[AGA-mcm] ACA Impressions

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Kathy and I got back about an hour ago from the big 5-day convention down 
in Dallas.

I was doing A/V for the convention, so I didn't get to spend too much time 
in the AGA booth once things got started.  But my impressions:

First of all, I think it was a good experience.  This is the first time I 
can remember multiple AGA "normal members" helping out manning a booth. 
Cheryl, Scott and Ann were the mainstays, but Harold LaRoux and a couple 
of others helped out for long stretches.  It was great to see these folks 
answering random plant questions from the convention-goers.  This is 
really one of those "service" areas I think the AGA could get into.

The booth was very generous -- Larry & the TCA folks gave us as much space 
as the ACA registration table that stood opposite us.  Cheryl did a really 
nice trifold gateway black posterboard just for the weekend, with 
"Cichlids [HEART] Planted Aquariums" bannered across the top.  The 
posterboard included lost of example pictures of cichlids and plants to 
back up the statement.  Cheryl also brought a sleep machine that we set on 
"Babbling Brook" the entire time that added an interesting atmosphere. 
Ann brought her spouse's laptop, which I hastily copied last year's 
aquascaping contest photos in a rotating slide show.  One table was 
entirely covered in AGA merchandise: back issues, T-Shirts and media. 
Another table had the plants for sale and the freebies.  Between the three 
of us (me, Cheryl and Scott), we had over 100 copies of the beginner 
brochure.  We also gave out free PAMs (with a "Compliments of the AGA" 
sticker that Cheryl generously printed after the first day when I 
spontaneously said "we should say who's giving them out, shouldn't we?").

Cheryl will no doubt have the numbers -- I beleive the final tally was 
somewhere between $700 and $800 gross, but when most of that is split 
first halfway with the ACA and then halfway again with DFWAPC, we probably 
brought in only enough to pay for the printing of the free brochures.  But 
again, that wasn't really the point.  I consider this an exercise in 
exposure.

We should probably post something about on the website and TAG and to the 
member list.  Scott has some pictures.

Oh, also, someone posted an ad for the APC Aquascaping Contest on the Guy 
Jordan board.  I wonder who did that?

Also, Ray Lucas said something strange about Dave Gomberg approaching him 
regarding his availability for a plant convention in San Francisco 
February 2006 (to which Ray declined).  I think it is time for someone 
(possibly our convention liaison? or maybe the president) to call up any 
of our SFBAAPS reps and find out what the heck is going on.

  - Erik

--
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com
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