Re: Showcase results

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

Dave,

It appears that you are discovering what I've thought for some time -
magazines which get published on a quarterly basis are not the best vehicles
for news items. The information is usually old hat by the time it can get
into print. I'm stymied when it comes to figuring out deadlines for
magazines - I can't manufacture information until I have it and by the time
it gets into print it is old and possibly too late to be of much use.
Hopefully, if this is done again next year, this aspect can receive
more/better attention.

Due to the fact that the AGA is the organization footing the bills for the
event, and the level of help and support the AGA MC gave me from the first
day I mentioned the project, they HAVE to be given the privelage of being
first into print with it. I also want to ensure that each AGA member
receives notification of the results, and that can only be done properly
through the organization's magazine.

However Mary has only a limited budget for color printing - I doubt that TAG
will carry more than a few color images of the entries. You should be free
to ask the AGA MC for permission to publish what you wish from the many nice
aquascapes which have been received. Those discussions would have to be
between you and the MC - they wouldn't really concern me, I'm only a grunt.

This event was conceived from the beginning as an Internet based
undertaking - our audience was mainly people reachable via either the APD or
USENET. They will all be notified of the results on the 30th of November
because I shall be posting to the APD and the rec.aquaria newsgroups on that
date. How interested in this "old news" your readers would be 4 or 5 months
later is questionable.

I think that the entries themselves might be worth consideration as possible
subject for articles in either TAG or PAM - from my cursory look at them so
far, it appears that there is a goldmine of ideas (both good and bad) in
there. Perhaps some of the winners could be approached to write articles on
their personal approach to aquascaping. Alternatively, third party authors
might wish to use selected images to illustrate different aspects of
aquascaping. Again, such use would have to be negotiated between the author
and the AGA MC.

It must be kept in mind as well that the Copyright of all images remains
with the individual entrants and while the AGA can publish them, (with
attribution), it would be necessary for anyone else to obtain permisssion
from the indivdual entrants as well.

James Purchase
Toronto