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Tentative DSM GIRS Jan - May Schedule

Discussion in 'Des Moines & Ames Region' started by jtesdall, Jan 9, 2009.

  1. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Here is the tentative winter/spring schedule. Please comment so we can put it in stone.
    Spring 2009 Des Moines GIRS Calendar


     

    Thursday January 22nd [/b]6:00 PM[/b][/b]

    Meeting – Lighting discussion

    8665 Harbach in Clive

     [/b]

    Friday January 30th [/b]6:30 PM[/b][/b]

    Meet and Greet

    Rock Bottom Brewery

    4508 University West Des Moines

     

    Thursday February 19[sup]th [/b]6:00 PM[/b][/b]

    Meeting – Skimmer discussion

    8665 Harbach in Clive

     

    Saturday March 28th Time TBD[/b]

    Frag Swap – Des Moines Blank Park Zoo

     

    Saturday April 18th - Time TBD[/b]

    Des Moines Tank Tour

    Tank stops TBD

     

    Tuesday May 12th [/b]6 PM[/b][sup][/b]

    Lets make fish food

    8665 Harbach in Clive

    Everyone pays X$ and we all take home food. $ TBD

     

    DSMGIRS – Fishbowl Social[/b]

    Informal get together every Third Thursday at 6:00 PM.

    Mickey’s on 86[sup]th[/sup] in Clive

    January 15th, February 19th, March 19th , April 16th[/sup], May 21st
    [/sup]


     

    If meetings are well attended we will add in a General DIY Project meeting somewhere
     
  2. ZLTFUL

    ZLTFUL Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Looks like someone else should bring the Frag Swap cake since it falls on my birthday. :p
    Already know my feelings so I will just fall back into the silent minority again.
     
  3. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Posted By ZLTFUL on 01/10/2009 11:57 AM
    Looks like someone else should bring the Frag Swap cake since it falls on my birthday. :p
    Already know my feelings so I will just fall back into the silent minority again.
    I tried to accomodate everyone Ryan. There are two events on Saturday and one on Friday night. You never said if Friday night worked when I asked.
     
  4. gb387

    gb387 Inactive User

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    Looks good to me... might miss one or two but will sure try to make it to all!
    Really interested in the 'Fish Food' but its a little ways a way.
     
  5. ZLTFUL

    ZLTFUL Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    No need to accomodate me Joel. Don't think I am going to be in the hobby much longer. Well that sounds a little fatalistic. Anyway, when I was expressing my opinion that we should do things together outside of just hobby related, I didn't mean that's all I wanted to do. The actual hobby topics seem to be focused on a small "elite" group of members.
     
  6. Elazar

    Elazar Inactive User

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    i'll make it to a few but the only day's i have off are on weekend's will there be car pool's? elazar
     
  7. IowaDiver Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    West Des Moines
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    Looks like a good schedule. I'm looking forward to the fish food meeting in particular. That should be a fun one.

     
  8. beckerj3 Expert Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    West Des Moines, IA
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    Looks like a good schedule for me.  I'll be able to attend most/all meetings during the week.  I think you also did a good job setting topics - based on peoples' responses to the survey.  Good job.
     
  9. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Ryan, I am confused and I don't want to be an "elitist", which I definitely am not in this hobby. I am learning every day. But how can the following list be focused on a small group of "elite" members? Please show me what I am missing here because it went way over my head.
    Lighting Discussion
    Skimmer Discussion
    Making our own fish food
    Everyone in this hobby better use lighting and fish food. Some would say you can go skimmer-less but that isn't the popular opinion. So please, what have I missed, I don't want to offend anybody.
     
  10. ZLTFUL

    ZLTFUL Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    My point was that the only hobby related stuff outside of tank tours is during the week which I can't make it to. Also, others have expressed an inability to make it during the week. It seems like it's we can ONLY have tank related meetings at you location and they can ONLY be during the week.

    Lighting discussion...Thursday. A topic I am not only interested in but also one that I know alot about but I can't share my 15+ years of electrical experience with anyone at this meeting because of my work requirements.
    Skimmer discussion...Thursday. A topic I need to learn more about and would like some hands on experience with. Same situation with work.
    Fish Food...Tuesday. Something I have been putting stuff together to do for myself for quite some time and would love to offer up what I have to the mix...again, work will not allow me to do this during the week.

    Social events are mostly scheduled during the week with the loan exception being the meet and greet. Funny thing is, if folks were drinking A-B products, Sam Adams products or Goose Island products, I could even pay for the beverages as a business expense.

    Tank Tour...have offered my place up in the past and will in the future.

    It just feels like it's a "We do it here or not at all king of thing.

    MNBallard, Dave (Billbigsbe), Jeremy, Myself, Jan, and at least a couple more I know I am missing live on this side of town making the social event at one location sort of inconvenient.

    I know you are not being elitist Joel and I don't want it to sound that way but it very much feels like we are working around your schedule. I am sorry but the trustee doesn't have to be at every gathering. A club is about it's members. It's board represents those members. But it feels like in this section of the club, the members outside of the "circle" are treated as an after thought.

    Maybe I am just wasting my breath and time. Maybe it would be best if I just shut the hell up and went on my merry way. I don't know. All I do know is the first year I paid dues to this club, I felt like I was contributing to something that I was going to be a part of. This year when I paid my dues, I felt like I was paying a bill and that is definitely not how it should be. Unfortunately, those who have similar sentiments as me would rather just slip away quietly and not say anything in the open but, damnit, I enjoy this hobby and I want to be part of the experiences that go along with it. But frankly, I don't want to feel like i have to work to be included.

