The OFFICIAL Swap Thank You thread:)

[jcs11236]

I also would like to thank everyone for making my first swap a great experience. Everyone was very nice. All the vendors were helpful! The food was great! The best part is that I actually won 2 items in the raffle! Can't wait until the next one.

 

[Slamajamajama]

I have a few Thankyous that i feel i need to dole out....

First, you cant run a swap without power and our resident electrician Frank turns the power ON and for all the years ive been here at MR hes at every event, every tank raise, and just one of those unsung heroes that you cant do without...i hope he has MR tenure, trophy, something, because he deserves it.

Michael Marrone, mans the donation tables and evaluates all corals that come by his way, always a participant, like Frank, asks for no recognition but comes, works, and both are the backbone of these events.

Kathy, well, to list all that Kathy does to organize the raffle, auction, non coral and coral donations, the bins, the buckets, the tickets, the instructions, would take two threads to list in detail what a monumental undertaking that all is, we all have lives outside these events and she manages all this to run it all so smoothly that it seems effortless.

Randy, his dedication to reefing is evident, he extends himself (and his job) to provide us with a venue, donations of corals, speakers for the events, and the trust in us as members to go through his workplace to see his gorgeous tanks. His dedication to reefing as a whole and MR and its members is obvious and should always be commended.

Josh, Turan, and their beautiful boys, The fact they have brand new babies, jobs, and a slew of new adjustments to make with all that and still give us, the members, this event that from what i could see put a smile on everyones faces. To host an event of this size two times a year when they could just sit at home and enjoy their family says alot for their dedication to us, reefing, and Manhattan Reefs.

I know there were LOTS of additional help, and if i forget any, your not last but first, without which this event would not go as smoothly, you know who you are an I thank you...
Thanks to...
Nikki, Tahl, Tony, Krissen, Janine, Josh mom, all for manning the door, putting together the door packets, decorations and all the fill in work it takes to make it happen...

WHEW..what an event! The place was hopping, the auction was great (thanks Jim). I dont think that i could enjoy a swap without Jim (HOL) of SWC announcing the auction... its a tradition i hope i dont ever have to be without.

As for me, I had a freakin blast, being involved with this and all the members that were there is a thrill. Its one of those things that you love to do that although its work you hope continues on..and thanks for your kind words

thank you Josh for my role in this, i hope i never get fired....

 

[Slamajamajama]

I want to thank also a non members efforts, Frank, Kathys friend, he was there every minute Kathy was...hauled water and equipment for six hours on Saturday, and did EVERYTHING Kathy needed to help her out on Sunday, including the distribution of raffle prizes..I thank him because he was fun to be around..now thats something...Thanks Frank!

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Great swap!!!
We need to do 4 swaps a year!!

 

[nikkibabee]

Thank you to everyone for making the swap so successful. It was put together so well and it was great to be a part of!

 

[motortrendz]

Great swap!!!
We need to do 4 swaps a year!!

that would be great...

 

[Chraddam]

I don't want to start any trouble here, but...perhaps mini-swaps? I know there is a TON of work that goes into these things, but...I have yet to meet ANYONE that wouldn't want to do this more often...

 

[triggerhappy]

My first swap and everyone was real cool. The frag demonstrations. Randy's tanks especially the largest one really inspired me. What an awesome tank. Thank you to all to help put the swap together, next swap you should have one more volunteer. I got some cool frags and had an even better time. Thanks MR.

 

[frank arriaga]

It was our first time as vendor's we had a great time can't wait for the next one.Thanks for the the help we received.Swap crew did a great job!

 

[Josh]

We need to do 4 swaps a year!!

OMG, you're going to give Kathy a heart attack.

We have 2 major swaps per year and at least 3 other smaller events. The small events get bigger and bigger each year but will most likely never be the same size as the two big swaps. The main issue is vendor setup and coordination. At the smaller swaps we don't have vendor tables but we've come up with some creative solutions to enhance the small events without the huge setup/cleanup of the big ones.

 

[seldin]

You guys did a great job. Amazing amount of work. Much appreciated.

I liked the idea that we were able to buy donation frags. For me, the more that you can put in a tank with lighting the better to see the frags.

Thanks again. Had a great time.

 

[hal]

Great time

My girls and I had a great time, they really enjoyed watching the auction, frag demo and most of all the raffle! It was well worth it...:smile:

 

[dabo765]

I will like to thanks all of the MR staff,without them there will be no swap.We all know that it takes a lot of hard work to put this together.I will always look forward for the next one.By the way Josh forgive me for yealing at your ear but I couldnt help it just to exited.

 

[tunicata]

Definite thanks to all MR folks:
Organizers
Participants.

It really is nice to just go to the swap just to be around enthusiasts. I had been wondering if I was going to go if there was nothing that I could buy/needed to buy, hadn't kept up with folks in a while, etc. but it was still an awesome place to be.
(I can't believe a lot of the hobbyists I enjoyed are now vendors. I love the continuation/infusion of real hobbyist experience into the market= logical passion)

I also got lots of hugs!
Thanks Kathy and Awilda, see you two always makes me smile and happy to be there.
Ditto for Randy and Josh.
With the four of you I always feel safe (whatever that means).

