…about C.W.A.S.

 

History of C.W.A.S.

Original C.W.A.S. "Neolamprologus brichardi" Logo (1986-2005), designed by Jennifer Sedlar.

C.W.A.S. "Angelfish" Logo (2006-2010), designed by Brian Aschebrook.

The Central Wisconsin Aquarium Society was started in February, 1986. The founding members were Judy Western, Dennis Drews, Don Frisque, Bill Wolfe, and Robin Kurth. Judy Western was very instrumental in getting the club off the ground. She did a lot of the initial work and “pushed” the other members when things could have easily been left to slide. Robin is one of the founding members that remains very active in the club today. Steve Radant is another member who joined the club shortly after it’s inception. Monthly meetings were held at one of the five initial members’ homes and gradually the club grew bigger. The Constitution and By-laws were presented to the Society in March, 1987.

top

C.W.A.S. Mission Statement

  • To promote the hobby of the care and propagation of aquatic life.
  • To promote proper information and education about aquatic habitats.
  • To encourage field trips to aquatic habitats.
  • To develop projects for betterment of the hobby and aquatic habitats.
  • To promote the use of local businesses for equipment and supplies.

Local pet stores are good sources for equipment and supplies. They promote the hobby and C.W.A.S., by buying excess breeding stock from our members and sell them to the public. We encourage the use of local businesses (especially those listed as “Club Supporters”) as part of the promotion to encourage the hobby in the Central Wisconsin area.

top

Overview of Members

Current members: 20 (as of January 2012)

The Society is open to individuals age 10 years and up. Family memberships are welcome too. Current members keep anywhere from 1 or 2 tanks setup in their living rooms to 50 or more tanks set up in large “fish rooms”. Some of the species of fish kept are: African & South American Cichlids, Killifish, Guppies, Angels, Gouramis, Discus, Swordtails, and Natives… just to name a few! A few members have Marine set-ups, while others have ponds. There is a wide variety of interests in the club, but new members should not feel left out if their interest is elsewhere. The Society encourages members with new interests to join so everyone can learn new aspects of the hobby! Sharing information is a large part of what the Society is all about!

top

Monthly Meetings

The Society meets at least once every month, with exceptions being when other events are held such as Auctions, Shows or Club Outings. Meetings are held at various locations in the Central Wisconsin area. A meeting schedule is posted on the Events page. Occasionally, unforeseen circumstances cause changes in meeting dates, times or places. If this happens e-mails will be sent out to members containing the latest meeting information. The Events page and the "Next Meeting" section on the Homepage should also contain updated information.

Besides the usual “Old Business/New Business” format, there are many other items that can typically be covered at each monthly meeting. Early-bird prize drawings, mini-auctions, bowl-shows, hobby discussions, personal video presentations, how-to demonstrations, and fish room tours are just some of the items that can be covered at each meeting.

top

Spring Auction, Fall Show/Auction & Club Outings

Every Spring and Fall, C.W.A.S. holds Auctions for members and non-members to sell their excess fish and aquarium equipment, as well as bid on the other available lots. C.W.A.S. keeps a percentage of total sales as commission. Before the Fall Auction, a Show is held a few weeks earlier in October. Here members and non-members can submit their prize fish for display and judging in hopes of receiving a 1st place for that species group.

Official Auction and Show Rules can be found below or downloaded in pdf format from the Archives page.

For those of you not familiar with our Auctions, here are some tips to help:

  1. Arrive early with a pen and notepad. Check out the lots laid out on the tables and jot down the lot numbers of items/fish you’re interested in. This will help you choose the stuff you want to bid on during the auction, as lot numbers are called out as each item comes up for bid.
  2. Bidding is done with a numbered paddle. The number identifies you as the bidder. When an item comes up for auction that you would like to bid on, hold your paddle up high with the numbered side facing the auctioneer, and keep your paddle held up until your maximum bid is reached! This helps the auctioneers and is less confusing than the “yo-yo” effect of paddles going up and down.
  3. When you are high bidder on a lot when the bidding ends, remain seated. A runner will bring your item/fish to your seat. Sign the Bid Ticket and keep the yellow carbon copy. The Bid Ticket copies are handy for totaling all your purchases before paying at the end of the auction.
  4. Be courteous to others and keep chatter down to a low whisper!
  5. Before you leave, return your bid paddle to the greeter’s table and pay for your total purchases. C.W.A.S. reserves the right to refuse personal checks! Be sure to make arrangements to remove larger items purchased during the auction. C.W.A.S. is not responsible for items left behind after the auction ends!
  6. Have fun and bid often!