     
  11. xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    La Porte City, IA
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    I am going to move to des moines
     
  12. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Come on Down Craig, we would love to have you.
    Ryan,

    Actually I have been asked to be at every function if possble buy the BOD. So I will try to be there. You are correct, some (maybe even most) of the schedule is around my schedule because I have been asked to attend all meetings we schedule. Austin has offered to have meetings at his place but that so far is our only other offer. My office just makes sense for these meetings. We have a conference table, screen, projector and facilities. My schedule is extremely tight as you know, so I don't have a choice. I didn't see you throw your hat in for trustee. I drive 2 hours every day, run a small business, run a 60 acre horse property, co-raise two teenage daughters and maintain a fairly decent 400 gallon reef system. If I didn't design this somewhat around my schedule I would not be able to meet my commitment to this club. I am not in the habit of saying I will do something and then not give it as much as I can.

    So I tell you what, you make up a schedule and get all the input you can. Then we can post both schedules and have another poll. I have no problem with this if you would like to come up with a schedule. If you decide to take me up on this we would appreciate it if you can be at any meeting that Austin or I cannot attend to handle the details.

    There that is as accomodating as I think I can be.
     
  13. gb387

    gb387 Inactive User

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    Chiming in, I am fairly new around here and am grateful for everyone's help and all that I have purchased things from at great prices...

    I would be willing to bet if someone else stood up and said they could take the lead in a discussion and setup a setting like Joel does he would set something up on the weekend, that said I have never seen anyone say hey, I will take care of it, I can help out, I have a location and so on. Going by the polls that were set up it seems there would be less participation on the weekends, thats what we voted.

    Also I live very close to Altoona, about a block away from Dave and have made it to the meetings after work, so if it has something to do with drive time Clive is not that far away, if your a little late so be it this isn't a grade school class. Its all suppose to be fun and a learning experience, the set up at his location is great... the tools and information needed for the discussion is there and set up ready to go. I have met some great people and learned tons!!
     
  14. glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

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  15. ZLTFUL

    ZLTFUL Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    First, to Jason...stupid rule you dunderhead! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif Truth is, I have tried to work with Joel...frankly, I cannot make it to meetings during the week because I have 250 employees, some who work until bars close and a warehouse staff that works 24/7, who rely on me. And frankly, they pay me way too much for me to complain about it. Weekends on the other hand, our systems admin can take over freeing up my time. I think the schedule content is awesome. I think the days suck.
    The reason I didn't come forward is because of my work schedule. It doesn't allow me to be available for meetings on both weekend and during the week. Frankly, that wouldn't be fair of me to expect everyone to only have weekend meetings.
    As for location, I assure you, that while Joel's location is most assuredly awesome, it isn't the only location in central Iowa for meetings like these. I have asked for approval from the owners if i can have a couple of meetings at our place. We have a huge conference room as well as a hospitality room that is designed around having large group meetings. We have projectors in each room (remember way back when I offered club usage of a projector for the frag fest?) as well as a big screen behind the bar that has a PC connection. We are located right off I235 off of Guthrie. Our CEO is traveling on business but said we can discuss it when he gets back. I just didn't want to say we can meet at my place until it was approved.
    I know you can't make a schedule that meets everyone's requirements. I am not expecting that. But as it stands, I can make it to 2 events. Frag Swap and Tank Tour. Other than that, those meetings are impossible for me to attend. And I honestly do have quite a bit of practical knowledge I can share from wiring basics to building your own LED lunar panels to wiring up simple multiple on/off timers that cost less and are more reliable that plugging in 4 timers to control your lights. Heck, given time, I could probably come up with a basic wave maker to use with your powerheads.
    Drive time is far from the issue. Me being in a meeting taking a phone call every 15 minutes and having to get up to walk someone through printing an after hours order or get a special events hand held running again would be unfair to everyone attending and would also detract from me providing great service to my internal customers which is something I pride myself on.
    Honestly, I WANT to participate or I wouldn't be making a fuss about it. I would just say eff it and ask for a refund of my club dues. But I want to contribute to the club as well as learn what I can from others. And frankly, it just seems like any input I have is being discounted as me wanting things catered to me. And that is not the case. I want to share knowledge that others may not have. I want to meet others and discuss the hobby and other interests that we may share.
    Anyway, tell me to piss off and I will simply shut up and go away. I am not trying to rock the boat. I am trying to do what I can to make the club a better place for EVERYONE.
     
  16. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Cool Ryan. Another place to have meetings potentially. That is a better setup than we have as well. Obviously with a bar!
    Please if you would like to chair some meetings at your location on a weekend, by all means! Come up with a calendar and you can do those meetings. We can move lighting to another weekend day, just suggest a time. I don't think Austin or I have a problem in the world with that. It may be a little more work than you realize though. I know it was more than I expected. You need to make sure there is an agenda and materials (PowerPoint or something) for the meeting, otherwise people will just sit there and look at each other.
    I would really like some help on the lighting meeting, it isn't my strongest topic. I will have to do a bunch of research unless someone else steps up. Sounds like you are the guy. Austin and I would love the help, thanks. Chris (tibbs) also offered some help on this topic.
    Great way to ramp up for 2009!
     
  17. IowaDiver Well-Known ReefKeeper

    536
    West Des Moines
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    "You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
    I wish everyone could meet on the same day and meet at the exact geographical center of town equal distance from every member. That would be nice.
    I suppose we could do another availabilty poll for time and location and see what we get.
     
  18. gb387

    gb387 Inactive User

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    I would guess all is still on for the 19th?
     
  19. jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Yes it is, I have to plan it though.
     

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