Questions about TWAS

[DaFishMan]

Hello !

Is anyone here a member of TWAS that can tell me a bit about the club ?
How many people in the average meet etc ? Is it fairly social ? I'm 36 many people around my age ? What kind of environment should I expect ?

I'm mainly into SA Dwarf Cichlids, PLANTS, angelfish, discus, guppys too lol..
Are there a good amount of people into these there ?
Do you trade/buy/sell stuff at the meets ? Does the site have a member forum ?

I'm happy to be an MFC member but would be nice to check one out that's local.
(I have a map, meet schedule and site link etc)

Thanks in advance if you can answer my questions :)

[PPulcher]

Hello !

Is anyone here a member of TWAS that can tell me a bit about the club ?
How many people in the average meet etc ? Is it fairly social ? I'm 36 many people around my age ? What kind of environment should I expect ?


I recently joined, and have been to the last two meetings. The October meeting had about a dozen people, while the November meeting had a few less because there was bad weather that night. I'm practically the same age as you, and there are a few others in that bracket as well. There are a number of members that are older, but there is a good mix. What is missing are younger people like in their teens or early 20s. Pretty much all the people I've met so far have been very friendly. The president, Kai, is quite a character and is exceedingly friendly.

The meetings are pretty informal and laid back. There have been video presentations from conferences/show. Last month they aired a National Geographic video called 'Blue Planet' that was pretty interesting. I would certainly like to see more guest speakers, but I'm not sure how those are arranged. There is a 'guessing game' segment where you need to pay for each guess for the fish or item (still trying to figure that out). The one who guesses correctly gets the fish or item. Then there is an opportunity for a roundtable discussion Q&A kinda thing.


I'm mainly into SA Dwarf Cichlids, PLANTS, angelfish, discus, guppys too lol..
Are there a good amount of people into these there ?
Does the site have a member forum ?


I'm still trying to get a handle on what people keep and are into, but african cichlids seem to be king. There are a number of folks who keep plants. Really, it seems pretty diverse. Depending on what members bring in, there is an auction for fish/plants/equipment. Most stuff goes for just a buck or two a bag. There were a bunch of very nice swords, some plants, sponge filters and live food cultures at the October meeting. Last meeting there were a bunch of guppies.

There isn't a members forum on the website to my knowledge. I don't think the club runs a BAP or HAP program, if that is what you are after. I was a little disappointed about that, but I'm sure that volunteers could get something going.

It's a nice evening for me to get out of the house for the evening, and it's easy for me to get to by transit.

I've never been to another aquarium club before, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

There is a pizza party for the meeting in December. Why don't you check it out?

[Melody]

Pizza?! Nevermind him, I'm going! lol Sounds like a nice club.:smile:

[DaFishMan]

Thanks Andrew it sounds worth checking out :)

"but african cichlids seem to be king" - It's king at MFC too so probably everywhere.. Good to hear there's some plant people, that will make it worth a visit :) I'm not sure what bap or hap is.

A night outta the house wouldn't hurt me either & I do like pizza LOL.
Is that a members only night or open invitation ?

MFC is an enjoyable club, the people are great and I'd recommend to anyone.
Just a long drive and I hate traffic. Still intend to stay a member and pop in
but want to expand local horizons as well.

Wed Dec 19. 7:30 pm TWAS sounds good :)

[DaFishMan]

I think Melody just bumped me out of my chair lol...
You are so meeeeeeeeeeen !!!!

[Melody]

Naaaa... just hungry :biggrin:

[Pamelajo]

I'm not sure what bap or hap is.
Breeding awards program and horticulture awards program.

[DaFishMan]

Hi Pam,

Thanks for straightening out the NEWB lol :)

[Pamelajo]

Your welcome.

[KnaveTO]

I have only attended 2 meeting of the TWAS and so far I honestly haven't been terriby impressed. The first one I attended was supposed to be their AGM and the like... basically it was like no AGM I have ever attended in my life. They aslo showed a video on Salmon...