Besides the auctions and show, C.W.A.S. also has other outings such as a cookout in June, a Natives collecting trip in July, a picnic in August, and a Holiday Party in December at a fine local eating establishment. Voting for new Club Officers often accompanies the Holiday Party, or is held on a separate date shortly thereafter.

top

Auction Rules

  1. You don't need to be a member of C.W.A.S. to purchase fish or equipment.
  2. All items must be properly labeled including species: mating pairs, trios (1 male, 2 females) or reverse trios (2 males, one female).
  3. Proper bagging with rubber bands is a must (please no zip-lock bags or twist ties). Items not properly bagged will be charged a $1.00 re-bagging fee.
  4. Equipment must be sold in operating condition, fish and plants that are sold must be healthy.
  5. There is no maximum limit to the number of total items a seller can put up for auction.
  6. No more than five(5) bags of one color variety or species will be allowed per seller.
  7. All items sold for $1.00 or less will be considered a donation to the club. All items sold over $1.00 will be subjected to a 80/20 split with C.W.A.S..
  8. C.W.A.S. is not responsible for fish that didn't sell or any D.O.A.'s following the auction.
  9. Unclaimed items after the auction will become the property of C.W.A.S.. C.W.A.S. is not responsible for any personal injuries, damages, or losses incurred before, during or after the auction.
  10. All transactions for non-club members are subject to cash and carry, only club members may pay by check.
  11. All bidders must pre-register before the auction to receive a bidding number.
  12. All bidders must have a running tab, with money transactions being handled by the cashiers only. Auction runners will not be handling any money.
  13. The Auction Chairperson retains the right to reject any item unfit for sale including sick fish, crosses, damaged fish/plants, etc.
  14. Adult males and females of the same species must be bagged separately and have the bags attached together.
  15. All items become the property of C.W.A.S. and CANNOT be withdrawn once they are registered.
  16. All items become the buyers responsibility once they are purchased. C.W.A.S. claims no responsibility after that time.
  17. Auction proceeds will be mailed to the seller within three weeks.
  18. Resolution of disputes will be handled by the Auction Committee and their decision will be final.
  19. The buyer and final selling price of items will be determined by the Auctioneer. The Auctioneer's decision is final.
  20. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars.
top

Show Rules

  1. The show is open to the public, you don't need to be present to receive an award.
  2. Entry forms (and fees) MUST be given to the Show Chairperson when fish are registered. No changes or substitutions will be permitted, except within a class, no refunds will be made.
  3. There is an entry fee of $2.00 per tank for C.W.A.S. tanks, $1.00 if the owner brings and set-ups own tank. Entry fees are charged at a maximum of 10 entries. One tank per entry. There are no restrictions on the number of entries per person.
  4. An entry consists of a single or multiple fish of same type. Judges will pick out the best fish of the group to judge. Only killifish can be judged in pairs.
  5. All fish MUST be in the tank prior to the start of judging.
  6. Hybrids or crosses will be permitted, but only classed in the 17th Category: Other.
  7. All show tanks (15 gal or larger) must be provided by the exhibitor entering the fish.
  8. Decorations, gravel and backgrounds will be permitted in the show tanks. It is the exhibitor's responsibility to remove items that can interfere with the judging.
  9. Tanks should be setup the evening before the show and removed at the conclusion of the show.
  10. The Show Committee reserves the right to redirect an entry into the proper show class.
  11. An entry can be disqualified if it doesn't comply with the established rules.
  12. The decision of the judges and Show Committee are final and binding.
  13. Awards are as follows: First Place; Plaque to the winner of each class; if more than three fish are entered into the class. Second and Third Place; Ribbons. Best of Show; Trophy.
  14. Neither C.W.A.S. or the business holding the show will be held responsible for loss or damage to fish and/or equipment, or personal injury before, during or after the show.
  15. Tampering with or handling other exhibitor entries is forbidden, unless authorized by the owner or member of the Show Committee.
  16. The preliminary classes are as follows; (classes are subject to change depending on the composition of entries, including addition or deletion of classes).
1.Cyprinids 14.Corydoras
2.Characins 15.Other bottom dwellers
3.Cichlids; African, 4" or under 16.Rainbows
4.Cichlids; African, 4" or over 17.Other
5.Discus 18.Goldfish or Koi
6.Angelfish 19.Other Coldwater
7.Cichlids; C&S Amer., 4" or under 20.Snails & Reptiles (marine animals)
8.Cichlids; C&S Amer., 4" or over 21.Marine
9.Anabantoids 22.Show Tank
10.Bettas 23.Fish Art
11.Livebearers 24.Commercial Tank Beautification
12.Guppies 25.Killifish
13.Plecostomus  

