A warm welcome and thank you for your interest in the American Cichlid Association, the largest and most distinguished national organization of the cichlid hobby! The three major objectives of the ACA are: to gather, organize, and disseminate knowledge of the family Cichlidae; to further the conservation of cichlids and their natural habitats; and to promote fellowship amongst the members.
Cichlid conservation and research, along with diverse cichlid opportunities, all accompanied by the true camaraderie of fellow cichlidophiles with like interests, culminate at our extraordinary annual ACA Convention, this year to be held in Milwaukee on July 22 thru 25, 2010!
Your membership in the ACA entitles you to six issues per year of our official publication, Buntbarsche Bulletin (BB). BB offers the opportunity to share in the experiences of other cichlid enthusiasts, collectors, scientists, and educators, just like yourself, from across the globe, as well as giving you the chance to share your accounts with us. As a member, you will have online access to most of the 258 back issues of BB.
Four times a year, spring, summer, winter, and fall, you will receive the ACA Newsletter, which will keep you updated on your member benefits and what is happening in the ACA.
Do you want to discuss all things cichlid with fellow cichlid enthusiasts? Do you have cichlids for sale? Are you looking for that rare and unusual find? The ACA forum is your opportunity to ask some of the world’s leading cichlid authorities the questions that you want answers for. Have a one-on-one conversation with celebrated cichlid greats such as Wayne Leibel, Ron Coleman, Eric Hanneman, and Rusty Wessel. But it doesn’t stop there as you will have the chance to view Mo Devlin’s exquisite photographic masterpieces in Today in the Fishroom, discuss techniques with him, and share your own photographs with other members. The ACA forum is where you will discover all of this and so much more. Find out what all the talk is about and join in the conversation today!
The Online Trading Post, located on the ACA forum, offers an up-to-the-minute listing of available cichlids, many home-raised by fellow ACA members. You never know what rare and unusual finds are waiting for you at the Online Trading Post ~ you may just discover that dream cichlid that you have been searching years for! And, if you do not see it ~ ask! The Online Trading Post is also a perfect method of selling and dispersing your cichlids to fellow members.
Every July the ACA hosts a most fabulous convention not to be missed! It is here that you will witness the most spectacular collection of the finest cichlids to be found. The yearly convention is an action-packed, non-stop weekend filled with world-renown speakers, workshops, vendors, raffles, specialized Study Group meetings and incredible side trips, all culminating in Sunday’s magnificent cichlid auction! Most importantly, you will always find the warmth and fellowship of being amongst fish, friends, and fun!
Ted Judy and the Milwaukee Aquarium Society have been working diligently to host the most exceptional convention ever for the year 2010! If you have yet to do so, Ted and his dedicated committee are more than happy to help you to plan for this extraordinary event at the luxurious Olympia Resort and Spa, on July 22nd thru 25th 2010. