Austin airport, so im a little ways away from Austin, but if anyone is up for the drive, your more than welcome to stop by. I like the idea of each member riding along and leading to the next house, that way you would get to take part in both aspects of the tour.

[Lisaod12]

This sounds really fun, I live in South Austin and would welcome you guys to see my tanks. I would be very interested in seeing everyone elses.

Lisa

[Tim Marvin]

Good idea! I find my back yard pretty interesting if I do say so myself.

[MikeP]

We can include my house (townhouse actually) in the tour - november just may be enough time for me to get it cleaned up if I start now lol. I will have all 3 of my tanks available for perusal (the 215 uber reef, 46 gallon carribean biotope and 7 gallons of zoo madness!).

[Sherri]

If San Antonio gets set up for a tour...I'd be interested....

Sherri

[alexwolf]

im in, even though i currnently have a small tank.....

[rwilliams26]

I like Tim's idea of breaking things up geographically, but like the pond tours or parade of homes tours, it's also nice to give folks the flexibility to "come and go" on their own schedules. That being said, it would still be good to work it so that the "hosts" could get out and see some tanks too.

What if we were to divide the Austin metro area into three blocks; south, north/central and Round Rock/Cedar Park? We could then break the day into three "time blocks", and assign viewing opportunities by geographic location and time of day. For instance, we might find 4-6 tanks in South Austin for viewing, and would ask that folks went to see those tanks between 9:00 a.m. and Noon on tour day. Then they'd be able to view the setups in Central/North Austin from Noon to 3:00, and wind up in Round Rock/Cedar Park.

I was also thinking it would be great if we might all gather at the end of the day at a local tavern/restaurant to socialize, award prizes from the day's games, and do some club business. We can reserve tables or a room at several area establishments at no charge. I'd be happy to look into this if there's enough interest.

Thoughts? :grin:

[RedDragon]

I am in for i guess my house would be after JimD's home I only live about 5 mins from Jim,hehe, :-D

[fuzz]

Count me in also. My new house is in central Austin, right around the corner from Aquatek. I have a 75 gallon mixed reef in the house and a live rock aquaculture setup in the garage.

-Greg

-

[ratboy]

I'd love to have people over to see my tanks. Im in S. Austin (near the Y in Oak Hill) and have a 90 reef, 45 FOWLR, and a 300 gal rock tank in the garage. Nov 1 sounds good to me. The idea of selling tickets to the tank tour for a MAAST fundraiser is a good idea too. If local fish stores advertized this they could get people interested in reef aquariums (new customer base) and we could do some pre-emptive education.

[Tim Marvin]

Set it up Ron.

[DeletedAccount]

Are we planning this for the scheduled November meeting? I don't want to plan something else if it is.... This sounds like a wonderful idea! If I were a host, I would be really bummed if I were tied to my house and could not see the other tanks, though!

[rwilliams26]

Informally or not, I've already volunteered to organize this thing, so I guess things move forward from here: We will be shooting for Saturday, November 1st. Unless somehow vetoed by the group, I'll be more than happy to serve as the point of contact for our little Austin area roadshow.

NOW.....Anyone in the Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park area that is interested in becoming a host location, please e-mail me with your name, address, phone number, e-mail information and any ideas/thoughts you might have. I want to get this off of a discussion board and into the planning phase (to avoid getting bogged down with "too many cooks in the kitchen", as it were). The San Antonio folks can learn from our attempt and then do things similarly or differently as individuals see fit. ;)

My e-mail address is: rwilliams26@austin.rr.com
My home phone number is: 512-733-5677
My cell number is: 512-560-0899

I will need to do some coordination with someone in a position of representation for the club, as we'll want to coordinate the solicitation of donations for any drawings or prizes that might be awarded as a result of games or raffles that might be conducted in association with the tour. 8) Anyone in particular that I should speak with regarding this?

I'll post progress reports on the board, along with any deadlines for host addresses, etc...

Thanks. Call or e-mail me if you have any other thoughts on the tour.
:grin:

[Lisaod12]

I think is excellant and if we plan it the way Tim and RWilliams26 suggest, everyone should get a chance to see everyone else's tank.

Do a different meeting by region I also think is excellent!

Let me know and I'll get some snacks and soda's for those who decide to stop in and see my tanks.
Lisa

[Sherri]

Josh...Chris...Misti...if you need any help...let me know.

I'm an ex-executive secretary & can type! :-D

Sherri