I think a major problem for anyone joining an aquarium society, is the
view of a group of old timers with in a clique. I really don't think
this is so much a clique, but the group of workers that gets things
done and organized for the club. Often there is so much business to be
handled at the average meeting, that there is little time to greet and
talk to newer members. Coming up to these folks and simply offering to
take on some small task is always greatly welcomed and then another
person shortly finds themselves with too busy to talk with the members
outside the working group. It may be perceived as a clique but really
its just a bunch of busy folks wishing they had more help.
>When my mother tried to join the only aquarium society in our city when =
>I was a boy (and that is really some time ago) her application was =
>rejected by the all-male membership despite (or perhaps out of jealousy, =
>according to her) her credentials of being the first local breeder to =
>have success with several of the egg-layers such as Cherry Barbs, Ruby =
>Barbs, Thick-lipped Gouramis etc. In those days that was pretty =
>high-powered stuff. It is a bit disappointing to hear that those =
>prejudices still linger on.
>
>I agree with Julie that many of the ladies in our Queensland group of =
>ANGFA are spouses of the aquarists but there seems to be some light at =
>the end of the tunnel amongst the newer members. Perhaps emphasising the =
>artistic and conservation
>aspects of the hobby e.g. aquascaping may help. Once they get hooked on =
>breeding ( fishes that is) they usually turn out to be very successful - =
>possibly because of attention to detail.
I guess my local club must be an exception to the no female aquarists
rule. We have a rather high percentage of women in my local club. By
high I mean about 25%, but that's much greater than the maybe 1% we
had back in the 70's (and those were spouses). I really believe clubs
would greatly benefit if they encouraged more women to join. Of the
core group of workers in our the club, a greater percentage are women
than the percentage of women overall in the club. Maybe there is
something to Julie's idea that the women do most of the work. So
Julie, if you get the chance to come up when Peter comes up to give
his talk, maybe we'll put you to work :`)
Cary Hostrawser
()
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