MACNA XIX - Sept. 14-16, 2007

We would like to take a moment to thank everyone that helped to make the 19th annual Marine Aquarium Conference of North America such a tremendous success. First of all, we would like to thank the attendees. Without you all, there would not have been a show. To say we were pleased with the turnout is an enormous understatement. We were absolutely thrilled with the number of attendees that came to MACNA XIX and are happy to report we broke the MACNA attendance record!

The exhibitors also had a large role in the success of MACNA XIX. Their strong presence helped make MACNA XIX a tremendous value for the attendees. In addition to sharing their new products with hobbyists, their booth rental fees helped underwrite much of the event. The low registration rates as well as amenities like breakfast each day and the open bars at the evening events would not have been possible without each and every one of them.

MACNA’s have long been remembered for their major raffles at the end of the show, and this year was no different. The cooperation we received from donors was nothing short of superb. There were even a number of companies that did not attend as exhibitors but still sent donations for the raffle as a show of their generosity.

We have a number of sponsors, and we really need to take a moment to thank them. World Wide Imports provided their Nature’s Ocean natural seawater for all the exhibitors, while Aqua-FX produced RO/DI water for everyone. Zero Edge, IceCap, EcoTech Marine, Euro-Reef, Marine Depot and Sailfert combined their efforts and donated a fantastic system to the raffle. Central Aquatics donated all of the set-ups in their booth as well as twenty-four 8-gallon Oceanic Bio-Cubes that were given away as door prizes after every speaker. UVL endowed a cash donation to partially fund the reception Friday night. Bowtie Publications subsidized the nice coolers that we distributed to all full show attendees. And last, Ocean Nutrition provided the fine lanyards and name badge holders, while Reed Mariculture supplied goodie bags for all the attendees.

We also need to take a moment to thank our volunteer staff. They worked tirelessly to make the entire weekend go forward smoothly. Without their combined efforts, things would not have gone off as flawlessly as they did. The MACNA XIX committee arranged for MACNA XIX to happen, but the volunteers really made the show work!

The fine folks at the Radisson Hotel and Expo-Mart Convention Center could not have been better to work with. From leading up to the show for the past year, to the event, and even after it was over, they all displayed utter professionalism and a helpfulness that went above and beyond their individual job descriptions.

We would also like to thank Lauren, Debbie, Elizabeth, and Caroline for putting up with us being away from home in meetings, talking on the phone, online, and everything else we did for the past year-and-a-half in preparing for MACNA XIX. They were all very understanding and without their love and support, we would not have been able to do the show.

Anthony Calfo and Christine Williams were tremendously helpful in putting together the program for the show. They really did the lion’s share of the work and put together a beautiful program despite us giving them all of the information at the last minute and in total disarray. By combining the program with “C the Journal,” every attendee got a program and a copy of this fine magazine.

The advice and counsel of Kelly Jedlicki, Eric Borneman and Anthony Calfo was invaluable. Their insights and willingness to give of their time helped us all along the way.

The spirit of cooperation was strong with the past two years’ host clubs. Steve and Craig of WAMAS/MACNA XVII and Kim, Shane and Brad of MARSH/MACNA XVIII all gave us information and advice whenever needed. Their willingness to share information openly allowed us to avoid past mistakes and build on their successes. To that end, we are pledging to continue that cooperation in assisting Atlanta make MACNA XX even bigger and better. We hope to see you all next year!

Sincerely, Adam Cesnales and Steven Pro
Co-Chairs of MACNA XIX


CRASE - Oct. 13, 2007

The Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society, COMAS, www.mycomas.com, is having its first annual Oklahoma City Conference for Reef Aquarists and Saltwater Enthusiasts (CRASE). This will be a single day event and will comprise keynote lectures by Dr. Ron Shimek and Mr. Steve Tyree, both of whom are distinguished speakers in the area of saltwater aquariums. In addition, the President of COMAS, Dr. Paul Whitby, will be discussing fragmenting corals. There will also be a hobbyist coral frag sale, vendor and trade displays as well as numerous door prizes. Steve Tyree will be bringing limited-edition coral fragments for sale as well. For more information, visit our website: www.craseokc.com.

