President’s Messages

Hi Everyone!

What a beautiful day! I finally got my ponds opened this week. I thought it would never happen. Now if I can just get a few days off I can clean up the yard and gardens. I’d like to thank the Home Show team (Albert, Charlie, Frank and Jessica) on a fantastic job getting everything set up and presenting a great program. I need to thank all of you for allowing the team into your homes. The trip to Moores Water Gardens in Port Stanley is still a go for Sunday June 2. We will be driving out making a few stops on the way back. I believe it’s called a Shop Hop. I’m in the process of planning the day. Sure hope you can join in. More info at the meeting. Our presentation in May is on importing and Canadian regulations and how they apply to us fish hobbyists. June is Pond month. It’s not to late to send me pictures.

See you there!

Carla

 Hi Everyone!

I’m not sure that it will ever stop with the snow. Again this afternoon snow flakes. It’s time to let the sun shine and have birds, squirrels, rabbits and little fish have some fun. I’m still looking for pond pictures for my June presentation. A great big thank you to all of you that helped with the Spring Auction and Show. There were over 160 entries in the show. Fantastic. Many members of our club helped with the auction. many members from neighbouring clubs helped as well. We can’t do it without you. Thank you to John Rampu for your presentation on Peru. Very nice! Our presentation this’d nth is the Home Show. This is always a great presentation. We get a chance to visit with our members and see what they have done with their tanks. I’m always envious of how beautiful the ranks look. I wish my plants would grow like some of yours.

Hope to see you all at the meeting!

Carla

Collecting in Peru

John has been in the Aquarium Hobby for over 45 years , He is a member of several Aquarium clubs and has been a founding member of The Canadian Killifish Association, A senior Judge in the American Killifish Association and currently the Organizer of SOKS, Southern Ontario Killifish Association..

John currently keeps killies and Lake Tanganyika Cichlids and several strains of Peacock Cichlids with numerous wild type livebearers. Currently he has 38 tanks in his fishroom.

John’s main interest has always been South and Central American fish, He has collected fish in Peru and Uruguay, on two different trips. I have a program on both these trips which cover a wide subject matter since many fish can be found in these countries.

My talks consists of Collecting in Peru, the country, the Fish and the culture.

Thanks

John

Hi Everyone

I sure hope spring is around the corner. What I do know is that there are many spring auctions approaching quickly. Our spring auction and show is on Saturday March 23 at the Waterdown Legion. Please bring your fish to Show. It’s only $2 per entry and after you enter 10 items its only $1. It’s a money show so you could win $. The more entries, the more $ for you. As always we are looking for help with the auction. It takes many helping hands to make an auction work. Come help support your club. Prizes to be won for volunteers. I’d like to thank Adrian Haigh for his presentation on the ball pythons. It was very informative. I loved all the different variations. Our presenter for March is John Van Rompu. He will speaking to us about his recent collecting trip in Peru. April is the ever popular Home Show. Is your tank ready? I can still use any pond pictures you have for my presentation in June. Don’t delay! Send them to me today. Just a reminder to join us on Facebook. Also the website and forum are available to all. The forum is a great place to gain or supply knowledge. I hope to see you at the meeting on March 14.

Carla

Hi Everyone and Happy Valentines Day

Have you checked our “Hamilton and District Aquarium Society” on Facebook. If you haven’t you should. We will try to keep everyone just a little bit more informed with Facebook. The spring auction and show is set for Saturday, March 23. Remember to mark that date on your calendar and try to give us a hand. It takes many hands to make the auction and show work. There is a place for everyone that is willing to volunteer a few hours. And truly appreciated too.
Thank you Joe B for your presentation on your trip to Sri Lanka. It was really nice to see how the locals value the sea turtles and work to ensure their survival. Hope your taking more pictures on this trip. The program for this month will be presented to us by Adian Haigh on reptiles including the Ball Python. Adrian will be bringing a few of his friends for us to enjoy but no touching.
The Home Show Team is making plans to get your tank photos and judging your tanks. Its not too late to sign up so make sure you do at the next meeting. This presentation will be in April.
I have received some really wonderful pond photos from many of you. Please continue to do so. I’m putting the program together and I look forward to many pictures. Its so nice to see everyones ponds. We are also looking into visiting Moores Water Gardens in June. There will be a sign up sheet at the next meeting.

Hope to see you all at the meeting.

Carla

Hi Everyone

Happy New Years and welcome to a new year at the HDAS club. The new team and some old are all ready to provide you with a great fish experience. We hope to keep you informed and provide you with knowledge about keeping your fish and perhaps experimenting with something new. If you have any requests please let Larry Johnson know. He has volunteered to help put programs together for us. Thank you Joe B for all your help with this job over the many years. Joe isn’t going anywhere, he is still offering his expertise, just in other ways. Our spring auction and show is quickly approaching. Please mark Saturday March 23 on your calendar of events not to be missed. As always, we will be needing lots of help. It takes many sets of hands to make our auction a success. Please let me know if you can help.
Those of you that came out to the Christmas dinner at the Red Maple I’m sure enjoyed a great night. The food was good and the company was fantastic. The weather was treating us a bit like winter but thats the season.
Do you have any pictures you would like to share with me on your pond. Please send them to me at your earliest convenience. I’m trying to put together a pond program. Your pictures can be anything, any season, construction, flourishing etc. Just send them. Thanks. I already received a few and thank you very much.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting on Thurs Jan 10.

Carla

Hi Everyone and Happy Holidays!!!

