Dear Aquarist,

November event was an interesting meeting. Our guest speaker for the evening was John Coppolino. John’s topic for the evening was “SPS Success”. Although the coral pictures and John’s methodology in growing them successfully was very interesting I think most people were interested in his new home which has a 1,300 gallon marine aquarium installed. I think he built his home around his aquariums. Spectacular doesn’t do it justice. We also had a 50/50 on livestock (plants, fish and corals) that was very successful. Our auction and donations of products had many attendees enjoying our sponsor’s products.

We gave out the prizes to the winners of our BAS photo contest and took pictures of the winners and their prizes for each of the 17 categories. The pictures, along with the photo that won the prize (for the two areas that had ties all the pictures will be shown) will be available in our upcoming Aquatica for you to enjoy and to think about what pics you want to enter for next years’ contest. I want to personally thank our panel of judges from SeaChem, Hikari, and Central Aquatics (which owns Aqueon, Kent Marine and Coralife, along with our own Kay Martin and Dr. Robert Price. All the pictures can be seen on our Yahoo Group BrooklynAquariumSociety. Thanks for everyone who entered!

Our next event is our Holiday Party. This is where we break bread and share stories with our members and families. Everyone is to bring in a dish so all can share in the bounty of BAS food, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. All attendees must bring in a dish or they will be charged $10 at the door. This is also the evening we present our awards for our hard working Board, and members and least we forget our sponsors and other donators. The meeting/dinner will be on December 13. As always doors open at 7:30 PM, and there is free parking.

I am asking for your help and support. If you want to see different subjects offered, please let me know. As examples, some members asked when we were having another bus trip to the Long Island Aquarium & Exposition Center; another asked if we would be willing to do a bus trip to the Baltimore Aquarium, take in a ballgame at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, do an overnight and then hit several huge aquarium stores on the way home. I said sure why not, IF you can get enough people to fill a bus. So, those who are interested get back to me with what you want to do!

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, or visit our modern website at WWW.BROOKLYNAQUARIUMSOCIETY.ORG.

On a more personal note – Any member who desires to attend a Board meeting, 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