Getting involved in Reef Clubs

[seahorsedreams]

I'm moving next month to Southern California, Palos Verdes to be exact. How do I go about finding the local reef clubs to get involved in. I've never been a part of a club before.

[SurferStevo]

Just show up at a meeting pay for a membership. It's that easy. And attending meetings is usually fun. You probably want to check out MASLAC's website at MASLAC.org . They still have a forum on this board SCMAS lost ours. :(

[seahorsedreams]

There seems to be a few that would be local for me.... how do I go about finding all of them?

[GinaSofia]

Here's a sticky with all the links:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=382335

[NicoleC]

SCMAS didn't lose the forum on RC, the club asked that their name be taken off this forum. It was a tough decision, but has been for the best.

SCMAS build our own forum here: http://forum.scmas.org/
Although it's mostly gathering dust since everyone is still here.

The SCMAS web site is here: http://www.scmas.org/

Upcoming events include BBQ at Black Coral Hawaii this month, a visit to Seaside (FishSupply.com) in June, the June swap meet, and the big Reef-A-Palooza event in August. Reef-A-Palooza will feature a major name speaker, a big swap meet (folks from 3 states that I know of last year), and locla vendors, manufacturers and LFS.

You can get involved as much as you want, from helping plan events by showing up the the steering committee meetings and volunteering to just occassionally coming to an event or to see a speaker you'd like. I do recommend joining either SCMAS or MASLAC, since some events are members-only, but usually you can be a member of either.

There's also a fledgling Long Beach club which is closer, and there are usually non-club frag swaps a few times per year. The food is always better at the non-club swaps :D

[MrSandman]

It all depends on what is considered "local" to you. Unfortunately, SCMAS and MASLAC meetings are at least an hour's drive away for you. The last time i went to a MASLAC meeting i think it took almost 2 hours as i had to deal with traffic during rush hour on a Friday evening in LA. :( But if you can find the time, its well worth it! There have been talks in the past about starting up a South Bay Club (to include PV, Torrance, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan, etc.) but they have all kinda fizzled. :(

BTW, welcome to the neighborhood! :)

[Konadog]

seahorsedreams, the sticky link has all the info to look up any club in the LA/OC area. You don't need to pay a fee to check out any club, just go to one and see if it works for you. Guests are always welcome to check it out, talk with people, and get an idea of what its all about.

And again, welcome to the neighborhood.

[seahorsedreams]

It seems like everything is a hours drive away.... even if it's only 2 miles down the road! It's gonna take me awhile to get use to the traffic.

I can't wait to join the clubs and have some real conversation about tanks without the other person getting that glazed look in their eyes. Whoo Hoo!

[Konadog]

What city did you move here from?

Yes, everything is an hours drive, but you'll get use to spending half your life on the roadways :rolleyes:

[gho]

Originally posted by NicoleC
SCMAS build our own forum here: http://forum.scmas.org/
Although it's mostly gathering dust since everyone is still here.
That's funny, but in a way, it's sad. I would be there, but I'm just spread across too many forums.

[gho]

SHD: Frag swaps are a great way to meet people, eat lots of yummy food and get drunk. Not to mention you can pick up some cool stuff for your tank(s).

I'm hosting one on June 26 - open to everyone. Details in this sticky thread:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=581343