Need Champions and Ideas to make use of the BAR funds

[SupraSaltyReefer]

I agree, i think i might be the only one actually im surprised more havent joined since MARS basically dissolved a few years ago. maybe we can promote with some cards or flyers at some of the stores up here to fix that.

Maybe you could be our BAR champion for the Vacaville/Fairfield area. I know there are a couple stores like Islander Corals and Sea Splendor Aquarium in that area that I've never seen on BAR. Maybe we can send you some flyers and stickers to drop off at the stores if they are interested in leaving them at the counter.

 

[VacavilleFC]

Usually it ends up because most of the volunteers (BOD) are in the South or East Bay. We could add you if you're willing to champion being an equipment holder however. Otherwise the closest is @derek_SR

Maybe you could be our BAR champion for the Vacaville/Fairfield area. I know there are a couple stores like Islander Corals and Sea Splendor Aquarium in that area that I've never seen on BAR. Maybe we can send you some flyers and stickers to drop off at the stores if they are interested in leaving them at the counter.

islander is fantastic, sea splendor is the worst LFS ive ever been to, owner is a dick and it just looks like they dont care about maintenance at all. vallejo aquarium used to be really nice but its bit run down now and is mostly freshwater. their saltwater fish tanks were NASTY last time I went, frag tank looked ok but nothing that I wanted to buy.

I think it could be beneficial to us and the owner of islander to open some communication, hes a really nice guy. and it seems pretty slow every time ive been there. he has really good prices

 

[arnav263]

Our treasurer @CaseyP has always been open to and invited us to share ideas on how to use the funds for the betterment of the entire BAR community or to support other initiatives.. Creating this thread with a few ideas where the funds can be used that will benefit the entire BAR community (based on some threads I have seen recently and few based off my personal experience):

• Not everyone is prepared to care for the livestock in an unwanted power outage, @Turkeysammich recently shared his struggles during an outage despite having large solar backup. Basically, there is too much reliance on PGE and the likes. Add emergency power backups (at least 2x each) to BARCODE..
  • Large battery backups
  • Portable generators
• Add 50g/100g/200g tubs along with basic tools like heaters and wavemakers to BARCODE in order to support BAR members during an emergency tank crash or a planned tank transfer. All this package can be under a single category and folks can borrow it from BARinstead of buying new.
• Add portable Cameras and Auto Feeders to BARCODE to help support members going on short trips.
• Make reefing more fun by having monthly or quarterly reef of the month/quarter challenges, awarding the best looking reefs (voting based) with small gift cards/corals.
• Sponsor breeding programs, something like what @Chrism1330 is doing breeding Nudis. Output can be used by the entire community, breeder can be paid $$$ or corals for their help with the same.

Please share your thoughts on the above ideas and do share more ideas which based of their popularity, can be discussed in next BOD meeting for BOD to consider.

having best tank of the month sounds like a great idea. making categories by size such as less than 20 gallons, 20-40 gallons, 40-125, and then 125 and up, would allow fair competition at each size and price point allowing more tanks at different sizes and price points to shine, and then also having one overall tank of the month as the main winner.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

I would be down for a budget build tank contest.

Use our experience and husbandry skills to do something like a 6 month grow out contest but an entire system. Show off some DIY and manual skills to help new reefers solve issues on a budget.

A lfs gift card reward might encourage some but I bet others would try without it.

 

[spuri87]

@arnav263 would you like to create a proposal thread (you can check the template under features threads)

 

[arnav263]

@arnav263 would you like to create a proposal thread (you can check the template under features threads)

just did it!

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Tropical Haven in Modesto is under new ownership. It's still a low quality saltwater option but I'll talk to the owner and drop off some flyers

I had a chance to talk to Mike, the new owner of Tropical Haven. One of his goals for the store is a place for aquatic clubs to have events. He is a passionate fw hobbyist and he has had a positive impact on the store. He would love to put up some club flyers and already has some from fw clubs.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

if we dont want to get a 3d printer for club use, i offer my machine and experience for free if the club will supply the material and cover shipping (outside of events or meeting near my work in SJ for pickup).

I have a handful of printers but for efficiency sake, we will stick with the Bambu X1C. Multicolor (up to 8) is an option if you want do do BAR branding or something but it is a wasteful process.

 

[AndynotDrew]

I had a chance to talk to Mike, the new owner of Tropical Haven. One of his goals for the store is a place for aquatic clubs to have events. He is a passionate fw hobbyist and he has had a positive impact on the store. He would love to put up some club flyers and already has some from fw clubs.

Mike seems pretty cool, and has big plans. Been telling him to hop on here to learn more about sw. Hoping the store continues to move in the right direction because we need a good lfs out our way!

 

[kvnb86]

I've spoken with Robert at Neptunes Aquatics San Jose @robert4025

He's offered us the after Bussiness hours use of his space for speakers and such.

We've done similar with Kenny with Hightide Aquatics in Oakland @under_water_ninja on several occasions coral and cocktails it's typically called. This is something we typically already do in a general sense. We just haven't done things this year so far. Maybe it's worthwhile to identify potential speakers or presenters.



As far as feild trips to Monterey bay aquarium it's a interesting thought for sure though based on current thread about the tour. Set up there idk so far not the intrest I expected. (Honestly it could be due to the fact it's on a weekend verse weekend - that's beyond our control as we wouldn't be able to have any tours on weekends there especially how busy they are in the summer time) so I can't in fairness say it's not impractical as a idea. It would need a lot of prep work to make something like this happen. If your willing to help with this let me know and we can brainstorm this together.



Flyers we could probably easily pull off. Not very expensive cost. We'd just need people willing to place them around and semi ensurenwe have permission to do so where they are placed. We currently have club cards at some of the lfs. But I don't think we have anything specific like a clean trifold brochure/ information advertisement thing. The current card method relys on people opening a qr code link. Maybe if we had a brochure to go with card telling people about the club and some of the things we do. It might give more response at cfm and lfs if people can instantly see information about the club over hoping they open a qr code at a later time. This last one I'll think on more and see about options of pulling this off.

Thanks for these ideas. Feel free to reach out if you wanna help make some of them happen.

So I reached out the the Monterey Aquarium. They can't facilitate any tours for us but we are more than welcome to hold tours on our own. The normal everyone needs their own ticket type of thing. As far as material they wouldn't let us have anything there as well. As its not something put together by their team. I would be open to visiting local college campuses and some community centers and leaving flyers of BAR and possibly we could hold a club meeting for specific days for those that are considering or looking into us as a club.

 

[spuri87]

if we dont want to get a 3d printer for club use, i offer my machine and experience for free if the club will supply the material and cover shipping (outside of events or meeting near my work in SJ for pickup).

I have a handful of printers but for efficiency sake, we will stick with the Bambu X1C. Multicolor (up to 8) is an option if you want do do BAR branding or something but it is a wasteful process.

That's going to be a big help for everyone in the club honestly, specially if members dont have to learn the skills and can rely on some volunteers to help print something! Do you mind creating a proposal thread and drive the project to completion?

 

[MichaelB]

So I reached out the the Monterey Aquarium. They can't facilitate any tours for us but we are more than welcome to hold tours on our own. The normal everyone needs their own ticket type of thing. As far as material they wouldn't let us have anything there as well. As its not something put together by their team. I would be open to visiting local college campuses and some community centers and leaving flyers of BAR and possibly we could hold a club meeting for specific days for those that are considering or looking into us as a club.

We already have contacts with the Monterey bay aquarium. Feel free to inquire or dmna bod member about similar places I'm not currently aware of any major connections with colleges currently so that might be helpful. Thanks for your efforts on behalf of the club.