Jeremy at Tulsa Aquatics asked me to post the following:

To help with the losses accrued during the power outages Tulsa Aquatics has offered to run a coral sale for all OMAS & COMAS members on Saturday December 22nd 10am-6pm. All Corals are 10% off to any OMAS or COMAS member providing proof of membership. Recent Australian shipment includes 30-40 head Aussie Acans, a 70 head Duncan, and some of the nicest Favia (bright green) and Scolymia ever seen.

We are offering this as a good gesture to your reef club to help your members stock up after the power outages caused many losses. A lot of these corals will be going on ebay shortly and wanted to offer OMAS and COMAS first picks on them.

Thanks Jeremy !

Umm we get this discount at all other reef stores in town anyways. Nice gesture, but I dont see the point.

What is his e-bay name?

The point would be - here is a store that has just started to show some support for your club - comments like that make most resonable LFS throw a finger at your club. Good job! Unfortunately it only takes a few out of a group to ruin it for the rest. Ironically you work at a store [not that you ever mention it]!

That's a great gesture. My tank has basically crashed but my wife's is going to be just fine. I won't be making any big coral purchases for awhile. Thanks Jeremy and John. Thank you also for the frags for the raffle at the last meeting.


John Leeds
OMAS President 2008

Sorry my misinformed friend I do not work at any LFS in town.
That is why I dont mention it.
Yes I do help out at another store, but I do not work there, and yes I do shop at other stores as well.
He has been in this town longer than you and has known about this club and wants to show a little support now?
To me it smells a little funny.
Just my personal opinion.

IF he is serious then by all means Im sure he will be welcomed by the rest of the members.

I will not support this store for personal reasons.

This forum is for positive discussion. Yes omas and TA have been around longer than most of us in the hobby. While I am sure there are members who will not visit TA most members of omas try and visit all of the stores including non sponsoring stores. John at TA has been impressed with the new membership that have started coming in. So that is why he wants to get involved and I appreciate it. Gary personal opinion noted.

John Leeds
OMAS President 2008

Lets remember that any discounts that OMAS members get are not because OMAS deserves a discount, but are given to us as a gesture of support. It's something that is offered and we should be grateful for, and make sure the places that offer discounts know this, not by deriding their efforts.

Also, a long time ago, I learned when someone offers you something for free, you graciously accept or decline, but you never throw it back in their face. It may not be something your excited about, or even care that much about, but if you aren't gracious about it, it's unlikely they will offer you anything that you might care about more in the future. I know I wouldn't...

Lee - my sentiments exactly - just didn't put it so eloquently. What's that saying - "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"? My point is - from what I've heard John at TA has not been a supporter due to some issues in the past - just when he starts a comment like above comes out and could stop his support immediately. Whether you like the guy or not - HE made an attempt!

Anybody? :o

Whos e-bay name Roman?

I think the OMAS group needs to look at this as a nice gesture. This store has never taken an interest in the club before. Some of the members may not care for this store and they do not have to attend if they do not want to.

Happy Reefing

Lori

:blink: I love how relaxing this hobby is!!! Merry christmas everybody!

LOL, so true :D Merry Christmas to all of you :D

P.S: e-bay name for TA

:D

Roman, I don't know John's ebay name offhand, but I have heard he's put some nice Aussie stuff up. Give them a call & ask.

Greg

PS, I think it's great that John is giving us another chance. Hopefully the ignorant few don't ruin it for the masses.

Sorry I missed the sale. Unfortunately, I don't think the COMAS people ever knew about it.

Thanks for the offer though.

Nice shot, but if John backs out from one persons opinion then you dont want him around anyhow.
Personally I think you all need to show a little more credit where it is due. There are others in this town that has sacrificed alot more time and effort and dont get much in return.
Hell we are currently losing another great store in Tulsa. I hate to see Shane shut down the shop ~ we are running out of places to buy.
I have personal opinions on not shopping at TA that has nothing to do with OMAS. I had experiences with them years ago before I even thought of owning a reef tank or joining an aquarium society and none of them were good. Is it a good thing he is wanting to join OMAS, alot of you will say yes, but I will say no. I will keep my comments as to why out of it so I dont "RUIN" it for anyone else.

I came to OMAS hoping I would get to enjoy talking about reefing, fragging, learning how to bettter my corals and fish. I was especially looking forward to trading corals or at least selling them cheap to help out others who are starting just as I was at one point.
I have yet to see any of this, there are only 2 other people willing to help out in the donor program? John has had zoas on there ever since I joined and has not even had one person interested.
I even posted one month on frags I was willing to trade or sell cheap if no one had any trades. I had one person come to me and even ask about them.
I was told later that people were afraid to say anything because the meeting was held at an LFS and that it might OFFEND that individual if I sold or traded corals in that particular store.
A coral conservation club is more than raffle drawings once a month and monthly meetings.
I have been very disappointed in OMAS in the last year and I hope all of the members can recognize the faults of this club.

I have talked to John about some of his agendas for this club, they are very good ideas and I hope that every member in OMAS will do more to help him and the other leaders make this club into something future members can enjoy.

If I come off a little too forward to you then so be it. I have seen very few members here that speak their mind, or are afraid they might offend someone with thier opinions, guess I am one of the few.

I truly hope that this club can come together and make things work.

Using your first point, Scott at Oddballs has offended me in the past, I see no reason for him to go away. I've had my disagreement with Shane, yet I didn't bash his participation. I've argued with Scott K (he was my boss after all) and don't call for his expulsion. John has ticked me off before, but I'm glad to see him coming around.

I think Oddballs gets plenty of recognition if that's what you were getting at. If there's a particular unsung hero of ice storm 2007, then post away your accolades.

I'm sad to see Shane go away as well. Tulsa can't afford to lose a store. That in particular is why you've got to put away your petty differences about store owners. I know Oddballs & John detest each other. Hang around Oddballs long enough, you'll detest John too. I don't think he gets a fair shake from a lot of people.

My main point is this; OMAS needs to grow, in order to do so we need support. Bashing a store that you don't particulary like when they start to come around is shooting us in the foot. Don't like John, don't go to TA.

Life is like a box of chocolates and that's about all I got to say about that.