CAOAC Convention

[Jody]

Hiya folks,
Just wondering if anyone has thought about going to the CAOAC Convention this year.
As usual, it is the May long weekend,  and this year is in Burlington.

Jody

[charlie]

Hi Jody, as of now i`m entertaining the thought of going, will need to wait a while before i can commit.
Errol

[CC-Slider]

It sounds like fun, I am strongly considering it. Will make commitment by end of Feb or would that be to late to reserve a room at the hotel.

[CC-Slider]

 I need some advise on attending the CAOAC Convention

First of I am planning on taking the train, Sure sharing a ride with a bunch of people sounds like a great ROAD TRIP when I was in my 20's now in my Golden years. riding in comfort (business class) having some one making sure I always have a drink the whole trip sounds way better.

So my question is since the convention opens Friday at 10am, by train the earliest I would be there is 2pm if I leave Friday. I have no issue leaving Thursday and spending an extra day. The question would I really miss anything on Friday if I get there 4 hours after it opens as I will be there until Sunday, have to leave by 4pm to catch the last train back to Ottawa which means I would also miss the last couple hours, but if nothing really important happens then I have no issue leaving early.

So do I leave on Thursday or Friday. What is everyone that has gone recommendation.

[Bwhiskered]

You won't miss anything getting there at 2 pm Friday. The first speaker is not until the evening.

Charlie Drew H&DAS life member.

[limed]

opening ceremonies at 8 with a speaker on Fri evening - Ian probably 8:30 to 9:30 and then 5 speakers on Sat 9 to 5.

This is what I got from them.  So you can go on Friday, but don't forget to buy the show pass and book your
hotel room if you're staying there.

Ed

[Bwhiskered]

Here is web page information. http://hdas.ca/hdasevent/caoac-convention-2017

[limmer]

Any idea what the talks will be?
What about the cost of the Hotel?

[ajm1961]

Rooms are available for reservation right now. No deposit required - no cancellation fees until 6:00 PM on May 19th. I reserved a room with two double beds for $116 per night for May 19 and May 20.
So... yes, I'm considering going.

Although the talks are not defined, the speakers are - and they look good!
Eric Bodrock and his fiance Regina will both give presentations. Between them they have 250 tanks! His speciality seems to be aquaria "odd balls". She seems to have varied interests and she is a master breeder.
Ian Fuller is a cory catfish expert. Runs Corydorasworld.com
Lawrence Kent is a cichlids guy. Also works for the Bill Gates foundation.
Gerald Griffin is a betta guy. Also runs a few clubs and affiliations.
All in all - some impressive people!

[limed]

I got email back from Carla (President) and the hotel should have been $85.00 if booked before April 18th
and after that it's $90.00.
(Holiday Inn Burlington hotel.)  You are right Andre, this price is for the show not the hotel.


All the pricing and hotel information is on our website. (Different rooms and different pricing)
We will confirm the presentations this month.

Hope to see you at the Aquatic Expo.

Carla

Ed

[ajm1961]

I think Carla meant that the Convention price is $85 before April 18th and $90 after.
When I booked the hotel I used the CAC Group Rate code as per their instructions. The rooms are typically $185...

[zenins]

It will be good to see some people from Ottawa at the convention.

Lots of good presentations, awards banquet, show and auction.

Meet various fish heads ... er ... fish keepers who really want to talk about this hobby

[CC-Slider]

Well it is official. I bought my Pass, booked the hotel and confirmed my Travel plans for the Convention. So I will be there in May. It be nice to meet up with others going to the convention. Maybe we could set up a place and time to meet at the Convention. I will leave that up to Convention Veterans to determine where and when.

Hope to see many of you there.

[zenins]

Well it is official. I bought my Pass, booked the hotel and confirmed my Travel plans for the Convention. So I will be there in May. It be nice to meet up with others going to the convention. Maybe we could set up a place and time to meet at the Convention. I will leave that up to Convention Veterans to determine where and when.

Hope to see many of you there.

Did you get the CAOAC discount rate for the room ?
How much was it ?

[CC-Slider]

the room is $111 then you can upgrade and price increase by $4 for the next upgrade.http://www.hiburlington.ca you can go here and register for a room, Give the CAC code and it will show you all the prices for the different room level I believe the top room they provide is under $150

[Jody]

Hi All,

I am seriously considering going, and will decide 100% at the end of next month.
If someone wants to carpool down and share a room, that would make the decision easier..

Jody

[zenins]

I think Carla meant that the Convention price is $85 before April 18th and $90 after.
When I booked the hotel I used the CAC Group Rate code as per their instructions. The rooms are typically $185...

Andre, it will be nice to see you there

[ajm1961]

It will be good to see you as well Zenin!

[CC-Slider]

As this will be my first time to a Major Aquarium Convention. I need a little advice on what I should bring.
What should I bring especially if I happen to find some fish I would like to buy. I am sure I can't keep them in a bag for 3 days and I wouldn't want to wait till Sunday to buy, as the good ones maybe gone by then.
I was thinking a small cooler and a air pump or is it not needed.
what do the rest of you bring if anything or am I over thinking this.

[Jody]

CC-Slider,

Conventions are great fun, though I haven't been to many.

I always bring some extra bags, water conditioner, small bucket, fish net and an air pump with lines and stones, plus a cooler of some type.
Typically I will change the water once or twice a day.
Depending on when and what you buy, having a bit of fish food is handy, though feed VERY lightly, and make sure you water change later in the day.
Plus think of how to best hold fish if you are planning to buy early.. a couple of extra buckets can be handy for that.

