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dizzy

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I would like to start a fund to bring Ferdie as a speaker at the upcoming MACNA in Louisville. It is very important that we hear both sides of the issues. Hopefully by September he can report on many positive developments with the net training both in the Philippines and perhaps Indo as well. I will ask the AMDA BOD if they are willing to serve as treasurer in this effort. I sincerely hope this fund is successful because I feel that much can accomplished if people are willing to listen to someone that really understands the fisherfolk and their plight. I would love to meet Ferdie even if he just came to talk to us in small groups like Steve at MACNA last year. Would you be willing to speak Ferdie?
 

Mike King

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Seeing Ferdie is a member of the CORL crew, CORL will pay for his ticket to MACNA if he agrees to come and talk at MACNA in Sept. (he has a very full plate). Just get him a nice room and some $$ for food and such.
If anyone wishes to help CORL with the cost , tax deductable donations can be made to CORL . E-mail me at [email protected] for more info. I may even show up at MACNA as my vacation is being bumped back to Sept.
So far it sounds like I will be back in the Philippines for several weeks in July-August to work for PI-Government and I will check on the MAC certified areas during my stay (without the MAC Reps being there, and Possably with Ferd if he can leave his work for a few days).

Steve I'd pay for your ticket too but you have AMDA to cover your cost,
(I'll buy the Beer if I make it there) :D .

Mike
 

dizzy

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Mike,
Great news Ferdie has agreed to come and speak at MACNA. I have a feeling people will really enjoy hearing his lecture. I have contacted Kelly Jedlicki for more details on the cost of sponsoring him. I hope it can be a joint AMDA/CORL effort.
 

Mike King

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Great, I'll start working on the ticket cash. Long day here, I was in the water doing work for community coral reef management all day. It was good diving and snorkeling, but I'm sure whooped :P another one just like it tomorrow up at 6am end at 6pm E-mail me when you get more info.
Thanks
Mike
 

dizzy

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Nancy,
Before I answer that question I am going to post the speaking acceptance letter from Ferdie. I have never met Ferdie but I have heard a lot of good things about him. IMO he knows more about the net training programs in the Philippines and also efforts in Indo than anyone else. He is also involved with efforts to establish aquaculture programs in the countries of origin. First I have an AMDA meeting, but the letter will be forthcoming.
 

MaryHM

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Ferdinand has actually stated that it would be "an honor" to speak at MACNA. I for one would love to see it happen. He emailed me earlier and said he'll probably do some posting tonight because he has some free time.
 

dizzy

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Nancy,
I am going to wait until I hear back from Ferdinand before I publish the letter. It was a very positive letter from someone who understands the field issues far better than people like I do. It will be a loss to everyone who attends the MACNA if he doesn't get the chance to speak.
 

Mike King

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CORL is quite strapped for cash, but I know the value of having Ferdie speak at MACNA. If needed the money will be out of my pocket personally. Ill stay here and he and Steve can Represent CORL-USA and CORL-PI. If anyone wishes to help I welcome it, make the donations to CORL and put "for Ferdie at MACNA on the memo line". Any extra monies received for him will go back with him in the form of netting material (or money for netting material). CORL is a 501-c-3 not for profit company that means that any donation is 100% tax deductible.
If anyone wants to help CORL out we need your support now help save a coral reef or two or three or.....
We need 20K to keep the CORL - USA office open any help will be welcome.

Thanks
from CORL-AS

Mike King


send donations to
CORL
2124 Plainfield Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49505

or through pay pal
[email protected]
 

MaryHM

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Don't write your checks yet. The MACNA committee has already said no. Hopefully they'll change their mind, but before we get too carried away we need acceptance from both sides. We have Ferdie's, now we have to see what MACNA decides to do.
 

John_Brandt

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I, and others, have been trying to talk the Louisville Marine Aquarium Society into putting MAC on stage for 9 months now. Their committee makes all decisions about who the speakers for MACNA will be. MASNA has virtually no involvement in that process now. They appear to already have a full roster of speakers.

So, attempts to put industry reform issues in front of this MACNA crowd have not yet been fully embraced. Ferdinand would be a welcome addition, but it may be a matter of beating a dead horse by asking LMAS yet again to add a speaker.

One can always get a "hospitality suite" and put on a presentation that way. But obviously this type of side event (which may be concurrent to other talks) will have much lower attendance compared to main stage.

With all due respects, it appears that the Ferdie Speaker Fund was premature regarding practicality and potential exposure. Others may have comments to add to that.

John Brandt

MASNA
MAC
CMAS-Chicago
 

mkirda

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The unfortunate truth is that industry reform issues are not all that important to most hobbyists at large. A look to the attendance during the MAC presentation at the IMAC conference would confirm this. The presentation was very poorly attended, IMO.

I really do wish that all conferences would embrace and push industry reform presentations. I think it quite important. However, the average hobbyist still seems to enjoy arguing over lights more than sustainable fisheries issues.

