MACNA XVIII - Houston

[GaryP]

Hello everybody,

MACNA in Houston is only 8 months away and I just thought I would get something started here so we could talk about it and get you thinking about it. I'd really like to support our sister club in Houston and the BOD has been talking to them about how we can help get the word out locally.

What I was thinking was what we might do to organize a trip there. Maybe organize a bus trip, or a car pool, get a group rate on a block of hotel rooms together, etc. I wanted to get your feed back and see if you were interested in getting something like this organized so that I could take it to the BOD and get their blessing.

Of course we don't have to do this as a group. We could do it individually but I thought a group trip might be fun. I also wanted to remind everyone about it so that you might be able to save a day of vacation so that we could go down on Friday and make a long weekend of it. That's not a requirement, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.

Here is their website in case you would like to check out the details:

http://www.macnaxviii.com/

[GaryP]

Here is a list of the speakers. If you have been in the hobby for very long you will recognize this as pretty much a who's who in the industry and hobby.

Steven Pro
Sandy Shoup
Frank Marini
Doug Weaver
Eric Borneman
Kelly Jedlicki
Anthony Calfo
J. Charles Delbeek
Larry Jackson
Barry Neigut
Bob Fenner
Fernando Nostratpour
Julian Sprung
Lee Goldman
Robert Di Marco
Roy Caldwell
Tom Goreau
Phillip G. Lee, Ph.D.
Rob Toonen
Sanjay Joshi

[Ping]

I have a 12 Pax, full sized van. Possibly a convoy / share fuels costs? I am marking my calendar.

[gjuarez]

Wow, what a lineup. I am definately going to make an effort to attend that one. I would love to hear what sanjay, delbeek, fenner and calfo have to say. Is this just one day or is it a full weekend?

[Isis]

Wow, what a lineup. I am definately going to make an effort to attend that one. I would love to hear what sanjay, delbeek, fenner and calfo have to say. Is this just one day or is it a full weekend?Oh man... that is one weekend. Anthony and Eric will be doing a fragging workshop that we know of, but we are woring out the details. We will also have one or two photo workshops from James Wiseman who is am excellant photographer, so make sure you bring your cameras. The workshops will have limited space, BTW. If you go to the MACNA site, some of the speakers have already sent me bio info and abstracts. I am still trying to get the rest from them but hopefully that will be soon.

Also, if you know of any vendors who aren't listed, please ask them if they are going and let them know you would like to see them there.

[TroyPham]

i'm going

[falcondob]

Gary, I am certainly up for a road trip. Count me in on whatever we do!
John

[Isis]

We are also trying to arrange group events for those who show interest, with about 10 people or more. Especially sporting events. If you h ave any special requests, please let us know so we can take them into consideration.

[NaCl_H2O]

Just 8 months ... I think I need to start building brownie points with the wife now!

[Isis]

Tell her to come along. The hotel is connected to the Galleria Mall. Bargain with her. She can go shopping while you are being a reef geek.

[GaryP]

Hmmmm... Take the wife along, bribe her with shopping, and have less money to spend on reef stuff. Not take the wife, have her mad at you, but have more money to spend on reef stuff.

This is simply an ethical quagmire. Whatever shall I do? I may need counseling. Anybody know a good reefer friendly marriage counselor?

[Isis]

Hmmmm... Take the wife along, bribe her with shopping, and have less money to spend on reef stuff. Not take the wife, have her mad at you, but have more money to spend on reef stuff.

This is simply an ethical quagmire. Whatever shall I do? I may need counseling. Anybody know a good reefer friendly marriage counselor?I like to look at the rewards of it all, then again... I will be working the whole time, unless I am at the bar.

[GaryP]

I like to look at the rewards of it all, then again... I will be working the whole time, unless I am at the bar.
Are you buying?

[Isis]

I like to look at the rewards of it all, then again... I will be working the whole time, unless I am at the bar.
Are you buying?Uh... god I hope not. I think I deserve a few bought for me at this point. :blink

[SBreef]

Well,

If I should happen to make, I would buy you one or two! :innocent

[Mrs.SB]

from SBreef
If I should happen to make, I would buy you one or two!


He would have to buy for me, too! I won't be left out! :) :)

[SBreef]

And I would!!! :wub

[NaCl_H2O]

And I would!!! :wub

Nice save :w00t

[miked78231]

if you guys get any more new info let me know. i think i might be kind of interested in an event like this. if you guys do decided to do the individual road trip thing then i will have to ask for a ride there and back.

[GaryP]

Mike,

Check the MACNA website for more info.

[Isis]

from SBreef
If I should happen to make, I would buy you one or two!


He would have to buy for me, too! I won't be left out! :) :) :D Don't worry, I will get my husband to buy you one, so we will be even. Actually, I think by the end of Thurs and thru Sun, I won't know who is buying drinks...

[hoho19]

What is a MACNA like? I might be interested and I could poke the wife into shopping all weekend, but I want to get some people's experiences first since I've never been to a MACNA or a Trade Show for that matter before. Thanks for the help!

Chris ~ Veteran geek, fish n00b.

[Isis]

What is a MACNA like? I might be interested and I could poke the wife into shopping all weekend, but I want to get some people's experiences first since I've never been to a MACNA or a Trade Show for that matter before. Thanks for the help!

Chris ~ Veteran geek, fish n00b.Basically, there are three days of speaker talking reefing and such. There are nights of hanging with your friends from online and the speakers at the hotel bar. Then there is the tradeshow hall that displays new equipment from various manufacturers, as well as new things from ones you don't know. Plus, there is always the hope of goods for sale, which there will be, at good prices. It really is a lot of fun.

[Isis]

If you go to MASNA, they always show old pics of past show. Also, there are raffles for really good items.