Renewing Your ACA Membership?

[dogofwar]

I believe that everyone who registered for this year's ACA convention received a year (online) membership to the ACA.

Do you plan to renew next year?

Please choose one.

Thanks,
Matt

[Tony]

I'll renew - as a requirement for attendance of next year's ACA convention.

[ltrepeter2000]

I still havent seen anything regarding the membership that was supposed to come with the convention. What is the status of that?

[dogofwar]

I know that we (CCA) sent the list of folks who registered...and that at least the people who had ACA forum registrations got upgraded to "ACA member" status (and given access to BBs).

Matt

I still havent seen anything regarding the membership that was supposed to come with the convention. What is the status of that?

[mchambers]

At this point, I don't think I will renew. The only reasons I see to renew would be (1)to go to the convention and (2) to get the BB, and those aren't worth it to me. (I understand that this is purely a matter of personal choice and I'm not criticizing anybody else's choice.)

Also, I am a cheapskate.

[Prince]

how do I access my ACA membership?

[dogofwar]

I'm not sure, but...

I think step one is to register at the ACA website (cichlid.org). Based on your convention registration, you should be upgraded to ACA member status (maybe not immediately)...

Matt

how do I access my ACA membership?

[Pat Kelly]

At this point I will not renew.
Tired of it.
I will join the local club to get to the convention if I decide to go.

As to free memberships, I believe that only works if you checked the box that asked for it?

either way one of the problems that I have brought up in the past to the ACA when I was on the BOT is that they to not welcome a new member. They do not acknowlege them other than in a few months you get the BB. When I questioned it I was told that they do acknowledge but I hear these complaints all the time.
Oh and the BB does not come with the free membership because that is an "online membership"


When CCA gets a new member join by any method I try to email them and welcome them to the club. I try to do that within a couple days. That way they at least know they belong to something.

[UNCLERUCKUS]

At this point I will not renew.
Tired of it.
I will join the local club to get to the convention if I decide to go.

As to free memberships, I believe that only works if you checked the box that asked for it?

either way one of the problems that I have brought up in the past to the ACA when I was on the BOT is that they to not welcome a new member. They do not acknowlege them other than in a few months you get the BB. When I questioned it I was told that they do acknowledge but I hear these complaints all the time.
Oh and the BB does not come with the free membership because that is an "online membership"


When CCA gets a new member join by any method I try to email them and welcome them to the club. I try to do that within a couple days. That way they at least know they belong to something.
GOOD JOB PAT! ITS LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MEAN ALOT TO SOME FOLKS. IT GOES A LONG WAY TOO. ;)

[dogofwar]

...one of the big reasons that the CCA is growing and is so much fun to be part of! :D

Thanks Pat!

Matt

At this point I will not renew.
Tired of it.
I will join the local club to get to the convention if I decide to go.

As to free memberships, I believe that only works if you checked the box that asked for it?

either way one of the problems that I have brought up in the past to the ACA when I was on the BOT is that they to not welcome a new member. They do not acknowlege them other than in a few months you get the BB. When I questioned it I was told that they do acknowledge but I hear these complaints all the time.
Oh and the BB does not come with the free membership because that is an "online membership"


When CCA gets a new member join by any method I try to email them and welcome them to the club. I try to do that within a couple days. That way they at least know they belong to something.

[Norm66]

Not to get all negative but...

I probably wouldn't. To be honest the people who really went out of their way to be welcoming to my wife and I at the convention were all the CCA members (who couldn't have been more helpful and pleasant BTW).

From the folks I came into contact with who I found out were ACA I got varying degrees of indifference and outright rudeness. They seemed to very much be a good-old-boys club and weren't interested in people they didn't know.

No, if I'm ever able to attend another ACA Convention I will, but I won't go out of my way to join them.

The CCA on the other hand I have enjoyed getting to know some of the members and also enjoy this forum. I'm hoping to attend a meeting this Fall and maybe another one in the Spring. I'll definitely keep my membership here even if I'm only able to attend one or two meetings a year.