I’d like to thank Larry Johnson for his presentation on Lake Malawi at our last meeting. After my weekend trip to Ohio for the Ohio Cichlid Convention I have finally decided to join the cichlid folks and I’m going to convert my 150 tank to cichlids. I can’t believe it myself but I’m ready for a change. If you have any rock, I sure needs lots so please bring it to the meeting.
Tis the season so I’m hoping to see everyone at our meeting on Thurs Dec 13. Its our annual Christmas meeting where I think we have a great time mingling, playing some games, (I’m sure Noel has something special set up for us) raise some money thru our fish draw table (chinese auction) and run a successful food drive for Neighbour to Neighbour. Its very rewarding delivering whatever the club has raised thru the food drive and draw tables. We will still have our regular draws and auction at the meeting. And if you’ve been good all year we might have a treat for you too.
January is election month. If you are interested in joining the executive, please let me know. Everyone is welcome. We are always looking for some new ideas.
The Home Show is coming up quickly too. Get your tanks ready for picture taking in middle to late March. I’m also trying to put a presentation together on ponds for the June meeting. If you have any pictures of your pond and yard, please send them to me. Thanks!!!

Hope to see you all at the Christmas meeting!
Happy Holidays

Carla

Hi Everyone!!!
 
 
I’d like to thank Jesssica for her presentation last month on Fish Health and Medications.  Great job Jessica.  The presentation for November is on Larry Johnson’s recent trip to Lake Malawi “swimming with the cichlids”.  I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing about his trip.  Our December meeting will be dedicated to Christmas.  Noel will be setting up a Fish related game for us to enjoy, pizza and wings, bring a desert to share if you will.  Sarah L is setting up a Fishy Draw table.  Please let Sarah know if you have a donation for her table.  These donations do not need to be about fish.  Tickets will be sold for the draw table.  We ask that everyone please bring a non parishable food donation.  All proceeds from the evening will be going to the Neighbour to Neighbour Food Drive. Christmas is such a great time to give.  
Please consider helping out the club and joining the executive.  We have an executive meeting on the Third Thursday of each month.  Everyone is welcome to come out to our meetings.  Come give some of your expertise to our club. The annual election of the executive will take place at the January meeting. All nominations must be presented to the members of the club by our December meeting.  Let me know if your interested.  
 
See you at the meeting!
 
Carla

hi Everyone and welcome to October!

 I’d like to thank Peter DeSousa for his presentation on “killie fish” last month.  It was very informative. Such beautiful fish.  This month Jessica will be speaking on “fish medications”.  I’ve had a number of people asking about fish health and what the y need to do for a successful tank full of healthy fish.  Let Jessica explain this to you.  Our fall auction on Sat. Sept. 22 was a great success. Thanks to Big Al’s and Angel Fins for coming out and supporting the club with their vendors tables.  Also, special thanks to Big Al’s for their kind donation of the 46 gallon bowfront tank fully decked out with a heater, filter and gift card.  It only took one ticket purchased to be the winner.  Just ask Eric.  Special thanks to everyone that come out and helped us out on Sat.  You all worked very hard and everyone helped to make it a great success. Thank you all 🙂

In the past we have had a fish growing contest with a winner of that batch of fish judged in June.  The executive has decided to change it up this year.  We will be having a 7 category fish show at our June meeting.  Please stay tuned to see what the classes will be.  Get your fish ready and see what prizes you could win.

Just a reminder that December is family fun night.  Pizza and wings unless you want to change it up.  Fish games, table raffle and neighbour to neighbour food drive.  All money from the fish table raffle also goes to support the food drive.  Elections take place in January.  If you would like to be part of the executive, please let me know.  All seats are open and ready for your participation.  If you just want to come and get involved, please come to an executive meeting.

Hope to see you all at the meeting.

Carla

Hi Everyone!!!

I just can’t believe that its already September.  Where did this absolutely beautiful summer go.  I know I spent most of mine at work where it was hot, hot, hot.  I also spent some time in my yard where my ponds did me proud.  I really love the feeling of peace in my yard.  The  12 shubumkins I put in my pond last year absolutely flourished.  I must have at least 150 fish now.  Its been really great watching everything grow and bloom.  I also got a beautiful lotus from a friend and it did really well.  I will be sad to see this season end and hope that everything comes back next year.

Welcome to a new season with the HDAS.  Our September speaker is Peter DeSouza and he is going to be speaking to us about Killie Fish.  I’m so looking forward to this presentation.  You have all seen his beautiful fish during our monthly auctions.  It will be so nice to find out some of the secrets of raising Killies.
Our Fall Auction is on Saturday September 22.  It is at the Legion in Waterdown.  I keep telling everyone about how many people it takes to run an auction. (min 25) This statement hasn’t changed.  We need runners, chit writers, computer help, hall set up, hall break down,  donation person, kitchen help, auctioneers, table organizers, etc, etc.  We are also offering vendor tables to local fish related businesses.  I hate to beg but if you can help out for a few hours – we could really use the help.
There are many other auctions happening this fall as well.  Sarnia – Sept 15. Toronto Reptile Breeders Expo – Sept 15, 16.  Sept 30 – London.  Oct 21 – St Catherines.  Oct 28 – Kitchener.  Nov 4 – Peel.
The October program is being presented by our own Jessica Bullock on fish medications.  Another interesting and informative speaker.  If you have any requests for programs please let Joe B know and he will do his best to arrange it.

I hope to see you all at our first meeting of the season Thurs Sept 13 @ 7:30.

Carla