Town Hall meeting "report"
- Thread starter mkirda
- Start date
Here's the problem with AMDA. It is run by VOLUNTEERS. These VOLUNTEERS also have businesses to run. Everyone wants them to cover all the bases, but none of the membership wants to step up and help. When I was on the AMDA BOD, I told them numerous times that it was better to focus on one goal, complete it, then move on to the next instead of trying to do 20 different things at one time. Then the organization could actually move forward and gain respect as it set and acheived specific goals (even if it was only one goal per year). But of course, when you have 10 person BOD with 4 separate agendas (and the other 6 sitting there like a bunch of deaf/dumb chair warmers), then you'll never get anything accomplished. This is why I have been able to accomplish more on my own without the "approval" of some NGO (Nothing Going On).
Now, with that said, I want to state this. The membership elected Steve as President. They knew his agenda was the net caught movement. It should be of no surprise to them. Frankly, I think it would be in AMDA's best interest to pursue that 100% with the goal to get the barrier netting over to the Philippines. Then something is ACCOMPLISHED. DONE. FINISHED. COMPLETED. Then they could move on to something else. All of the bickering, backstabbing, and general yap-yapping is par for the AMDA course. And that is precisely why they will be unable to accomplish anything.
My offer to deal with the barrier netting fundraiser still stands. All AMDA has to do is give me the go ahead publicly.
Now, with that said, I want to state this. The membership elected Steve as President. They knew his agenda was the net caught movement. It should be of no surprise to them. Frankly, I think it would be in AMDA's best interest to pursue that 100% with the goal to get the barrier netting over to the Philippines. Then something is ACCOMPLISHED. DONE. FINISHED. COMPLETED. Then they could move on to something else. All of the bickering, backstabbing, and general yap-yapping is par for the AMDA course. And that is precisely why they will be unable to accomplish anything.
My offer to deal with the barrier netting fundraiser still stands. All AMDA has to do is give me the go ahead publicly.
MaryHM":1m9ikrm7 said:
Why must it be you or AMDA, Mary? And why, pray tell, should you need ANYBODY's blessing or "permission" to do good things?
This is one of the major reasons nothing gets done. We're all so worried about stepping on toes and egos. Hogwash...if more good people got involved INDEPENDENTLY, we'd make more progress.
Nancy
Nancy,
It doesn't have to be me or AMDA, but I don't see anyone else standing in line to get it done. NOT A SINGLE, SOLITARY SOUL. Not the MAC or IMA or Haribon or this industry. What are we supposed to do? Sit back until someone who isn't Mary Middlebrook or AMDA gets around to doing something? No thanks, I don't have another 10 years to wait for barrier netting to get to PI. Why do I ask AMDA's permission. Because they are the originators of this fund. It would be ridiculous, given the small amount of money necessary, to run 2 competing funds. I get attacked enough for what I do- I don't need to throw fuel on the fire by purposefully stepping on AMDA's toes. If they can't do it, then I will. If they can do it, GREAT! I really don't care who's name is attached, just as long as it gets done. By the end of the year preferably.
It doesn't have to be me or AMDA, but I don't see anyone else standing in line to get it done. NOT A SINGLE, SOLITARY SOUL. Not the MAC or IMA or Haribon or this industry. What are we supposed to do? Sit back until someone who isn't Mary Middlebrook or AMDA gets around to doing something? No thanks, I don't have another 10 years to wait for barrier netting to get to PI. Why do I ask AMDA's permission. Because they are the originators of this fund. It would be ridiculous, given the small amount of money necessary, to run 2 competing funds. I get attacked enough for what I do- I don't need to throw fuel on the fire by purposefully stepping on AMDA's toes. If they can't do it, then I will. If they can do it, GREAT! I really don't care who's name is attached, just as long as it gets done. By the end of the year preferably.
MaryHM":1fmww4su said:
Slow down, Mary. I was merely asking why it has to be an "either or" situation not why it has to be done at all. Since AMDA has yet to respond to you, I would assume they don't care if you do it or not. Considering your success with the first fund, they should be thrilled that you've stepped forward and offered to do it.
