AGA membership database, bylaws, etc.

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

Wow!  There has been a lot to read on MCM lately.  Here are my varied comments 
and
responses:

     Paul K. wrote:

     >Hail, fellow Mac user!  Down with the Evil Empire!

     Yeah!  Even though I've been forced to use PCs since 1982, my "personal"
     computer has always been a Mac.  Never understood how the PC caught on.

     >I think it is probably about $200.00, and there are several versions,the

     more expensive with certain advanced features that most people don't
     need.
     It is easy to set up custom layouts and modify existing layouts.  A
     database manager is ideal for keeping membership records because of its
     advanced find and sort features.  For instance, you can find all members
     whose membership needs renewing in February, 2000, and live in
     Massachusetts.  I would be glad to try setting up a database for the
     membership, if you send me the data.  <

     Your offer of help is appreciated.  I looked it up and found that
     FileMaker Pro goes for about $250 these days. I have used it before but I
     chose Excel with the AGA membership list for the
     following reasons:

     1.    I own a licensed copy
     2.    I am familiar with it
     3.    Every place that I have worked has had Windows Excel (I usually
     print the labels
            at work, since I have a ten-year old crappy inkjet at home that
     produces horrible labels)
     4.    MS Word has a slick label-printing routine that works with Excel
     data

     ....though there may be good reasons to go to FileMaker Pro:

     1.    Paul and David use and like it, so we can more easily share data.
     2.    It is a "real" database, and I'm sure that it can more easily print
     out renewal notices etc.
     3.    Hopefully it will be better at printing labels.  The MS Word labels
     routine sometimes
            drops a few zip codes, which is annoying to the post office (and
     to me if I have to re-send).
     4.    Data entry is easier.

     I will try to find out whether the Filemaker Pro CD contains both Mac and
     Windows versions,
     so I can load it at both work and home.  If so, then would the AGA can
     consider spending $250 or so on this?

     Paul, I am sending you a portion of the membership database file in Excel
     format for you to experiment with.

     >I am thinking of incorporating a membership
     questionaire that Olga Betts worked out into the database.  We don't have

     any data to put in, yet, but if we send out the questionnaire, we should
     get quite a lot.  I can send you a copy of the questionnaire, if you are
     interested.  I don't know if I want to take on the task of data entry for

     hundreds of questionnaires without some help, however.<

     Is this the same questionnaire that is on the membership applications?
     (eg. interests, willing to volunteer,
     source of membership, etc.).  If so I am already entering this into the
     database, and it IS a lot of work.  Hopefully someone will mine this for
     useful data someday.  The one noticeable fact is that almost every single
     new member is off our web page!

     >
     >The person who indicated an ability in Japanese is:
     >
     >Ken Nord, 6082 Ivory Circle, Huntington Beach, CA    knsan@pacbell.net,
     >714-379-6047
     >

     >I can't remember what the need was for an ability in Japanese.<

     I was hoping that someone had some Japanese (Amano?) articles that he
     could translate
     for TAG.

     >The Seachem contact is at home; I will look him up and forward to you as

     >soon as I can.

     The two Seachem contacts are:

     Dave Hembree (dave@seachem.com)  and Greg Morin (greg@seachem.com )
     Seachem Laboratories Inc. 1939C Parker Court Stone Mountain, GA 30087
     770-972-5999

     Dave is interested in advertising with AGA, and would probably provide
     free stuff for our table
     (sign up and get free Flourish!); Greg specifically volunteered to write
     articles.


     NEC:

     I just got clearance from the boss (my gracious wife Stephanie) so
     barring any unforseen situations
     I can be there for the whole weekend!  I am willing to staff the table
     for a few hours each day and will
     bring along one of those cube planted tanks for display.

     I suggest that we donate 5 free one-year memberships to the NEC auction
     in order to pay our way.  Or maybe Janine Banks will want us to pay for a
     vendor table?

     Bylaws:

     I think that the most important thing that the bylaws address is money.
     They should specifically identify that the dues are for publication and
     distribution of TAG, maintaining a web page, etc.

     I am torn regarding voting rights.  I believe that the membership should
     have some input into the Association, since they are paying "dues" and
     not just subscribing to a magazine.  I do understand, though, the
     difficulties involved.  Yet the American Killifish Association seems to
     make it work.

     Perhaps we could extend some sort of voting right to anyone who
     contributes to AGA, whether as a volunteer or as an article author?

     Clerk, Official Address:

     Since my address is on the magazine and website, and since I live in
     Massachusetts, it seems logical
     that I could be both the Clerk and holder of the Official Address.  I
     will do this if it makes sense to everyone.  By default much
     correspondence comes to me anyway.  And, through our work, both my wife
     and I know how to deal with process servers  (can you wait while I try to
     find Mr. Jones?.......)

     - Jack

     (back to working/lurking)



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