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Brad Ward

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Fellow Hobbyist's,

I received the following letter from the MASNA board a few days ago, and I was wondering what I could do to help. As some of you know, MACNA XIV is scheduled to be held in Dallas/Fort Worth next year. It would appear that that will not happen unless sufficient funds are raised by the end of the year. As a life long hobbyist, and multiple time attendee of MACNA, I realize the importance of this Conference in regard to the hobby itself. Not only information is passed along at MACNA. Relationships made and formed with fellow hobbyist's, as well as the Vendors who provide us with product, make a difference in this hobby. The importance of MACNA as a bridge between the Scientific and Hobbyist community has always been one of it's best attributes. It would be a shame to lose it.

So here I am, asking for everyones help in this regard. Any donations can be sent to:

Mr. Carl Huntley
MASNA Treasurer
24205 Club View Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20882-4001

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Brad Ward: President DFWMAS

The recent Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, held in Baltimore, MD, fell short of meeting its financial requirements. Despite the devotion of a limited number of un-paid volunteers, we are faced with the possibility that MASNA, and its associated annual conference, MACNA, will no longer exist unless funds can be raised by January 1st, 2002.

For the first time in the history of MASNA, a two-month fund raising event has been initiated since November 1st. Just as the National Public Radio and Television drives call on their member audiences to contribute to the continuation of such services, the MASNA board of directors have been hard at work calling on all of its supporting companies to donate whatever they can to see that MASNA and our annual conferences survive. With our deadline quickly approaching, we are now calling on our member societies and individual hobbyists to help in any way possible.

Our minimum goal is $20,000.00. This amount will effectively cover the loss of MACNA XIII. If by January 1st, 2002, we are unable to achieve this goal, we must permanently dissolve. That means no more MASNA and no more MACNA events.

Over the past 13 years, MASNA has brought together marine aquarium hobbyists from around the world through our member clubs and annual conferences. We have provided a foundation for marine aquarium societies to prosper in support of the education of marine aquarium husbandry through the sharing of personal experiences and ideas.

MASNA has also played a major roll in widening the awareness of manufacturers and their products by providing them with an opportunity to personally interact with both novice and advanced hobbyists form around the world at our annual Marine Aquarium Conference of North America. We do so in recognition of the benefits both hobbyists and manufacturers achieve through face-to-face communication.

We do all of this through the devotion of a limited number of un-paid volunteers and the support of companies, marine aquarium societies, and individuals like yourself.

In the current state of our nation we understand that your contribution is not only to support the continuation of MASNA and future Marine Aquarium Conferences of North America, but it is also a strong statement in the belief that this industry will survive these more difficult times. Respectively, MASNA cannot thank you enough for any contributions you have made in the past, whether it has been through the payment of club dues or purchasing booth space at our MACNA events.

If MASNA does reach our goal, any contributing company donating more than $3000.00 will receive a free booth at the next scheduled MACNA. Any society or individual donating more than $1000.00 will receive one free full-registration for MACNA XIV. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee this incentive, as we are uncertain that MASNA will survive at all.

Hopefully, through your support, we will see you next year in Dallas.

Sincerely,
The 2001 MASNA Board of Directors
 

Veng68

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I think helping financially with the MACNA's did it. Putting on one of those shows cost a lot of money.

Cheers,
Veng68
 

Brad Ward

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Steve,

I wasn't in on any of the Board meetings last year, so can't really give a qualified answer. I think that the number of people that were expected to show up at the Conference fell far short of the Board's expectations. It seems that last minute Registrations have been the norm in the past, and they just didn't materialize this year. The Budget for these Conferences is very large, this year the budget was projected to be over $150,000 and I know that there was a Hotel change late in the game that might have contributed to the problem.

Brad
 

carolina98

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Hi Brad,
I've already replied to the subject on another board, but would like to briefly comment here as well...

Right on to everything you said. The number mentioned was a projected expense. In actuality it ended up costing much more. (Hidden expenses in the hotel contract, such as charging $8000 for access to the exhibit hall for vendor setup on Thursday.) And the list goes on, and on. I believe a major expense is the audio/visual... it runs into tens of thousands of dollars.

Point is, you just can't spend that kind of money if the numbers aren't there. Ya can't spend what you don't have! That's it in a nutshell.

I'm still with you on the graphics Brad, if XIV comes about. My thoughts are with you...

