Re: [AGA-sc] opinions on speakers for convention?

["Karen Randall" <krandall@rdrcpa.biz>]

> Mosses - Professor Tan from Singapore
>  Does he speak English?
>  Does he speak? speak well?
>  Cheryl thinks we should fly out KL too (or in place of?)
>  Larry wonders if KL is any good either, and notes $1000 plane fare

Same concerns, but unless we stick with the "same old-same old" there are 
risks with any unknown speaker.

> Australian Native Plants - Dave Wilson

Excellent choice - speaks English, takes good photos, has experience in an 
area where few others do, but costly to import.<g>

> Photography - Jay Luto
>  Jim has proposed Jay Luto
>  Erik not so sure about Jay
>  Erik has counter-proposed having a live demo with a tank, done
>  by someone who's photographed aquascapes for pro or Amano contest

I'd only use Jay as one of the second tier of speakers, if we have to use 
him at all.  Unfortunately, I've seen enough of Jay's work to think there 
are many better aquarium photographers around.  Even if we DO use Jay, I 
like Erik's suggestion of the demo tank to work with.

> Freshwater Shrimps/Inverts
>  Not clear on who would be a good speaker here

Another one that I'd only use in one of those less expensive (not paying for 
a plane ticket) positions.  I haven't got a clue who to use.  The only FW 
invert speaker I've heard speak on the circuit just regurgitated material 
collected from web sites, and many of his photos were taken right out of the 
Aqualog book.  He did have experience raising Cherry Shrimp, but my 
understanding is that that's about like saying your an expert on fish 
because you've bred guppies.

> Anyone else have comments on these speakers.  Do we have any "references" 
> who've heard them speak, especially for the Singapore guys?

I don't think the Singapore guys HAVE ever spoken.  I mean, Professor Tan 
might have, but certainly not to hobbyists, and we don't want/need a 
scientific symposium-level talk.

> Should I call up Tom Barr and ask him for his counter-proposal list?

Tom might know who, on the local scene, makes sense.

As an alternate "big" speaker, I'd like to suggest Troels Andersen at 
Tropica.  I'd have to check with Claus first to make sure his spoken English 
is up to the task, but based on many lengthy e-mail correspondences with him 
over the last year, I suspect it is.  Troels is the new R&D guy for Tropica. 
He is extremely knowledgeable about aquatic plant physiology, both in the 
wild, and under aquarium culture.  From the correcpondence I've had with 
him, I'd be very surprised if he couldn't do an excellent job.

A fourth possibility would be Ole Pedersen (the University of Copenhagen 
one) He is a field scientist, and known to our readers through his regular 
contributions to TAG.  Again, I have not spoken to him in person, so can't 
totally vouch for his spoken English, but his written English is excellent, 
and Danes, in general, speak English well.

Karen 


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