Why "Based in BC" in Title?

[Maritess]

Just a question of curiousity:
Why does this forum specify it is based in BC?

I could have an aquarium in my basement in Argentina, but as long as we are discussing the common topic of fish and aquariums, why specify this forum is based in BC? Would it not be better to just omit that text from the title?

[Melody]

Because we're based in BC....lol. It's a Canadian forum, we welcome all but what was needed was a Canadian forum where Canadians can connect, source fish, clubs, etc. So I guess my question would be, why not? :laugh:

[Pamelajo]

I joined this forum just because it was Canadian and could meet people here to trade with, buy fish off of etc. Having being part of other forums based in the US you feel like your so isolated and can't easily trade or buy fish etc from other members as there a very few Canadians on those sites.

[Melody]

Exactly - there are a zillion international or US forums, we're proudly Canadian :Canadian: . The founders and bill payers are in BC, hence the 'based in BC' part. If someone from another country wants to drop by for tea, we like that too. We are polite Canadians after all :yes: .

[Pamelajo]

If someone from another country wants to drop by for tea, we like that too. We are polite Canadians after all :yes: .:yes:And a friendly bunch too!

[Maritess]

Okay. I just thought that a new visitor from, say, the US who comes across this site and sees the "based in BC" title, might think this forum is intended for BC users and quickly click away. Whereas if that part was left off the title, somebody might see that the information exchanged is good, and decide to join the forums. In any case, I was just curious.

Another question of curiousity: what kind of marketing is done for this forum? Have local aquarium stores and pet stores been approached about mentioning this site? Or perhaps allowing business cards to be placed near the check-out counter for customers to take if they wish? I have noticed that local Safeways do this for a local website admin.

[Pamelajo]

I don't know of all the marketing that is being done, but can tell you what I have done. I purchased CAC fish bags and use them at my club auctions and big auctions. I have also, on websites were allowed used the banner from here as my sig. My club's site has this site as a link and my club's newsletter has the anagrams courtesy of CAC with the CAC banner below. With permission of course.
Page 5
http://www.scaas.info/resources/October08+SCAT.pdf

[Melody]

I do marketing for a living and yes, it is well covered. Our members and mod's are wonderful about other forms of marketing.

The title is Canadian Aquarium Connection, Canada's fish community, based in BC. I think that's clearly saying what it's intended to say. I'm not concerned about it.

Thanks for your comments!

[OldMan]

As far as Maritess concern, I am a person living in the US that came across the site. I found it informative and joined. I thought the based in BC statement gave it an identity unlike so many that really have no home and no focal point. I may not live in BC but it's nice to see it has a home.

[Melody]

I keep forgetting you're not in Canada actually...lol...you fit right in!

It's great to have people from other countries but since they're not our target market anyway, it doesn't bother me either way. We've never been about numbers here, our goal is quality.

[GaryofMontreal]

Jeez, I'm from Quebec, and they let me join:Smile:!

I think the label as Canadian is really important, because there`s also the auction. There are difficulties for Canadians using US sites to buy and sell fish, and the BC crowd here have shown a great initiative in trying to get something going within our postal system. I rarely participate in forums without knowing where they are based, and I really like the Canadian identity of this forum.
I may never have gone to BC (I have been to St Louis de Ha!Ha! Quebec at least twenty times though), but I'm glad to "e-know" the people here.
I just wish Old Man were Canadian - I bet we`d all like his endlers as much as he does.

[Katalyst]

Okay. I just thought that a new visitor from, say, the US who comes across this site and sees the "based in BC" title, might think this forum is intended for BC users and quickly click away. Whereas if that part was left off the title, somebody might see that the information exchanged is good, and decide to join the forums. In any case, I was just curious.

I'm one of the token American's they put up with around here, lol. Granted I am currently living in Ontario, but when my husband retires in a few years time and we move back to Florida this will STILL be my absolute favorite fishy place. :yes:

[firestorm]

Most sites I know of based in the US, are such a broad spectrum. You always have people from so many different places in the states that it can get very difficult to connect with people on a personal level as well. I am a member of other forums where I am starting to think I am the only Canadian :twitcy: or at least the only albertan.

