November is a wonderful month for many reasons. First, we had our event on Veterans Day and the Society wants to wish every veteran a happy and safe day. Second, we have Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday. Think about it … the majority have the day off as a holiday; you don’t have to buy anything for it — not even a card — and if you’re lucky you can visit someone’s home and eat till you pass out, for free –a great American tradition! And last, we had Anthony Stissi as our guest speaker. Anthony’s topic for the evening was “Lake Tanganyikan Tropheus & Petrochromis Species”. His talk included great information on how to choose and care for the various cichlid species and showed slides of many of the beautiful and robust fish he breeds. This was Anthony’s first public speaking engagement and he did great. Anthony is one of many new speakers that should go on to become famous lecturers not only throughout the United States, but throughout the world. I predict that Anthony will be a great lecturer and presenter in the near future, watch for him!
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The auction that evening had aquarium supplies, food, lights, fish tanks, wood and metal stands, rocks and gravel, and of course, fish, corals and plants. For the marine enthusiasts there were PJ Cardinals, Clark Clown fish, Kenya Trees, mushroom corals and so much more.
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December is our holiday party. Anyone who will attend should bring something to eat that we shall share with the other holiday well wishes. Anyone not bringing in food such as an entrée, dessert or a non-alcoholic beverage will be charged $10 per person for admission. The holiday party is the evening we distribute awards for the hard work our members have done all year. Also we will have our Fish Bingo and the winners will be getting some great fishy items.
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Sad news – the longest continuous member of our great Society has passed away. Frank Policastro had been a member since 1964 — that is 47 continuous years. I am happy and proud that we were able to honor Frank at our 100th Birthday celebration this past July. We honored the Society’s past three presidents (Seth Kolker, Al DiSpigna and John Todaro), our former Sgt. At Arms and the persons most responsible for organizing the Breeder Program and for winning the most awards during Fish Shows, Tom Miglio and Frank Policastro. Frank had always been a great historian and had maintained a library of documentation on the Brooklyn Aquarium Society since becoming a member. It was because of Frank that we were able to have as much rich information and his documentation enabled us to flesh out our history for the club journal. Frank will be sorely missed on so many levels, by so many people.
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Please visit our new website where you can read the Bulletin and enjoy a full color Aquatica. The interactive forums and sponsor sections are truly enjoyable. Provided you have given us your email address, you will be getting notifications of club events via email.
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I am asking for your help and support. 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. A survey of our members has been conducted over the past several months as to what you want to see and do as a member – the results will be mentioned at the Holiday party and will be in the January Bulletin.
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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.
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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