Speakers

[cwby416]

I agree that August will just be a waste, considering that it will not generate any money for the club....there is no incentive for new members to join or old members to renew if we have a big speaker This season....

 

[reedman]

You can also check with him on the 3rd book of the Reef Aquarium series he just released. Maybe get a deal from the publisher and have him autograph...just another though to generate money.

 

[Ed Hahn]

August is the only month available for him in 2006. I have been bugging him. I figured this would bring people out to the wood work and spark renewals. I just wish August was the renewal month for members. I have visited stores in Spokane and they all said they would die to see him(one of those is Kevin Pockells store Aquatic Dreams yesterday). There was also people looking forward to Scott Michaels talk on Reef Fish. Someone also pmed me about seeing if we could get Mike Pallletta. I only asked who is available and if it will work out. Charles is only available in August 2006 and said booked other than that for a long time. I bugged him for Meeting this year for Midcolumbia. Midcolumbia could not afford him, so I feel like I have a lot of egg on my face. Charles set August available.

 

[Ed Hahn]

I think if we posted in Advance, it would bring a lot out of the wood work.

 

[cwby416]

But if we bring him in august, the most we will get from non-members is the $5 for that meeting....if august was our renewal month, this would be perfect! but we would only be spending more money that would not be comming back....

 

[jesshimom]

The airfare is a major limiting factor. Alice checked generically, and came up with that figure; however that was NOT direct flights, they were crazy stopovers, etc. I just do not see the benefit to having him come. Certainly he should understand that you can't just say one month, during the summer and expect it to be so. Can we even book for the following year to have a confirmation?

I just dont financially see the feasability; even if a store is or would help how much? I expect airfare for F/S flights with nonstops to be 800 about.

Bringing people out of the woodwork in August doesn't really do anything, as Randy, Alice and Reed said.

Ed I'm sending you an email, so you won't have egg on your face.

 

[jesshimom]

So did he have August available because Mid-Columbia couldn't do it? It is understandable clubs not doing summer meetings with speakers the more I think about it.

 

[Ed Hahn]

I originally asked him in hopes of getting him for Midcolumbia. He left August open. I wish we could ask Members if they would be interested in renewing membership if we brought in a big speaker to end with Bang. But I understand, I am not upset.

 

[jesshimom]

I think where we are at, in talking with everyone, that the summer months are not worthwhile for having speakers as a whole. Traditionally, we have had NO activities in the summer months and only the past couple years have we started doing things.

Ed, I'm sending an email to you that you can edit and forward or just forward to him, as I dont want him to think you are giving him the run around in any way. I'm sure he will understand the costs of flying during the summer months especially on weekends.

I would like to confirm him for whatever his next month is other than a June/July/August. If it's next year or 2008 it doesn't matter, it is something to look forward to and work around!

 

[Ed Hahn]

well, I am jinxed. I am convinced. I had Leng Sy contact me today from Ecosystems. He is willing to do a talk. He is said he could fly into Seattle on July 23rd. He would cover cost of flight. I told you I was jinxed.
This is one of the people that are available from Coral Magazine. Coral magazine and FAMA are both willing to support the club. I will keep my ears open. I had a super conversation with Leny Sy today. He is a little hard to understand but very well educated and into promoting a better world by using less and making efforts to create a better world for the future. He talked to me about quarantining corals. That was a very good talk.
Ok, so maybe in the future if it works out..
cheers,
Ed

 

[Alice]

Scott Michael reconfirmed, yay!

Below are Scott's two latest emails to me. Colleen, I told him you would be contacting him about reimbursement and other details about his visit. His email is [email protected] The only other expense he and I have discussed was two nights at a hotel.

Alice,

the ticket has been purchased (for a good price too!). I am waiting for
cheaptickets to send me the reciept. Once it arrives, I will pass it on to
you.

Thanks again for the opportunity to visit you and your great club!

SWM

And.......

ALICE!

Please forgive me for not taking care of these matters. I am coming FOR
SURE. Since Janine is coming with me, I will need to buy the tickets
together. Because I will have to pay for my dear spouse's ticket, I have
been waiting until I got a check to help cover the cost. Sorry about the
delay. I will send details tonight so you can reimburse me for my ticket.