[Andrewtfw]

I have not figured out how to get my online membership to work yet. I check the forums on ACA but liittle ever changes. CCA's site and a few other sites on the other hand, constantly evolve and stay current with people asking diversified questions and sharing their personal experiences. Pat is also correct. It makes a huge difference to be welcomed into a club. Especially when you don't know anyone in it by face.

[Nathan]

I agree I joined at the same time I joined CCA, only renewed one. I didn;t get anything out of aca.
The CCA could have their own convention ;)

[dogofwar]

Andrew, I'm the middle-aged white guy.

Matt

It makes a huge difference to be welcomed into a club. Especially when you don't know anyone in it by face.

[JasonC]

I have not figured out how to get my online membership to work yet. I check the forums on ACA but liittle ever changes. CCA's site and a few other sites on the other hand, constantly evolve and stay current with people asking diversified questions and sharing their personal experiences. Pat is also correct. It makes a huge difference to be welcomed into a club. Especially when you don't know anyone in it by face.

+1

[Charlutz]

+1 to Andrew

[chris_todd]

I'll probably renew so I can continue to receive the Buntbarsch Bulletin in paper. I really like the BB.

Other than that, the ACA is an irrelevant organization to me, as I will probably never attend another convention, their forum is not useful enough to compel me to visit (I really only have free time to monitor two forums anyway, and that's CCA and GWAPA; ECC is cool and all, but I just don't have time), and as far as a venue for obtaining and sharing Cichlids, well how could they possibly compete with CCA?!?!?! I have CCA, what do I need ACA for (other than BB)?

[mrkillie]

When I joined the ACA a couple years ago (maybe 2009?) I seem to remember getting a welcome letter in the mail. I did not renew-the only reason I joined was to go to the convention, which it turned out I couldn't attend anyway due to work. BB is fine, but now that I have the "on-line" membership, I just download a bunch and print the articles as I want to read them. I have no need for a printed version that will just take up space around the house-don't have space to spare!

Actually, I don't know if my on-line membership was a result of registering for the convention this year or if it was never turned off. I didn't get a 'welcome back' note, so maybe I was always an on-line member????

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Andrew, I'm the middle-aged white guy.

Matt
THERES ABOUT 50 :D GIVE A BETTER DISCRIPTION ;)

[dogofwar]

Ok - I'm the one in the fish club T-shirt...and the styro. :lol:

Matt

THERES ABOUT 50 :D GIVE A BETTER DISCRIPTION ;)

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Ok - I'm the one in the fish club T-shirt...and the styro. :lol:

Matt
OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU .......:D

[ltrepeter2000]

Right here....sitting in the back of the room, contemplating the best time to throw a paper airplane to the front of the room, got to time it just right to skim Pat's head and slam into Bill mid sentence. Two for one

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Right here....sitting in the back of the room, contemplating the best time to throw a paper airplane to the front of the room, got to time it just right to skim Pat's head and slam into Bill mid sentence. Two for one
PRICELESS!!!:D

[marge618]

I know that we (CCA) sent the list of folks who registered...and that at least the people who had ACA forum registrations got upgraded to "ACA member" status (and given access to BBs).

Matt

I believe that I paid an extra fee for renewal of ACA membership when I registered for the convention.

[Spine]

+1 on Andrew and Pat
I've been to several conventions this year and have joined their club either as a courtesy to them or because they force you too. I have not been able to gain full access too the forum on any one that I joined. I notified all of them, but they didn't seem to care once they had my money. The bottom line is I'll never join a club unless I'm forced to so I can attend something.

[sfdvlam]

Oh cool! Just reading through this thread I realize I get a year of complimentary membership since I attended the ACA event. How to get that membership extension on my profile?

[AndyNarwhal]

My renewal is due in August every year and I just renewed again. I get the Full membership as I like the printed BB.

I think it's important to keep in mind that the ACA is an association of hobbyists and scientists who wish to share knowledge and promote the conservation and keeping of cichlids. It is not a "club" like CCA or my own club MAS.