The second time I was there there was a gentleman there basically showing his slides froma trip to SE Asia... it would have been a bit more interesting if they talked more aobut fish and less about the culture of the area.

I will probably go to the meeting in December and give them one last shot before I decide wether or not to renew my membership.

Furthermore there is an absolute lack of organization there... the auctions they hold have been held at the end of the night or at the start of the night on the 2 occasions I have gone. Which is one of the reasons I decided to go... so again I will see what happens in December

[DaFishMan]

Thank you Ross for your detailed input.

This months meet is Wed Dec 19. 7:30 pm. I expect with Christmas shopping etc attendence will be low. I think I will go anyway unless we get a storm like Sunday's.

Well at the least I'm hoping to make a few new friends / contacts into sa cichlids and plants so I will go a couple / few times to also check it out. If it sucks I'll bail. With you and PPulcher there, that would be a great start and worth the trip. Maybe we can takeover the club and organize it LOL.

Andrew you live in my neighborhood so no need for the bus. Send me a pm if you're going and would like a lift. Mind you I smoke in the car but I open the window lol.

[PPulcher]

I'm probably leaving right from work, but a lift home would be awesome!

Having been involved in a couple of other clubs for other hobbies, I know that a club is only as good as what the members make it. It's sometimes hard to come into an organization where one knows few and what the traditions are, but there is always a way to get more involved.

[Melody]

They can always use help with the admin I'm sure. I agree, a club is what you make it. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Its not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club...

Ok ok, I'll stop :DevilGrin:

[DaFishMan]

* Clubs Melody :FishOnDaHead:

[DaFishMan]

I'se sowwy :Dunno:

[Slipstream]

They can always use help with the admin I'm sure. I agree, a club is what you make it. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Its not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club...

Ok ok, I'll stop :DevilGrin:


HAHAHA.. nice..

DaFishMan : Cant we all just get along? :laugh:

[ChrissyFishy]

You can't club melody she was just injured!!! We will club her next week instead.:twitcy: j/k melody! :Flowers3:

[DaFishMan]

"DaFishMan : Cant we all just get along?"

Awwww, wah !!!! I was just being a 'bratt' as I was already labelled as such :wideeyed:
But I did say 'sowwy' !

"You can't club melody she was just injured!!! We will club her next week instead."
Ok you make a good point there :Orient:

[KnaveTO]

Believe me... I would offer to assist in getting the club up to what I would consider a more acceptable level... however I already sit on 3 board of directors and really don't need to take on another cause... LOL

[Melody]

I'se sowwy :Dunno:


Does that work when you rob a bank? Does it work when you steal a fish? Does it work when you club a Melody?

NO IT DOES NOT.

This one will cost you grumpy bratt. Probably something chocolate.:DevilGrin:

Truthfully, I prefer a more unstructured, informal atmosphere. Not mass confusion, but not too strict on formalities & all that. I get enough of the everywhere else. This is my hobby and I want it to be relaxed. But everyone prefers something different and I guess that's all a part of finding the right club for you.:smile:

[Pamelajo]

There is enough of you from that area, to make it into a good club. Our club was just hanging on and if we had not have found a president ours probably would have folded. He has been great so far encouraging the jar shows and auctions and BAP & HAP programs.

[KnaveTO]

I don't necessarily mind unstructured... however I do like to know that the fish auction will be held at a certain time for example so that if I am running late I know that I will not miss that aspect of the night. One week it was the last thing they did and the other it was the first. And as for AGM's there are minimum legal requirements... and they were not met. I do think I will attempt to take aside the Treasurer/Secretary and let him know.

[Melody]

Talking to them is a good idea. There's usually a reason for these things and it isn't necessarily the norm.

