Re: [AGA-sc] ideas from the phone

[Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@dustyuniverse.com>]

Erik Olson wrote:

> auctioned off Sunday.  Yes, I still think that the events are too similar, 
> but that has to be balanced with the expectations that Jeff already has of 
> "getting to run the IA next time" + all the talking Larry has done with 
> him, so I am willing to suspend my dissent for this.

I really don't see how we turn something like this down, politically 
speaking. Also there is a huge general interest in seeing this again. 
Several local clubs have done their own private versions.

> We would probably want to do a big wholesale plant order specifically for 
> Amano and IA, unless we know of specific member donations...  so no 
> biggie, we just double the order.

Brad McLane of FAN wrote us a letter, which I keep meaning to scan, 
saying basically that he wants to support us however he can. So we're 
good for plants. We could make a big order and offer to pay shipping and 
50%?

> 
> Field Trip:  
> 
>    A: Seachem-only in the morning.  Rent a bus.  Someone does a talk at 
> Seachem.  Come back in early afternoon, and then everyone's on their own 
> for the afternoon.  Go to the aquarium, shop, whatever.  Crew gets ready 
> for Friday evening.  Lots of breathing space, options for everyone.

I like this one best. But that means that only the folks who pay for the 
field trip get a speaker presentation on Friday night? I *really* like 
the idea of breathing room, but I am worried that those who can't/won't 
go will feel ripped off compared to previous years.

> 
>    C: Seachem in the morning, aquarium in the afternoon.   Kinda like "A" 
> except with guided behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium.

We could have two "field trips." Folks could pay for either one or both. 
I like the flexibility of that, because some people won't be able to get 
the whole day off work or won't want to ride a bus for that long, or 
whatever.

> 
> I can't get a read which one people would prefer.  I don't know if the AGA 
> membership is into a tour of a factory.  I *do* know we could probably 
> make a pretty amusing fake video of the tour to show Friday or Saturday 
> night.

That would be funny either way, but too much work for you. I agree with 
Kathy that ears perked up when we mention a tour of Seachem.

> 
> Speaker line-up:  If we do the Iron Aquascaper Friday night, I offer this 
> suggestion (which may or may not be identical to Scott's... I can't find 
> the archive e-mail)...
> 
>    Friday night: Iron Aquascaper Contest Sponsored by ADG (tm)
>    Saturday AM: Tissue Culture Guy
>                 Amano talk
>        (lunch break -- begin setting up Amano demo)
>    Saturday PM: Dr. Tan (moss guy)
>                 Amano demo
> 
>    Banquet: Aquascaping Contest Awards
>             Karen Randall

This sort of looks spare to me. Are y'all sure we don't have room for 
one more speaker?  Let Mike do it if Jeff doesn't want to.

  > Committes:  I think that someone needs to formalize who all the 
committee
> chairs are.  The degree of random motion, especially with vendors, is 
> worrying me.  If they're working together, that's cool.  But I have no 
> idea.

Ooooh! Ooooh! http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/convention_committee.html

Whazzamatter with that? You think you can do better?

> 
> I would summarize the short-term priorities for this convention:
> 
> 1. DECIDE ON FIELD TRIP OPTION.
> 2. DECIDE ON IA (given this new info) + get on same page with Jeff.
> 3. Get registration open.

I really really really think we need to move this discussion back to the 
con-heads list. The volunteers there have been cooling their heels for 
TWO WEEKS with no word from us. I know that's partly because Karen left 
for Thailand and all, but they don't know that, do they? They need to 
know what's going on or they will lose interest at best or feel slighted 
at worst.

Cheryl
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