Dead

[Chriscrna]

I took a brief hiatus from R2R after the Smoky Mountain Coral Expo (in which I was posting about 10 times a day leading up to the event).

Then the Cubs happened to go on a playoff run......so I took a brief hiatus from life LOL. My wife and I are both born and bred Cubbies, so we've been back and forth to Chicago several times over the past few weeks.

So I've been MIA. But I'm back now boys!

 

[Chriscrna]

Still waiting on my tank tho......

 

[CastAway]

Still waiting on my tank tho......

Wow.

 

[cee]

Welcome back and sorry for the loss...

I don't really do baseball...

 

[Reefrookie220]

Honestly @cee , I remember not so long ago when you were trying to get back in the scene and join a club, it happened to be this one instead of vrj.

While I know very little of the two clubs history I never chose one over the other...it chose me. Or rather @CastAway chose me lol!

And in a few short months and attending only a single meeting I feel as though the history of my club (remember that I don't know anything about it) was based off of a past beef between the two. But what's funny is nobody even remembers why. Now with recent events I feel as though a lack of participation has settled our club on the rocks so to speak.

I feel as though there are, "cliques" in clubs. Which drives me nuts. A club is a unified group.

I got into this hobby on a crazy whim with a 220g tank and was instantly overwhelmed lol but I found this site and started questions and a few folks helped me drastically with no expectations or open hands or loaded favors and to them I'll be eternally grateful because through them I learned how hobbyists should act to one another.

I feel a major aspect of the problems within clubs is that it always ends in competition (everyone with a reef tank aspires to be a millionaire with 3 runway frag tanks in the basement) on who can make a profit from their fellow club. It's getting to the point that club vendor should be a spot onon the BOD.

I've considered quitting clubs all together, trying a new club or hell even starting my own.

Now for the point to my novel length rant? The community in general is as you put it @cee dead. And it bothers me as well.

Let the flaming and disagreement begin. -Waylon.

 

[cee]

Waylon,

A little over 2 years ago a large aquarium I had burst a seam and I sold everything, vowing never to get back in again. Not long after that my wife was diagnosed with brain cancer and suffered a stroke after surgery to remove part of the tumor. I stayed out while she recovered but we agreed once her health improved that I should set another tank up, if for no other reason than to act as a distraction from the continuous stress we have to deal with that will never go away. All this club separation business happened while I was preoccupied so I have no first-hand knowledge of the events.

I now find that one thing I enjoy is interacting with and helping other hobbyists. Due to other priorities in life sometimes it can be difficult for me to attend as many meetings as I'd like. I think Knoxville and East TN in general have enough hobbyists to make for a very strong club but not enough to support 2 clubs. I'd like to see the members of both clubs put aside whatever past differences they may have had and considering combining forces. If that were to happen I believe it could be one of the larger clubs in the US. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot I can do to change things other than to plead.

Dave

 

[hingisp]

I havnt been on this forum for long, in fact don't even live in usa, however in a small response to the OP, I think many people and probably even newbies who join a new forum rather lurk and search threads and get their answers that way as 9/10 their problem has been discussed and ideas shared already on the forum as the years has passed, so not really a "new" problem, and they would rather search for their issue in fear of being called out saying use the search button as that's what it's there for.. I'm not at all saying that happens here, in fact I havnt even come across a statement like that made yet but just putting it out there. Other than that I can say I have left our local reefing forums here as I find this one of much more value and have already learned a lot of new stuff as well which I am already seeing results with in my tank. Very exciting times. On another side note it's very depressing being on this forum as you guys are so blessed with such amazing corals, man I would just pass out if I had the opportunity to purchase such stunningly coloured corals you guys have the opportunity to get. Our shipments we get at the LFS don't come close to what is offered on the other side of the world... Happy reefing everyone, I love it here [emoji106] [emoji6]

 

[cee]

On another side note it's very depressing being on this forum as you guys are so blessed with such amazing corals, man I would just pass out if I had the opportunity to purchase such stunningly coloured corals you guys have the opportunity to get. Our shipments we get at the LFS don't come close to what is offered on the other side of the world... Happy reefing everyone, I love it here [emoji106] [emoji6]

I don't know, the coral in your avatar looks pretty outstanding to me. When I get to visit South Africa I'll be sure and try and smuggle you in some nice frags

 

[hingisp]

Haha man that avatar is my dream coral.. Wish it was mine, but have to admit it's a pic off the net. If you ever do come here be sure to bring some of those beauties. You will live like a king while here

 

[Reefrookie220]

@cee I like the way you think, however I feel as though a few BOD members on either side may take it to the grave.

 

[CastAway]

Thanks @Reefrookie220, sincerely. +1 on the profiteering comment. I think it can be a conflict of interest - doesn't have to be, but can be. I enjoy, and miss, the social aspects of being in a club.

I have the highest hopes, confidence even, in a united Knoxville reefing community. I Love reefing, and am having a blast!