My mother-in-law is visiting from New Zealand so we have been leaving for
long weekends to show her around some of the midwest. Too bad we cannot get
her to your neck of the woods and show her some really beautiful country
(more like her homeland)!.

THANK YOU! I cannot wait to get back to Washington State and the resident
fish geeks!

SWM

 

[Alice]

OK, here's the very latest email

Hello Alice.

We will arrive on September 15th and rent a car. We arrive later in the
evening (about 8:15 PM). We can then meet you on the 16th. I hope you will
be able to provide a hotel room on the night of the 15th and 16th. On the
17th we will take off to the Olympic Peninsula.

Thank you!


Scott

Here are the cost details (obviously, I do not expect you to pay Janine's
airfare, but this is how the website lists the information):


Flight cost summary

Airfare, SCOTT MICHAEL (Adult) $274.71

Airfare, JANINE CAIRNSMICHAEL (Adult) $274.71

Service fee $9.98

Total trip cost $559.40 USD

 

[Alice]

Colleen, since they are renting a car and will then be going on to the peninsula, they probably won't want to stay out by the airport. How much have we typically paid for a hotel? I know a couple downtown that are nice and wouldn't break the bank...especially if we are getting help with Scott's visit with LFS sponsorship.

 

[Ed Hahn]

around the table again, your input please

Awesome Job Alice.

What would you guys think about posting for venders to display their products and teach us about them?
I am thinking if we can post a add inside Tropical Fish Hobbyist like the other Seattle Saltwater club. The only difference would be stating we would like to help others out by showing how to use products, we would like to be introduced to the newest products and explained how they work. If you are a Manufacturer and would like to take part of this the door is open.
We have our Meeting usually on the third week end of the month.
We make every effort to provide the best guest speakers available, etc.
Teaching the hobbyist how to be successful, etc..

Coffee, too much coffee...but what are your ideas?

 

[cwby416]

Ok dumb question warning!

There is another saltwater fish club in seattle???
I know of "greater Seattle Aquarium Club" but thats FW...


would an ad in Tropical Fish Hobbyist be the best route to hit a vendor audience? I would think that developing a letter to send out the the vendor would be more efficient....

I do like this Idea, we could make a product spotlight each month......we could feature a product at a meeting as well as a thread here on RF....as long as we get free literature and freebies to giveaway/raffle off from the vendor...

 

[Ed Hahn]

Ok dumb question warning!

There is another saltwater fish club in seattle???
I know of "greater Seattle Aquarium Club" but thats FW...


would an ad in Tropical Fish Hobbyist be the best route to hit a vendor audience? I would think that developing a letter to send out the the vendor would be more efficient....

I do like this Idea, we could make a product spotlight each month......we could feature a product at a meeting as well as a thread here on RF....as long as we get free literature and freebies to giveaway/raffle off from the vendor...

Randy,
There is another Saltwater club in Seattle posted inside the TFH magazine. That is what I was thinking Randy. Freebies, education and we both help each other out.

 

[jesshimom]

I'll work with Scott and get them a hotel where they want; or I can just give them $100 per night (it's been a bit less than that but it's the summer months) and let them find their own. I'll check with them and see what they want to do.

Also, didn't you say he had a new book out? IF so, I think we should take advantage of that and see if we can get 20 or so at cost and sell at the meeting as we have done before.

 

[jesshimom]

I like the vendor spotlight idea, which is what I was thinking about with the sponsors, having a rotating month to let the stores decide what they want to do and bring people to their store to purchase whatever product of the month they want to highlight or whatever.

Great ideas guys. What would an ad like that run just out of curiosity?

 

[Alice]

I like the vendor spotlight idea, which is what I was thinking about with the sponsors, having a rotating month to let the stores decide what they want to do and bring people to their store to purchase whatever product of the month they want to highlight or whatever.

Great ideas guys. What would an ad like that run just out of curiosity?

You get line ads for under $100, if I remember right. One thing to remember though is that because it's a magazine, lead time is way out, about 2-3 months.

Colleen, you guys can go ahead and talk with Scott about the book, it's a great idea. I know for a fact that I would buy one and many others probably would as well.

 

[jesshimom]

Great. I just sent him an email and asked about a book deal.