Need Champions and Ideas to make use of the BAR funds

[popper]

mega lottery ticket or scratchers and pass them out at next event.

 

[Coral reefer]

Portable bidet for our events

 

[spuri87]

mega lottery ticket or scratchers and pass them out at next event.

Portable bidet for our events

I am sure these ideas align well with BAR's mission too.. thanks for sharing

 

[Alexander1312]

Portable bidet for our events

Heated though.

 

[Royce023]

ICP testing for whoever needs it or to whoever BOD decides gets it based on a certain criteria.

 

[Coral reefer]

ICP testing for whoever needs it or to whoever BOD decides gets it based on a certain criteria.

Not trying to poop in the idea, but what would the criteria be? Seems like it would costs more than the dues per member to me.

 

[spuri87]

Not trying to poop in the idea, but what would the criteria be? Seems like it would costs more than the dues per member to me.

Yeah I agree, BARCODE should have equipment that can be shared.. something like ICP tests would fall in a giveaway category instead of sharing category.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

@spuri87 do you have all of these ideas written down down somewhere? Would be good for the BOD to review ahead of time before the next BOD meeting to discuss and vote on. Maybe we can have a voting structure similar to the Ultra & Bonus corals spreadsheet for transparency.

 

[spuri87]

@spuri87 do you have all of these ideas written down down somewhere? Would be good for the BOD to review ahead of time before the next BOD meeting to discuss and vote on. Maybe we can have a voting structure similar to the Ultra & Bonus corals spreadsheet for transparency.

good call.. not yet, I will chat with @CaseyP as well.. he also mentioned about formalizing the entire process.. I will come up with some idea on how to present these proposals and share with a few of us and then go to BOD with the proposal.. Big +1 on transparency

 

[Slingfox]

If not suggested yet: Tropic Marine hydrometer with glass cylinder to measure tank salinity:

Tropic Marin Hydrometer w/ Glass Graduated Cylinder With Plastic Hex Base, 500 ml.

Tropic Marin Hydrometer w/ Glass Graduated Cylinder With Plastic Hex Base, 500 ml.

aquacave.com

 

[Patio]

If not suggested yet: Tropic Marine hydrometer with glass cylinder to measure tank salinity:

If fragility becomes a hurdle for approval, perhaps a protective case addresses the concern? The case may cost more than a few hydrometers but a broken hydrometer is worthless.

 

[Bruce Spiegelman]

And I have ideas for this......

I am all for providing "things" for the membership. It is one of the draws for new members, but it's not really our purpose. At least not the purpose the founders and early generations of the club saw for it.

Our mission statement is about education and sustainability, and I'd love to see us lean into that and put our money where our mouth is. We do some of that. DBTC as it was, and still is, championed by Coral Reefer, was a big step in keeping sustainable corals available to all members. It's been a great success, but there are other things we can do.

Years ago, I took several "tours" to the local LFS's and asked the established stores why they no longer were big supporters of BAR. The answer was the same from all of them. They said, "When the club was started (all those years ago), we didn't just pay lip service to sustainability and education. We did things more than talk about it." They felt that the club had become more about making money and having coral swaps than fulfilling a goal that they could get behind. I stood at a board meeting at Mike's house and explained this, noting that our mission statement wasn't displayed on our website pages. Almost no one on the board knew what it was. Those store owners weren't wrong.

So education and sustainability...how...?

I think the best way is to do it hand-in-hand with as many local LFS's as we can. We design merchandising materials explaining sustainability. You could provide store posters of "recommended" sustainable fish, corals, etc. Hung prominently, they would indicate that this store champions a long-term healthy hobby and the oceans. They would also have info on BAR. I'd love to see BAR stickers that go on LFS tanks that indicate that the species in this tank are healthy, sustainable fish. That way, customers could look at the offerings and if they buy into sustainability being important, make informed choices. Simple, effective marketing techniques that are relatively inexpensive, but create a lot of exposure for the club AND our mission.

 

[Alexander1312]

This is the one the club should own. It will only be available at frag swaps - encouraging people to join them - and a trustworthy person will safeguard this device.

 

[Royce023]

Not trying to poop in the idea, but what would the criteria be? Seems like it would costs more than the dues per member to me.

I was thinking for people who are struggling with their tank and attend club meetings, but it was just a thought. What about water testing supplies for people who bring their water to club meetings. This is all to encourage participation with the community.

Maybe pay someone to educate others? Guest speakers? Workshops?

 

[Alexander1312]

I was thinking for people who are struggling with their tank and attend club meetings, but it was just a thought. What about water testing supplies for people who bring their water to club meetings. This is all to encourage participation with the community.

Maybe pay someone to educate others? Guest speakers? Workshops?

