Member Organized Events

[James]

I think there are a lot of things members wouldn't believe if they knew what Josh probably knows about all of this. I don't think MR is the thread removing monster it is being made out to be. This site is one of the least heavy-handed reef-related sites on the web.... think about it, there must be something more going on with this that most people are not aware of for MR to remove those threads. Just my opinion.

James

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Would you believe me if I told you we wanted/offered to provide food and drink for free?

That is absolutely correct.... two times you offered, and when it came time, you forgot.

And a Donor to this site along with Harry.

 

[Josh]

That is absolutely correct.... two times you offered, and when it came time, you forgot.

And a Donor to this site along with Harry.

Not sure where you got that idea, clearly not everyone is in the loop.

This thread is for suggestions for the M&G rules, so we should get back to that IMO.

 

[jay1335]

:givebeer:

 

[jerl77]

cool get back to the real thing sorry for bring stuf up
so what rules we got so far ?
i guess i cant be a
yet?:irked:

Not sure where you got that idea, clearly not everyone is in the loop.

This thread is for suggestions for the M&G rules, so we should get back to that IMO.

 

[jerl77]

how do you donate anyways?
is there a link?

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

I agree with Josh and the Mods on some things for sure there is definitely a good amount of money generated from the site/swaps.. BUT How much do you think 50 pizzas cost maybe even more? Plus sandwiches and everything else as well as like they said the site work and stuff. If Josh or anyone else makes a few bucks profit then why not..you can't blame him. He's got kids to feed and lives in manhattan that's expensive! LOL It clearly states on the site it is "NOT a non profit". I'm sure if anyone else came up with the idea for the site you would try to make a few bucks too and why not. You can't really expect someone to do all this for free can you? Do you have that much time and years of effort to donate to a cause like this? I highly doubt it. This is not targeted toward anyone just as a generalized statement.

However I do agree with a lot of the members as well and don't know where they got the idea there was an entrance fee or something because I have been to most of the meet and greets and there was never a cover charge. The auction money always went to whoever's item it was. That only changed at the last one because and in all fairness it isn't right that Dr. Harry or Jarret have to lay out all the money to feed everyone so the idea was that the items would be donated now and the few bucks made at auction would cover the cost of food that is provided free to all attendees. There isn't any profit being generated from that. I think the most expensive thing ever auctioned was a tank and stand combo and it was like 30 bucks for a tank and stand! All the frags are typically 5-10 and they are always mini colonies. Dr. Harry and Jarret are literally two of the nicest guys I ever met they donate their office space,knowledge and most importantly their time just to get some hobbyists together to BS about reefing and make new friends. In all fairness and with all due respect the swaps are GREAT I look forward to the 2 swaps a year so much. I understand how much work goes into them and that it takes a long time to plan, get donations, organize etc. The meet and greets are just a way to satisfy the craving until the next swap. It's in no way a competition for the swap and is not a threat so I hope it's not perceived this way.

 

[ming]

how do you donate anyways?
is there a link?

Top right of any page on MR is a link

Back to topic, the rules that we are in the process of making is actually in the benefit to attending members. I honestly see no reason keep asking why the thread was deleted. There is a legit reason and I'll let Josh handle that. Once the rules are ready, everybody will see them and see they are fair IMO.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

and we also have food the night before & morning of the swap for the people helping setup.

This does say it all:

Only input Ill have here- from someone that did set up and tear down the last spring swap--I didnt, nor did I see anyone else that help set up get fed. Actually after we were done- the staff(vendors and mods who all absolutely deserve some downtime and good food for their efforts) went out to dinner after we were told we had to leave after the setup(approximately 9 pm)

I didnt do the setup to get a thing out of it- actually i donated a colony of zoas of about 80-90 heads. For that from some of the mods, not the vendors we got to get rushed out all of a sudden and got to pick up some Burger King on the way home.

Unless I wasnt in a network that are in the know- which I dont believe is the case, thats not where any of the money went at that swap, because at least at that swap there was no food in the room that night.

Nanoreefer also was very nice to contact me to state that I worked my ass off(while still nursing 2 broken legs from a motorcycle accident back to health) and to remind him to get my swap crew badge if he forgot. I didnt ever remind him because after putting in hard work- you shouldnt have to ask for it. And PLEASE DONT put it on me now, I dont want it, again I donated my time a few times other than that night as well that Kathy and a few others know about, its in my character.

Just sayin there were some desrepencies in your statement of where money goes is all.