top

Monthly Newsletter

Every month each member was treated to an issue of Behind The Glass, the official C.W.A.S. newsletter. Each issue brought news of the previous months meeting, a reminder of the next meeting, informative articles written by members, Robin’s “The Slimy Thumb” column, Doc Marine's “The Deep End”, and more. Some members actually paid dues just to receive the monthly newsletter. In a way, its unfortunate, but it goes to show just how valuable Behind The Glass was to some people! Sadly, the Behind The Glass newsletter has been discontinued since 2008. Back Issues dating from 1986-2008 are available for viewing in the Archives; ranging from single page leaflets to more steam-lined booklets.

top

How to Join

To join C.W.A.S., it’s fairly simple. Just show up at the next Society function, such as a monthly meeting, auction or other club outing. Meet and talk to the club officers and other members. Express your interest in joining C.W.A.S. and you’ll be started in the right direction. If you cannot make the next Society function, you can e-mail the current club treasurer Kelly Rector to find out where to send your annual dues.


Current Annual Dues
Individual or Family $15

top

PAP: Participation Award Program

The Participation Award Program was created to encourage members to participate in club activities. Points are earned for various activities throughout the year and are transformed into C.W.A.S. “Fish Bucks” (play money). The Fish Bucks can then be used in a special auction at the end of the year – the PAP Auction. The following is a list of the various activities that earn Fish Bucks and the amount earned:


Activity

Amount Earned

C.W.A.S. Member (base amount)

$10

Meeting Attendance (general or board)

Perfect Attendance (general mtg)

Perfect Attendance (board mtg)

Board Member missing either mtg

$1/meeting

$5

$5

-$1

Special Event Attendance (trip, picnic, etc…)

$5

Member Donations

$1

Show set-up/assistance/clean up

 $5/day

Auction set-up/assistance/clean up

$5

Show Participation

$1/entry

Show Results:

Best of Show

Reserve

People's Choice

1st

2nd

3rd

 

$6

$5

$4

$4

$3

$2

Auction seller

Auction buyer

$2

$2

Bowl Show (Per Entry!)

BAP participation (Per Verified Spawn)

Top Finishers at end of year

1st

2nd

3rd

$1

$1

 

$4

$3

$2

Newsletter articles, drawings, photos

$3

Website Archive additions (photos, video, artwork, missing materials)

$3

New Members

$10

Recruiting new members

$3

Mini Auction donation

½ of actual money made

Host a meeting

$10

Host an open house

$5

Positions Held:

  

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Sgt. At Arms

Chairperson of Board

Editor

Librarian

Co-Editor

Board Member

BAP Chairperson

BAP Committee

PAP Chairperson

Site Webmaster

Bowl Show Chairperson

Exchange Editor

Show/Auction Chairperson

Show/Auction Cpt.

Assistant Secretary

$10

$8

$8

$8

$5

$5

$10

$3

$5

$2

$5

$1

$5

$5

$5

$3

$5

$3

$5

Manufacturers Donation (Per Chairperson)

$3

 top

Club Supporters

C.W.A.S. appreciates any support that aides our hobby. With the donations of supporters C.W.A.S. continues to grow by help through their promotion. Supporter websites can be found listed on the Links page. We would like to thank the following businesses for their support.


Name Business Location Owner(s)
Amazonas Magazine National N/A
Aqueon Manufacturer National N/A
Ace Hardware Hardware Store Weston, WI N/A
Doctors Foster & Smith Pet Supplies National N/A
Hagen Manufacturer National N/A
HBH Pet Products Manufacturer National N/A
Marineland Manufacturer National N/A
Tetra Manufacturer National N/A
Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine National N/A
ZooMed Manufacturer National N/A

If you are a business or organization that would like to support our club, please contact our donations chairman Troy Heldt.

top