OVAS PAR Meter

[ajm1961]

I agree with Errol that it would certainly be easier for a business to rent out a PAR meter than it would be for the club. At the same time, I recognize the value this may have for some members. What we need is to iron out a workable process and identify someone reliable and willing to be responsible for the rental, reservations, and calibration. Any decision would need to be taken at an upcoming executive meeting.
I'm not against the idea, but it needs work.
If anyone knows how other clubs are implementing this, please pass the info along.

[Darth]

I agree with Errol that it would certainly be easier for a business to rent out a PAR meter than it would be for the club.

I don't get why it would be easier for a retailer it's a liabilty either way the only differnce I see here is a shift in responsibilty whether its a retailer or the club all the risks are still there just the burden of those risk shifts to a retailer, so can someone please explain how it would be easier for retail, because if its a location to aquire, it was already mentioned that someone could be the "arranged" pick up drop off person, is it the deposit, well I thought the club had a treasurer someone who handles the finances, I was just pondering this, and it just seems like its a good idea some believe ( I personally don't although I would love to use one) but would rather someone else do it, sure sounds like passing the buck to me

[ajm1961]

"Passing the buck"? As it stands the volunteers in the exec already have quite a few responsibilities. The current treasurer is also 7 months pregnant.
Just so we know and consider in a decision in a future exec meeting - no guarantees at this point - is there anyone who would like to volunteer to be the point person to:
- Oversee the financial transactions for the security deposit (process to be determined)
- Make arrangements for pick-up/drop-off
- Take all info from the member (signed agreement)
- Keep records of the transactions
- Calibrate and test equipment before and after each use
- Provide input into written process
- Ultimately be responsible for the meter and report activities and issues to the exec

[exv152]

Water is required for an accurate reading as water greatly effects the results from the PAR Meter.  You can still do it without water but the results will be different.  Personally a par meter is a great idea and even if there was a rental charge I am sure it would pay for itself in no time.

PAR values will be the same with air or water. Hoppy the lighting guru from the Sacramento aquatic plant society talks about it in the second paragraph of this link http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105774&highlight=PAR
. In another post he goes on to talk about how the water actually intensifies the lighting because of a reflective effect off the side panels of glass, compared to when the tank is empty (air only). See post # 115 on http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105774&highlight=PAR&page=8
This is why it's important, when doing readings in an empty tank, to take them from the center and the bottom of the tank.

"Passing the buck"? As it stands the volunteers in the exec already have quite a few responsibilities. The current treasurer is also 7 months pregnant.
Just so we know and consider in a decision in a future exec meeting - no guarantees at this point - is there anyone who would like to volunteer to be the point person to...

Like I said earlier, the club doesn't have to lend or rent the meter if it's too large of a liability. The club could have one designated person who knows how to operate the meter, and volunteer to bring it to meetings where club members could bring their lighting systems to be measured. That way it doesn't run the risk of being lost, damaged or stolen.

[ajm1961]

Quote: The club could have one designated person who knows how to operate the meter, and volunteer to bring it to meetings where club members could bring their lighting systems to be measured.

I like that idea. We could bring it to meetings or other events, and people can bring their lights to be checked. Makes things a lot simpler!

[Fishnut]

Yes...that would be better than loaning it out.  I'll admit that I'm not comfortable with loaning out something that fragile and that expensive when the group only gets together once per month.  There's a lot that can happen in a month.

We'll have to get one of those metal cases with shaped sponge pads in it to transport it to and from meetings...unless it comes in one already?

[Stussi613]

So here's the big question, how many people who weren't interested in buying a membership to the club would join if OVAS bought a light meter and made it available at club meetings to test their lights?

[ajm1961]

You're right Stewart. However, the PAR meter could be made available at other "sanctioned" or associated events, such as at the "Plantaholics" meetings. Again, this would be dependant on the availability of the person (or persons) in charge of the meter.
It might be doable.
Whether or not that would encourage people to join the club, that's one thing. But hey it could encourage people to come out and meet other hobbyists at one of these events... who knows?

[charlie]

I don't get why it would be easier for a retailer it's a liabilty either way the only differnce I see here is a shift in responsibilty whether its a retailer or the club all the risks are still there just the burden of those risk shifts to a retailer, so can someone please explain how it would be easier for retail, because if its a location to aquire, it was already mentioned that someone could be the "arranged" pick up drop off person, is it the deposit, well I thought the club had a treasurer someone who handles the finances, I was just pondering this, and it just seems like its a good idea some believe ( I personally don't although I would love to use one) but would rather someone else do it, sure sounds like passing the buck to me

For several reasons
A retailer more than likely is set up to do ATM, Credit card+cash= more options of paying the security
A retailer has a fixed location with fixed hours in most cases = more convenient for customers to pick up drop off.
income tax claim
Not to mention the added bonus of marketing his lighting products .
Don`t know but you, but again if i was in the buisness of LFS this is the perfect marriage just saying.
Errol

[JetJumper]

how many people who weren't interested in buying a membership to the club would join if OVAS bought a light meter

YES, but...

and made it available at club meetings to test their lights?

No, I want to test in my tank setting.. sorry.