Most of the reasons that I have seen posted here were because members did not get the "club" experience that they thought they would get from joining the ACA.

There is nothing wrong with that. But it doesn't mean it is the fault of the ACA.

If your goal is to learn more about cichlids and cichlid conservation then I would highly encourage you to join the ACA. If your goal is to just keep and breed fish, and hang out with other cichlid hobbyists then a local club is what is best for you. Of course you could always do both!

Andy
Proud Member of the American Cichlid Association

[mscichlid]

I've been saying just that for years.

The ACA forum should be just a platform for ACA info:

ACA Convention
ACA BOT info
ACA National/International Club registry
ACA Awards info
ACA Show Rules
ACA Sanction registrations
ACA Speaker info
ACA Online Trading
ACA Conservation info
ACA Cichlid Species Database (incorporate CichlidRoom and Cichlid Forum)
ACA BB publication should be made available for download instead of mailed. Waste of money and resources these days to have it delivered any other way.

IMHO,the rest of the forum invites folks to be disappointed and is a waste of time.

[mrkillie]

ACA BB publication should be made available for download instead of mailed. Waste of money and resources these days to have it delivered any other way.

Especially since there won't even be a postal service in a few years. I've read where some countries are already planning the phase out by 1918.

[mscichlid]

1918?

[AndyNarwhal]

I agree with you on everything but two points:
Incorporating cichlid forum and cichlid room. I think an indexable guide to BB articles online is a better choice. It would be something new and unique to the ACA.

Ending the print version of the BB. I may still be in the dark ages but I like the print version. It fits nicely in my bathroom cabinet.

Andy

[verbal]

1918?
Isn't that the year the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? j/k

[mrkillie]

Especially since there won't even be a postal service in a few years. I've read where some countries are already planning the phase out by 1918.

OOOPS! Meant 2018!

[dogofwar]

The issue, though, is that there seem to be a really limited number of people for whom this appeals (and even fewer if you take away the convention).

Where can the "hobbyists and scientists who wish to share knowledge and promote the conservation and keeping of cichlids" be found... if they're not in clubs like the CCA or MAS? I honestly don't know.

I think there is a core group of people for whom the ACA is a "club" in the traditional sense. And people outside of that core group aren't likely to feel included in the "club"... with a corresponding lack of compelling reasons to remain a member.

Matt

My renewal is due in August every year and I just renewed again. I get the Full membership as I like the printed BB.

I think it's important to keep in mind that the ACA is an association of hobbyists and scientists who wish to share knowledge and promote the conservation and keeping of cichlids. It is not a "club" like CCA or my own club MAS.

Most of the reasons that I have seen posted here were because members did not get the "club" experience that they thought they would get from joining the ACA.

There is nothing wrong with that. But it doesn't mean it is the fault of the ACA.

If your goal is to learn more about cichlids and cichlid conservation then I would highly encourage you to join the ACA. If your goal is to just keep and breed fish, and hang out with other cichlid hobbyists then a local club is what is best for you. Of course you could always do both!

Andy
Proud Member of the American Cichlid Association

[dogofwar]

Issue #1 for the League of Nations ;)

Matt

Especially since there won't even be a postal service in a few years. I've read where some countries are already planning the phase out by 1918.

[AndyNarwhal]

Matt,
In regards to your first sentence that's exactly true and always has been. There is nothing wrong with that.

I have no idea what you mean by your second sentence. There are ACA members who are not members of local clubs. And there are hobbyists and scientists that I know through the ACA that I would not have met any other way despite being in local clubs most of my life. Have you ever read a BB? Other than Cichlid News tell me where you would find that information.

I don't get this "good ole boys club" reference all the time. I think that is total BS. As in everything else you have to earn friendship. Just because you attended the convention or paid a membership does not entitle you to suddenly be best friends to everyone in the ACA. The long standing members have a close knit circle because they earned and developed those relationships over years of interaction.


Andy

[dogofwar]

Andy - I've read many BBs. I generally like them. It's one of the key reasons I've remained a member. I've often asked myself who the target audience for them is (other than the people who write them)...

Matt