WMAS means to me that in an emergency I know 100+ people whowill give me advice and hopefully get me through the problem. WMAS means to methat once a month I can go to a structured (I know some may debate this)learning environment where I can learn something about a hobby I value greatly.WMAS means to me that if my tank ever cracks I know several people will cometake my livestock while I twitch in the corner, and then return the livestockwhen the time is right. WMAS means to me that I have a large group of friendswho will enter into dialogue/debate regarding almost any subject regardingSW/Reef tanks (and even other subjects), learning from other's experiences andknowledge. WMAS means to me that many people are looking out for each other,making sure you know that you don't always have to buy the most expensive item,that Rubbermaid works too. It is a community in the best sense of the word, andin our current world where most people don't have a sense of community, thisgroup fills a void that is much needed.

I have learned a great deal from the members of this club. I have always feltwelcome, even the very first meeting. Where else do people post invites forrock & sand expeditions and end up with a group of 10+ driving out to theWest desert for the rest of the day?

Some of us are better than others at volunteering; some of us don't know whatneeds to be done. I would like to help out but I'm not sure what needs to bedone and when. If we are need of volunteers we may want to look at posting whatwe need and see if people will fill in the gaps.

I know it is a sore subject for some; that some people think of the club as aplace to get cheap frags. The frag meetings bring in people who normally maynever show up to a meeting. If one out of ten people that show up for thatmeeting continue to show up and in the end help another person with some issueI would think that could be considered a success.

Adam Blundell wrote: It certainly makes me wonder what our club is about, or should be about.  Adam

let me answer this as a person whos been here a week, and has been in many other societies and clubs.  All a club is a group of people who enjoy the same thing. some dont even ahve meetings so the fact that you're able to organize meetings frequently is something i admire.  I have also seen that most people who are on this board/in club are very nice and seems to be ready to help people irregardless.  I mean, I am not even sure if im going to be able to keep the tanks and i've had a lot of people offer help and advise to me--rather then feeling like why bother when there is no certainity with my tanks. in summary I have learned alot and have been greeted by great people--thats what a club is about :)

This is the final attempt to convince the Aquarium Industry and educate the hobbyist and for everyone to clean up their act

Here in Las Vegas, they are substandard and as a tourist, not worth your time or your visit.

This web site is /will NOT for the hobbyist with the "Budget Reefer" mentality.

And on LVMAS's web site, www.lvmas.org, you can't miss Howard's name up at the top left hand side (part of the flash show).  And there's even a link to his personal site from the main LVMAS page.

I don't know Howard, but I think I can see why there might be some personality conflicts at play

I hope one of the splinter groups succeed in LV.  To me hobbyist clubs are about education.  An educated aquarist is good for both the Great Barrier Reef and the LFS owner.

Skyetone wrote: I attend the cheep stuff auctions at the local FW society. they have meetings maybe every 4-6 months. They seem very closed minded and set in there ways, Have no websight and don't seem to care if they did. They are a bunch of old farts that seem to be richous in the fact they can do it.

Although I pretty much agree with you, they do have a web site http://fancyguppy.50megs.com/custom2.html and have a meeting every month (in the same building we have our meetings in).

Ummm.... Jeff... you didn't hear what I got from Connie, did you? 

I think this club is awesome & hope it continues to grow.  Not that I want a massive club, but a lot of people gain good things from WMAS as an organization. 

Renee