My new "Bloody Insane Violet and Blue" Staghorn Fo (1 Viewer)

[pernelf]

So are you saying that if a web member was instituted to help run/fund the website, you would give the required funds?

 

[Guest]

Perhaps MARSH could have a $15 membership, for those who only want to support the website. You can label them Web Members or something.

Interesting idea... definite new topic for the board's next meeting.

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry mrlimpet. My remark wasn't meant to place any sort of guilt to anyone not willing or wanting to join the club. It is the clubs job to make people aware of the benefits of joining, and non-paid members shouldn't feel completely excluded from joining in the site either.

This is an isolated incident where one member has remarked on the value of that $30 that keeps the club alive, while at the same time likes to brag about several couple hundred dollar colonies. It's not the money that's the issue, it's the attitude that has been represented that I find demeaning.

~Chris

 

[Guest]

I have been toying with paying the dues, but it is difficult to make it to meeting. I want to go but realisticly I could probably only make it to maybe 4 tops. Keith (and David) at Aquatic Designs have always been good to me. And the website is great. So to answer your question...Yes, I would, but I'd want my dolphins, under my name, back too.

 

[Guest]

This is an isolated incident where one member has remarked on the value of that $30 that keeps the club alive, while at the same time likes to brag about several couple hundred dollar colonies. It's not the money that's the issue, it's the attitude that has been represented that I find demeaning.

~Chris

If money isnt an issue, why dont you pay for me and everyone else on here? The more you type, the more you look like a fool. if you dont like my posts, then dont read them! Why dont you make it a rule to everyone else also to not post their new purchases. We dont want them bragging do we? I sense some jealousy here.

 

[Guest]

This is an isolated incident where one member has remarked on the value of that $30 that keeps the club alive, while at the same time likes to brag about several couple hundred dollar colonies. It's not the money that's the issue, it's the attitude that has been represented that I find demeaning.

~Chris

If money isnt an issue, why dont you pay for me and everyone else on here? The more you type, the more you look like a fool. if you dont like my posts, then dont read them! Why dont you make it a rule to everyone else also to not post their new purchases. We dont want them bragging do we? I sense some jealousy here.

I don't think jealousy is the issue.

 

[Guest]

I have been toying with paying the dues, but it is difficult to make it to meeting. I want to go but realisticly I could probably only make it to maybe 4 tops. Keith (and David) at Aquatic Designs have always been good to me. And the website is great. So to answer your question...Yes, I would, but I'd want my dolphins, under my name, back too.

This club isn't about meetings.

It is about getting together with like hobbyists, while promoting the hobby within, education and just plain socializing. The dues don't pay for meetings, so it this is the only excuse, then you should reconsider. We have MANY MANY special events planned and without dues we cannot pay for them, let alone maintain this site. Yes this site is free to the public, but it is also owned by the club and it's members. All of our special events are on the weekends so that as many members can attend as possible. I don't pay dues to attend meetings, I pay them so I can participate in other things that club has to offer.

 

[ShaneV]

I'll throw this out there, with the understanding its coming from me as a MARSH member and not as a board member.

I love seeing some of your purchases and in no way want you to stop; but I would love to see people who heavily use this site become a member as the dues help support the site. If everyone just used the site and no one paid, the site would go away, which would be a shame.

 

[Guest]

I don't think this summer will pass without most of those people on the bubble joining. We have three awesome collecting trips in the works, some great speakers at the meetings, we are working on more door and raffle prizes, a tank tour, possibly a frag swap, and more. Our goal is to build so much value into the membership that it is a no brainer to join each year.

 

[Guest]

I can't wait for the goodies!!!

 

[Cakepro]

Hahaha, hell yeah I'm jealous! However, that's beside the point.

The real issue here is not about who can post what, or who flaunts their stuff, or polyp envy or anything like that...the issue is that this site is neither public nor free. Every guest here is here on someone else's dime, so it kind of confounds me when someone who obviously doesn't have a money issue uses this site for personal gain but doesn't give a little back in return.

Again, I'm not shooting you down or running you off or trying to get in your face, Edward. I just really want to know what is holding you back. If it's something that MARSH can address and work on, it will be mutually beneficial to everyone here, because I suspect that you are not alone in your reasons for choosing not to join the club.

~ Sherri

 

[Guest]

polyp envy

Chortling over that one.

 

[Guest]

Hahaha, hell yeah I'm jealous! However, that's beside the point.

The real issue here is not about who can post what, or who flaunts their stuff, or polyp envy or anything like that...the issue is that this site is neither public nor free. Every guest here is here on someone else's dime, so it kind of confounds me when someone who obviously doesn't have a money issue uses this site for personal gain but doesn't give a little back in return.

Again, I'm not shooting you down or running you off or trying to get in your face, Edward. I just really want to know what is holding you back. If it's something that MARSH can address and work on, it will be mutually beneficial to everyone here, because I suspect that you are not alone in your reasons for choosing not to join the club.

