Banner image

News from your BOD (1 Viewer)

Status
Not open for further replies.
When I moved out to the west coast, it was a bit of a surprise how much the 'clubs' were really just classifieds. The whole atmosphere was completely selfish and I felt jaded quickly. When I moved from MN to Cali, I gave away tons of my things and felt a good camaraderie for it--when we moved from Ca to Baltimore, it was worse than selling on craigslist (scammers, flakes, low-ballers, etc). I think that the current plan will do much to prevent a shift in that direction.
 
No real opinion here but I must say that I am shocked at the uproar. When I found TCMAS it was for the communication and sharing of info, the classifieds are only a small perk IMHO. I remember wanting to get to some meetings ASAP so I could be a part of this great community. I have met many great people who have helped me in my short time here. I probably wouldn't have even attempted the hobby without the help of TCMAS members.

Thank you TCMAS,
A proud "member".
 
TwinCities Dan said:
No real opinion here but I must say that I am shocked at the uproar. When I found TCMAS it was for the communication and sharing of info, the classifieds are only a small perk IMHO. I remember wanting to get to some meetings ASAP so I could be a part of this great community. I have met many great people who have helped me in my short time here. I probably wouldn't have even attempted the hobby without the help of TCMAS members.

Thank you TCMAS,
A proud "member".
Click to expand...

I agree with you. But the classifieds is a nice perk and I have been trying to get to a meeting.

I'm just wondering what is included in a membership to the club. Besides the meetings and information what else do you do as a member of the club. Knowing that might help get more people to join if they know what is involved with being a club member.
 
Last edited:
There is a members only forum, and for that matter a premium members forum. There are some threads in there, but most of the activity is in the regular forums. Other than that, this is about classifieds and the little saying under your name.
 
What about going with all the news with a small change. Everyone can view ads but one needs to pay or be a member to sell. I have seen this on other forums outside of reef forums.
 
JayJeep said:
I'm just wondering what is included in a membership to the club. Besides the meetings and information what else do you do as a member of the club. Knowing that might help get more people to join if they know what is involved with being a club member.
Click to expand...

As mentioned in the first posting:

An outline of the benefits members, lifetime members and supporters will be able to enjoy now and in the very near future are outlined as follows:
Members, Lifetime Members, and TCMAS Supporters will have the following benefits:

• Participate in monthly raffles and give-aways
• Free admission to workshops
• Free table at our expo's
• Certain additional options on the new forum which we will launch at the same time we implement the changes.
• A free entry in our “Yellow Pages” (A new directory - launched with the re-designed forum) This is for members to advertise any non-reef related business or services that they offer.
• Access to the classifieds. You will be able to see the sales and contact the seller however, if you want to post a for sale/wanting to buy thread you need a minimum post count of 50.
 
I think that one thing that has been overlooked is just how much information gets exchanged through the classifieds, both on the threads and by meeting people. Whenever I have bought or sold anything, there was always a conversation to go with it. Sometimes that lasts an hour or more. How does this do anything but help the club. I've been to a meeting before and it was just someone selling fish stuff out of his house. I view the one on one interaction as way more important.

The other thing is how many people come for the classifieds, but stay for the club. There are many times that I come online just to browse the classifieds, but find an interesting thread that I want to contribute to. Without the classifieds I believe the traffic will decrease dramatic and the people looking for help will be the ones to suffer. Once you "trim the fat" you may not have much left.

Why not just put limitations on the classifieds so that people under a certain amout of posts (100 or so) or a time limit (30 to 90 days), can only start "want to buy" threads. Make it so they cannot start selling or see sale threads till later and everyone will be happy.
 
MAXreefer said:
As mentioned in the first posting:

An outline of the benefits members, lifetime members and supporters will be able to enjoy now and in the very near future are outlined as follows:
Members, Lifetime Members, and TCMAS Supporters will have the following benefits:

• Participate in monthly raffles and give-aways
• Free admission to workshops
• Free table at our expo's
• Certain additional options on the new forum which we will launch at the same time we implement the changes.
• A free entry in our “Yellow Pages” (A new directory - launched with the re-designed forum) This is for members to advertise any non-reef related business or services that they offer.
• Access to the classifieds. You will be able to see the sales and contact the seller however, if you want to post a for sale/wanting to buy thread you need a minimum post count of 50.
Click to expand...

Ooops, I did read that yesterday but i guess nothing registered. :doh: Thanks.
 
People need to calm down a bit. It is as easy as going to a meeting. If there isn't one near you then make one. If you're still too lazy to put up with the effort then buy your membership. If you are so poor or so stubborn that you wouldn't pay $30/year or $50/2 years then you should not be in such a costly hobby in the first place.

I for one am going to save my money so that I can support this club and still attend any meetings that spark my interest.

If you don't want to socialize or "can't play well with others" or are even too lazy to even "buy" your membership then you are part of this club. In order to be a member you need to show that you actually care about the club and the people who are part of it.

This leads me to my second point that I love the idea of no longer having the "Open Access" classifieds. The OA made the Members Only useless other than having a smaller demographic to appeal to which defeats the whole benefit of being a member.

Seriously people. . . just attend a meeting and be glad you're part of such a great club.
 
a1t2o said:
I think that one thing that has been overlooked is just how much information gets exchanged through the classifieds, both on the threads and by meeting people. Whenever I have bought or sold anything, there was always a conversation to go with it. Sometimes that lasts an hour or more. How does this do anything but help the club. I've been to a meeting before and it was just someone selling fish stuff out of his house. I view the one on one interaction as way more important.

