Ideas for future meetings-

[kkiel02]

We (the events committee) are looking for feedback/ideas on events or speakers the members would like to see done this year. We will be using this thread to get ideas from you.

For example- I would love to see a meeting in which the topic would be lighting and we could use the newly donated light meter to give us examples of different lighting par values that we use in the aquaria hobby. I have a few pc fixtures and a t5 light fixture I could bring.

This is just an example though and we are going to try our best to incorporate your ideas into our meetings.

Kevin

[Europhyllia]

Has that light meter really been donated? I was under the impression the person was letting people use their personal light meter (not library related)

I really liked Scorpino's idea of hands on workshops.
I'd like it even better if I could just RSVP and pay a materials fee ahead of time and then the material kits would be at the meeting rather than people each having to find stuff.
I forgot what Erik suggested but I was thinking of small projects like phyto tubes, etc.

[Kristy]

Karin (& Erik)
This is a very fun idea... kind of like one of those Home Depot DIY classes. Don't know if you've had a chance to look at the 2010 calendar yet, but it might be something we could combine with the May meeting that Ace is presented on growing your own reef food. If it's not practical to do in the same meeting / setting (that's quite a lot ot cover in a couple hours) then perhaps it could be the follow-up meeting? Let's see what Ace thinks.

[ErikH]

I think we should have these type of meets quarterly. I would be willing to host one, and the money saved from renting a place could be spent on part of the materials.

Foam is a cheap one.
Agrocrete if we can get someone good.
Sump baffling byosump
And culturing food

There's a year for you!
Presumably we could do these as repeats to help out the newbies.

I also think more sponsors should host if they have room. They would have a REALLY good day in sales!

[ErikH]

Oh, and of course I would BBQ!

[ReefCube]

you should have the next meeting at gabes if he is down for it.

[Gseclipse02]

I also think more sponsors should host if they have room. They would have a REALLY good day in sales!


i think its really hard to judge on how many people will show i know some meetings seem to have 10 people and others have 40 people

the bar bq idea is good get every one to put in 5 dollars and it could be a great bar bq

[corruption]

Has that light meter really been donated? I was under the impression the person was letting people use their personal light meter (not library related)

Correct -- dipan has loaned out his personal Apogee PAR meter for general use, but it was not donated to the library.

-Justin

[Europhyllia]

I think under those circumstance I'd rather we check with the owner first before we make plans for his equipment. ;)

[dipan]

I've got no problems with it.

[kkiel02]

Yes I was just offering an example I realize he is still retaining ownership so yes we would need approval but looks like we got it. :) So far so good guys keep them coming.... I love some of these ideas and would love some phyto tubes.

[kkiel02]

What about an acrylic workshop? I personally would love to build my own viewing boxes, sumps/refugiums, reactors, etc. I might have a lead on some acrylic...

[corruption]

I'd be all for an acrylic workshop -- I have some experience, but I'd love to get better... conisidering that the wife and I plan to start playing with acrylics in about 6 months :)

What about a frugal food session? Theres a ton of great stuff that can be minced in the seafood section of HEB -- we could easily do a day of some common ones that are fully acceptable for a food mix and could save some money, as well as some basic 'recipes'..

-Justin

[ErikH]

If we do an acrylics workshop, can we see how it is done with cheap tools rather than with tablesaws, etc?
I don't have any of the needed tools to REALLY make those myself.

[Still Learning]

I really like the idea of a demo...diy....workshop. Only issue is that we are in Corpus. I am sure there are lots of people that aren't centrally located so what about doing smaller meetings at each city assuming there is interest.

ex...This month MAAST workshop is Acrylic on Saturday in Corpus, San Antonio, Austin, etc. I am sure there is a local expert in this field in each city...now if they will just run the meeting...ehehhee. The main demo person could share their notes with each city so that it could all be similar.

Another example would be a rolling schedule. So SA does acrylic this month then the main demo person goes to austin the next month...so on and so on.

Work smarter not harder. You could have a small committee at each city to find the space and pick the topic. With the meetings being smaller it shouldn't be too difficult.

I like the idea of a frag swap at these meeting. It could be after the demo that way people on a schedule aren't delayed.

[ErikH]

We do not have that many willing participants to do so, which is why we rotate the meetings to different cities. Sure, if we had more membership it would be easy. We are trying to get us all together, not keep us seperate!

[FireWater]

I like the idea of a DIY set - acrylic, stands, plumbing, led's, stuff like that.
Food recipes and live foods
Also one thing we always hear about, but seem to take for granted - safety and 1st aid

[hobogato]

i wonder who could talk about safety and first aid john...

[FireWater]

Are you kidding? I am the worst about it. Plus, I learned by watching you. LOL

[cbianco]

Fragging, fragging and fragging.

We could have a mini series about fragging: SPS, LPS and softies. Then we can end it with hybrid fragging, like Justincredible.

Huh, Huh, what-da-ya think?

Christopher :)

[Mike]

The February meeting is on fragging, with a demo from Jeremy (Reefs2U)...

[Kristy]

Bump ... any more ideas out there? Let's hear 'em!

General feedback: The attendance at meetings has grown to a point that it is generally not feasible to have it at members' homes, so we have moved away from that in the past year or so, but we have several options for free space and low cost space that we are using and continue to look for still more. Got a new suggestion just this week that looks very promising! We are also exploring an idea or two to allow some opportunities for members' to open up their homes, though, so you may still get taken up on that offer!

Also, the idea of having simultaneous meetings in different geographic locations is an exciting and ambitious thought. We may very well grow to that point some day, but for the present time, we have enough difficulty finding brave and generous folks who are willing to step up and present. So far we just all drive to see them whereve we can find them!

[kkiel02]

Kristy should we take these ideas and poll them to see which ones the members would like to see the most. Maybe everyone could vote on three?

[Gseclipse02]

I'm not sure if it was said or not ( i didn't read this whole thread) but a behind the scene at sea world would be cool esp. if the person knows what is actually going on with the tanks

[BSJF]

This may not work for what you are looking for, but I would love to be involved in a photo seminar. My past club did this. It takes someone real special to arrange it and someone willing to teach (could be the same person, but might want to share the load). They set it up so it was a small group hands on teaching with 4-6 people in each session. Members opened their homes and tanks for pictures. Everyone brought their own camera (from point and shoot to high end SLRs). These were done on Saturdays over the course of a month I think.

I also like the DIY projects where the kits are bought in advance and there to do as you are being taught. I won't go hunt down the supplies because I can never find them and I totally forget what I learned by the time I do.

I like the phyto tube, another idea is screen tank tops.