~ Sherri

Thanks for the nice reply. Honestly, I have already told Iris one of my reasons. But mrlimpet hit the nail right on the head. I feel EXACTLY the same as he does. I would feel like I would NEED to attend meetings and if I dont, people would be asking the opposite.. "why did he joing then??" Iris has already cleared up some things with me through PM and I never knew what other things were involved besides meetings. This would mean that communication to myself and the other non/future members is not there. Im not the kind of guy who just gives out money to anyone. I need a damn good reason too. Some of us may give money to the homeless. I dont because I dont know what he will do with that money. I would rather give him an apple. Just because I know where its going. So in this dilema, I would give my money to a club. What good will it do me? I can always go to another reef board and get the same results just by using their forum. After talking to Iris, i am reconsidering joining, but not because of the FREE forum.

 

[Guest]

I can understand Edwards thoughts here.

Then on the other hand, I'd love to join but can't afford the membership dues.

 

[fishcraze]

Every guest here is here on someone else's dime, so it kind of confounds me when someone who obviously doesn't have a money issue uses this site for personal gain but doesn't give a little back in return.

I think saying the "guest" taking advantages on this site is unfair.
Here are some examples that this site may or really need the "guests" to survive:

1/ Without the hundreds of the "guests" (or non-member) here, Marsh may have a hard time to get the sponsorship here. How many LFS would really care to support a little club with only ~60 members spread all over Houston???

2/ The hundreds of guests here do provide helps on many questions raised by "paid" member here. Without these hundreds of "guests", this site would become boring and provide little help for those "paid" members who want to listen to as many different ideas and get as much info as they can, and the "paid members" may end up looking for other popular sites like RC, reefs.org.. for helps.

3/ Saying the guests taking advantage on selling/ buying/ trading here is TOTALLY WRONG!!!!! It ,in fact, makes Marsh more worthwhile for the "paid members" to have these guests selling/trading their stuffs here. Everybody knows they can buy really cheap stuffs here - as you can see how fast stuffs are sold in the Sale/Buy/Trade section. And a significant number of "great deals" in the Sale/Buy/ Trade are provided buy GUESTS. So it's a TRUE benefit for the "paid members". Not mentioning the participation of GUESTS in fragswaps helps a lot in the turn-out.

The worst thing is to see some "paid" members here went after Invincible b/c he showed some nice corals (and expensive) but not joining the club??? It's like the Salvation Army goes knocking at your door, asking why you have a 2 storied house and don't donate some money to them.

Invincible or guests (me included, and i used to be a paid member) may decide to not join for some reasons, eg. he doesn't like the current board (the people or the direction they're heading to, etc..), and it's like if you're a Republicans, you don't want to pay money to support the Democrats - just b/c of the difference in ideology. Or just b/c he doesn't see a clear benefit for joining. Or the reason why he doesn't want to join is maybe he did try to voice his opinion in the past and was not listened to; or he may think it doesn't matter what he says anyway.

But for whatever reasons, it's his decision and should be respected. If the site is designed for FREE browsing to all guests, and dues are vonluntary, then please follow the RULES, and treat people with respect -members or non-members!!!!

 

[Guest]

Quoc,

The issue has been resolved privately, and there were some misunderstandings between us all. As for the changes that were made to the BB were done in response to member requests with BOD approval.

 

[Guest]

THANK YOU QUOC. You made some damn good points!! I still get the feeling that I need to pay in order to post. At least that is the vibe I am getting. And things like that turn me away. Thanks again for voicing your opinion. A lot of people here are afraid too and shouldnt be. If I get booted off the website, then be it. I was following guidelines until Chris Pugh decided to make things sour for myself and the rest of the club.

 

[Guest]

No one is going to get booted from the site for not paying anything.

The only changes that have been made are so that members, who pay for this site, have their own area to discuss club matters and have the option to sell to only members if they choose. We have also designated club members from web-members due to the many who WANT to know if a particular person is a member or not. There might come a point when "guest" is changed to something else, but in actuality, any person who is on this site and is not a paying dues member, is a GUEST of the ones who pay for it. We don't want to push anyone away. Dues aren't just to maintain a website.

 

[Guest]

I was following guidelines until Chris Pugh decided to make things sour for myself and the rest of the club.

 

[Brad]

The above statement says all that needs to be said. "If the site is designed for FREE browsing to all guests, and dues are vonluntary, then please follow the RULES, and treat people with respect -members or non-members!!!!".

This website was definately designed to be a site free to anyone. If it wasn't then there would be password protections that would not allow non-members on the site. Everyone here benefits by having as many people reading and making posts as possible. We get more opinions, more items for sale for those looking to buy and more buyers for those looking to sell.

Many people can't, do not want to, or do not care to be a paid member. That should be fine with anyone. Even our meetings are open to members and non-members.

Those that do want to join and particpate in some of the members only events or get discounts on other events can and do join. Others don't want to participate in these special events. When they do want to, they will just pay a little more. Its their choice. No one should be looked at differently or worse yet, criticized, by not wanting to join.

If I look at various "suprememcy groups" websites to see "what is going on" does that mean I should join their cause? No way!!! There is a lot of free information that all of us use daily on the internet that we don't pay for. Many people view this as one of those places. They benefit and MARSH benefits.

Keep in mind that those that don't join won't learn the secret handshake.

I hope to see everyone members and nonmembers at the next meeting. Mike Redman will be telling us about his Tesselated Blenny ideas. b/t/w, I giggle every time I say tesselated.