AMDA and hobbyists

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me if AMDA has any plans to have any sort of official extension to hobbyists or will it remain strictly a "professional membership" type of entity for the foreseeable future?

Just curious because nothing on the current website gives the new hobbyist/reefer any solid ideas of why they should support AMDA-affiliated shops.

Norm

 

[JennM]

Well I'm not a member but AMDA stands for American Marinelife Dealers' Association... so by virtue of the fact that the name implies dealers only...

There is a group called MASNA - I am no longer a member but I was the secretary for a while, it's Marine Aquarium Societies of North America and its members consist of clubs, individual hobbyists, dealers and other interested persons.

HTH

Jenn

 

[clarionreef]

Hobbyists...
Can contribute to the NET FUND and be sure that all the money goes to buying nets for village collectors that never got them from anyone else.
Once divers get to work with the real nets used by divers in Mexico, Australia and Hawaii where net training and collecting has never been faked...they are hooked. This is the path to getting them off cyanide fishing. Not with sermonizing and complicated formulas...but to lead with the vital material to enable training to go forth.
Hobbyists, retailers and anyone else can simply write a check to NET FUND and do your part to making a future trade in tropicals possible.
The adress on AMDAREEF.COM is where to send it.
As far as membership goes...its a dealers organization as Jenn said.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Steve,

Great info but what I was looking (hoping) for is if AMDA will consider putting more information out there as to why consumers should look to the AMDA sticker as a reason to patronize a business.

FWIW, the MAC sticker is working at making itself known to consumers and giving consumers a reason to look for it. - I was wondering if AMDA will be taking a similar approach in getting people to realize what the benefits are of supporting an AMDA member are.

Thanks again,
Norm

 

[clarionreef]

There has long been a syndrome of little substance and great web-sites...
and great work and poor web-sites...in the history of industry reform.

MAC for example has a far better web-site then a record of accomplishment in the field. In fact...their very business plan has been to 'prep' the market first...and eventually get to the field work after. Hence the cart before the horse reputation.
Plus...their staff all get paid. Theoretically they need to produce every day to earn their pay and have no excuse not to tend to their agenda all day long.

AMDA ...a purely volunteer group, has already put more nets in the hands of collectors for free...and lost 8 months in a tentative deal with MAC to help train a thousand collectors w/in a year. MAC pulled out and the result was a tragic loss of time and effort and good-will.
Our website...is the main agenda item for this Monday nites BOD meeting.
Lots will change soon.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Outstanding.. - Thanks Steve.

 

[naesco]

Our website...is the main agenda item for this Monday nites BOD meeting.
Lots will change soon.
Steve[/quote]

I hope that this is not the main agenda item.
As advised there is so much that AMDA can do.

 

[clarionreef]

Agreed,
But its still up to the vote...as always.
I'm outnumbered by retailers and they see the growing fish in the mail movement and Petco as the primary threats to existance.

Being the only wholesaler/importer...I know that where the fish come from and how they get caught determines our future just as much.
If the fish start 'dirty'...how do you ever clean them up later?
Many retailers want to focus on the homefront and not on the 'far away' issues.
We live in plurality and things carry by majority vote.
We have nets and a net fund now...but not the far, far more difficult training and training fund. People liked the net fund more cause it was cheaper, easier to understand and not so political. But...If you raise money for nets...and just wharehouse them...whats the point?
Nets are an accessory to training. Not training in itself.
The search for a training vehicle continues.
Steve