Regards.
Mike Kirda
P.S. I'd be down in Louisville in a heartbeat if Ferdie showed up.
Dizzy, he can stay with me for free if he does. Might even spring for a meal or two... {grin}
 

Nancy Swart

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So the invitation to speak did NOT come from the MACNA Committee??? And because the roster is full, not adding Ferdie is now a political move???

In the past, the biggest complaint from hobbyists has been having concurrent sessions. It's frustrating when you want to hear both speakers and it's also rude to the speakers to pit them against each other.

If this is Louisville's reason for not adding Ferdie, I can only admire and respect them for sticking to their guns.

Nancy
 

MaryHM

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John,

Is MAC still going to have a booth presence?

Nancy,
I have to agree that the cart was definitely put before the horse on this one. However, I do think it is in the best interest of MACNA to have a speaker from the field. I don't think this has ever happened before.
 

John_Brandt

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MaryHM":yrkdapgz said:
John,

Is MAC still going to have a booth presence?

Nancy,
I have to agree that the cart was definitely put before the horse on this one. However, I do think it is in the best interest of MACNA to have a speaker from the field. I don't think this has ever happened before.

MAC will have a booth, and almost certainly a hospitality suite at MACNA. Speaking of presence, it looks like at least one LMAS member is in this forum right now. We may be getting a statement.

Steve Robinson spoke at MACNA in Ft. Lauderdale in 1993 (I think). So there have been "field" speakers before. Also Richard Pyle, Forrest Young and Henry Feddern have spoken about collecting in the field. There may be others I am forgetting. I've been to every single MACNA.

John Brandt

MASNA
MAC
CMAS-Chicago
 

clarionreef

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Friends, hobbyists, reef people,
lend me your ears,
By definition, many of our beloved reef geeks are myopians.
Scrutinizing tiny developments of a new sponge, a hitchhiker, a new larvae on the glass etc. The hobby is the "fun" part of the trade and what a lot of people 'do' when they get off their not so fun real jobs.
By logical progression, many conference presentations reflect hobbyists demand...like in the market place. This is exactly the problem.
The demand for livestock led many business people to secure it by any means neccessary...and it was done far away from our vision. Happy to have so much livestock to choose from, the typical hobbyist rarely stops to consider where it all comes from and how...taking for granted that it will always be there.
Though understandable in a vigorous consumer culture...this narrow, cavalier, good time, "what...me worry"? additude helps to fuel the demise of the very coral reef ecosystems they claim to love.
Trade shows and conferences can and should keep aside at least one non concurrent presentation AUTOMATICALLY from now on for Industry Reform issues. In light of ever diminishing returns out on the reefs of Indonesia and the Philippines, it is irresponsible not to do this.
There is no presentation more important anymore...not Martins nor Julians [and I think they will agree with me] than the issues of industry reform and sustainability.
MACNA people should show greater vision, turn on a dime and embrace a serious MAC/CORL forum with Ferdie [CORL] and a MAC representative as guest speakers. With all the busywork that would involve...it would be nothing compared to what will happen if the trade in tropical livestock comes to a halt from government shutdowns or
ecological collapse. Both of those trends are in motion.
Comon MACNA people and all conference organizers forever more...Give us a forum to show the world that we are not irresponsible.
Sincerely Steve Robinson
AMDA president
 

Morris Spillman

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Greetings to All
The Louisville Marine Aquarium Society is very proud to be the host of
MACNA XV. We have been hard at work planning what we hope will be a
very informative and enjoyable conference.
The host club is now fully in control of all the planning, as well as all the
expenses, of producing the conference. The club members vote on and
make all the plans, contacts and leg work necessary. The schedules,
speaker selection (we had a long list to vote from) and confirmations
have been complete for some months now. Many speakers must be
contacted many months in advance to work out availability and schedules.
From the brief bio on Ferdinand Cruz that we have received only this
week, he seems to be a very informative person. Had we known of him
six months ago he would have been high on our speaker list. However
at present our schedule has been confirmed and is full.
There has been NO OFFICIAL INVITATION from LMAS or the MACNA XV
planning committee to request Mr. Cruz to speak at MACNA XV.
Mr. Gibbs is not a member of LMAS or has any input to their plans. He has made actions on his own. Imagine each of the 300+ attendees of past
MACNA's inviting their personal speaker to the conference then announing
to the host who will be coming. Try to plan a major event that way.

Thank You Visit www.LMAS.org. for more information.
Morris Spillman
LMAS President and Conference Coordinator
 

MaryHM

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Also Richard Pyle, Forrest Young and Henry Feddern have spoken about collecting in the field.

John, I'm not familiar with these people. Who are they?

Morris, thanks for your input. Although I would love to see Ferdie speak at MACNA, I understand the position you are in. If there is a speaker cancellation, I think we would all appreciate the chance to bring in Ferdie.
 

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