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The 2010 FOTAS convention will be hosted by the Oklahoma Aquarium Association on September 3rd, 4th and 5th. Those of you who aren't firmiliar with FOTAS, this is the Federation of Texas Aquarium Societies which was founded many, many years ago and comprised of, well Texas clubs. Several years ago, they were kind enough to include the OKAA as part of FOTAS and this will be our first chance to host the convention and hopefully set us up to do many more in the future. You can find the entire history at www.FOTASWEBSITE.com
We will be hosting the convention at the Best Western Saddleback Inn located at 4300 SW 3rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 and you can reach the hotel at 1-800-228-3903 This is in the general area of the intersection of I-40 and Meridian Avenue which is directly North of the airport and located within walking distance of numerous eateries and a trolly stop is located in front of the hotel for those wishing to travel to Bricktown, the OKC memorial or other nearby attractions.
The exact schedule has not been completed at this time but Friday afternoon will begin with entries being placed into the show as well as rental tanks that will be available to those coming from out of town. There will also be a speaker Friday evening and generally a group or several groups will venture out for a casual "meet & greet" dinner. Saturday will be packed full of speakers, the show will be in full swing and a banquet will be held in conjunction with the show awards ceremony, a small auction to raise money for the Braz Walker Fund as well as the newly formed Dr. Keith Arnold Patron Award and a speaker. Sunday will be a huge auction in which you can find more types of fish than you can dream of as well as hardgoods, plants and other creatures for your aquariums.
We will be calling all clubs in the surrounding areas even beyond the normal FOTAS clubs to ensure this will not be an event that will be forgotten. At this point, we have secured speakers including Spencer Jack, Mark Denaro, Michi Tobler, David Stewart and will be adding more as they are confirmed. For the latest information, be sure and keep track of this story as well as watch the forum. For last minute information, you can email me at snakeskinnerkyle@gmail.com or call me at 405-263-4769 at home or cell at 405-818-2826 and I will try and answer your questions or guide you to the convention hotel if needed.
We purposely put this event on Labor Day weekend to give those people traveling an extra day to make it back home and get their newly aquired fish into tanks (if you're like me, you always buy more fish than you have tanks for and will need to setup new tanks). I look forward to seeing a lot of old faces and a lot of new ones as well so make sure and put this on your calendar!
cichlid-dave added 0 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...
here's the schedule for FOTAS so you can plan out your weekend. These are fairly firm although there could be changes due to unforseen events. I will make sure and post here when I know of any changes that may take place:
Thursday September 2nd.
I plan to be at the hotel around 8:30am to start setting up the show. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come by and assist. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can kick back.
Friday September 3rd
5pm. Registration opens for the event, show and rental tanks
6:30pm. speaker: Gerald Griffin --Wild Bettas
8:00pm. speaker: Mark Denaro -- TBA
9:30pm. Late dinner off-site if you're still willing
Saturday September 4th
8am. Registration opens for the event, show and rental tanks
9am. speaker: David Stewart -- Aquarium Plants Do's and Dont's
10:30am speaker: Denny Rogers -- Freak Show
Lunch
2pm speaker: Michi Tobler -- Cichlids & Livebearers: Studying Fish In Their Natural Habitats
3:30pm speaker: Dean Hougen -- Cichlid Reproduction
Show Judging tallied
7:00pm Banquet: Speaker: Mark Denaro -- TBA Mini-Auctions for Fundraisers
Sunday September 5th
9am Show and Rental tanks empty
Registration for Auction starts
11am Auction begins
cichlid-dave added 1 Minutes and 21 Seconds later...
Here's the list of classes for the show:
Category A – Schooling Fish
A1. Characins (tetras, etc.)
A2. Cyprinids (barbs, danios, etc.)
A3. Rainbowfish
Category B – Anabantids
B1. Anabantids – Domestic Cultivars (fancy bettas, etc.)
B2. Wild-Type Bettas
B3. All Other Anabantids
Category C – Catfish
C1. Callichthyids (corys, etc.)
C2. Loricariids (plecos, etc.)
C3. All Other Catfish
Category D – Livebearers
D1. Livebearers – Domestic Cultivars
D2. Wild-Type Poeciliids
D3. All Other Livebearers (Goodeids, some halfbeaks, etc.)
Category E – Killifish
E1. Aplocheilidae & Nothobranchiidae
E2. Rivulidae
E3. All other Killifish
Category F – Domestic Cultivar Cichlids
F1. Angelfish
F2. Discus
F3. All Other Domestic Cultivar Cichlids
Category G – New World Cichlids
G1. New World Dwarf Cichlids (adults no larger than 3 inches)
G2. South American Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
G3. Central/North American Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
Category H – Old World Cichlids
H1. African Dwarf Cichlids (adults no larger than 3 inches)
H2. Rift Lake Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
H3. All Other African Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
Category I – Miscellaneous Fish
I1. Native Fish
I2. Brackish and Marine Fish
I3. Goldfish and Koi
I4. All Other Fish
Category J – Non-Fish
J1. Cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish, etc.)
J2. All Other Invertebrates (shrimp, snails, etc.)
J3. Plants (single plant)
Category K – Setups
K1. Planted Tank (minimum of three plant species)
K2. Community Tank (minimum of three animal species)
K3. Family/breeder (parents and fry)
Category L – Artifacts
L1. Artwork
L2. Photos
L3. Crafts
Each entry is $3. Our show tanks are 6 gallon "kritter keepers". The stand will acept a standard 10 gallon or any tank with the same front-to-back dimension. If you have a fish that is too large for the 6 gallon, you are welcome to bring your own tank to fit our stand as long as we have room left. Be sure to email me and let me know you need to do this at okaquariumassociation@gmail.com as soon as possible. You may also bring a larger tank and stand to be setup in the show area if you wish. Again, let me know asap so we can allow room and an air outlet for that tank. I can not remember the exact awards but will post them as soon as I know.. All show fish must be in their tanks before 12pm Saturday to be judged.
