Aquamania Comments Blog

[rockgarden]

Had fun!

Here is the link to my blog entry for the auction. Check out the blog entries for the Friday and Saturday activities as well. Nice to see everyone.  Missed a few of my friends who couldn't make it out.  For those who care about such things, the bag of MTS that I was looking for  was in my car.  I guess I left it there at 10:30AM when I went off on an errand for Peter.  Happy to report that the MTS survived the 7 hour stay int he car at +5C. 

The 2013 OVAS GIANT AUCTION - http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2013/03/ottawa-valley-aquarium-society-annual-giant-auction-march-24th-2013/

Ron

[fischkopp]

Now what a fun weekend was that! I enjoyed the presentations on Saturday, chatting with the speakers in the evening and meeting up with lots of old and new folks to talk about the passion that we all share! Great stuff!

The auction day once more was great, and a big thanks goes to everyone how took on a couple of hours drive to join us for that day. The variety of fish that you brought into town was quite amazing! I myself ended up with lots of bags from our friends in Montreal.

A big thanks to any of the Aquamania organizers! An even bigger thank you goes to everyone who joined us and made this a great fishy weekend. What would a hobby be without the hobbyists!

[limed]

Great time even if I didn't buy too many things, too busy running around. But I did win both days 50/50
draws. Great to see the guys/girls from Montreal come down and thanks again for the table numbers.
This is a good start that will lead to bigger things. See you all next year.....

Ed

[exv152]

Awesome event! I enjoyed the presentation by Jason Baliban, meeting a few new and old folks. I look forward to the next one. But next time I'll cylce a few quarantine tanks in advance just to make room for the nice variety of species brought in, especially from SAM.

[daworldisblack]

Awesome event! Thanks for organizing and thanks to all the volunteers! Was definitely fun hanging out with everyone again and geeking out.

[Shawn84]

Thanks everyone for showing up and helping. It was a great event.

[charlie]

I have to agree with the others, it has been a while since i saw so much diversity at an OVAS auction, the fish was just incredible, special thank to folks who drove all the way from Sudbury to enrich the fish variety with some quality fish.
Errol

[sylros]

Was a great day, thanks for letting me help in a small way, the OVAs crowd is so great, everyone working together, even when there's hiccups, they aren't an irritation, cause we all want the same success.  consider me as signed up for next year!

That is great to know as I will be keeping the list of volunteer names for next year, as you guys ROCK!

Thank you for your patience with me, and your hard work. The happy vibe at the event was so powerful. It was awesome.

It was a success this year....imagine next year! We have to start looking for a bigger place!

[Anja]

What an awesome fish weekend. Loved the presentations, the venue, the auction. (That it was also Midnight Madness was an unexpected cherry on top).

I'm now officially broke, exhausted, and grinning from ear to ear at my loot pile.

[NjOyRiD]

That is great to know as I will be keeping the list of volunteer names for next year, as you guys ROCK!

Thank you for your patience with me, and your hard work. The happy vibe at the event was so powerful. It was awesome.

It was a success this year....imagine next year! We have to start looking for a bigger place!

bigger it will

[CADlights Canada]

Very awesome event, the whole team at OVAS did an amazing job organizing the whole event. A big thank you to the OVAS team. OVAS has a group of wonderful people.

[Nienna]

What a great experience for my first Giant Auction!

Those who missed the presentations on the first day really missed a lot of good stuff.  I was particularily impressed by Dr. Hernan Lopez-Fernandez's presentation on the South American Fish Collection and Jason Baliban's planted tank presentation and demo.  Jason did a fantastic job with the demo under such harsh conditions, and kept the group engaged and entertained while being educated    I hope we can get him back to hear the photography information!

It was also great to talk to the vendor reps at the tables - they sent really good knowledgable people who took the time to talk if you were interested.

Sylros, feel free to add Jon and I to the volunteer list for next year - I actually enjoyed being a runner for the auction and it was interesting to see the auction from 'the other side'.

Do you think I've overstocked the beautiful CAD lights tank? 

[Stussi613]

What a great experience for my first Giant Auction!

Those who missed the presentations on the first day really missed a lot of good stuff.  I was particularily impressed by Dr. Hernan Lopez-Fernandez's presentation on the South American Fish Collection and Jason Baliban's planted tank presentation and demo.  Jason did a fantastic job with the demo under such harsh conditions, and kept the group engaged and entertained while being educated    I hope we can get him back to hear the photography information!

It was also great to talk to the vendor reps at the tables - they sent really good knowledgable people who took the time to talk if you were interested.

