What would you like?

[BIGBIRD123]

We are trying to make the meetings a little spicier. We would like to have suggestions for raffle and door prizes. Tell us what type of things you would like to win. Please keep these suggestions within reason.

Thanks,

Steve

[NaCl_H2O]

Ice cold Corona :D

Seriously, I think we should go for commonly used consumable goods as door prizes - stuff everyone needs on a regular basis.

Buckets of Salt
Packages of Nori
PE Mysis flatpacks
Calcium Hydroxide

BTW - Corona IS a commonly used consumable item ;)

[josephatmbimortgage]

fragging tool kits are alway needed. Some very rare coral frags , and two 400 watt e-ballast..lol <-- Need them so please make it happen, lol
B-ionic gallon jugs and iodine quart jugs too, trace element quart jugs too, new reef flux 14K 250 Metal halide SE.

-Joseph

[prof]

Is alcohol against club policies?

[NaCl_H2O]

Is alcohol against club policies?
Yes, and I know that - it's just fun pokeing 'em from the "Other Side" :innocent

[josephatmbimortgage]

How about happy hour gift card to Trudy's...lol???????? Or a bootle so we can take it home rather than drinking at the meetings, lol

-Joseph

[MattK]

Test kits are always nice.

Those fragging tool kit looked pretty cool from the pictures.

[Ping]

I agree with Matt. Test kits. Ca, Alk, Mg.

[apedroza]

I want fragging kits.

[Darth-Tater]

All of the above suggestions are nice. Salt and test kits sound really good. You could even give away a visit from an established reefer to someone's house to help evaluate the tank and give some tips on care and which direction to go in.

DT

[caferacermike]

Man that would be great. I've been trying to get some of you "super reefers" over to my place to tell me what the status, or crapus, of my tank really is. Until I get some feedback I'm only guessing. So a door prize of someones time and knowledge could come in very handy.

I think it might be an appropriate time to have a demonstration about tank temps. I've seen a lot of folks lately wanting chillers but having a muddled idea of how they really work. So a workshop on controllers for heaters and chillers including redundant backups might be a nice workshop. An explanation of how chillers don't actually "chill" the water but strip the heat away. Guidance on what appropriate tank temps are as I've seen the range from about 74F to 86F as advice, talks about how O2 loses it saturation above X temp and causes respiratory issues and advanced metabolism, how to safely use heaters, the use of fans to encourage evaporation, why your tank is hotter between Feb and May then between June and Sept, etc...

Free stuff? I think consumables would be great. How about contacting the chemical suppliers and asking for a pro pack of tank maintenance. Something like SeaChem offering up a reef dip, reef plus, reef complete, reef mag, ALK, and some test kits. Once one company dishes up, use it as leverage against the rest. Imagine telling the Kent rep that Seachem donated a box of goodies to one reefer and they've had only great things to say about the products, I'm sure they would want to get their products out. What if part of the winnings asked that the winner provide feedback of the products? I know I went to a bike rally once where I was overwhelmed by how much swag was donated. One of the ideas that had really produced for the organizers was taking a picture of the prize with the winner being sent back to the donor/sponsor as proof it actually happened. Imagine having the ability to try working with an entire line of fresh supplements all from one company. You could really judge the quality that way. On the same line, I once went to an after hours meeting at the Dome that was put together by the Seachem rep. He gave a 1 hour talk about why Seachem is "the best". Had some really convincing words and was able to help the room of reefers understand the terms and meanings much more clearly. Seachem then offered to send a sample back (full size bottle) of your choice of any product they offered. That really helped steer me away from Kent products.

Sorry it's early and I'm rambling.

[BIGBIRD123]

Sorry it's early and I'm rambling.

So what's new.......?


LMAO!

Steve

[prof]

Is alcohol against club policies?

That was a serious question. I am hosting the Nov. meeting and was thinking of running the meeting similar to a party. The idea being, to bring everyone together to socialize along with the meeting. I think we could bring in more people and have more fun if the meeting topic is the only thing happening.

[caferacermike]

Dave many would agree with you but the guidelines state a family oriented forum= family oriented meetings.

[captexas]

Back when I was on the BOD a few years ago, I think we discussed the alcohol issue and it was decided best for the club not to sponsor any event that had it due to possible legal issues (minors, DWIs, etc.). If members chose to do something afterwards or hold their own get together then it was ok as it was their doing, not the clubs. I do believe people have had a few get togethers at a bar/restaurant after meetings to socialize.

[prof]

Thanks. Thoose were the answers I was looking for.

[erikharrison]

Is alcohol against club policies?

That was a serious question. I am hosting the Nov. meeting and was thinking of running the meeting similar to a party. The idea being, to bring everyone together to socialize along with the meeting. I think we could bring in more people and have more fun if the meeting topic is the only thing happening.


I think there should be some more "mixer" type events, where it's just adults, so we can have some time to enjoy each other's company without our kids running around all bananas. That's why you haven't seen us with the kiddo. well here's an example of crazy....
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9295/cutevz3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[LoneStar]

More Deltec :)

[tomanero]

Want to make the raffle more interesting?
Hold the raffle where each winner in succession gets to chose either from what is left...
or what has already been chosen. If you take something from someone that they already chose, they get to chose something different from what's left. Makes the last winner more important than the first.
Keeps everyone paying attention.

[MattK]

You're cruel :lol but it would definitely spice it up.

[caferacermike]

You mean white elephant? That'd be outright cruel. You bet your arse when I grab that Deltec 902 skimmer I'm headed for the door. Good luck taking that from me.