I came across this site in search for killifish advice, never knew I would have actually known some of the people on here lol. It makes it nice to see familiar faces, and have neighbors you can trade with :spinny:

[Melody]

You go to other forums? :swoon:

Kidding! I think we all have forums we frequent for whatever reason. I quite enjoy Ontario's OVAS for one, although I don't get there as often as I used to.

I think our BC members became a minority to Ontario members eventually. Hey Jay, can we count by Province without having to count by Province? Are there stat's in place? That would be interesting.

I'm all for diversity but the general Canadian forums have never taken off before and we simply needed one. There's a Canadian marine forum or two out there that do well, but nothing really for freshwater or a combination. There are those who are supposed to be Canadian but their members are almost entirely in a local area, so that doesn't serve the nationwide purpose. Some, be they Canadian or Provincial, are just plain unpleasant to be in.

There's often no real focus on hooking people up from across the country to deal, be that via purchase, trades or any other mutually beneficial arrangement.:ShakeHands: You have your basic classifieds and those looking for anything free, but there isn't the same sense of working together and a sincere desire to give as much as you take.

What we have here is probably best described as camaraderie, and that has resulted in the kind of community that a lot of people wanted but could never find.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the biggest compliment I've ever read about CAC was posted by a troll in another forum. He said he didn't like it here::D: .

[Lisachromis]

I like this forum. It's very friendly. The more the merrier I say (as long as everyone plays nice.)

:Smile:

Some other Canadian forums....

Cichlid one - http://s7.zetaboards.com/Cichlid_Haven/index/

And this is a general one. It's been around since approx 2005 I think.
http://www.hardcoreaquatics.com/forum/index.php

[Melody]

Exactly, lots that never quite got going or are largely one area, but it's great to see some still hanging on.

I am finding more niche Canadian forums as of late, be they species specific or clubs. I love to see the species specific ones as they sometimes attract the more knowledgeable hobbyists in that particular area. A wealth of information in some of them.

We don't do 'not nice' here, that's what the vast majority prefer. There's countless other forums for those who have nothing better to do than to be cyber-brave with their snarky remarks & fish-poo disturbing.

Thanks for the links!

[jewels]

It was the "based in BC " that brought me into this community. Bored with the lack of variety around the local fish shops , I went on line to see if there was any thing else out there.

Try it with fresh eyes
Run a google search by typing in the name of your favorite fish then put "for sale" after it .
Dig a little deeper and 19 out of 20 are in Florida or Arizona or somewhere else no-where near here. After hours of reading and surfing I thought I was alone in this Province.

Thats when I saw the "based in BC " handle and discovered how wrong I was.
Little did I know BlaineP was furtively amassing an army in his back room; less than two and a half hours away from my home !

Fifteen dollars to ship and fish for less than a buck each ?
Thats all it took to make the 'Connection' in my 'Canadian Aquarium'

[blainep]

Thats when I saw the "based in BC " handle and discovered how wrong I was.
Little did I know BlaineP was furtively amassing an army in his back room; less than two and a half hours away from my home !


:rofl:

A very hungry army !

But that's exactly the point, the ability to find something out of the ordinary a little closer to home.

[Melody]

LOL Great story! When we're rich & famous, we'll put you on the commercial.:yes:

[BrownBullhead]

I agree with "Pamelajo" (and others) who posted to say the "made in Canada" (sic) branding was a selling point to them. In fact, the Western Canada selling point was even more appropriate to me, since I am in Manitoba. It may be an opportunity to develop some relationships for hobbyist-to-hobbyist trading, something that is difficult across international borders. That's my $0.02 CDN on this topic.

[blainep]

I agree with "Pamelajo" (and others) who posted to say the "made in Canada" (sic) branding was a selling point to them. In fact, the Western Canada selling point was even more appropriate to me, since I am in Manitoba. It may be an opportunity to develop some relationships for hobbyist-to-hobbyist trading, something that is difficult across international borders. That's my $0.02 CDN on this topic.

Exactly, I bring in quite a few fish from the US and it's surprising how many sellers and hobbiests don't even want to try shipping into Canada.

I know some have been harassed by Canada Customs and by shippers, but done right, it's not difficult. (Just expensive !)

[OldMan]

Blaine, I didn't find it hard to ship plants and microworms to Canada. I have never tried to ship fish anywhere so I suppose that might be tougher. I used the mails and clearly labeled what I was sending by using a declaration sticker on the package.