The other thing is how many people come for the classifieds, but stay for the club. There are many times that I come online just to browse the classifieds, but find an interesting thread that I want to contribute to. Without the classifieds I believe the traffic will decrease dramatic and the people looking for help will be the ones to suffer. Once you "trim the fat" you may not have much left.

Why not just put limitations on the classifieds so that people under a certain amout of posts (100 or so) or a time limit (30 to 90 days), can only start "want to buy" threads. Make it so they cannot start selling or see sale threads till later and everyone will be happy.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Search craigslist or E-bay if all you want to do is shop instead of communicate with people in the club. The selling section is a benefit you have as being a "club member" but now you actually have to do something to be in the club, heaven forbid.
An organization composed of people who voluntarily meet on a regular basis for a mutual purpose other than educational, religious, charitable, or financial pursuits. A club is any kind of group that has members who meet for a social, literary, or political purpose, such as health clubs, country clubs, book clubs, and women's associations.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
BadOmen said:
People need to calm down a bit. It is as easy as going to a meeting. If there isn't one near you then make one. If you're still too lazy to put up with the effort then buy your membership. If you are so poor or so stubborn that you wouldn't pay $30/year or $50/2 years then you should not be in such a costly hobby in the first place.

I for one am going to save my money so that I can support this club and still attend any meetings that spark my interest.

If you don't want to socialize or "can't play well with others" or are even too lazy to even "buy" your membership then you are part of this club. In order to be a member you need to show that you actually care about the club and the people who are part of it.

This leads me to my second point that I love the idea of no longer having the "Open Access" classifieds. The OA made the Members Only useless other than having a smaller demographic to appeal to which defeats the whole benefit of being a member.

Seriously people. . . just attend a meeting and be glad you're part of such a great club.
Click to expand...


Um wouldn't this now give you an even smaller demographic in the classifieds?!:brick1:
 
thou said:
Um wouldn't this now give you an even smaller demographic in the classifieds?!:brick1:
Click to expand...

Not smaller, but now it has a purpose. Before everyone would want to sell on OA because more people could see it. Now if you want such benefits you need to step up become a genuine member.
 
BadOmen said:
Not smaller, but now it has a purpose. Before everyone would want to sell on OA because more people could see it. Now if you want such benefits you need to step up become a genuine member.
Click to expand...

If you disconnect from non members who are selling and buying how exactly does your demographic not go down? Unless there's a secret subtraction method you're using...in that case I would like my bank account to go up every time I pay a bill! :doh:
 
thou said:
If you disconnect from non members who are selling and buying how exactly does your demographic not go down? Unless there's a secret subtraction method you're using...in that case I would like my bank account to go up every time I pay a bill! :doh:
Click to expand...

The hope is (and most likely will happen) that the non members will become active members of the club.
 
While personally I am following this thread and totally taking everyone's opinions, thoughts and comments into consideration on the subject - I do want to point out for any that have missed it in previous posts......

The only way to change the classifieds back to completely open access is by majority member vote at a business meeting.

I just want to highlight that so members don't think we are just ignoring your thoughts - we are listening but again - in order to make another change - we need a majority member vote at a business meeting

The changes to the classifieds will happen come February as outlined in the original post by MAXreefer
 
Last edited:
I am fine with participating in meetings to be a part of this great club. I see a possible problem though. Most meetings have a cap. I understand why. Lets say there are 24 meetings a year. Usually cap around 20. That means 480 in attendance. Each member needs 2 meeting attendances per year. How many members are there now? How many can we support?
 
zakroctj said:
Most meetings have a cap.
Click to expand...

Not true -

My last meeting had 70+ members - the only reason I have a cap this time around is because the 2nd floor is being remodeled - I can guarantee you my next one wont have cap :biggthumpup:

The next meeting after mine has no cap - just an RSVP so he knows how much pizza to order

David Grigor NEVER puts a cap on his meetings (I heard of one meeting where they were concerned the floor might fall through due to the amount of attendee's).


I state those facts just off the top of my head knowledge - if I went to look at the current list of upcoming meetings - I don't think ANY have caps.

We strive for 2 meetings per month within the club - the new meeting list just started - look at how many are already lined up - more will come

.Marshall said:
Does this also mean that the new forum update will become active come Feburary as well?! :agree:
Click to expand...

Possibly - lets just get past this hurdle for now please?

Our president Maxreefer is facilitating and programming the new forum move all on his own. On top of that he is doing it while flying back and forth from Europe to America for work all the time

Cherry on that sundae - he is also trying to moderate threads like this and answer the 50+ PM's he receives daily

Imma let him take his time on the new forum roll out at this point
 
Last edited:
zakroctj said:
I am fine with participating in meetings to be a part of this great club. I see a possible problem though. Most meetings have a cap. I understand why. Lets say there are 24 meetings a year. Usually cap around 20. That means 480 in attendance. Each member needs 2 meeting attendances per year. How many members are there now? How many can we support?
Click to expand...

It is the host that puts a cap on attendance and it is usually because of space issues. My meeting on the 12th does not have a cap. It starts at 2pm and goes until people leave. http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48515
 
acharpenter said:
Possibly - lets just get past this hurdle for now please?
Click to expand...

Roger that :) Just excited is all! No Pressure!

I'm sorry, I do not have much of an input in the arguments at hand, considering $2.50/month in this hobby is nothing. I will continue to follow this thread and try to keep my mouth shut about the forum update Lol.

Kind of nerdin' out about it though, bringing back the good old days of clan wars and gamer websites ..oh teenage years how I miss you.. okay i'm done I swear!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top