MACNA 2006

[DeletedAccount]

Well, last night was the MACNA Board meeting to choose the host for the 2006 MACNA Convention.

I am very happy to report that the bid was awarded to MARSH, our Houston friends. I am very excited that the convention will be close enough that we will be able to get a large MAAST contingent to go. I believe that will be a big boost in future bids.

MAAST will keep building resources and knowledge so that we will be able to host a future meeting in San Antonio. Unfortunately, we just have a little more growing to do first.

(On a side note, MARSH lost to DC last year and got it this year, so this was not a total loss. We still have a future chance.)

If you have time, pop by MARSHreef and congratulate them.

Misti

[DeAngelove]

Thanks Misti! ;) I am so excited to hear its coming close to us, even if we didn't win the bid! :) I was actually thinking about going to DC this Fall and checking it out, myself! Its good to know that we still have a chance @ getting them to come closer to home, as well. :D Anywho.... thanks for the update!

Regards,
DAB

[NaCl_H2O]

Great to hear it will be so close! Thanks to the BOD for the work associated with putting in our bid.

Here is an idea: Would the MARSH folks be willing to let one of our MAAST folks help in their preparations, or at least attend their planning meetings? Might be some good experience, and could help us win next time.

Second part is, does anyone in MAAST have time for this level of participation??

[DeletedAccount]

The thing that will help us win next time will be having more dedicated funds and hosting more speakers. This is where our weaknesses were. I was "grilled" by the MASNA board on those two issues the most. The main thing we can do to win the bid next time is to strengthen our club from the inside.

[Sherri]

Wow, Misti....that's great news. Would be a great "group" trip to attend...We could learn a lot and enjoy ourselves at the same time. Thanks for the update. Happy for MARSH.

[StephenA]

Great News!

[falcam7]

Misti,

That is great news,

I know, I am going. You can count me in.

Tanks, :D :D :D

[GaryP]

That sure makes it a lot easier for us to send representatives to the 2006 meeting, which is a requirement for the 2007 bid.

On the negative side, do you think there is a problem with them granting a bid to two cities so close together in consecutive years? I am thinking probably not since the last 3 years have all been in Eastern States (Louisville, Boston, DC).

[DeletedAccount]

We just had one in Dallas a few years ago. I am sure we are out for 2007, but we can try. More than likely 2008 would be a better shot.

[GaryP]

Misti,

Speaking for the rest of the membership, I'd like to thank you for all your hard work on the bid and its preparation. We can consider this as a dry run and a definite learning experience.

[Isis]

Hi Misti!! I know you guys probably worked really hard on putting your bid together, and the MASNA group was definitely torn between us both. The funny thing is that either way they would have ended up in TX!!!

We are finalizing the committees with all their duties, and I feel that we will do the best that Houston has to offer.

As for MAAST (and all other MARSHians) helping out, when we get our selves straightened (we are still a little frazzled from last night's drilling) we will be soliciting volunteers who can committ in the areas we need. We will keep you posted, or at least Misti can have the inside scoop, or you can browse our website for details.

I am sure we will be offering discounted tickets to our fellow MAASTians and DFWMASians.

I don't know if MACNA will be held in TX two years in a row, but at least by the time you guys submit a bid, we will be nearby to help.

I am so excited!!!

[GaryP]

Kim,

Please extend our congratulations to the MARSH BOD. Good luck and let us know what we can do to help.

[Isis]

Kim,

Please extend our congratulations to the MARSH BOD. Good luck and let us know what we can do to help.

Any donations of valium or prozac would be greatly appreaciated... :lol

We will keep you guys posted..

[GaryP]

Any donations of valium or prozac would be greatly appreaciated...

Maybe that would be a good topic for MACNA. The sedative powers of reef keeping. You got any reefer shrinks in Houston?

OK, how about new pharmaceuticals from invertebrates?

[DeletedAccount]

I have some Prozac if you start having probs........

[captexas]

Great to hear it will be nearby, definately think a group trip is an excellent idea. :) Besides just giving our members a chance to attend the conference, it's a great opportunity for the MAAST BOD to get a close up look at what is involved in organizing one so that when we do host MACNA, we are even better prepared.

[MikeDeL]

What exactly is MACNA? Im sure it has something to do with saltwater..... and fish..... and corals..... and aquariums. But what? LOL

[DeletedAccount]

Marine Aquarists Convention of North America

It is the largest marine convention in N. America. Brings awesome speakers, all the best, great vendors, and great folks. It is worth going to if you are ever free for it.

[MikeDeL]

Sounds like a good place for me to spend more money.

[Isis]

Sounds like a good place for me to spend more money.

The cool thing is the wholesalers, retailers, and such all bring stuff to "advertise" and sell. You will see tons of frags, fish, tanks, misc things that you can get at most stores and usually at a fraction of the cost. There are demonstrations, displays from the various magazines... Man, it is like a kid in a candy store.

It is well worth the 3 day pass to see, learn and meet the people wrote the books you have read. Heck, the one in Dallas, I brought ALL my reef books, just in case so I could get the authors to sign them. I got Bob Fenner, Anthony Calfo, Scott Michaels, Steven Pro... maybe a few others, but I can't remember. Man, I can't wait to start emailing and calling these guys to participate!!! (Yet bet I signed up for that job!!)

[leaffish75]

does MACNA have a website?

[Chris]

http://www.masna.org/

http://www.macnaxvii.com/

Congrats to MARSH on winning the bid. ^_^

[DeAngelove]

Congrats to MARSH! :) It will be great to see an upclose and personal "behind the scenes" view of MACNA... imo! ;) I'll be on the list to help out as well. :)

Regards,
DAB

[Jenn]

I may have overlooked this, but are there exact dates of this conference posted yet?

[Isis]

I may have overlooked this, but are there exact dates of this conference posted yet?We haven't finalized it yet, but we will post it as soon as we know.

[ScubaDog]

Congradulations Marsh on bring the confrence closer to home! I so badly wanted to make it to DC this ysr, but due to the distance its just physcialy and fiancially impossible, Im sure I will be bringing with me a group of Arkansas Reefers with me as well from RazorbackReef....and MAAST best of luck on on your next bid, We at RazorbackReef are pulling for ya!

[Isis]

I may have overlooked this, but are there exact dates of this conference posted yet?

Sept 22-24

Westin Galleria is where we will be staying, and pretty much have the whole hotel to ourselves!! As soon as this year's starts, we will activate our site when we get back.

[Isis]

The site is live!!! Check out www.macnaxviii.com

[::pete::]

It looks great!

Do you have a banner made for the site?

[Isis]

It looks great!

Do you have a banner made for the site?Yup...here is the link.

http://www.macnaxviii.com/banners/

We have already sold about a quarter of the booths. I have several speakers tentatively lined up and there have be several committments of sponsorships as well.

[Sherri]

How exciting Kim! It looks great! :)

[Isis]

Thanks... Shane worked hard, please feel free to register on the forum site and ask questions there. Can't wait to see you all there!!!

[Isis]

Please check out the MACNA site to see the latest list of speakers and vendors...

[Isis]

We added more speakers today....