Happy Holidays,
Connie
 

jamesw

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Brad:

So MASNA needs to raise approximately $20,000 in a week? Why didn't we hear about this sooner? I would have expected MASNA to say something by now...especially if MACNA is in the balance.

If we could have started a fund raiser sooner, this might be possible. Now we only have a week...
icon_sad.gif


James Wiseman
 

jamesw

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Brad,

If we can get 200 people to donate $100 each, that would do it. I'm sure that we at reefs.org, as well as the other message boards would be willing to help w/ getting the word out.

Cheers
James
 

Brad Ward

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Thanks James. It really doesn't seem like it would be hard to raise that much in the next week. If even 10% of the Board population joined in and contributed, it would be a piece of cake. I hope others will join in and help. Even if folks can't afford $100, anything would help at this point.

Thank you for your support,

Brad
 

Gatortailale1

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400 people to contribute $50

or 800 to contribute $25

Brad or Connie,

Any idea if MASNA is a non-profit organization? If so doesn't that mean our donations are/can be taken as a tax deduction.

Please advise.

usa.gif


[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: Gatortailale ]</p>
 

Brad Ward

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I don't know if they are non-profit or not. The Vice President of MASNA replied to another thread and has made it clear that any money donated will be held in a seperate fund and be refundable in the event that the goal is not met. It has also been suggested that MASNA open a Paypal account to make it easier for people to help out. I believe that if this comes to pass we can make the difference.

Thank you for your support,

Brad
 

Gatortailale1

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I answered my own question by reading "about us" on Masna.org

http://www.masna.org/

"MASNA is a not-for-profit organization composed of several marine aquarium clubs and individual hobbyists from Canada, Mexico, and the United States...."

Thus, I believe that you can deduct the amount of your donation on your taxes. [Someone corret me if I'm wrong] What better way to get a end of year tax break then to make a donation to a good cause.

[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: Gatortailale ]</p>
 

TEW

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Please allow me to clarify a few things regarding our situation as I currently hold the position of VP for MASNA.
The MASNA Board has been trying to raise $20,000 to cover our debt since the final bills came pouring in. Most of us currently serving on the Board had little or nothing to do with signing contracts, etc. for the last MACNA but have assumed responsibility for trying to get the debt reconciled. The conference was over-budgeted in many areas but it certainly wasn't intentional.
Our goal is to raise the $20,000 so that MASNA and MACNA can continue. ALL DONATIONS will be kept seperate and if we do not reach our goal, the monies will be returned to the person(s) who donated them. If we reach our goal, MACNA will continue but some serious steps will be taken to scale down and simplify the conference.
Thanks for reading this post & thanks for any help you are able to give.
Tom Walsh
VP MASNA
Pres., Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society
 

jamesw

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Now, let's clarify.

If MASNA get's "bailed out" this year, that means they are "Back To Zero." That doesn't mean that there is going to be a MACNA next year. It just means that there will be a MASNA.

What I think we all want is a MACNA. In the past MACNA was NOT put on by MASNA. That is a recent thing of the last 2 years.

While bailing out MASNA is a GOOD thing - it does not guarentee that there will be a MACNA next year. It sounds like MASNA has a lot to do to just get their own house in order...let alone take on a big task such as MACNA.

Now this is going to sting a bit, but wouldn't our money be better spent donating it to the club that IS going to host MACNA next year? That is DFWMAS.

Just for the record, that is NOT what I am suggesting we should do, but we CERTAINLY should discuss it.

James

[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: jamesw ]</p>
 

SPC

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And along with James suggestion let me ask this, if MASNA folds they will take the current board with them. What are the chances of a new MASNA type organization rising from the rubble with a more financially conscious BOD?
Steve
 

Gatortailale1

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W.,

Good thought. However, what happens to the excess funds during a year when a club gets more donations than it needs to cover expenses? We would run into a trust issue in hoping the sponsor club passes on the funds. [currently we have the issue of debt to pass on, ouch]

I think that if MASNA was run the way it should be run / or as originally intended, then the left over funds would be held by a national organization for the benefit of the next MACNA. Unfortunately, from what I have read on this board and others, it sounds like the old guard went "hog wild" with the budget. (OK, its easy for me to complain, and yes I have no idea what plans were made by the old guard regarding the budget. I understand that it's a thankless non-paying job)

After attending the one in Baltimore this year, I would have to say that the facilities were WAY to extravagant for MACNA'S needs. I think the conference would be better served by finding and renting a facility at a college campus with a lecture hall and space for vendor displays, rather than renting space at TOP DOLLAR at some big fancy hotel. I know it's a fun to rub elbows with big shots at a big hotel, but it also leaves most of the hobbyists out in the cold.