We will be hosting the convention at the Best Western Saddleback Inn located at 4300 SW 3rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 and you can reach the hotel at 1-800-228-3903 This is in the general area of the intersection of I-40 and Meridian Avenue which is directly North of the airport and located within walking distance of numerous eateries and a trolly stop is located in front of the hotel for those wishing to travel to Bricktown, the OKC memorial or other nearby attractions.
The exact schedule has not been completed at this time but Friday afternoon will begin with entries being placed into the show as well as rental tanks that will be available to those coming from out of town. There will also be a speaker Friday evening and generally a group or several groups will venture out for a casual "meet & greet" dinner. Saturday will be packed full of speakers, the show will be in full swing and a banquet will be held in conjunction with the show awards ceremony, a small auction to raise money for the Braz Walker Fund as well as the newly formed Dr. Keith Arnold Patron Award and a speaker. Sunday will be a huge auction in which you can find more types of fish than you can dream of as well as hardgoods, plants and other creatures for your aquariums.
We will be calling all clubs in the surrounding areas even beyond the normal FOTAS clubs to ensure this will not be an event that will be forgotten. At this point, we have secured speakers including Spencer Jack, Mark Denaro, Michi Tobler, David Stewart and will be adding more as they are confirmed. For the latest information, be sure and keep track of this story as well as watch the forum. For last minute information, you can email me at snakeskinnerkyle@gmail.com or call me at 405-263-4769 at home or cell at 405-818-2826 and I will try and answer your questions or guide you to the convention hotel if needed.
We purposely put this event on Labor Day weekend to give those people traveling an extra day to make it back home and get their newly aquired fish into tanks (if you're like me, you always buy more fish than you have tanks for and will need to setup new tanks). I look forward to seeing a lot of old faces and a lot of new ones as well so make sure and put this on your calendar!
cichlid-dave added 0 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...
here's the schedule for FOTAS so you can plan out your weekend. These are fairly firm although there could be changes due to unforseen events. I will make sure and post here when I know of any changes that may take place:
Thursday September 2nd.
I plan to be at the hotel around 8:30am to start setting up the show. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come by and assist. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can kick back.
Friday September 3rd
5pm. Registration opens for the event, show and rental tanks
6:30pm. speaker: Gerald Griffin --Wild Bettas
8:00pm. speaker: Mark Denaro -- TBA
9:30pm. Late dinner off-site if you're still willing
Saturday September 4th
8am. Registration opens for the event, show and rental tanks
9am. speaker: David Stewart -- Aquarium Plants Do's and Dont's
10:30am speaker: Denny Rogers -- Freak Show
Lunch
2pm speaker: Michi Tobler -- Cichlids & Livebearers: Studying Fish In Their Natural Habitats
3:30pm speaker: Dean Hougen -- Cichlid Reproduction
Show Judging tallied
7:00pm Banquet: Speaker: Mark Denaro -- TBA Mini-Auctions for Fundraisers
Sunday September 5th
9am Show and Rental tanks empty
Registration for Auction starts
11am Auction begins
cichlid-dave added 1 Minutes and 21 Seconds later...
Here's the list of classes for the show:
Category A – Schooling Fish
A1. Characins (tetras, etc.)
A2. Cyprinids (barbs, danios, etc.)
A3. Rainbowfish
Category B – Anabantids
B1. Anabantids – Domestic Cultivars (fancy bettas, etc.)
B2. Wild-Type Bettas
B3. All Other Anabantids
Category C – Catfish
C1. Callichthyids (corys, etc.)
C2. Loricariids (plecos, etc.)
C3. All Other Catfish
Category D – Livebearers
D1. Livebearers – Domestic Cultivars
D2. Wild-Type Poeciliids
D3. All Other Livebearers (Goodeids, some halfbeaks, etc.)
Category E – Killifish
E1. Aplocheilidae & Nothobranchiidae
E2. Rivulidae
E3. All other Killifish
Category F – Domestic Cultivar Cichlids
F1. Angelfish
F2. Discus
F3. All Other Domestic Cultivar Cichlids
Category G – New World Cichlids
G1. New World Dwarf Cichlids (adults no larger than 3 inches)
G2. South American Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
G3. Central/North American Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
Category H – Old World Cichlids
H1. African Dwarf Cichlids (adults no larger than 3 inches)
H2. Rift Lake Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
H3. All Other African Cichlids (excluding dwarfs)
Category I – Miscellaneous Fish
I1. Native Fish
I2. Brackish and Marine Fish
I3. Goldfish and Koi
I4. All Other Fish
Category J – Non-Fish
J1. Cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish, etc.)
J2. All Other Invertebrates (shrimp, snails, etc.)
J3. Plants (single plant)
Category K – Setups
K1. Planted Tank (minimum of three plant species)
K2. Community Tank (minimum of three animal species)
K3. Family/breeder (parents and fry)
Category L – Artifacts
L1. Artwork
L2. Photos
L3. Crafts
Each entry is $3. Our show tanks are 6 gallon "kritter keepers". The stand will acept a standard 10 gallon or any tank with the same front-to-back dimension. If you have a fish that is too large for the 6 gallon, you are welcome to bring your own tank to fit our stand as long as we have room left. Be sure to email me and let me know you need to do this at okaquariumassociation@gmail.com as soon as possible. You may also bring a larger tank and stand to be setup in the show area if you wish. Again, let me know asap so we can allow room and an air outlet for that tank. I can not remember the exact awards but will post them as soon as I know.. All show fish must be in their tanks before 12pm Saturday to be judged.
