Board Meeting, notes from general meeting

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

OK, welcome Clay and Joe to the board list.  I *think* that means we're
all here now.

Clay asked when the board meeting was... the LAST Tuesday of the month,
which always two weeks BEFORE the general meeting, but not always two
weeks after the previous general meeting (sometimes it's three weeks
after).  So we're looking at September 26th at our house.  As Kathy said,
milling at 7:30ish, meeting at 8:00 PM, kick-out at 9.

=====
The general meeting last night went great.  I know that Kathy and I were
both very burned out and wondering whether to go at all or move to
dissolve the club.  But when we got there it was very re-affirming why we
do this stuff.

There were about 12-13 people, including two new guys who've been chomping
at the bit since last summer.  One, Jeff Densler, is a biochemist with a
tech interest in the hobby (having just read Adey and Loveland's _Dynamic
Aquaria_, he wants to build an algal turf scrubber, for instance).  He's
into big Central American cichlids and big tanks.  He also wants to learn
about home-made fish foods and blackwater tanks.

The other new guy, Jay Hoover, has a Southeast Asia biotope tank, but
ultimately wants to do a reef tank when he learns enough.  Both these guys
came in search of knowledge.  Jay in particular was depressed at lousy
plant availability here.

Sandy was actually a useful member at the meeting; not overly impolite, no
badmouthing of the club, and just the frequent but-insky about her own
experience when others were talking that we all kinda do when excited
about our stuff.  Sandy remarked she really enjoyed Lee Finley's catfish
talk two (actually three) years back and would like to see him speak
again.

Joe Hughes (hi Joe!) has a 125, is into tech details, lights and
*cabinetry*, and had much to share on these.  Everyone seemed jazzed about
a possible presentation on this (!!!)  Sandy, in particular, wanted to
learn how to build easy stands.  I think this is a great workshop topic
for later in the year.

Bob Holmes (hi Bob!) has an interest in barbs, southeast Asia, and also
planted tanks and outdoor ponds.  He told a funny story about a dog and
his pond.

Leim was here but preferred to listen rather than talk.  Kathy noted that
his ears perked up when we discussed discus and considered Dick Au as a
discus speaker (when three people have prime interest in this on the first
meeting of the year, I think of it as a mandate).

Natalie (Fong?) is a friend of Kevin-from-the-Fish-Gallery, and was very
pleasant to hear.  She is also seeking knowledge from the club, loves the
auctions, and is into discus and angels, Koi angels specifically.

Kevin meanwhile, wants to get into goldfish.  He'd like to hear a speaker
on diseases, parasites and medication.

Others present: Clay, Anne, Kathy, Steve and myself.  Didn't get good
notes from us.

Other general discussion: everyone liked the relaxed "unplugged"
atmosphere of the meeting, some REALLY liked it and wished we had more of
them (again, almost a mandate).

That's all from this corner.

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com