[ChrissyFishy]

I try to remember that people are voluntering to have a club and keep it going. I have more expectations when someone is being paid to do something but when they aren't I am happy that they are trying. Its always funny when you suggest people help to make the club better instead of just complaining and they don't want to do that. I don't mean here in this thread I mean in most volunteer organizations. Its sad because then the volunteers get frustrated and stop doing it to and another organization goes down.:no: I would make it a rule that anyone who complains has to help.:laugh:

[DaFishMan]

Well off to the meet I went last night, met PPulcher pretty much right off the bat which was cool as we launched into good fish/plant discussion right away.. That helped me relax as I hate walking into a group of strangers. The auction was small, but nice fish. 2 types of swords and a bag with 6 wild type looking endlers. Also sponge filters and frozen bloodworms. Bidding started at a dollar. I just sat back and watched.
The fish went for $3.00 bucks a bag I was surprised. Then the remaining food was auctioned for fun. I got an entire pizza for $3. LOL. Food for 2 days. *score ;)

Near the end of the meet Ppulch and I got called to the front of the class by President Kai. Oh noooo ! Whatever the trouble was I was determined not to be at blame. I blamed Ppulch then he blamed me LOL... Kai hands us christmas cards with discus on it. * phew, no detention. Thanks and merry christmas !
Relieved, we run to the back of the class again.

Then I meet Knave and the talk turns to the elusive and costly Zebra plecos.
I think to myself, for $150 a fish, if you can get and breed these you can pretty much quit your day job. Which means I want some too. No no I cannot get multi-tank syndrome :(

Was a shorter meet then usual, didn't get time really to find out what people were keeping for fish etc but met a few of the others briefly. I'll go back a couple more times and learn more. :SwimmingFish:

[Melody]

Sounds like a good time!

I don't know where you'd find Zebra Pleco's for $150 anymore, but if you do, buy dozens! Last auction I saw was waaaayyyy up there. Definitly a fish you could make some money from, if you can get them to breed.

I don't see it in there... what did you get for me? :Angel:

[DaFishMan]

"what did you get for me?"

Funny you should ask
Truth be told when I seen the hifin swords I thought immediately of your liking for livebearers. But I've never shipped fish before so winter not a good time for first ship. And was 3 f/m not a proper pair/trio. :(
Only quality for my friends :)
A thoughtful way of saying, I didn't buy you a thing !!!! :twitcy:

[Melody]

You did me a favour by not buying me something...

You're good....lol.

[DaFishMan]

Thank you M'aam :fish:

[KnaveTO]

Yes I am fixated on getting me some of those Hypancistrus zebra's. The gold medal of fish in my books so to speak.

Untill then I am happy with my collection of plecos... although I must get my hands on some Queen Arabesques to complete out what I currently have

[DaFishMan]

I hear ya Zebras are amazing plecos from what I've seen in pics.
I'll keep my eyes and ears peeled for ya. I'd get some also but limited tank space.

I'm enjoying my bn pleco, think it's a she total lack of bristles.
Excellent algae cleaner. I miss having Otos though.

[PPulcher]

It was a fun meeting and I was excited to meet both KnaveTO and DaFishMan. I can't believe that Herb lives pretty much around the corner and we've never met in person before! I think we've been on some of the same discussion sites for what, two years now? Anyway, we need to work at getting Katalyst out to a meeting in January :wink: It would be fun to get the whole GTA CAC crew together. Anyone else we're missing?

[KnaveTO]

Would be nice to get the 4 of us out there for a meeting.

On a side note picked up a new pleco today... a Phantom Pleco (L200 or L128 Hemiancistrus subviridis). Not sure if I got taken or not as it was sold to me as a Mango Pleco

[Melody]

It was a fun meeting and I was excited to meet both KnaveTO and DaFishMan. I can't believe that Herb lives pretty much around the corner and we've never met in person before! I think we've been on some of the same discussion sites for what, two years now? Anyway, we need to work at getting Katalyst out to a meeting in January :wink: It would be fun to get the whole GTA CAC crew together. Anyone else we're missing?

Pamelajo, although she isn't around the corner exactly...lol... & Kat's big scary husband who blows things up for a living :eek: . He likes the fishies too and is a CAC member.:smile: I have to go see Pam first or she'll never forgive me after years of promising, but eventually I'll sit in on a meeting in every club in every Province. You know you're addicted when you plan your vacations around these things.:rolleyes: