Question for charter members

[gjuarez]

My fellow charters, what is it that inspired you to become a charter member? Why did you pay?

I will go first. I payed my dues because I really appreciated all the info and all the things I learned from here. I didnt need to become a charter member for that, I did it because I wanted to contribute to the organization, and help it grow. In addition, I also liked the maast discount I got at some of the LFS. Maast has helped me save a lot of money and time. I have more reasons but I want to hear yours.

I have read many of ysome of you guy's posts and I am not totally convinced that many of you beleive in the organization and where its headed. Is that the case? Please state the reasons why you joined, gives us a little bit more info.

[alton]

I like the interaction between store owners and members. It is not this giant organization that you are member #10,000. The first meeting I went to was at someones home and it was like everyone knew everyone. I know some want it to grow to this large group of fish members and we all know one day it will, but for me I am enjoying it today just the way it is.

[TexasTodd]

Easy, I felt I owed it to the club. I save THOUSANDS of dollars through the club. A few dollars on discounts....but the majority is from doing things correctly with good advice, instead of killing expensive animals or breaking---or purchasing the wrong equipment.

I usually get the fee back just with the LFS discounts in the first month or two of the year!

:)

TT

[Bill S]

I joined up pretty soon after I found the place. Todd did a "nudge" on folks, so I sent in my $25. As it's my "job" to be the one doing the nudging on a couple of car club sites I administer, it's easy to get me feeling guilty!

As the administrator on those sites, about once a quarter I send out a nice email note to all who have over 25 posts and aren't members, inviting them to join. I usually works pretty well. Of course, those sites save folks hundreds/thousands of dollars at a pop.

[brieman]

I was referred to Maast by someone I bumped into at one of the lfs'. I'm sure some remember him Smelleybrad. I registered and started reading the forums. Started seeing some mistakes I was making and other things I could improve on.
After about a month I reliazed this was a great site with a lot of people willing to help a lot of people. Then I felt I should pay dues mainly because the reef addiction was thickening in my veins. So I payed the dues and am glad I did. Started going to meetings I could and meeting people is great.
Wish there was more I could do to help out, ie Bod, Mod but my hours at work just wont allow for it.

Many Thanks to those that have helped me and whom will help in the future
Brian

[falcondob]

I came to the site to find out more about husbandry. I became a member because I feel that to be a true member you need to have a vested interest. I have always received my money back many times over in discounts, prizes, advice, DIY equipment, "For Sale/Trade" forum, and comraderie.

As long as the club exists, I will be a Charter Member.

[Jimnorris]

I gave and give money, corals, clams, ideas, experiences and more not for any discounts but for MAAST. I beleive in the foundation of MAAST as I see it. That is to help people learn about our great hobby. I know for a fact that this is happening. Because after all these years of keeping a reef---I continue to learn from my friends at MAAST. This learning for me is like being a kid on Christmas day.
Thanks,
Jim

[falcondob]

I gave and give money, corals, clams, ideas, experiences and more not for any discounts but for MAAST. I beleive in the foundation of MAAST as I see it. That is to help people learn about our great hobby. I know for a fact that this is happening. Because after all these years of keeping a reef---I continue to learn from my friends at MAAST. This learning for me is like being a kid on Christmas day.
Thanks,
Jim

I am going to second what Jim said. There are so many people that get into this hobby, spend a lot of money, kill some things, and then get out. It would be great if MAAST could become the gateway to Marine/Reef Aquariums for South Texas. Help new aquarists, guide them, and keep them in the hobby as much as possible. That is good for the hobby and the vendors.

I am working with Gary P. to develop a Mentor program to address that very issue.

This IS the foundation and goal of MAAST.

[thedude]

I found this webiste and less than a month later, attended my first meeting and payed my first set of dues. I wanted to become involved in the local reefing community and this seemed like the perfect way to do it. Then with all the other added bonuses that MAAST has given me, I see no reason for anyone to not pay the measly 25 bone fee.

[hobogato]

i did it for the avatar :P :w00t

seriously tho, i paid because i felt like i should since the advice and opportunies offered here are so beneficial. unfortunately, that sense of "i did it because it was the right thing to do" is not very common anymore.