[exv152]

So here's the big question, how many people who weren't interested in buying a membership to the club would join if OVAS bought a light meter and made it available at club meetings to test their lights?

Count me in. But it's not about drawing new members as much as it is about providing an important instrument/service to its established members. This kind of goes back to offering perks to members, to make purchasing a membership and retaining a worthwhile endeavour.

[Wooki]

So here's the big question, how many people who weren't interested in buying a membership to the club would join if OVAS bought a light meter and made it available at club meetings to test their lights?

I definitely would join for this.  One could offer the PAR reading for free if you bring your lights to the meeting, and have a rental fee (with full deposit) if you want to bring it home and measure in the water.

[xmai77]

So here's the big question, how many people who weren't interested in buying a membership to the club would join if OVAS bought a light meter and made it available at club meetings to test their lights?

I bought an OVAS membership for the first time last year and I found it was absolutely useless for me! The meets were held Mondays which coincided with a volleyball league I play in so I was never able to attend. The "discounts" weren't really all that useful to me. I was not planning on renewing my membership this year, but if the club acquired a PAR meter then I would most likely renew!

[Jimbo]

Well, I started this thread, and I'm already a member. I definately believe a Par meter is of value to the members, and will draw new members to the club.

I'm certain that a process could be devised by the executives to rent equipment, or if they are too busy they could create a sub committee to draft a process for them. I'm sure there are members willing to assist with this - I know I would.

To be honest, i'm surprised there isn't already a process in place to track items on loan from the club.

Hopefully this will be a chance to build greater interest in OVAS beyond the traditional presentations and meetings.

[Stussi613]

Well, I started this thread, and I'm already a member. I definately believe a Par meter is of value to the members, and will draw new members to the club.

I'm certain that a process could be devised by the executives to rent equipment, or if they are too busy they could create a sub committee to draft a process for them. I'm sure there are members willing to assist with this - I know I would.

To be honest, i'm surprised there isn't already a process in place to track items on loan from the club.

Hopefully this will be a chance to build greater interest in OVAS beyond the traditional presentations and meetings.

The only items the club lends out, as far as I know, are the holdings in the library...and I track those. It would make perfect sense to add it to the library...however:

I know it's easy to say things like "take a deposit" in relation to lending it out, but the club doesn't have a way to handle deposits from credit cards and like others have said the only way to ensure it comes back is to charge a high deposit in regards to the value. Another issue is ensuring that the equipment is returned in good condition and that includes testing it against a known baseline lighting system to ensure it comes back the way it went out. With all due respect holding onto large sums of money and testing equipment once a week isn't something I care to add to my full time job, part time photography work AND volunteering for the club, not to mention having people coming to my house to pick it up, or meeting them somewhere else to facilitate dropping it off.

Errol has clearly thought about these things, hence his recommendation for a local business to purchase one and make it available to people in the club, as well as customers not in the club for a fee.

Make no mistake the exec, and I don't speak for all of them, aren't summarily dissmissing the idea of the PAR meter, it's just more complicated than bouncing the idea around on the forum.

[charlie]

Well, I started this thread, and I'm already a member. I definately believe a Par meter is of value to the members, and will draw new members to the club.

I'm certain that a process could be devised by the executives to rent equipment, or if they are too busy they could create a sub committee to draft a process for them. I'm sure there are members willing to assist with this - I know I would.

To be honest, i'm surprised there isn't already a process in place to track items on loan from the club.

Hopefully this will be a chance to build greater interest in OVAS beyond the traditional presentations and meetings.

Hi Jimbo, your suggestion was looked into but sadly the club is not in a position to take this on at the present time.
The good news is there is a sponsor who is willing to take it on, so all is not loss.
http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=54672.0
Regards

[Jimbo]

Hi Jimbo, your suggestion was looked into but sadly the club is not in a position to take this on at the present time.
The good news is there is a sponsor who is willing to take it on, so all is not loss.
http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=54672.0
Regards

Can you provide the reason why the club isn't in a position to take this on.

From reviewing the thread you identified, this is about renting lights.

[charlie]

Can you provide the reason why the club isn't in a position to take this on.

From reviewing the thread you identified, this is about renting lights.

I think i did previously but here it is again
Cost of the unit, fragile nature of the unit, policing the hand out & return, amount of security deposit required etc.( inabilty to process credit card etc)
The thread i pointed you to was a sponsor who is willing to take this on, but no one has shown interest in his offer - WHY?
Hope that answers your questions

[Jimbo]

...
I'm certain that a process could be devised by the executives to rent equipment, or if they are too busy they could create a sub committee to draft a process for them. I'm sure there are members willing to assist with this - I know I would.
...

As I mentioned earlier, if there is enough interest, the members will find a solution to make this work.

[robt18]

This idea has been thrown around a few times.

These cost hundreds of dollars. If ANYONE possibly broke it in any way, they would have to pay for it. Ray has also suggested in his offering that a 100% of price deposit would have to be given to rent it.

As volunteers running the club, we don't want to have to chase people down to return it, be responsible for $400 cash deposits, or have to test it every time someone returns it and argue with them if it has been damaged or not.

It is truly something that is not feasible for the club, it will not be happening.