Update on membership issues

["Jack O'Leary" <jdo@world.std.com>]

Just a few things on membership activities:

1.    ALL membership applications received to date have been processed;
ALL monies received sent to Bob.  Finally.

2.    I have responed with handwritten letters to eight mail inquiries
regarding
membership status;

3.    I have responded to 72 email enquiries, address changes, etc.

Many of the above were concerned that they hadn't received TAG
recently; I said something along the lines " our publication has been
delayed, but will be out soon.  We appreciate your patience."

The vast majority of correspondents were very kind and polite, and I
might
say highly complimentary of the quality of our publication. We really do

have a good group of people as members.

4.    I would like to send out a mass email to the new and renewed
members who provided email addresses (now a majority), confirming their
membership.  How about this, mostly stolen from our web page:



Welcome to the AGA!     As a benefit of membership, you will recieve
6 volumes of The Aquatic Gardener (TAG) per year of membership.  It is
usually published on a bimonthlybasis, but your first issue may be
delayed depending on when your membership
was received and on the frequency of publication.  The Editor may delay
publication at his discretion in order to compile special issues or for
other reasons.  The volunteers of the AGA appreciate your patience.

In the meantime, please visit our web page at
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/.

You may also want to order back issues of TAG from:  Diana Walstad  2303
Mt. Sinai Road  Chapel Hill, NC 27514 USA .  All issues beginning with
Volume 4, No. 1, are available. (Some back issues may be second
printings of the original)  Back issues are $3 Each, (Vol 7 No. 5 is $5)

AGA Special Publication No. 1: Bibliography for Aquatic Gardeners is $5
(36 page bibliography of books and pamphlets on aquatic plants, ponds,
water gardens, algae and seaweeds)

Back issue and sample issue sales prices include postage
(U.S./Canada/Mexico).
Overseas: add $2.00 for each copy (air mail) or add additional $2.00 for
each 12 copies (surface mail). Check, money order, or VISA accepted.


_____________________________________________________________________________




As an AGA member, you are entitled to receive substantial discounts on
impotant reference books.  The AGA Bookstore offers the following:

          Tropica Aquarium Plants
                                    Holger Windeløv and Claus
Christensen have produced a
                                    catalog that brings new meaning to
the word. Full of care
                                    information on over 150 types of
plants, this 85 page booklet
                                    also includes some great shots of
planted tanks. A must have
                                    for any hobbyist.

$15

    Dennerle's System for aProblem-Free Aquarium
                                    This 128-page book offers extensive
color illustrations of
                                    equipment, setups, and plants, with
185 aquarium plants
                                    illustrated as well as 15 floating
plants and 25 marsh or
                                    terrarium plants.

$15

     Aquarium Plant Catalog from Oriental Aquarium, Singapore
                                    88 pages of aquarium and terrarium
plants from one of the
                                    largest aquatic nurseries in the
world. Four plants per page
                                    with culture information such as
growth habit, temperature,
                                    light needs and geographic origin.


$15

     Aquarium Plant poster (Guide to Aquarium Plants)
                                    128 of the most popular aquarium
plants on a 26"x38" poster
                                    in full color. Each picture has
Latin and common names,
                                    planting position, and light
requirements. Submersed or
                                    emersed growth is noted.

$10



Listed prices represent AGA Member discount. For non-members, please add
$5 per item.

Prices include NAFTA postage. For orders outside North America, please
add $5 for the first item, $2 for each additional item.

Send your order to:

AGA Bookstore
7 Gateview Court
San Francisco CA 94116-1941

Make check payable to AGA, allow 4-8 weeks for delivery.

______________________________________________________________________________

Most imporantly, we welcome your participation!  You are encouraged to
submit your own articles, photographs, drawings, or questions to the
Editor, Neil Frank, at nfrank at mindspring.com.  Any contribution is
welcome - don't underestimate the importance of your experiences and
observations to your fellow aquatic gardeners.



Please let me know of your editorial comments.  Don't worry about
formatting or spelling, I'll find that before sending this out.  This
will probably be adapted to be our introductory letter sent via snail
mail, as well.



5.    Much to my surprise I have found a Y2K bug in Microsoft Excel, the
software that I am using to keep the AGA membership database.  I have
found that some of the older expiration date entries were typed in such
a way that Excel doesn't interpret them as dates after the year 2000.
Memberships expiring in 1999 are all correct.  I became aware of this
only through the complaints of one member.  I'm trying to find and fix
other instances.  Otherwise, since the software is on a Macintosh, the
AGA membership system is Y2K compliant.

- Jack