caryho at ix.netcom.com wrote:
> In The Dawn of the Third Age "Mr. Fish" <tvigmny at worldnet.att.net>
> woke me from my contemplation by writing:
>
> >perhaps a national Rainbowfish showing scheme
> >> is something that ANGFA(National) or the individual regional groups might need
> >> to look at if showing fish ever becomes as popular here as in the USA.
> >
> >I think I need to point out that showing fish is not really "popular" in
> >the USA.
>
> >In a typical club only ten percent off all the people in the club do all
> >the work, I think we can all agree with that.
> Sorry I took a calolator to this and only 4% of the membership is working to get
> this show on the road. On the day of setting it up and breaking down it will be
> 10%
> >About 25 percent ( and I am guessing high here) show fish in club fish
> >shows.
> Last year show only had 16% of the members showing fish (many with many entries),
> and only 4 entered Rainbowfish for a total of nine fish (this year I'll more then
> double my entries. I bought another person complete collection.( another American
> way, "If you cann't beat them fair, buy them out"))
> >But the real statistic is that there is only one member in each club for
> >each fish store in the area.
> >
> >So what we have here is a real tiny number of people raising fish,
> >showing them.
> >
> >Our area for example. Approximately 150 fish stores serving 200
> >customers each (probably a low number) for a total 30000 people keeping
> >fish. In a metropolitan area of two million.
> >
> >So our club has 150 members with 40 showing fish.
> (again too high, but yes the bowl show numbers have moved up this year)
> >
> >40 people showing fish out of thirty thousand. I am sorry my calculator
> >does not go that low, but surely not a popular thing. SHowing fish that
> >is.
> >
> >So let us not spend too much time with the small amount of aquarists
> >that show fish.
> >
> >Give them what they want. SHow sanctioning of course.
> >
> >Thing big. Raise your fish.
> >
> >THink small. Show your fish.
> >
> >Fishcerely,
> >
> >Mr. Fish
>
> All good points. Not many people show fish out of the total fish
> keepers. But how many people show dogs, cats or even plants? Now lets
> look at the other extreme. When a show is held, how many people pass
> by and learn an appreciation for these fishes? A show is one of the
> best ways there is to promote a hobby or interest. Any club that holds
> public shows, quickly finds this is one of the best ways to generate
> interest and obtain new members.
In the last two years we held the shows at the Florida State Fair in Feb. and only
got one new member,and that was me two years ago. But I really didn't count, as I
was going to join anyway, but I told my lady that I had to join at the show. I just
wanted to get her to see a fish show. Two shows later, she's into fancy
goldfish.This year we are holding the show at the Florida Aquarium in April, we hope
that this will turn around membership from a show figure.
> How many of those 30,000 people in
> your area even know there is a fish club? How many would join if they
> did know? I do know my metropolitan area has about half the fish
> stores that your's does, but we have many more members in the area
> club and a couple of spin off specialty clubs.
Ok this is were I get to pick on a friend---Yes you may have more members with less
store, that is true. But you are in an area where there are VERY high rates of
Cabin fever, deep snows and Very Cold winters. The folk up your way head south to
visit anyone they know in Florida. The ones who do not head south use any excuse
they can to get out of the house and get into a crowded room where there is much body
heat. Your clog dances (if I use the word dance)(:>) get more people on one night
then our state fair does in a week. Anything to get or use heat.Also your club has
been around 25 years and ours only 6 years. There is a little time there to build a
repeat following.
More on our little club can be found here. This is also the first year we have been
on the net with our own site.
http://www.aka.org/TBAS/TBAS.html
> My local holds shows on
> a regular basis. It's how I found them over 25 years ago and how many
> active members have found the club.
> Because of the benefits fish shows bring to the hobby, I feel it is
> good to through in a little extra honors to those that participate.
And thank you.
>
>
> Cary Hostrawser
>
> My Rainbowfish Home Page
> http://pw2.netcom.com/~caryho/home.html
>
> Rainbowfish Study Group Web Page
> http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html
Well I ve been having a case of run on the mouth, the plumber came to cut our grass
and moved my rock to another part of the yard(now called the "swamp"), so now I have
to go out and find a new and dryer rock to get back under. JiM C.