Jody

[limed]

  Go to Walmart and get a couple of (3) tupperware containers with tops that fits inside each other to save space ,about 3 gallons.
This is good to keep the fish in as you buy them and the tops for jumpers.  When you get checked in setup those containers with
water and you can use heaters or turn up the temp in the room.
  Lots of bags, net some food, air pump with air stones/air line. Only fill the containers about 2/3 .
  Lots of money.....
Check there web site to see if anyone is posting fish for sale, this way you can get them before everyone else.
Reserve

Ed

[CC-Slider]

Thanks Jody and limed for your advise.

I have already started to gather up your suggested supplies for the trip.

I also decided to see what I could find about CAOCA Convention on youtube, and all I found was this recent  post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxDpJT2i_dM&t=8s

there was no video of previous conventions at all, I think I will take my video camera with me just
to document the trip.

[OVAS-News]

Looks like they updated their website.

CAOAC Aquatic Expo 2017

The OVAS Executive will be giving any OVAS Club Member a $25 subsidy towards their CAOAC ticket.    Please keep your tickets as proof of purchase.  You can claim it after the CAOAC event.

[zenins]

Looks like they updated their website.

CAOAC Aquatic Expo 2017

The OVAS Executive will be giving any OVAS Club Member a $25 subsidy towards their CAOAC ticket.    Please keep your tickets as proof of purchase.  You can claim it after the CAOAC event.

That is an awesome idea to encourage members to go

[zenins]

CC-Slider,

Conventions are great fun, though I haven't been to many.

I always bring some extra bags, water conditioner, small bucket, fish net and an air pump with lines and stones, plus a cooler of some type.
Typically I will change the water once or twice a day.
Depending on when and what you buy, having a bit of fish food is handy, though feed VERY lightly, and make sure you water change later in the day.
Plus think of how to best hold fish if you are planning to buy early.. a couple of extra buckets can be handy for that.

Jody

These are all good suggestions.

During recent CAOAC conventions, I have not seen anyone selling from their rooms,
but there might be this year.
Most of the fish sales will be in the Sunday auction, so if you are returning Sunday evening,
a large styro box and lid may be all you require.
If you do purchase fish on the Friday or Saturday, from rooms or local stores,
then air pump, air stones, water treatment and other paraphernalia will be required

[charlie]

The last time the club subsidized  , OVAS had the most delegates of all the clubs.
Hope we repeat!!t

[CC-Slider]

Most of the fish sales will be in the Sunday auction, so if you are returning Sunday evening,
a large styro box and lid may be all you require.

What are the times of the auction as I have to leave at 4pm Sunday to catch my ride home.

[limmer]

I remember buying some Fancy guppies from one of the speakers room.
If there is time, maybe we can arrange a visit to some of the local fish people.

[zenins]

What are the times of the auction as I have to leave at 4pm Sunday to catch my ride home.

I think the auction starts at 10 am (maybe 11am) and goes until all items are sold.
Lately, club auctions have been ending early, around 3 or 4pm.
You can leave anytime, since it is a cash auction and you pay for each item as you get it,
no delays leaving due to waiting in line to pay an accumulated tab or account.
If there is an item on a later table that you want to bid on but want to leave soon,
I believe there is the option of expediting an item for a $2 fee so it can be bid on right away.
Even if you are selling, you can generally check out shortly after your last item is sold.

Hope that helps

[CC-Slider]

Yes it does, but I think check out is 12 pm unless they will accommodate later check out times, but I will only have one suit case with my portable cooler. So no major issue. Thanks

[limed]

  We would normally put everything but the fish in the car and
then go to the auction to look what there is, if you see something you
want, bump it up, not sure how this club does it, but normally you pay 1-2 $
to bump up the bag.  Also the hotel can keep your bags in the back room until
you go.

Ed

[Jody]

I am now registered for the convention!
I am looking forward to going down, it has been a long time since I have gone to one.

Jody

[Bwhiskered]

All the latest information on the CAOAC Aquatic Expo right here http://hdas.ca/hdasevent/caoac-convention-2017/

[zenins]

Reserve at Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre using Group Code CAC  by April 18, 2017.

[CC-Slider]

Less than 7 days to CAOAC Convention.

So who all is going.

[Jody]

I know  Andre ,  Peter and Sid and I are going. Not sure who else.
I am looking forward to it.

Jody

[limmer]

Were back!
Talks were great. People were fun and we brought back fish.
I even won a subscription to Amazonas.
Great time.

[sidarnold]

I had a really good time (slept alot) and Jody, Andre and Peter are great to travel with - car travel time 5.5 hours and lots of conversation on a variety of fish and non-fish topics. I would recommend the CAOAC convention to everyone. 3 very good talks that I listened to and banquet buffet was one of the best that I have experienced in 20 years of conventions. Show next year is at same venue. I purchased 6 pea puffers for my 30 gallon planted tank. They have already started cleaning up the pond snails.

[Jody]

I would certainly rate the trip a success. Great company for the trip there and back,  the speakers were great, both during their talks and a talking with them either in the halls or in the hospitality suite. I let Sid do the sleeping for me, and stayed up with who ever was hanging around both Friday and Saturday nights.
Skipped one talk, but got to hear all the speakers anyway.
We did a nice little tour of Larry's, Charlie's and visited a couple of stores.
Bought way too many fish, but it's all good.
The auction isn't huge, but some different stuff there.

Jody

[CC-Slider]

Just want to thank Peter, Jody, Andre and Sid for showing me around at my first Convention. The speakers where good. I brought back 6 Pygmy corydoras from our field trip to 4 different Aquarium Stores. And picked up 3 super red plecos from the auction. All are doing well.

Once again guys thanks for showing me around I had a great time with great company.

[Jody]

Thank you too CC-Slider!
It is always great to get to know other club members, and of course it give me a big excuse to drag people around to fish stores I want to go to..lol

Jody

[Jody]

The OVAS crew at Charlie Drew's

[zenins]

It was good to see you guys at the convention