Intro text

["James Purchase" <jpurch@interlog.com>]

Here is the Introductory text I have sent to Erik for the first page of the
web site:

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AGA International Aquascaping Showcase & Contest
The World in a Glass Box

Aquascaping is the process of decorating and arranging the interior of an
aquarium. The objective is to produce an environment conducive to the health
and display of the fish, animals and plants living within the glass box.
Whether the goal is to invoke the mystery of an Amazonian stream, the sun
baked beauty of an African lake, or a fantasy environment which exists only
in the mind of the creator, the possibilities of aquascaping are endless.
The only limits are the imagination of the designer.

Aquarium keeping is a very popular hobby throughout the world. Many, if not
most aquarists got their start in the hobby through exposure to the beauty
of an aquascaped aquarium in the home of a family member or friend. Through
the sharing of ideas and experience the hobby grows from person to person in
an ever widening circle. Like ripples on the surface of a pond, this process
of sharing communicates our love of Nature to others and is one of the most
valuable aspects of our hobby. This event is designed to showcase regional
trends and differences in how various hobbyists approach the aquascaping of
their tanks and to foster better technique through the sharing of images and
information from hobbyists everywhere.

The Internet is a recent and awesome implementation of technology which is
changing the way people live, work and communicate throughout the world.
There are no borders on the Internet - people can communicate with one
another having little regard to time zones or geographic location. The world
shrinks when a hobbyist in Australia can interact with another in Europe or
North America, sharing ideas and solving problems.

This event, the AGA International Aquascaping Showcase and Contest, is
designed to take full advantage of this new technology and bring hobbyists
even closer together through the sharing of images of their aquascaping
efforts. Developed and implemented by and for hobbyists, it will provide a
forum for display and learning. By hosting this event on the Internet, the
AGA hopes to reach out to all hobbyists without regard to age, country of
origin or experience level. All are welcome to share their love of the hobby
with others through participation in the event. As well as being displayed
on this web site, all images submitted will be archived to CD-ROM and made
available through the AGA at the close of the event, thus acting as a
permanent record of the state of aquascaping as it is practiced throughout
the world at this point in time.

The event is designed as both a Showcase and as a Contest of freshwater
aquascaping. All entries submitted shall be displayed on the web site in the
Showcase portion of the event. Those entrants who wish to compete against
their fellow hobbyists are encouraged to also submit their aquascapes into
the Contest portion of the event. Not limited to planted aquascapes, this
event is for all freshwater hobbyists, whether the interest is African Rift
Lake cichlids, brackish mangroves, aquatic gardens or paludariums, all are
eligible for submission.

The Aquatic Gardeners Association was formed to bring together hobbyists
throughout the world who shared a love of aquatic plants and an interest in
growing them in aquariums. Currently, the organization has an international
membership of over 800 people from all over the world. By opening this event
to include non-planted freshwater aquascapes, the AGA hopes to foster the
growth of and interest in the beauty of aquascapes of all kinds.

Books and magazines can teach the mechanics of our hobby but it is only
through personal interaction with others who share our interest that the
love of the hobby can be communicated. This event will allow average
hobbyists to share their personal visions with others and will act as a
snapshot of how people in different parts of the world approach the hobby
today.

The information presented on this web site is designed to help guide
potential entrants both with the hobby and with preparing their submissions
to the Showcase and/or Contest portions of the event.

    * There is an extensive set of hyperlinks to Internet Resources of
interest to aquarists;
    * A complete set of Guidelines to how this event is designed and will be
conducted;
    * Full instructions on how YOU can enter and participate.

The organizers of this event welcome you to the AGA International
Aquascaping Showcase & Contest and invite your participation in it. For
further information or details not covered on the web site, please contact
us.

James Purchase
Toronto
AGA International Aquascaping Showcase & Contest Committee

Dates to Keep in Mind

Entries to the AGA International Aquascaping Showcase & Contest shall be
accepted until September 30, 2000.
Final results and the names of the winners of the Contest portion of the
event shall be announced on November 30, 2000.
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James Purchase
Toronto

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