Dear Aquarist,

Our March event was another BAS milestone –- we are now 105 years and 1 month old. To help us celebrate this unique event, we had to bring in a unique speaker. Sal Silvestri came down from Connecticut and brought with him some old Brooklyn friends that have not graced our door in many, many years, such as Basil Holubis and Artie Platt. Sal spoke a few times in Brooklyn, but it was at least a decade ago. Sal talked about what he knows best, which is Apistogrammas! His topic for the evening was “Breeding and Maintaining Apistogramma genus & other South American Dwarf Cichlids.” He gave a great presentation and spoke about many rare and hard to find species. Sal has a knack for making the hard stuff look and sound easy.

Next month is our April event and we will have Richard Pierce coming from Rhode Island. Richard is a very interesting speaker and has a wide and diverse background in the aquarium hobby. He is into marine fish, killies and cichlids. He is affiliated with many organizations like the Tropical Fish Society of Rhode Island and he is an officer in the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies. In fact, the NEC convention is on the same weekend as our meeting and he will come to our club and then return to his duties at the NEC – WOW, talk about dedication! Richard’s topic for the evening will be “Seahorses, Pipefish and Sea Dragons.” Rich will take the mystery and false rumors away and give the straight talk about raising these amazing creatures in your home aquarium. As always, the meetings will be at the NY Aquarium Education Hall. Doors open at 7:30 PM. And, as always, there is Free Parking and Free Refreshments.

Please visit our website where you can read the Bulletin and enjoy a full color Aquatica. The interactive forums and sponsor sections are truly remarkable. Provided you have given us your email address, you will be getting notifications of club events via email.

I am asking again for your help and support. Our Treasurer Denise and our Board member Stu Hershkowitz are moving to Florida soon, so we will need a new Treasurer and Board member. Please if you have experience in accounting, we need your help. Also, if you want to see different speakers or try different things, 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, or visit our modern website at WWW.BROOKLYNAQUARIUMSOCIETY.ORG.

On a more personal note – Any member who desires to attend a Board meeting, which are held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday previous to the meeting.
Steve Matassa
President