[firestorm]

It was the Canadian part that brought me here, and Wallace told me about the site ::D: I like it because there are more people on here with good info about some of the fish I am interested in. Not any of the Alberta forums have that much knowledge on them. And I am getting sick and tired of some of the other forums. I can't stand people who have bad attitudes and try to argue with everything you say. I actually started getting into it with another member about substrate :confused: They seem to disagree with everything I said, and for some reason they don't give it up, they have to be right.

As far as i'm concerned there is sharing your knowledge, but not in a snooty know-it-all way. I also appreciate the things people on this site will do for you. I have never experienced so many favors on other sites. And you guys are just great all around. I like that you can go off topic a bit, and no one cares. Other sites will give you trouble if you do it. So there are many reasons I love this site :notworthy:

[Melody]

Our membership is awesome - it's people like you who make this a nice place to hang out in :yes: . Even doing business results in friendships forming. Does the guy who bought your stereo send you pictures of the speakers he bought for it a year later? :laugh: I was thinking about that when the breeder sent me the Cana egg pictures last week. She knew I'd be pumped right along with her as I have siblings of her laying snail. I also appreciate the non-competitive nature amongst breeders here. I would miss out on a lot of friendships if I let that kind of thing become a priority in this hobby.


Blaine, I didn't find it hard to ship plants and microworms to Canada. I have never tried to ship fish anywhere so I suppose that might be tougher. I used the mails and clearly labeled what I was sending by using a declaration sticker on the package.


Sometimes I wonder if that's not a case of a Customs officer reading the sticker and thinking "Microworms? I don't want to know. NEXT!" :twitcy:

[RatMan]

I am a member of about 4 other forums, 3 based in the UK and one in the US and it was the Canadian part that brought me here.
I did join another Canadian site but was quick to leave it when I was insulted by a member's post.......
they were talking of having a get togather and were asking when and were. I log in and said it was a 5 hour drive for me but I was willling to drive down and could stay at my sister's house and then it would only be about an hours drive to either location they had in mind.
Then another member came on and said it was for local members only......well ok then you don't want me for a member.........
So who is putting on the coffee?

[Pamelajo]

It is already on! Always is around here.:yes:

[CACAdmin]

Yes, it's always on and sometimes we can even smell some of Pam's baking (:secret: she's known for her pies... and they have no effect on the waistline... zero calories in the internet versions :wink: )

[Gobies et al]

I am a member of about 4 other forums, 3 based in the UK and one in the US and it was the Canadian part that brought me here.
....well ok then you don't want me for a member.........
So who is putting on the coffee?

Hi RatMan

Their loss...our gain!

Morning coffee is a bit later in Alberta...no fresh baking at this house though.

:yes:

[Pamelajo]

Homemade waffles instead of pancakes here tonight. Made lots extra!! Check out the waterfront cafe for yours.

[OldMan]

Hi Ratty. I haven't noticed you here before but your profile says you have been here most of a year. I noticed that AFK is down now and LRU is gone too.
This forum has become one of my favorites since I found it a while back. I don't know that based in BC means much to me as I am in the US but this is a very friendly site indeed. They let me hang around as long as I don't remind them too often that I am not in Canada.

[blainep]

Hi Ratty. I haven't noticed you here before but your profile says you have been here most of a year. I noticed that AFK is down now and LRU is gone too.
This forum has become one of my favorites since I found it a while back. I don't know that based in BC means much to me as I am in the US but this is a very friendly site indeed. They let me hang around as long as I don't remind them too often that I am not in Canada.

Being transplanted, I thought you were our 'Southern District' ambassador ! :laugh:

[OldMan]

I must admit to being a transplant. I never considered myself an ambassador but I do find that my actions are sometimes governed by trying to make sure nobody ends up thinking less of Canadians because of me.

[Melody]

And a fine job you do of it too!

Every forum has it's purpose and atmosphere that suits some better than others. We just focus on the majority and those requirements are pretty basic - a love of aquatic creatures, maturity, friendly & helpful demeanor, and basic social skills are pretty much it. None of those things rely on geography.

:Welcome: Everyone :Smile: . Kick back, share, connect and have a good time!

[Very Scalare]

Awwwww. you really mean we need social skills? :wideeyed:

I thought my only skill was getting to work on time.

[Melody]

LOL I'm only concerned with basic manners, you're safe... or I'm telling your Mama!