[RML] RSG-NA Convention

Gary Lange (gwlange at stlnet.com)
Sun, 2 Feb 1997 11:57:48 -0600

On Monday (it's only sunday here mates) the San Francisco club will
be inking a contract with the hotel for the convention site. It will
be nearer the airport instead of the downtown area. The prices
downtown really were outrageous. Once I obtain full information I'll
post it here as I think you'll find the speaker list pretty
incredible. This might be old hat for some of you from Oz as many of
your experts are <almost> local - that is a fairly short plane ride
away. Here in the states the closest thing we really ever came to a
convention was when Jerry Allen and Heiko both spoke in 1989. This
time around we feel that we have brought three of the best,
representing the hobby together.

Dr. Gerald Allen - I don't know exactly what he'll be speaking on
just yet as he had several trips planned in late '96 and early '97.
We may be planning to get 2 talks out of Jerry, depending on what he
would like to do. He has given some wonderful talks in the past.
Although our banquet is still in the planning we hopefully will have
him to help fill that role.

Gilbert Maebe - IRG member, explorer and photographer. My
understanding is that Gilbert's program will be on tape, which I
believe is the format that he has also used for ANGFA conventions.

Neil Armstrong - One of the best rainbowfish photographers around.
We still have to determine what he will talk on but whatever it is,
it will be wonderfully illustrated by his slides.

We are still planning to fill in around these speakers so if you are
planning to come and have a talk that you would like to give, please
email me and we will try and fit you in. We are planning on starting
things off on Friday evening with a hospitality room and possibly a
speaker, depending on just how crowded the schedule becomes.
Saturday will be all talks until the banquet, which is tentatively
set up for the same hotel. People in the US are geared to Sunday
auctions so our auction will be held on that Sunday. It won't be a
peak-a-boo auction, that way you will be able to see all of the items
ahead of time that will be up for the highest bid. Besides the
normal assortment of fish, bows and plants there will also be a lot
of dry goods that will be brought in from major companies. I hope
that you'll start growing some fish up now to help defray some of
your convention costs. Of all of the aquarium clubs that I've
visited this group has spent the most money on auctions. An auction
split still needs to be determined but I think it will be very much
in favor of the individual.

Further posts will be forthcoming & info will also be available
eventually on the web site. If you have an interest in going and
would like to be added to the email update list, please blip me a
note.

Gary Lange
Rainbowfish Study Group of North America