Didnt mean to stir the smelly brown stuff but hey honesty is the best policy.

 

[marrone]

Only input Ill have here- from someone that did set up and tear down the last spring swap--I didnt, nor did I see anyone else that help set up get fed. Actually after we were done- the staff(vendors and mods who all absolutely deserve some downtime and good food for their efforts) went out to dinner after we were told we had to leave after the setup(approximately 9 pm)

I didnt do the setup to get a thing out of it- actually i donated a colony of zoas of about 80-90 heads. For that from some of the mods, not the vendors we got to get rushed out all of a sudden and got to pick up some Burger King on the way home.

Unless I wasnt in a network that are in the know- which I dont believe is the case, thats not where any of the money went at that swap, because at least at that swap there was no food in the room that night.

Nanoreefer also was very nice to contact me to state that I worked my ass off(while still nursing 2 broken legs from a motorcycle accident back to health) and to remind him to get my swap crew badge if he forgot. I didnt ever remind him because after putting in hard work- you shouldnt have to ask for it. And PLEASE DONT put it on me now, I dont want it, again I donated my time a few times other than that night as well that Kathy and a few others know about, its in my character.

Just sayin there were some desrepencies in your statement of where money goes is all.

Didnt mean to stir the smelly brown stuff but hey honesty is the best policy.

Lets see now, the last swap, at Pace, we had Pizza brought in the night before and Coffee, Bagels and donuts the morning of. The swap at Pratt I think we went out to a restaurant in the area, it was the night the Mets played that very long extra inning game. Josh picked up the tab, with Dr Mac also picking up a few things. Anyone that was there could have gone, nobody was excluded, though some people didn't as they had a long ride home and then had to come back early the next morning. I think we did the same thing the year, though it was later in the evening.

There is always food the morning of. The night setup, which at Pace, can be a problem if the setup runs late, around 11 - 12pm, as there isn't a lot of places in the area to begin with, let alone them being open that late. Also at Pratt there is a cafeteria were soda and water is brought. No problem with stir the stuff, just make sure you list everything, as nobody is trying to hide anything.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Read my post again marrone- I stated THE LAST SPRING SWAP------AT PRATT- unless the food went out and got eaten before I got there in the 1st 1/2 hour- there was no food for us that set up. There was definately no food for us after the tear down either

AT THE LAST SPRING SWAP- AT PRATT- THE ONE AT PRATT- IN BROOKLYN. LAST SPRING. NO FOOD.

Dont mean to argue and I stated that in my post but if were gonna go the lets see route- Ill tell ya what I didnt see at that swap set up and tear down-----FOOD FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.

 

[marrone]

Read my post again marrone- I stated THE LAST SPRING SWAP------AT PRATT- unless the food went out and got eaten before I got there in the 1st 1/2 hour- there was no food for us that set up. There was definately no food for us after the tear down either

AT THE LAST SPRING SWAP- AT PRATT- THE ONE AT PRATT- IN BROOKLYN. LAST SPRING. NO FOOD.

Dont mean to argue and I stated that in my post but if were gonna go the lets see route- Ill tell ya what I didnt see at that swap set up and tear down-----FOOD FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.

Jimmy, read what I posted, the swap at Pratt, which is the last spring swap. After the setup we went out to eat. I'll repeat it again, after the setup we went out to eat.

There is never any food after the tear down, we're usually there late and everyone just want to get everything done and leave. Though you'll find some members will go out to eat.

 

[Josh]

Only input Ill have here- from someone that did set up and tear down the last spring swap--I didnt, nor did I see anyone else that help set up get fed.

Well, thanks for helping out at the swap. I'm sorry you did not see that we had snacks and coffee, pizza for setup, and some people went out to dinner as well. We usually do it at 11PM-12AM when we finish setting up. So if you left at 9 you missed a bunch of it. A little known fact is that in addition to helpers getting the first look at most of the vendors setups, we try and hook everyone up with a cool frag or something interesting. We appreciate volunteers and we want you to know it, if you didn't get that feeling then we made a mistake in communication.

Also, regarding expenses, we pick up a large number of costs incurred by mods, helpers, our guests (we pick up their travel, hotel, meals, etc). Like I said before, there is a ton of stuff that people don't see. I personally would love to attend just the swap and get to see it through the average member's eyes.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I read but I was just talking about where you stated that theres food for the volunteers that help with the setup the night before and the morning of the swap for the people that helped setup- you typed it I just quoted it.