Great idea in principle re ICP. I just believe that the value from the ICP lies less in the test itself but the interpretation. Lots of folks read ICP wrong.

 

[Coral reefer]

I was thinking for people who are struggling with their tank and attend club meetings, but it was just a thought. What about water testing supplies for people who bring their water to club meetings. This is all to encourage participation with the community.

Maybe pay someone to educate others? Guest speakers? Workshops?

Good ideas with workshops and speakers. Needs someone to make it happen still! I enjoy me some speakers!

 

[Slingfox]

This is the one the club should own. It will only be available at frag swaps - encouraging people to join them - and a trustworthy person will safeguard this device.

View attachment 79650

This would indeed be a sweet add. I am very focused on getting accurate salinity

We could have a contest: Whoever’s tank has salinity closest to 35.000 PSU wins!

 

[richiev]

I am all for providing "things" for the membership. It is one of the draws for new members, but it's not really our purpose. At least not the purpose the founders and early generations of the club saw for it.

Our mission statement is about education and sustainability, and I'd love to see us lean into that and put our money where our mouth is. We do some of that. DBTC as it was, and still is, championed by Coral Reefer, was a big step in keeping sustainable corals available to all members. It's been a great success, but there are other things we can do.

Years ago, I took several "tours" to the local LFS's and asked the established stores why they no longer were big supporters of BAR. The answer was the same from all of them. They said, "When the club was started (all those years ago), we didn't just pay lip service to sustainability and education. We did things more than talk about it." They felt that the club had become more about making money and having coral swaps than fulfilling a goal that they could get behind. I stood at a board meeting at Mike's house and explained this, noting that our mission statement wasn't displayed on our website pages. Almost no one on the board knew what it was. Those store owners weren't wrong.

So education and sustainability...how...?

I think the best way is to do it hand-in-hand with as many local LFS's as we can. We design merchandising materials explaining sustainability. You could provide store posters of "recommended" sustainable fish, corals, etc. Hung prominently, they would indicate that this store champions a long-term healthy hobby and the oceans. They would also have info on BAR. I'd love to see BAR stickers that go on LFS tanks that indicate that the species in this tank are healthy, sustainable fish. That way, customers could look at the offerings and if they buy into sustainability being important, make informed choices. Simple, effective marketing techniques that are relatively inexpensive, but create a lot of exposure for the club AND our mission.

So this doesn't get buried, great points! Great ideas!

A BAR investment in saving the reefs and animals seems like it should be top of the list for spend.

 

[Alexander1312]

This would indeed be a sweet add. I am very focused on getting accurate salinity

We could have a contest: Whoever’s tank has salinity closest to 35.000 PSU wins!

Please refer to my earlier comment in this thread re almost the exact same idea. Love that you are on the same path!

Great initiative - looks like the issue is always where to keep the equipment based on how far we apart from each other. Still all great ideas.

I am (still) voting for a professional conductivity meter (WTW) - which is around a 1,500+ USD expense. Salinity is the most important water parameter and frequently gets dialed in wrong due to poor equipment. Someone could bring this to the SWAP and we could all bring our water for testing, and those closest to 35 PSU will get to pick corals first - how about that?

@Slingfox see above

 

[MichaelB]

If not suggested yet: Tropic Marine hydrometer with glass cylinder to measure tank salinity:

Tropic Marin Hydrometer w/ Glass Graduated Cylinder With Plastic Hex Base, 500 ml.

Tropic Marin Hydrometer w/ Glass Graduated Cylinder With Plastic Hex Base, 500 ml.

aquacave.com

This has come up before. The thought was based on how inexpensive these are compared to other equipment. Not to mention their fragile nature. They are likely something best left for members to purchase at around $40,or so.


Alternatively I've loaned mine out on occasion when someone had wanted to use one. It's very hard to tell but if you haven't actually had your hands on one of these or seen once in person let's say they are a heck of alot bigger than you would think they are lol.


I'm not against this just not sure if can see the merit of buying something thats around the same as a middle teir coral. With its fragile nature. Yes we could likely buy cases for them adding to the cost.

I don't think buying or storing them would be a major issue. So overall I'm pretty neutral. There would be merit to the club having a few of these provided we had cases and beakers to go with them. I'm still not fully sold on it not being something people should just buy or borrow given price compared to say par meters or band saws.

I've only used mine once or twice cause the size makes it awkward to use in the tank. The amount of water needed to test it would also likely trigger the ato to go off if you were to scoop out enough water to use a xxl beaker to do the test. If it's for saltwater mixing barrel or bucket it wouldn't be a issue. Just to awkward and larger for frequent use other than checking your other salinity measuring methods. Only my opinion here based on why I rarely ever use mine.

Anyone wanting to try one out I don't mind lending mine out one reefer to another provided you break it you be willing to replace it.