Hi all,
I'm still on a High over this meeting...though I'll admit it...Seeing Paul, Mark and myself yesterday afternoon you'd have thought we'd run a marathon... Several days of energized excitement wears off fast and hard!
I don't even know where to begin. I picked Paul up at the airport on Thursday and we spent all that afternoon and Friday talking about many topics. ..Its one thing to know someone thru internet correspondences and forums, but to just sit down with them and really talk and talk for hours on end..Its something that can't be replaced. I will always keep these past 4 days close to my heart and in my mind.
Saturday's event was an absolute unbelievable success on all accounts. Everyone should pat themselves on the Back for the support they gave on an organizational level and on a participation level. Mark aka Grillmaster put together an event to remember...Martha organized and coordinated much of the Foods and supplies and I can say without a doubt, made the Auction possible. She organized it, arranged for donated items, kept track of everything..It was to quote paul.."Brilliant"! Pigroast, great food, fireworks and great friends...amazing!!!
Patrick and Ashay contributed so much as well... you guys Rock! Events like this take time to organize and take alot of people pulling together...and the two of you pulled hard!
Paul's Talk was extremely insightful and chock full of practical experiences on setting up a discus show..I felt like I was there along side him while it happened. I Can't thank him enough for taking the time to come here and give us this talk and share with us his hard earned experiences.
We had a very successful raffle, with items donated by Mark and had 2 29 gal tanks and filters donated to the raffle by The owners of a great LFS in the area..Fin and Feather....Thanks so much to them!! They stayed for a good part of the afternoon and participated in our discussions.
Speaking of the Auction...I got to play auctioneer...and let me say this... WOW...I can't believe all the auction products there were... Great Discus by Bob tools , supplies, awesome plants brought by several members (thanks Mehran and Shawn!) Tanks of sizes up to 55 gal and even a whole 55 gal tank and stand set up with a hood. hand made discus crafts as well. Just amazing! My son Auctioned off some of his home bred Marble angels and my daughter sold her Mollies... Those of you that supported the angel and mollie sales really made my kids day..At ages 6 and 8 ...these are memories that may keep them in the Hobby. They haven't stopped talking about it! thanks so much!! And thanks to all of you that supported the auction, some items brought some great prices and some people got some great deals!
Special Thanks to Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society (PVAs) for their donated supplies and to one of our Simplydiscus sponsors...Kens Fish for some very generous Fish foods for the auction.(Thanks Ken!!!)
Many New Friends were made...It was great meeting friends from the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society. and Fin and feather LFS ...I hope to see them again soon. Many new friends came from Simply too.. Chandan, Hope, Mehran, Brian,Richard and Richard, Bob,RichT-- so glad you all made it to the meeting.. I hope you had a great time and hope you'll consider attending the next get together (fall 2009-date to be announced) Mark had put up some fliers in area LFSs about the event and we even had a visitor that found us thru the LFS flier... John, You guys would not believe the massive 5 gal bucket of java moss that John brought ...It was absolutely amazing. Johns considering setting up a discus tank so I hope we'll see him again.
Most of regular Group made it up to the meeting as well.. Ashay,Patrick, Martha, David and Celest, Rob and his family,Tom, Steve, Mark,Kenny,Fred....I can't tell you all how much I enjoy seeing and talking with you!
There was so much going on I am sure I missed something and hopefully I'll add more as my brain recovers. I do need to say...Thanks so much to Mark and his Family..His Wife Carol is an unbelieveably tolerant person to let this event happen in her home..not just for one day but for days leading up to it and the day following as some of us stayed over camping on their property. Even Marks Family helped out here...with the set up and cleaned up... Marks Son-in- law "D" manned the grills and did alot of set up and breakdown. Marks son Mark jr. took a ton of pics that he'll get them on line as soon as he can ..
Not much I can think of right now except to say..Safe trip back to England my friend! and thanks everyone...
take care,
al