  • Date: October 13, 2007
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Place: Sellers Special Event Center; 13700 N. Eastern Avenue; Edmond, Oklahoma 73013

We are inviting everyone in the surrounding states to come. We hope to expand this into a two day event in the next few years. If you have never been to OKC, check out all the things to do. We have revamped our downtown into "Bricktown" with lots of fun things including a canal running through it. Make a whole weekend of it. Edmond is a great place for shopping if you have spouses who don't like the hobby.

Hope to see some of you there!

Thanks!

Sheryl Coley
COMAS PR officer
serra123@cox.net


NJRC Fall Frag Swap & Symposium - October 27, 2007

The New Jersey Reefers Club presents the 2007 Fall Frag Swap & Symposium to be held on Saturday, October 27th at the Crowne Plaza. Join us in Jamesburg, New Jersey for a day of fun and learning, frag swapping and informative presentations by Richard Harker and Scott Fellman.

Schedule:
10:00 - 11:00 - Vendor Setup
11:00 - 1:00 - Doors Open
  1:00 - 2:00 - Guest Speaker
  2:00 - 3:30 - Lunch Served
  2:30 - 3:30 - Grab Bag / Raffles
  3:30 - 4:30 - Guest Speaker
  4:30 - 6:00 - Auction
  6:00 - 7:00 - Cleanup

  • Date: Saturday, October 27, 2007
  • Location: Crowne Plaza, 390 Forsgate Drive; Jamesburg, NJ 08831
  • Admission: Before October 15 - $20 per person (children free)
  • Admission includes access to:
        Auction & Raffles
        Custom Sump Raffle
        Door Prize Raffle Ticket
        Coral Grab Bag
        Equipment manufacturers
        Livestock vendors
        NY Style Deli lunch buffet, snacks & soft drinks

For more information visit our website: http://www.njreefers.org


Third Annual Southern Maryland Reef Symposium - November 10, 2007

The Southern Maryland Marine Aquarium Society (www.smmas.org) is proud to host the Third Annual Southern Maryland Reef Symposium featuring noted speaker and author Anthony Calfo on November 10th, 2007. This event will be held at the Calvert Marine Museum from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm located near the beautiful area of Solomon’s Island, Maryland. The pre-registration admission fee of $25 ($10 for students 12-18, $4 for children under 12) is available until October 26th; ticket prices increase to $30 thereafter and at the door. Included in this price is admission to the Calvert Marine Museum, which featues wildlife from the Chesapeake Bay, a petting area of rays, numerous interactive displays, as well as the history of the Chesapeake. Check out their website for directions and all the activities that are available.

The doors open at 10:00am. Check-in at the front desk to receive your Reef Symposium passes and admission stickers for the museum. Tour the museum and enjoy the “saltwater” tank displays of the local Chesapeake Bay (who knew seahorses lived in the Chesapeake?). There is so much to see and do here that you may want to join the museum and come back again!

There will be plenty of food for everyone as well as one of the best marine aquarium raffles in the state - sumps, skimmers, lighting systems, gift certificates - it’s all going to be there! Vendors will also be on hand selling live corals as well as dry goods at very reasonable prices.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email club.smmas@gmail.com.

Please send payment through PAYPAL (www.payal.com) -- to email address club.smmas@gmail.com include your name, address and phone number so you can be reached if needed. In the subject line type "SMMAS Reef Symposium tickets."

    OR...

Send a check made out to SMMAS with the same information and addressed to:

CLUB SMMAS
P.O. Box 644
California, MD 20619

If you have an event that you would like listed on this page, please contact the webmaster. Events must be at least regional in nature to be considered for listing here.




Reefkeeping Magazine™ Reef Central, LLC-Copyright © 2008