[LoneStar]

You bet your arse when I grab that Deltec 902 skimmer I'm headed for the door. Good luck taking that from me.

From my cold dead hands!!!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/LoneStarSA/deltecfunny.jpg

[Richard]

Free ganja brownies. Would spice things up and fun for the whole family too. You could even let the kids submit their own secret recipes and win prizes.

[murkywaters]

I'd just be happy if you scheduled them on the 2nd or 4th weekend of the month so DaBird and I could go to them

[DaBird47]

Yup, 2nd or 4th weekends would be nice...AND ganja brownies!...LMAO...

[txstateunivreefer]

i think that doing a new member raffle was a good idea i got alot of stuff. not every mth but every few. as for a raffle of door prizes at the meeting the ideas for salt, supplements test kits, frag kits, superglue are good ideas. for the big door prizes RO units thats what my fish are wishing for

[SoLiD]

Yup, 2nd or 4th weekends would be nice...AND ganja brownies!...LMAO...

Did you say ganja brownies. I guess you can tell who the "reefers" are in here. :P -SoLiD

[erikharrison]

did someone say ganja?

[taldrich13]

I'm down with the ganja for reseach purposes.

seriously, how about a subscription to a saltwater type magazine or free dues for the next year?

[MattK]

Free ganja brownies



AND ganja brownies



Did you say ganja brownies



did someone say ganja?



I'm down with the ganja for reseach purposes

How about a one week all expenses paid trip to Amsterdam and then rehab?

[loans_n_fishes]

I think it would be great if members would throw in a couple of things for the door prizes from time to time. For example: frags, live rock, pumps, tanks, etc. It wouldn't have to be new, just in good working order. It would be a nice way to give back to the club. (Maybe count toward membership dues? This might be difficult to do, though since the club does need some cash to accomplish goals.)

I would like to see gift certificates to LFSes (sponsors only) in amount of $25 or more. We all know this is good for the LFSes, too. How many of us are going to go in and spend JUST the gift certificate amount? :P

I like the food/test kits/salt/additives, etc idea too.

Large items from our sponsors are always welcome, but I am sure we won't be able to have them at every meeting.

OHHH yeah, DEFINITELY like the idea of the old salts (he he he) coming over to give pointers on tanks. I could really use this, too.

[loans_n_fishes]

Personally, I think the white elephant thing would take too long. There would be an advantage in order no matter how we do things. I say we keep it as is and avoid confusion. 8)

[Headless_donkey]

I like the temp control speech idea. Thanks Mike. Fragging kits would be super cool. I also think Gift Certificates at LFS would be nice. That way each winner could buy what he or she needs. What about raffling off a free membership each meeting?

What I really want is a chance to win a goby every meeting. I think we should start with the Flaming Prawn goby. Who needs a skimmer when you have a sweet shrimp goby?

[caferacermike]

Update me when we give away a Panda Goby. Thanks.

[Headless_donkey]

Panda Goby=Small,expensive, and will probably just hide, but oh so tempting!

[caferacermike]

..........

[erikharrison]

Hey about doing things like a food drive? Like bring X amount of food stuffs to be donated to a food bank for admissions or maybe a discount on raffle tickets. If tickets are 4 for $20 then if you bring 5 cans of food maybe it could be 5 tickets for $20 Then the club could run the gathered food to the food bank once every few months or whenever. Our community could give back the whole community.

Do you ever have a bad idea? I second this idea 100%! Maybe we should try to do a "group field trip". Mike (Texreefer) told me that y'all had done one in the past. Would be nice!

[Bill S]

I find the sponsor gift certificates for web sponsors, hard to use. On one that shall remain nameless, their minimum order was like $130, and with $40 in gift certificates, I still got less than $90 worth of stuff... I still have one around here somewhere...

[captexas]

How about a ride in the President's Viper? :skeezy :shades

[loans_n_fishes]

I find the sponsor gift certificates for web sponsors, hard to use. On one that shall remain nameless, their minimum order was like $130, and with $40 in gift certificates, I still got less than $90 worth of stuff... I still have one around here somewhere...

I agree. I would like to see more gift certificates to our LFS sponsors instead.

[loans_n_fishes]

[Hey about doing things like a food drive? Like bring X amount of food stuffs to be donated to a food bank for admissions or maybe a discount on raffle tickets. If tickets are 4 for $20 then if you bring 5 cans of food maybe it could be 5 tickets for $20 Then the club could run the gathered food to the food bank once every few months or whenever. Our community could give back the whole community.[/quote]

I like this idea, but am not sure about what is involved. I assume we could just take the stuff over there, but I wonder if we would need to do something more since we are an organization?

Would this also be a tax write off for the club?

[technomex]

I'll donate some frags once the tank at school starts producing.

[caferacermike]

I found out the idea for a MAAST sponsored food drive was a horrible idea...

[loans_n_fishes]

I don't care if it is a write off or not. I was just curious. ;)

I am all for giving either way.

[jroescher]

While giving to the local food bank in exchange of raffle tickets is a nice feel good gesture, it kind of defeats the purpose of having the raffle.

It's to raise money to operate the club, or at least that's what I understood.

My vote is for gift certificates as door prizes also. I really like the frag swaps, as it's nice to leave the meeting with something to put in the tank. Expensive though, but holding the meeting at a LFS is really expensive for me too.

[caferacermike]

......

[MattK]

Something else I would like to see as door/raffle prizes in addition to test kits, GC's, salt, and additives is all-in-one nano tanks. Like 6-12g Nano Cubes or Aquapods. They're fairly inexpensive to setup and would be a nice addition to any home or office.