Nancy
clarionreef
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Nancy,.
Shhhh... I'm on the phone w/ Mary.
Steve
Shhhh... I'm on the phone w/ Mary.
Steve
Maybe you should've added publicly to the above quote then. I just happen not to be at work today, and when I tried calling Steve about an hour ago, he had no time to talk to me as he was on the phone with Mary. As for making a public statement, I do believe a BOD vote would be in order for that, as thats how it been done in the past at AMDA.
Personally, I don't think Mary needs anybodys blessing to start a good cause. If it were me, I'd go for it. Why's she worried about what AMDA thinks anyways? Nets are nets, and plus, if she raises barrier net money, there are oOTHER PARTS STILL NEEDED FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF THE BARRIER NETS, ie. floats and weights(AMDA's current $500 could go tom that). With out a BOD to slow down the process, she would be more able to get this thing down in a MUCH smaller timeframe. This Net Fund has been on the books for almost this entire year with little action other then countless MIRC BOD meetings.
Well, I'm off the phone with Steve. Aren't you all just dying to know what was said??? Don't worry, we only laughed at a few of you behind your backs. 
Gresham hit the nail on the head. Anything I do is completely unencumbered by a BOD. However, I'm not going to work parallel to AMDA's fund. If they want to have me deal with the money for the netting and they put money toward floats/weights/etc..- GREAT! If they want me to just do the whole thing and donate their portion to my fund- GREAT! If they want to just do the whole thing themselves- GREAT! Let's just get it done. Steve has asked me to give the BOD a few days to talk about all of this, and I think that is more than a reasonable request.
Gresham hit the nail on the head. Anything I do is completely unencumbered by a BOD. However, I'm not going to work parallel to AMDA's fund. If they want to have me deal with the money for the netting and they put money toward floats/weights/etc..- GREAT! If they want me to just do the whole thing and donate their portion to my fund- GREAT! If they want to just do the whole thing themselves- GREAT! Let's just get it done. Steve has asked me to give the BOD a few days to talk about all of this, and I think that is more than a reasonable request.
MaryHM":372acoo9 said:Oh, Steve and I talk every couple of weeks. Usually about much more pressing issues like "When can I get some Mexico stuff?" and "How about some Indo corals?"
You mean it isn't about how you two can corner the market on net-caught fish by teaming with Imperial? There were those at MACNA who thought that was what you two are trying to do...
It was funny how the rumor paralleled Jaime's info- I mean the two meshed...
Gotta wonder who is feeding them this sh, er, stuff.
For the record, I am aware of eight shipments made to the US to two different importers. Of the shipments, it appears three of them were reasonably good, with low DOA/DAAs. Around three were a mixed bag. At the end, the last couple of shipments were a disaster, resulting in large losses of money. Hence the earlier warnings that they were not ready for prime time. Ferdinand didn't/couldn't work with them on their shipping issues, so orders ceased. No more orders have occured since the end of May as far as I am aware.
Regards.
Mike Kirda
Yeah, you know me. Trying to "corner the market" with my piddly a$$ less than 8000 gallon fish system. :roll: Heck, I've offered to split shipments with other wholesalers just to make the freight worthwhile- only one takes me up on the offer. Here's a public announcement to any LA area wholesaler:
YOU WANT NET CAUGHT FISH??? YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTACT ME. WE CAN SPLIT SHIPMENTS AND I WON'T CHARGE YOU A PENNY OVER WHAT I'M CHARGED FOR ANYTHING- LIVESTOCK, FREIGHT, ETC...LET'S JUST GET MORE NET CAUGHT FISH INTO THE MARKET!!
I order every couple of weeks from Imperial. Between myself and the other wholesaler I split with, we usually get about 15-18 boxes between us. THAT'S 15-18 BOXES EVERY TWO WEEKS!! Why? Because honestly that's all my system can hold at once. Anyone who thinks I'm cornering the market on net caught has a screw loose. I also still order from Aquarium Habitat occasionally and just did a shipment with her last week.
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