Re: Number of people interested?

[krandall@world.std.com]

At 03:35 PM 7/17/99 -0600, "Geroge" wrote:

>I was wondering if anyone has gauged the overall interest in the showcase,
>contest, competition, hyper-event or whatever it will be. Is there massive
>world-wide interest among those not on the secret list or is this a contest
>to be held amongst ourselves with the potential for broken arms and
>dislocated shoulders from patting ourselves on the back?
>
>I am curious what the response was to the last AGA photo contest (the one
>Olga won?). Was it tens of entries, thousands of entries or what? 

Tens of entries, if that.  Actually, I think there were 8 or 9 ENTRANTS,
although there were probably about 50 photos.

Neil and I specifically did NOT enter photos, specifically because we
didn't want to intimidate people.  I'm pretty sure Erik didn't send any either.

>"Geroge" Booth "feeling a little cynical in Ft. Collins"

I don't know if you bothered to go back and read everything that was posted
from the beginning. (a daunting amount of material!) or the first posts may
not even be included because it was a couple of days before Erik set up
this list.  But both Erik and I have made similar comments on the possible
number of entries.  Be that as it may, THIS group of people seems
enthusiastic, and if even 20-odd people are enthusiastic, I feel that it is
a project worth pursuing.  I would also support the AGA financing such an
endeavor.  My feeling is that it can't possibly hurt.

I'm sorry that so few people responded to you with return video tapes.  No
if the famous GEORGE Booth had made the request, he probably would have
gotten a better response ;-)   I had fun making the one I sent you, and I
enjoyed seeing yours.  I think if you, as an individual, sent all those
videos out for free and got nothing in return, you have every right to feel
a little jaded.  OTOH, the AGA is a pretty big organization.  Based on
discussions with Neil and Jack (our membership chair) over the weekend, I
can now tell you that we have over 800 members.  Even if the AGA spends the
money on this project and only makes a FEW people happy, or exposes a
COUPLE of people to this part of the hobby, I think it is money well spent.  

10 or 15 years ago, there were only a couple of entries in the "Fresh Water
Natural" division of our BAS home show.  Last year, there were _no_ entries
in the "Fresh Water Artificial" division, and I wouldn't have kicked _any_
of the entries in the "Natural" division out of my house.  I was glad _I_
didn't have to judge.<g>  There is no doubt this part of the hobby is
growing.  It is part of the AGA mission to encourage that growth.

We didn't get a lot of entries in the photo contest, but it was advertised
to a much smaller pool of entrants, (we had just over 500 members at that
point) and it was open (and advertised) ONLY to AGA members.  Add to that
the fact that our organization is one for aquatic gardeners, not
photographers, I think there are a number of reasons we didn't get many
entries.  

I am not expecting a huge number of entries for this contest, but am
willing to support the effort no matter how many there are.  I will be
DELIGHTED if we are overwhelmed with entries.<g>

Karen
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