From the Presidents Desk - January 2012

Happy New Year!

I can’t believe the year has gone by so quickly and we are starting a new one already. Once again, I am busy at my keyboard composing this message trying to be done before I get the terse email from Phil asking for my monthly message as I’ve procrastinated right to the deadline once again.

Not too many fish events this month but none too soon to be planning on attending the Convention in Winnipeg this Easter weekend or looking into one of the big national conventions in the U.S. This year will see the bi-annual All Aquarium Catfish Convention in October in Herndon, Virginia. Conventions are a great way to meet fellow hobbyists and learn more about finned friends.

It is a time of year for making resolutions, mine is to get more exercise and eat more sensibly – I did a spin class yesterday – not sure which hurts more sitting down or trying to stand up after sitting down. Hoping that CAOAC and our member clubs will make some resolutions for the coming year. For CAOAC, I would like to see us settle on a technology for our electronic meetings and for our clubs to make greater use of it. For each of the clubs, I would like to see each club resolve to bring in new members, especially younger members.

The President of our newest member, Wet Coast Aquarium Society, did a little statistical analysis of aquarium owners in his area (Vancouver) and found that less than .1% of aquarium owners belong to the local aquarium societies. I would hope that each club would target increasing membership as a priority for the coming year. I look forward to suggestions as to how CAOAC could help clubs in meeting this challenge.

All the best for the New Year, Bob