Re: [AGA-mcm] ACA Spy Report, lessons to learn #126, "purpose ofthe convention"

[" Mike Hellweg" <mhellweg511@charter.net>]

I don't have a problem with trading or even with selling from either rental 
tanks (as in the ACA, but it should be restricted or controlled to prevent 
theft) or from rooms (as happens at every show/auction/convention that I 
attend - not just in the aquatic hobby, but also in other hobby 
organizations).  I just think that anyone selling from their room should, as 
a matter of goodwill to the organization sponsoring the show/convention, at 
least register for the event and donate either some cash or something to the 
organization for their auction.

It's difficult to regulate, but maybe we could set up a mechanism for it at 
future conventions.  It still won't control all of the "unregistered" sales, 
but at least if folks know about it, most of them will be willing to give 
the AGA/host club a small share.  As several of you have mentioned, most of 
the hobbyists are interested in the long-term success of their organization.

Obviously, there will always be at least one or two people more interested 
in money than the success of other hobbyists or of the organization itself. 
There is nothing we can do about that.  Fortunately, they usually aren't 
around for too long as they realize there are easier ways to make a quick 
buck - which is what they are really wanting to do.

I don't think trading hurts - I actually think it helps and should be 
encouraged!  The chance to get something new is one of the reasons that many 
hobbyists travel to shows and conventions around the country.  It might 
actually boost attendance over the years as folks look forward to a chance 
to get together with other plant hobbyists and swap/sell/buy plants 
informally.  I also think that any way to put more plants (in our case) in 
the hands of more hobbyists can't be anything but beneficial in the 
long-run.

To be perfectly honest with you all - what I've heard from other hobbyists 
who have attended one AGA convention and not been back is that we're too 
stuffy and formal with too much emphasis on the technical/classroom type 
stuff  at our conventions.  I don't wish to offend anyone here, but I guess 
someone has to say it eventually:  one thing that I hear over and over again 
when people find out that I'm involved with the AGA is that we are getting a 
reputation as being pretty techie and elitist and that our conventions just 
reinforce that feeling.  I don't know why, I've only been to one convention 
and I enjoyed the heck out of it. : )

> From what I've heard, again from more than one person in more than one 
place, is that there's not enough informal stuff (like trading - room 
sales), which is what they were hoping for - the chance to get more hard to 
find plants outside of the auction.  A lot of people travel to these things 
and take off early on Sunday, not hanging around for the auction.

Just my two cents.

Mike


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Krombholz" <pkrombholz@bellsouth.net>
To: "AGA Advisory Committee" <aga-mcm@thekrib.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2005 8:49 AM
Subject: Re: [AGA-mcm] ACA Spy Report, lessons to learn #126, "purpose ofthe 
convention"


> What are board members' reactions to the practice of bringing along some 
> tank clippings and doing informal trading/give away in the lobby or in the 
> hospitality room.  It seemed to me that there was a lot less of that in 
> 2004, 2003 than there was in 2000, 2001.  Do board members think it 
> interferes with profits from the auction?
> --
> Paul Krombholz in sunny central Mississippi
> _______________________________________________
> AGA-mcm mailing list
> AGA-mcm@thekrib.com
> http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-mcm


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