Sylros, feel free to add Jon and I to the volunteer list for next year - I actually enjoyed being a runner for the auction and it was interesting to see the auction from 'the other side'.

Do you think I've overstocked the beautiful CAD lights tank? 

This is one of those times when I wish OVAS had a like button!

[ajm1961]

Do you think I've overstocked the beautiful CAD lights tank?  

It's a beaut!!

I also agree with your assessment of the event:
- Great speakers: each one provided another interesting perspective about the hobby. Big thanks to Zenin for filling in for Dr. Tanner. I now want loaches!
- Vendors: beautiful displays, great products, good deals, knowledgeable staff - what else can you ask for? Les Wilson is the rock star of fish nutrition!

And the auction of course, is always a blast. It was fun to be an auctioneer, and we managed to get everything wrapped up by 5:00! That's a first I think... and I'm making the shark hat a staple from now on!

I want to personally thank all the volunteers for helping out and everyone for coming out and participating!

And lastly, I want to point out that this event is the brainchild of one man who has dreaming about this for a few years now, and it finally came to fruition with the support and work of the OVAS executive. That man is Errol - thank you for having the vision and the drive to make this a reality, it wouldn't have happened without you. This will be the first of many AquaManias to come, and it will only get better.

[sylros]

Sylros, feel free to add Jon and I to the volunteer list for next year - I actually enjoyed being a runner for the auction and it was interesting to see the auction from 'the other side'.

Will definitely take note of it, we will need even more people next year as it will be bigger than ever!

So glad that you enjoyed the auction. Thanks for you offer to help for next year.

[Stussi613]

And lastly, I want to point out that this event is the brainchild of one man who has dreaming about this for a few years now, and it finally came to fruition with the support and work of the OVAS executive. That man is Errol - thank you for having the vision and the drive to make this a reality, it wouldn't have happened without you. This will be the first of many AquaManias to come, and it will only get better.

I couldn't agree with this statement more. 

All of the execs, including some of those that have left the club, have worked hard to make this a success, but none more than Errol who had a great vision to do something that brought all hobbyists in Ottawa together regardless of the type of water they keep, membership in the club...or any other issue that we sometimes get bogged down in. 

For me the best moments of the weekend were when Errol choked up speaking about a 9 year old hobbyist who was in attendance who had picked up some of his mothers long forgotten books on fish keeping and got hooked on being an aquarist...and then seeing the same 9 year old throw his hands up in victory after winning a trio of fish he really had his eye on. 

That, to me, is what all of this is about and I am happy and very proud to be a part of it.

[ajm1961]

Here is the link to my blog entry for the auction.
The 2013 OVAS GIANT AUCTION - http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2013/03/ottawa-valley-aquarium-society-annual-giant-auction-march-24th-2013/
Ron

Ron: thanks again for taking pictures and posting on your site. Great shots!

Does anyone else have any pics to share here?

[charlie]

Thanks guys, i am still high on the success we had, but must also add had it not been for the countless hrs by a great set of execs. this would not have been possible, we stood the test & saw it through to the end sleep deprived & exhausted my personal gratitude to each & every Exec. that give it your attention, looking forward to seeing it flourish over time .
Thanks Errol

[zenins]

Had fun!

Here is the link to my blog entry for the auction. Check out the blog entries for the Friday and Saturday activities as well. Nice to see everyone.  Missed a few of my friends who couldn't make it out.  For those who care about such things, the bag of MTS that I was looking for  was in my car.  I guess I left it there at 10:30AM when I went off on an errand for Peter.  Happy to report that the MTS survived the 7 hour stay int he car at +5C. 

The 2013 OVAS GIANT AUCTION - http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2013/03/ottawa-valley-aquarium-society-annual-giant-auction-march-24th-2013/

Ron

Hey Ron,

I have started a photos thread in the Aquarmania 2013 forum, you should post your link there as well ...

[zenins]

Here are a few from Saturday when i had some time to snap them, I know Zenins & Rockgarden has a bit more they would share.
I should add that our Aqumania sponsors were very happy at what we had put together & has promised to part of it again.
To- Zoo Med, Cobalt& Seachem , we would like to thank you for your support & partnership with OVAS & look forward to working together in the future.
Our Speakers were over the moon with this event & also vowed to be back, the feedback they rated it among the best they have attended, thank you guys so much for coming & sharing your knowledge with us, the friendship we have started will live forever.

Regards Errol

Hey Errol,

I have started a photos thread in the Aquarmania 2013 forum, you should post your link there as well ...