MAAST bank account

[roscozman]

We can also grow our membership by improving our image/awareness in the community. Kind of like a mini PR campaign to get exposure outside our current membership. This can be done with press releases to media outlets, food drives for the homeless, beach cleanup in Port A or Corpus Christi or even a coral propagation program - anything to get exposure. There are a great number of people who have fresh/saltwater tanks who have no idea this club exists.

Also, what about a representative outside a LFS or PetCo just giving out information. We do need to sign them up with a membership fee, just get exposure that we exist.

[Mr Cob]

I like the idea of setting up information booths from time to time...

[alton]

Maybe this sounds corny but what if we offered Charter Memberships for a month for free? After a month we send them a nice pm to let them know there month is going to be running out and we hope they would decide to join for a year. And please take the time to let us know what they liked, disliked and what we could improve on?

[Europhyllia]

Nice idea Alton. I wonder how tough it would be to implement for Brian?

I wouldn't have known about MAAST if somebody at a little shop called FinAddict hadn't told me about it. I think the LFS owners are crucial to get involved.

Perhaps we could make some kind of starter info for the LFS' to give out when they have a customer that's new to saltwater?
Maybe a little booklet of the basics like seawater parameters and desired aquarium parameters, algae cycle, etc. just 6 pages the size of a deck of cards and have it saying 'compliments of MAAST' with contact info or something like it.

Or even simpler and cheaper have little cards printed with those parameters in chart form and MAAST info on the other side so people can stick it in their wallet or tape it to the stand or whatever.
(you know how realtors and other business give out little cards that have a calender on the back, etc.)
Like the RFH chart:
rfhchart.jpg
a little card like that would be nice to have and easy enough for the LFS' to hand out...

Personally I prefer to go for the expert stuff so I am hesitant to dilute the MAAST brand by advertising us as a 'pet everything'- after all it's called Marine-AAST. ;)

[roscozman]

Personally I prefer to go for the expert stuff so I am hesitant to dilute the MAAST brand by advertising us as a 'pet everything'- after all it's called Marine-AAST. I don't like it when things get wishy washy. ;)

Let's try to keep the ideas coming in before we start discounting or turning away ideas. In most brainstorming/suggestion sessions, all ideas are good ideas.

[Europhyllia]

I didn't say it was a bad idea. I said I prefer to turn to places that are specific about their purpose. ;) (hence the personally at the beginning at the sentence and the ';)' behind it.

[cbianco]

We could increase our attendance at local events by through two things:

1. Getting to know our sister clubs here in Texas (once again). Make sure that they know, we both need and want them to be active once again in "our" lives.

2. Advertising, advertising, ADVERTISING! I can have the tastiest food, at rock bottom prices, served by the best servers but if no one knows my restaurant exists, the customers will not come!

Christopher

[Europhyllia]

This can be done with press releases to media outlets

I think news release would be great free advertising! In fact it's why I suggested it for L*MAR and was going to compile a list of newspaper contacts but sadly the MAAST Marketing team didn't seem interested... :(

[Kristy]

Actually Allan did send out a press release or two.

[hobogato]

we also put it on several radio station and tv station community calendars