Local Reef Clubs????

drexel · Jan 24, 2024

So a friend @shootingstar_reef has been trying to get a local reef club going for quite a while now and it's been kind of a slow start, which leads me to a few questions and hopefully some answers? For those of us who've been around for a while, local clubs were a great way of gathering information, hanging out with like-minded people and just talking reef. We would bank corals with each other, help out if someone needed the help, host frag swaps, bbq's, etc....but now that seems to have changed? I know Covid changed how people interact, but now I feel we can safely gather and chat all things reefs again, so why doesn't anyone want to get together? What's preventing people from joining a local club, attending meetings and generally want to be involved in the community?
Have we become selfish in our quest? Do we only want to get something out of it and not be a part of a bigger community? Or is it our schedules? Do people only want to use Zoom these days and not meet in person? What would get you involved and try to make a strong local reefing community? Ultimately, what is keeping you from joining a local club and hanging out with weird crazy people who like to keep glass boxes in their homes?
I know some of you are members of clubs, so what works with your club? Why do you stay involved as a member?

JavaJacketOC · Jan 24, 2024

I think the biggest deterrent is time commitment and availability. There are so many ways of enjoying a hobby virtually that it makes the in person commitment hard for many to justify. For example, I would love to join a local reef club but I don't want to drive more than 15-20 min to get there because anything more than that would just consume too much of my otherwise, free time.

Most of these activities really rely on those putting the meetings/events together which is a substantial commitment and can feel very one sided if it's not part of a consistent routine for someone.

Jimbo327 · Jan 24, 2024

For the most part, I think the biggest change is social media and acceptance of video conferencing. People want to get followers and rather throw up a 10 second video with cool music onto social media. They get their feedback and gratification through comments and thumbs up. We've become a very isolated hobby. The only time I meet other reefers is if I'm buying some frags from them, so it has become very transactional in my experience so far being back in the hobby. I'm not a fan of that aspect. I enjoy tank tours and when I get to talk to other reefers (when I pick up frags), we would talk for a long time about reef, I enjoy that aspect.

I joined a club last year, but half the time, I never got an email invitation to the meetings. The website is not updated. And it's 80% online meetings and lots of social media.

joseserrano · Jan 24, 2024

Clubs tend to be lead with unpaid position that take a lot of effort and time to get things done. I was on the steering committee of the Scmas club, a lot of ppl underestimate what it really takes from those leading the club, let alone driving ppl to the meeting consistently.

drexel · Jan 24, 2024

Great feedback so far, keep it coming!

Jimbo327 · Jan 24, 2024

Perhaps, some of the leadership positions should be paid with membership dues. Or they should have members run/set up certain meetings. But I agree, it's an unpaid position and a lot of sacrifice needs to be done. I'm not sure what is driving any reef club participation at the moment, and it'll just die over time if there is none.

barretojesse93 · Jan 24, 2024

I started a thread asking who’s local and all that but barely got responses. This forum gets the most activity from the free threads or good deals. I try to be active and friendly but some people are only trying to get something every time. I am trying to find local people to be able to help others whenever I can cus lord knows I needed it.

I’m tired of only being able to talk reef to my lady cus she doesn’t even like it

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shootingstar_reef · Jan 24, 2024

hoping if we continue we'll gain some more traction. Tried making a fb group, maybe i need an ig too haha

Jimbo327 · Jan 24, 2024

Young people don't even know what FB is, and won't even use it if they do.

My 10 year old told me that FB is for old people. Haha.

drexel · Jan 24, 2024

barretojesse93 said:

This why I love clubs or at least, hangouts/get-togethers. I usually hang out at my LFS on Saturdays, this keeps me in touch with what's going on locally and a chance to talk to new customers/reefers and old schoolers alike. I can type all day long, but it's so much easier talking to people in person. But I'm the type of person that still reads books and articles on the hobby.
I didn't get into this hobby to make money, otherwise I would have a shop or an online business, but I also like the idea of being self sufficient in regards to paying for upkeep and new gadgets or corals with what my tank(s) can grow/generate. I actually hate selling things and much prefer to trade, as that seems so much easier and both parties are getting something they want.
I like helping people and I really like learning new things, so talking to people, no matter what their skill level is, gives me an opportunity to do both.

drexel · Jan 24, 2024

Jimbo327 said:

Yeah, and they have never read a book either.

Jimbo327 · Jan 24, 2024

Even online forums, it is split up. Every reefer was on RC before, so it was easy. Now, I guess everyone had migrated to R2R. And there are few little local forums like SCR, but it's only a few people locally that is active. When I look at SCR build threads, there is probably less than 3 active journals. LOL. Who knows, maybe it is time to move over to R2R as well.

Coloredrock · Jan 24, 2024

R2R.. humblefish.. are all good resources, RC seams to be coming back to life.. You really have to dig for information and take most of it with a grain of salt. Im always up to help a fellow reefer if they are close.. to bad there are not that many were I live.

Dorado · Jan 24, 2024

I’ve been apart of my local club now for a couple years now but I don’t think I will be rejoining this year. I was looking forward to meeting people and seeing peoples tanks, but thanks to Covid, meetings became and have stayed virtual. I think that several of the members would like more in person meetings but the leader seems to be content doing it from home. I think the best possible way to learn in this hobby is to see different setups and what works and doesn’t work. See in person what kind of light certain LED fixtures put out, how loud a particular dosing pump is for example. I think it would be fun to have a tank tour.

joseserrano · Jan 24, 2024

I think the easiest solution was being don’t by @emac he got a local store to host meetings. If the store is included, since they will make money off this, that can buy a little food and drinks and really get a turn out. Getting speakers, ppl to demo, companies to come,… that’s big leagues, but get there once you have a solid attendance. Do open forums on problems, then just cover a topic with a few slides and have everyone contribute with experience

barretojesse93 · Jan 25, 2024

Ok so who’s going to start the new club? Anyone? Do I see any volunteers?…

maybe just someone host a gathering of some sort? Don’t know of any stores that would be up to hosting.

Closest LFS to me are:
Art’s underwater reef
Bob’s tropical fish
Ellis aquatics

Haven’t been to any others
Really don’t see any of them being up for hosting anything lol

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wishntoboutside · Jan 25, 2024

When it heats up I will be doing a day offering a tank tour at my home. This will not be a frag swap gathering but I have something in mind. just months away

shootingstar_reef · Jan 25, 2024

joseserrano said:

I mean I tried this, and as willing as the LFS are to support the community, the more difficult part is getting people to show up.

Jimbo327 · Jan 25, 2024

I guess we have to ask ourselves. What is the purpose of a reef club anymore? What do newbie reefers get out of it? What do experienced reefers get out of it? In the age of internet/social media and all of the information at the tip of your finger, is there a need for a reef club where people pay for memberships? And what does the membership dues even pay for if everyone are volunteers, are they just for door prizes and food/drinks to drive attendance? How do new leadership gets voted in?

barretojesse93 · Jan 25, 2024

Jimbo327 said:

I guess we have to ask ourselves. What is the purpose of a reef club anymore? What do newbie reefers get out of it? What do experienced reefers get out of it? In the age of internet/social media and all of the information at the tip of your finger, is there a need for a reef club where people pay for memberships? And what does the membership dues even pay for if everyone are volunteers, are they just for door prizes and food/drinks to drive attendance? How do new leadership gets voted in?

Free club. All byob lol

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