[duc]

I will admit I have learned a lot from this site and bought and sold a few things, that said the honest reason I joined is because of the discount. A LFS pointed the site out to me and told me about the discount, I joined and made back the $25+ the first purchase and I have been saving money since. Wife and I delayed renewing this year because we figured we wouldn't save $25 this year, weighed it out and thought we would come close enough to make it worth while.

Short answer to save money.
Clif

[Shark_Bait]

Easy, I felt I owed it to the club. I save THOUSANDS of dollars through the club. A few dollars on discounts....but the majority is from doing things correctly with good advice, instead of killing expensive animals or breaking---or purchasing the wrong equipment.

Ditto for me

[Darth-Tater]

Me I joined right after I found the place. I have learned a whole lot of stuff. My first salt water tank was 28 yrs ago. No knowledge on what to do or how to do it. Now I have a place to ask questions. I joined because it cost money to run a decent website. It is easy to say that it can be done cheaper and we are hurting the web members. What is so wrong with paying $25.00 to join. I bet many of our web members spend that on beer for a weekend or maybe a few recreational items that are not mentioned. :o Heck you can't even fill your car up with gas for $25.00.


David

[brewercm]

I wanted cheap stuff. :P

Actually a guy named Ives that works at TX Tropical turned me onto this site back when I was changing my fish only with LR tank over to a reef. He mentioned the great people here with experience etc. etc. I haven't seen him on here in a long time but know he still works at TX Tropical, at least he did a couple of months ago.

I got such great responses from the folks on here which are some of the oldies (not age :D ) and no one saying those are stupid questions. I made lots of friends and met a lot more sense then. I don't remember when the whole dues things started or when I started paying I just remember that I did.

[gjuarez]

I hadnt looked at this thread since I started it but these are all great answers. THe objective of the thread is to let web members know some of the reasons why this club is so great and why it is worth investing the $25.

[NaCl_H2O]

Moved from "Charter's Forum" to "General Reefkeeping" per Jerry's request

[MattK]

I paid my $25 bucks because I felt it would be worth it in the long run. I started my tank the right way by doing tons of research before my tank even saw water. So, the discount was the major reason. I wanted to sign up in August but waited until October (I think) so it would include the next years dues also. Maybe that's a idea, year-to-date membership?

[cbianco]

This is my first post regarding this subject matter...


My fellow charters, what is it that inspired you to become a charter member? Why did you pay?

I came to MAAST disenfranchised from another (actually couple) of reef sites. As a newbie I was harrassed (at other reef sites) even when I knew what I was talking about. Appearently, if you don't know everything, you are worth nothing.

MAASTards were friendly and inviting, so I decided to stay.


I have read many of ysome of you guy's posts and I am not totally convinced that many of you beleive in the organization and where its headed. Is that the case? Please state the reasons why you joined, gives us a little bit more info.

I enjoy posting on MAAST and I enjoy talking with other members. As of lately the MAAST website has been less inviting due to all the bickering that is going on. Right now it seems as if there is a dozen threads going on about the same subject (SUBJECT: Do you like MAAST? lol). The debating is getting old. If we are trully tying to pull in new members, trust me the arguing is not going to help.

Can we just get back to being the old MAAST I grew to know and love :wub !

Christopher

[Jeff]

i was reading the post on here for about 2 or 3 months and had decided it was time to become a member and actually participate with the club.as a web member i didnt feel right about getting all the information and meetings and meeting people without helping out and paying the dues to help with meetings and speaker engagements.

[hoho19]

I joined for the following reason: I could search the forums.

I was interested in the reef hobby and wanted to learn all about it. Reefcentral was good and there was a lot of good advice and topics especially the DIY stuff. The only problem was that once I saw something that I wasn't sure of I couldn't search to find more information on it. That was frustrating. I finally found MAAST's website and I could search to find answers that I needed.

I have always enjoyed clubs and after graduating college most of my friends left San Antonio and I didn't have a lot of people to hang out with. MAAST fit the bill really well and I have enjoyed learning from knowledgeable people. Plus asking someone a question and getting a good answer is a million times better than finding an answer online that may or may not be the greatest advice.

Plus the fact that I won an RODI unit my at my first meeting was freaking awesome!