DelawareJim

I'm looking to gage interest in a North American Cryptocoryne Society (NACS) for this side of the pond. Principally Canada, Mexico, and US members but anyone with interest. Hopefully enough interest to reach critical mass and last longer than the initial emotion of the first few months.

I'm hoping to establish affiliations with the European Crypt. Society, the Aquatic Gardeners Association, and with a bit of luck, have a club site on APC with their generous help.

So who's interested?

Cheers.
Jim

HeyPK

I am interested. What activities do you envision?

HeyPK

Nobody else interested? Can two people make up a society?

DelawareJim

Here's what I was thinking of as a description and "mission":

"The North American Cryptocoryne Society (NACS) is an international group with members from Mexico, Canada, and the United States with an interest in the cultivation and study of Cryptocoryne and related species. Membership ranges from the novice to the advanced hobbyist.

Our mission is to educate and promote the study, understanding, and culture, both submersed and emersed, of Cryptocoryne and related species."

I was hoping that eventually, after reaching the critical mass necessary to be sustainable that we would have an annual conference or bring ECS to this side of the pond, maybe coordinate with the ECS to swap plants, and have joint collecting trips for those who were interested.

Pretty ambitious stuff, I know. But since I heard Jan Bastmeijer speak at the AGA convention in DC back in 2004 this idea has haunted me. I think North American is so far behind the curve compared to Europe and Asia in Crypt and Lagenandra knowledge and cultivation.

Cheers.
Jim

newellcr

Hello Jim,

I think that there is interest, in general. Starting a new group of any kind is difficult. Maybe a new working committee within the AGA? Who knows if the AGA would even be receptive to that. I dunno, finding capable volunteers with available time and energy is the key.

Chris

DelawareJim

Exactly.

In the short term, a working group within AGA or even ECS would work best and then just let it evolve.

SCMurphy

Call me a pessimist but I think you'd have a better chance of making it alone than as a subsection the AGA. The AGA can barely handle what it does now. Try posting your idea to the crypt list, it is still out there.

DelawareJim

Hey Sean; I was wondering where you were. Is the Crypt list still alive? I asked about it earlier and "HeyPK" replied that the last message he got was back in something like March 2005.

Cheers.
Jim

SnakeIce

Not sure what I could do since I'm here in the sticks for aquarium stuff, but I keep and enjoy my crypts. I would probably fall under the novice or casual crypt keeper but where ever I can voice interest to lend further weight to the idea I'm up for it.

Ben Belton

I'm interested. I'm stretched kinda thin, but I would be interested.

Ben