Again not tryin to argue but sometimes a declaration needs to be quoted. So I did.

Not tryin to argue Mike, just sayin how I felt and what I noyiced after that swap setup and tear down, and it wasnt what was stated- not at that swap at least.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Well, thanks for helping out at the swap. I'm sorry you did not see that we had snacks and coffee, pizza for setup, and some people went out to dinner as well. We usually do it at 11PM-12AM when we finish setting up. So if you left at 9 you missed a bunch of it. A little known fact is that in addition to helpers getting the first look at most of the vendors setups, we try and hook everyone up with a cool frag or something interesting. We appreciate volunteers and we want you to know it, if you didn't get that feeling then we made a mistake in communication.

Also, regarding expenses, we pick up a large number of costs incurred by mods, helpers, our guests (we pick up their travel, hotel, meals, etc). Like I said before, there is a ton of stuff that people don't see. I personally would love to attend just the swap and get to see it through the average member's eyes.

Josh then it was at 11 or 12 I was talkin about- I was there till the very end that night- was talking to Simon Garett until you guys all went out to eat- didnt remember what time it was but I left when you guys did.

I will never regret helping out but I just felt some statements were incorrect is all.



I also never said a thing about anything else I know you guys shell out a lot but there were some miscommunication is all I believe.

 

[marrone]

I read but I was just talking about where you stated that theres food for the volunteers that help with the setup the night before and the morning of the swap for the people that helped setup- you typed it I just quoted it.

Again not tryin to argue but sometimes a declaration needs to be quoted. So I did.

Not tryin to argue Mike, just sayin how I felt and what I noyiced after that swap setup and tear down, and it wasnt what was stated- not at that swap at least.

Jimmy, I know you're not try to argue but in some case, usually at Pratt, if we finish fast, or late, we go out to a restaurant in the area. But Josh also does buy soda and stuff from the cafeteria at Pratt during the setup.

I'm really not sure what you're trying to get out, are you saying that just because food wasn't brought in, and we went out instead, what I put down wasn't correct? If that's what you're getting at, then sorry but I'm not going to argue the point with you anymore.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

No not sayin that at all Mike, there was just no food is all that I saw. You guys bring in a good lunch for everyone at the swap itself, just I didnt see any the night before and it was stated that theres food provided for th setup is all i was tryin to say.

Honestly I could care less about being fed for doing something- and no you guys do a lot of work and deserve to go out for a nice dinner.

Im not lookin to call anyone out- was just stating I saw a miscommunication is all.

 

[Staaan]

The way I (and tons of others) see it.. is that there was no need to pull the all the MnG threads. They were "mature" threads... in the sense that MnG memories and what not were on there. And at the very least you could've left the up the latest MnG thread, so that members have a reference for where it was going to be held... some new members may need it.

Also - marrone, I've been to 2 MR officially official swaps. And they were pretty good for the most part. The components I listed were somewhat there, but not completely.

As far as the number of vendors at the MnGs go.. honestly I only ever remember seeing one, and if its any consolation to the initial direction of my statements -- no one really paid any attention to the vendor that was there.

The MnGs offer a much more closeness. Now obviously for the enormous group that MR is, it would be almost impossible to have a more intimate reefer meeting, but all in all - I think the removal of the MnG threads only exacerbated an already dwindling consensus that MR is out for money, and not in the sense of maintaing this site. I think many feel this way because MR is perceiving the MnG as a financial threat.

I agree - running this site, I'm sure takes up a good amount of finances. But if this site is free, then members should be allowed to post whatever they want (in the context of it being reef appropriate and carefully placed in the respective forum sub section).

What I would like clarified (along with many others) - and when I say clarified, I mean a clear, accurate reasoning as to why every single Meet and Greet thread was taken down?

 

[marrone]

The MnGs offer a much more closeness. Now obviously for the enormous group that MR is, it would be almost impossible to have a more intimate reefer meeting, but all in all - I think the removal of the MnG threads only exacerbated an already dwindling consensus that MR is out for money, and not in the sense of maintaing this site. I think many feel this way because MR is perceiving the MnG as a financial threat.

I really sorry, but you haven't read the posts in this thread. What you posted is the furthest from the truth.

 

[Staaan]

I really sorry, but you haven't read the posts in this thread. What you posted is the furthest from the truth.

I have read. I stated an opinion just because it conflicts with what is previously posted doesn't mean I didn't read. As well as stating that this is how many feel.

Maybe you should read the posts. :grouphug:




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