• Why not take a moment to introduce yourself to our members?

dizzy

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Daniel I agree with you. It does need to be overhauled. I also think it would be better if a few more smart people joined and helped to do it. I think it needs to grow to the point of being able to pay someone for the time to run things.
Mitch
 

danieldm

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Mitch, my name is Marc. The dmdaniel is a throw back to the old 6 -1- 1 network login ID I had to use for years.

How do you reorganize the AMDA when members (possibly board members) know that the resulting reorg would not only not benefit them, but could also directly challenge them on the issues at a future date?

I would gladly offer my services to a new organization that was a devoted advocate of the retail sector...I would even volunteer to run it until it got off it's feet and a general board election could be held. I would also gladly offer these same services to a reorganized AMDA if they were to become a retail advocacy group.

Marc
 

dizzy

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Well Marc I'm pretty sure the current BOD would be in agreement with you. There was a fairly recent election. One candidate for president wanted to make it more of an umbrella group. The other wanted to make it a retailer group mostly. Well the pro-retailer guy won so I guess the board has a mandate and some political capital to spend. I will say that letters notifying the members, and asking for comment were sent out and there were no objections that I know of. Write up a little bit of what you have in mind and send it to me as a pm. I'll make sure the others see it. maybe we can work together to level the playing field for retailers.
Mitch
 

PeterIMA

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Although I am not a member of AMDA, I do know that its President Burton Patrcik has his head on straight and has drefted a letter which will be published soon in the next AMDA newsletter. AMDA is going in the right direction and in my opinion does not need to be reorganized by someone who can not even reveal his true identity. Marc, please identify yourself and list your qualifications.

Peter Rubec
 

danieldm

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Peter,

I've never hid my identity.

My name is Marc Daniels.

I completely disagree with your statement that AMDA does not need to be reorganized. You tell me what it is...is it an advocate for the retailer, is it an advocate for the wholesaler, or how about the manufacturers? These groups all have completely different agendas, completely different goals, completely different everything. There is no way that a single organization can be an advocate for such a diverse group with any due diligence. It's tantamount to an advocacy group that includes the chickens, the farmer, and the wolf.

As for my qualifications...I have the ability to motivate, organize, and lead from the front. I have over 10 years of project management and management experience working with the leaders of companies such as Ameritech, SBC, AT&T, Franklin Templeton, etc. I have led multiple million dollar projects to success, and ahead of schedule. I am college educated, I hold a certification in Management & Leadership from UC Davis, I hold a certification in Return on Investment Analysis from ASTD, I hold a certification in ITIL from (don't laugh) Pink Elephant, and on, and on. I have been asked on two occasions to sit on corporate boards of midsize companies, and I have done some personal career type coaching through the mentor program of our local state college. This is all verifiable and stated on my resume.

I have 10+ years of experience as a hobbyist, and at this time consider myself to be at an advanced level in regards to most hobbyists. I have a Patent Pending product that will be launching into the aquaria industry within the next 5-6 months that will be revolutionary. Along those lines, I am also in the process of starting a company that will provide services in the service sector of the aquaria industry. I am also in negotiation with several public aquariums to provide services to them.

I was for a brief period involved in a start up company that included the infamous Craig Lightner of "Clarion Gate" fame. I saw enough in my brief brush inside the industry to know how terribly screwed up it is, and to also know where some of the skeletons are located.

I am currently playing single parent to a 4yo and 2yo while my wife is serving in the Middle East. She's a Major and 21 year vet. My favorite color is green, our dog is named Minnie, I drive a minivan (but it has a whale of a sound system in it so I didn't lose all my manhood), I thought about going to cooking school rather than into corporate America. One of my favorite things is a mint chocolate chip ice cream float made with cream soda.

Oh, one last qualification...I seem to be about the only person that is actually offering solutions rather than rhetoric. Shhhhh, but don't tell anyone else.

Is there anything else you would like to know?

Marc
 
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PeterIMA":xz7gzrvh said:
Although I am not a member of AMDA, I do know that its President Burton Patrcik has his head on straight and has drefted a letter which will be published soon in the next AMDA newsletter. AMDA is going in the right direction and in my opinion does not need to be reorganized by someone who can not even reveal his true identity. Marc, please identify yourself and list your qualifications.