 

[Reefrookie220]

@CastAway still waiting on my mustang ride from Knoxville to the coral reef! Lol good to see you making an appearance man.

 

[CastAway]

@CastAway still waiting on my mustang ride from Knoxville to the coral reef! Lol good to see you making an appearance man.

I've been here all along.

Road trippin to Murfreesboro tomorrow, and back again Sunday, or I'd say "let's go!". If I'm in town around 1:00p, I hope to go to AM though, and meet some folks I have not met yet.

Plus, they've got some lobo's and zoa's I need!

 

[wrfreeman]

Good afternoon. I've been trying to resist posting a response to this thread, but now feel compelled to speak my piece.


I've been a member of VRJ for a couple of years now and have enjoyed the fellowship related to belonging to a club. I chose to join a club for the fellowship it brings and the support it offers to fellow reefers.


I'm quickly learning that what I don't like about clubs is all the drama and the fact that it doesn't have to exist. Sometimes people create stress and drama where it has no place and otherwise wouldn't exist.


Comments have been made in this thread related to profiteering and conflict of interest within VRJ and their BOD. Considering the rocky history (that for some reason no one can just get past) between VRJ and ETRC, I find it somewhat disapointing that ETRC’s moderator would allow the inflammatory posts against VRJ, made by primarily one individual, to be proliferated throughout this thread. This is accomplishing nothing but flaming the coals of past fires. It’s my understanding that over the past few years great strides have been made to put out these coals and reconciliation between the two clubs was at hand. I’m hoping it’s not too late.


Common sense and the removal of emotion and drama will tell you the comments regarding profiteering and conflict of interest hold no merit whatsoever. The same holds true regarding the comments about the requirement of having a vendor on the BOD. “Definition of PROFITEER. : one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency.” At no time did any member of VRJ (Board member or otherwise) make an unreasonable profit from any other member of VRJ. Period. Having a vendor as a club member (Board member or otherwise) has quite the opposite effect. They have a capability to offer discounts otherwise not possible through outside vendors and only if you chose to buy through them. Personally, I have never participated in a group buy because at those times I really didn’t need anything. I did buy a box of salt from a club member (who is a vendor) and saved about $15. Did that club vendor make some profit from the sale of that box of salt? Well I hope so. It would be completely unreasonable for me to expect anyone to sell me something and not make some profit. If I did feel that way, then it would be my choice to buy it someplace else. Now, if that Board member made it a rule of the club that all members have to purchase all livestock and supplies through them, then that would be conflict of interest and extortion. At no time during my time as a member of VRJ has it been a stipulation of my membership that I make all my purchases through the club.


I accepted the position of club president a couple of weeks ago in an effort to save our club from dissolution. Club participation has dwindled and longtime members have quit due to the drama over the past year. I am not a vendor, I have no hidden agendas, and I absolutely hate drama and politics. I also believe in being completely transparent with all club business and welcome open discussion. I have no interest in rehashing old business and pouring salt in old wounds. I truly want to move forward with an open mind and unencumbered by past events. Perhaps I’m just naïve and this is not possible, but that’s how I’m going to approach it. I do, however, love my reef tank, enjoy the fellowship of other reefers, and enjoy helping others new or returning to the hobby. We reefers are a finite group of people and need to stick together. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[Rob.D]

To whomever it pertains to, you all are grown men, if you have a issue with each other please take it to pm, text, or go meet up at a bar and have a drink together. This back and forth drama stiring junk needs to go. If someone has something positive or constructive to say, please feel free to say it, if not, please move on and take the drama with you.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

@cee I am active as far responding to messages, lol, but i dont get to post so much anymore. I have been staying pretty busy.m

I have said it before, and Ill say it again. I have no idea what the beef between to two clubs is or was, or why it was there to begin with. I dont make any money off of club members. I also offered to help members in both clubs with purchases, and if anyone in either club is interested in getting something and want to check my price first, im ok with doing that. I personally think that as fellow reefers, in this already expensive hobby, we should do our best to help each other.

I am no where near an expert on anything in this hobby, and as i found out the other afternoon @cee knows more about sps than i will ever lol.

Oh yea, the other take away from this thread I saw was Cee you are 50!!!! man your old LOL

 

[Chriscrna]

Don't know...don't care. This is a reef club for crying out loud.

A.........REEF........CLUB!!!!!

What are we, 12 year old girls?

I, along with most of us nowadays, were not around for the split. Knoxville IS NOT big enough for 2 separate clubs. This is ridiculous!

Whoever has a problem......squash your beef like men and move on. Grow up! It's time for Knoxville to be one club again.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Right on Chris!

 

[CastAway]

Ive done nothing but work towards that end.

 

[Reefrookie220]

I agree as well. I feel it'd pretty much double participation, Double club funding ,make for killer meetings and demos not to mention things like swaps and what have you.