Re: AGA memorial fund for Vicki Costley

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Proposed letter I want to send tomorrow:
--------------------

Hello Lana,

Thanks for your proposal, and I apologize for not writing back sooner. 

We have discussed your proposal very thoroughly on the AGA board this
week.  It's really nice that you wish to honor the memory of your friend;  
it seems like every year we've lost some really great people in the hobby.  
Just a few months ago, for instance, Merrill Cohen passed on.  Merrill was
an amazing long-term contributor to both the AGA and to the hobby in
general, between his hardware innovations when he owned Aquarium Products,
to his encouragement to aquatic gardening in general as part of the AGA
Management Committee.  Last year we lost Peter Lewis, and before that Al
Castro.

Unfortunately, while the thought is good, there ends up being several
practical difficulties with the AGA taking on such a task as a recurring
event.  First, the AGA has a limited amount of resources, both monetary
(and more importantly) in personnel to manage such things.  Many questions
have to be answered for such a fund: What is the purpose (other than to
honor Vicki)?  Who is chosen to receive it, and why?  Who insures that
this is taken care of each year?

Second, $25 is a relatively small amount of money.  It is almost too small
to worry about using for an award.  It would seem much better to pool the
money together and do a great one-time donation to a charitable or
conservation organization, rather than spread it thin across an award
given out many years.

Finally, and this is really the hardest to bring up, from everything we've
heard, Vicki was a good friend to the AB Forums, but never a member of the
AGA or involved in our area of the hobby at all.  It would seem fitting
that AB would be the place where she is honored rather than a bunch of
folks here who never really knew her to begin with.

Best Regards,

  - Erik

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, Lana Lawrence wrote:

> BlankDear EriK,
> 
> I am writing on behalf of Aquaden.com and Aquabotanic.com's Wet Thumb Forum
> to request that the AGA consider establishing a award in memory of Vicki
> Costley, a beloved member of both communities who was tragically killed in
> an auto accident last month.  Both communities have money that they would
> like to put toward this potential award that would honor excellence in
> Aquatic Gardening.
> 
> Vicki Costley was an avid aquatic gardener and encouraged many fish keepers
> who she encountered on a daily basis to delve into planted aquaria.  She
> inspired people with images of her own tanks and she was generous with her
> advice for those who needed it on establishing planted tanks.  She was
> well-read on the subject, not to mention talented with her ability to
> aquascape.
> 
> We envision this award being given online on an annual basis, with possibly
> a $25-$50 dollar prize.  Aquaden has expressed an interest in sponsoring the
> award even after the initial funds of around $400 (combined) run out and The
> Wet Thumb community might be willing to do the same.  She was a special and
> beloved member of our communities and we feel that this would be the most
> fitting way to honor her.  I have also received permission to establish such
> an award from her immediate family.
> 
> Please let me know if the AGA would be willing to establish such an award,
> and what procedures would need to be taken in order to put it in place.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Lana Lawrence
> Aquaden.com
> 

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com

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