President’s Message – April 2013

Dear Aquarist,

The month of April was a busy month for our speaker Mark Denaro. Last week, he gave a couple of wonderful presentations at the Northeast Council convention in Connecticut and last night he was with us in Brooklyn. He sure does move around. Mark is the President of the Bucks County Aquarium Society and the originator of Annubias Design, a tropical fish and plants Yahoo Group. He recently created a new Yahoo Group called American Labyrinth Fish Association. This is a very interesting group that specializes in the many varieties of Labyrinth fish species such as Bettas, Paradise Fish, Gouramis and other rarer types.

The crowd was standing room only and all were keenly interested in the variety, colors and environmental conditions these rare and often misunderstood species require. Mark is an expert in these beautiful and complex fish and answered the many questions from the audience in clear, concise and understandable terms. I can’t wait to have some of these beauties!  The event was fun, rewarding and educational.

Our next event in May will be our Giant Auction! This auction is SOoo big we can’t have a guest speaker. On May 10th, we will have nothing but fish, plants, corals and aquarium products. Our sister club from North Jersey Aquarium Society will host a table to sponsor their upcoming 60th Anniversary in October, which will be a 4 day extravaganza. I don’t want to give away any surprises, so I will let them tell you about it next month. Bill Arndt will have a table for “Your Fish Stuff” for aquarium supplies and tropical fish foods. As always, this will be an exciting event that is not to be missed. So come on down and join us on May 10. Doors open at 7:30 PM.  As always, there is free parking and free refreshments.

May is the opportunity for members, officers and Board members to announce their willingness to participate in the elections for June. As most of you are aware, June is election time for positions on the Board. It is hoped that many of you will volunteer to be more active in club business and help us run our great Society. Anyone interested in participating, please let me know at the May event.
I am asking for your help and support. If you want to see different subjects offered, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU!  Please let us know what you want and why. It would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle, by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!
For more info please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – Any member who desires to attend a Board meeting, which are held at the Education Center of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, please notify me at (718) 238-1792 by the Tuesday previous to the meeting.

Joe Graffagnino
President