After you totally confused me with what followed Graham, I thought that I
would throw in a few comments to let some of the newcomers know what
transpired in the early days of ANGFA's conception.
Originally there was no intention on the part of the original proposers of
this organisation whatsoever to have ANY regional groups. It was to be ONE
NATIONAL association. There were already some native fish study groups
established in other general aquarium societies around Australia. The
problem was that none of these groups ever communicated with each other and
the whole idea of forming ANGFA in the first place was to bring all these
and other people interested in keeping native fishes together under the one
banner. ANGFA was to be established along the lines of the American Cichlid
Association (ACA) which at the time was one of the most successful national
organisation in the aquarium hobby (and still is IMHO)
However, Victoria decided differently and that's one of the reasons it took
so long for ANGFA to have a constitution. We here in Queensland at the time
did not want regional groups or agree with everything that was proposed in
the constitution (something's just never change). However, we eventually
agreed and you all know the rest. Whether it was for the better or not only
time will judge that.
But I must point out that at the time it was agreed by ALL members in
Queensland and Victoria (the only regional groups at the time) that ALL
their members would be members of National and a membership fee structure
was set accordingly. So the membership fee in Qld incorporated both funds
for National and funds for Qld regional group. I'm not sure when Qld changed
that policy and believe Victoria and the NA groups still insist that all
their members are also members of National. (correct me if I'm wrong)
One thing is for sure, none of the regional groups have the financial
capability to produce FOS and the bulletin. So if native fish keepers want
to continue receiving these publication then the money has to come from
somewhere. I think it would be a little strange if 6 or 8 people were the
only members of ANGFA national and responsible for rasing funds to print
these publications. We might as well just set up a commercial company and
produce and distribute a single publication, complete with advertisements
and distributed through the News Agency network and make some money for
ourselves along the way. Personally, I would like to see all regional group
publications scrapped and just have the Bulletin printed monthly containing
articles and regional group news/activities, meeting dates etc, etc.
However, I guess that will never happen and as the various groups evolve
into separate identities (We already have 2 Native fish groups in Brisbane)
ANGFA National and its publications will fade away into history and we will
have native fish groups in various places that wont communicate with one
another and the CIRCLE will have been completed.
Somewhere around the year 2082 representatives of the various native fish
groups will meet in an inaugural meeting in Canberra and form the United
Coalition of ANGFA Groups (UCAG) and history will repeat itself....Amen,
Aaaamen!
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Adrian R. Tappin
"Home of the Rainbowfish"
http://www.ecn.net.au/~atappin/home.htm
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