Peter Rubec

Why don't you ask people that know Marc Peter, Like Steve or I? Heck, even Righty, Matt Wandell and Bookfish know him :lol: Marc is a CA resident and VERY active in the reef club scene. He's not some secret person ;)
 

PeterIMA

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Marc, You do seem to be well qualified. Thanks for providing the information. Anyone who likes mint choclate ice cream made with a soda, must be an expert on the aquarium trade. I think that AMDA has already defined itself as being an organization representing the small independent retailer. Hence, you have common interests/goals. It is not up to me what AMDA does or stands for. But, I am sure they could use your help.

Peter
 

dizzy

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In addition to Marc, AMDA could also use an infusion of independent retailers who want a voice in determining their fate. There is strength in numbers and if we are going to have any muscle at all we will have to swell the ranks. I agree with Marc that there has to be a unity of purpose. All we really want is a level playing field for all. We are not trying to limit competition or exclude anyone from the industry. If we have done anything in the past three years, it has been working to keep the free market alive and well. Others have tried to monopolize and establish exclusive deals at the expense of the rest of us. I think what most of us at AMDA want is to support wholesalers and manufacturers who support us. I sure hope some of the retailers who post here decide to join and lend a hand.
Mitch
 

danieldm

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Peter-

I have pondered the meaning of life over a mint chocolate/cream soda float on many occasions.

From what I can see, organizationally the AMDA are the chickens (sorry for calling you chickens, but go with me here). Just because the current BOD leans strongly towards the chickens, doesn't actually make the organization itself one that is focused on the chickens. Their membership, standards, bylaws, creed, manifesto, etc, still allow for the participation, even at the BOD level, of the farmer and the wolf. Someone coined the phrase "conflict of interest" for a reason.

There are numerous examples through history that show what happens when a single group tries to represent such a diverse group. I know this is an exaggerated example, but take for instance the AFL-CIO. It's ripping itself apart because they are not representing every group within it on an equal basis. So the trades left out in the cold have split off. I would challenge anyone here to find a real life example of an organization, representing a group as diverse as the AMDA, that has been successful. You simply won't find any, and it's for a reason.

Gresham, in Peter's defense he has no idea that I live in California, or that I know the group you mention on a personal level away from RDO. I think that after my statements Peter (and any other RDO member) had every right to challenge my statements in such a way.

Marc
 
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Anonymous

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True... but before making the kind of post he did, he should have asked around in private first. Guess I'm different, I like to do my homework. I hate shooting from the hip :lol:
 

dizzy

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Peter was just taking up for Burton. Which was nice, but however totally unnecessary as Burton is an alfa male type. Peter all I can do is arrange a meeting and hope there is a meeting of the minds. I think Burton and Marc both have good ideas that should be able to blend nicely together. There is only one way to find out for sure and that step has already been taken. I believe Burton and Liz were both attending the Global Pet Trade show in San Diego so we'll see what happens after the show.
Mitch
 

danieldm

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I'm freezing up here in 54f degree weather, enduring storm after merciless storm and they are down galavanting around sunny San Diego. Just not fair!

In all seriousness, I hope they have some success at the show.

Back to my San Diego rant above, all of my wife's family is in San Diego, and this was sent to me last week by my father-in-law..."sunny/warm" San Diego.

1snow-in-San-Diego.jpg
 

RasBobre

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danieldm":39uu989h said:
I come from the corporate world where you deliver results, or you deliver pizzas the next week.

Hear, hear Marc.

From over hearing your conversation last week with our speaker, you certainly are an well informed person in the hobby and I think AMDA could benefit from your knowledge.

-Robert
 
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RasBobre":1eo36nn0 said:
danieldm":1eo36nn0 said:
I come from the corporate world where you deliver results, or you deliver pizzas the next week.

Hear, hear Marc.

From over hearing your conversation last week with our speaker, you certainly are an well informed person in the hobby and I think AMDA could benefit from your knowledge.

-Robert

Yah, Marc has forgotten more then your speaker knows :D No joke ;)
 

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