Thanks to Nikkibabee, snoq, picod, bob 1000 for chatting with me.

ps. I thought it was awesome to have cookies and milk

 

[KathyC]

Kathy, well, to list all that Kathy does to organize the raffle, auction, non coral and coral donations, the bins, the buckets, the tickets, the instructions, would take two threads to list in detail what a monumental undertaking that all is, we all have lives outside these events and she manages all this to run it all so smoothly that it seems effortless.

Effortless? ..insert uncontrolled laughter here...

..wait , I can't stop....

aww schucks Mike..thank you so much :hug:

I totally enjoy all of the frienzied activity before & during the Swap and am very proud to be a part of it

Great swap!!!
We need to do 4 swaps a year!!

...insert even more uncontrolled laughter here...

OMG, you're going to give Kathy a heart attack.

Thank you Josh, YOU got it right...and not to worry it was only a small one until I saw your response

I want to thank also a non members efforts, Frank, Kathys friend, he was there every minute Kathy was...hauled water and equipment for six hours on Saturday, and did EVERYTHING Kathy needed to help her out on Sunday, including the distribution of raffle prizes..I thank him because he was fun to be around..now thats something...Thanks Frank!

Actually he is a member here, he just never posts..lol Whe he finally does get around to having something to say - his screen name is Cupcake (seriously)

Poor Frank pretty much got dragged everywhere I went during swap planning, sat patiently (ok, that is a flat out lie) while I read every message, text or took phone calls leading up to this and listened to all of my ...umm, let's call them concerns...lol...of the progress we were making. He came in for set -up on Saturday and did 100 different things on Sunday. His help was invaluable!

There are so many people for me to thank and it would take me a whole day to list what it was that made you all so special..so I will extend a
:grouphug: to all of you and try and remember all of the names (oh boy..)


Josh & Turan & family (OMG how cute are the boys!!!)
Randy - you are without a doubt the best friend MR has ever had.
Mike Marrone
Frank Fry
Kris
Jim - Hol
Mike (Slama) - always a pleasure..lol
Nikki
Tess
Tristan - (sorry for missing you on the first edit!)
Tahl
Brett
Dean
Philly :hug:
Josh (helper from Pratt)
Zander & Jackson -our guys who picked the winning raffle tickets
ALL of our Volunteers - you guys ROCKED!!!! We never would have made it through without you! I will attempt to name names later on as I sincerely don't want to over-look anyone.

There is one person I have intentionally left off my list above as this person was my salvation...
Janine - you know her as 'Tentacles' on here...it fits her well as she was my right arm..lol
She sold a bazillion $ in Raffle tickets (ok, well almost) , designed the new Raffle Tickets' banner, entertained our guests, offered ideas & suggestions, and never disappointed me with her response & resolution to the 1000 questions I had starting with 'can you find me a ...' -- 'where is...' -- 'what happened to...' The smile NEVER left her face..what a great gal!
She is one of the Pratt students that Randy had brought to the last Swap and I hope that she is with us for many years to come.
Thank you Janine - so very much. :hug:

I also have to thank our Speakers - Sanjay Joshi & Simon Garratt - world class, top of their game, and both delightful people to chat with!
Christine Williams -who spoke at our last swap - was a bonus to have there for her knowledge of all things marine and on top of that she pitched in to help out at the Raffle!

Also - All of the Vendors - what a group!! They brought us such beautiful corals and gave great donations to the Auction & Raffle.

....lastly the members of MR. So nice to see many old friends once again and meet new ones. I wish I'd had the time to chat with all of you!

We thank you for your support...now break out the pics!

 

[prattreef]

I was just about to post my own thank you thread, but Kathy you pretty much nailed it. I'll simply add one you left off--Tristan, my right hand man here at the Pratt Reefs who was behind the scenes all day making sure the tanks were in tiptop shape for everyone's viewing pleasure--- Janine ( tentacles) and Josh ( sillysidewinder) did a ton of work on them all week as well. Thanks!!

Simon and Sanjay what can I say, 1st class acts all the way around and I'm happy to report (unofficially) the highest lecture attendance numbers in MR swap history-- a testament to these fine gentlemen and to a hobbyist community that is embracing the educational aspects of the events.

Way to go MR, you make all the hard work worth it, and the event an honor to host. :grouphug:

 

[Chraddam]

I kept missing the Pratt tour, I missed Kathy's build demo, most of Slamma's demos, the lectures..and STILL had a blast and learned a ton of stuff just from talking to people!!! I SWEAR...next swap, those things take priority over anything else!!!

 

[Reefs Creation]

Thank you Everybody! It was a great swap.

 

[TRUKINGNY]

my first swap and i had a ball i will be at the next one and all to follow thanks MR

 

[Chraddam]

Oh and for the record- I try to buy at least one thing from EVERY vendor at the swap, whether it's a little frag or a big piece I know they have a lot of costs to cover, and I try to do my part to help each and every one of them out MR is a COMMUNITY, and we need to stick together.