The other issue I have / wish about MACNA is that it's held in only one city a year. It was great that I could travel to Baltimore to attend. But I'm not going to make the trek to Dallas next year. I understand it's a big task for vendors amd speakers to attend one event a year. However, I think the vendors and the hobby would be better served by having 2 or more events during the year in more centralized locations across the country. 4 would be better. 85% of the event is geared to vendors showing off their product to the hobbyist. If there were more localized events, more people would be interested in MASNA/MACNA and the entire event would GROW.

But all this is just my $.0002
 

MaryHM

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There was another event, the Western Marine Conference. This has been cancelled due to low attendance. If we can't get a decent attendance at 2 shows, how could we ever pull off 4??
 

Anemone

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HAving a national organization (MASNA) host/put on MACNA is a laudable goal, but as James pointed out, it used to be local clubs that vied for the "honor" of hosting the national conference. How did local clubs do it? I have no idea, but somehow they managed to coordinate local issues and donations and come out solvent.

I am saddened that the Western Marine Conference is disappearing again (it died a few years ago due to....drum roll please....lack of interest attributed to MACNA - our hobby didn't seem to be able to support two conferences in a single year (as Mary pointed out)). It resurfaced in Sacramento, and then Monterey Bay, and now appears to have died again.
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Expensive registration/exhibitor costs may have something to do with it. Maybe the future of our conferences will be more like a computer trade show at the local fair grounds (or, as someone suggested a local college). Obviously, travel expenses and an honorarium/fee for speakers involves cost - many of us attend these things to hear/speak to some of the "luminaries," but perhaps saving a bit on the site costs (does it really need to held at a Hilton?) will allow us to continue to afford to bring in the best/most popular speakers. Hey, the expensive hotels are usually the ones with the best facilities for doing everything on site, but I'd stay with Tom Bodet (Motel 6) and drive to the local community college for the presentations/exhibits if that's what it takes to keep these conferences going.
icon_smile.gif


For those of you who have never been to one of these conferences, if there ever is another, GO!!! It's a lot of fun, you learn a lot, you get to put faces/personalities behind the computer screens, and it's a lot of fun!!
icon_biggrin.gif


FWIW,
Kevin
 

carolina98

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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Anemone:
<strong>

FWIW,
Kevin</strong><hr></blockquote>

Like the MasterCard... it's priceless.
 

Brad Ward

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Originally posted by jamesw:
[QB]Now, let's clarify.

If MASNA get's "bailed out" this year, that means they are "Back To Zero." That doesn't mean that there is going to be a MACNA next year. It just means that there will be a MASNA.

That is correct. It just means that there can be future MACNA events. But, MACNA has gotten very expensive and complicated to hold in the last few years. Very few clubs have the means to do this by themselves. I wouldn't have bid unless they were the backers. MASNA's job was to set up a blueprint if you will, for success. Unfortunately, the blueprint didn't work last year. Paring expenses by holding it in a less expensive venue would solve the problem it seems to me.

What I think we all want is a MACNA. In the past MACNA was NOT put on by MASNA. That is a recent thing of the last 2 years.

James, the reason I never bid for MACNA before was the fact I didn't want to take on the expense and planning it requires. Would your club? I'm talking about quite a sum of $.

While bailing out MASNA is a GOOD thing - it does not guarentee that there will be a MACNA next year. It sounds like MASNA has a lot to do to just get their own house in order...let alone take on a big task such as MACNA.

Things need to change for sure. I think the Board gets the picture now. At least I hope so. MASNA is important for not only MACNA, but for the representation that it gives to the hobby. It also allows us a large voice to trade groups and the Government. Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.

Now this is going to sting a bit, but wouldn't our money be better spent donating it to the club that IS going to host MACNA next year? That is DFWMAS.

Whoa!!! Lets fix this by doing the right thing and getting MASNA out of danger. We need them to be solvent.

Regards,

Brad Ward
 

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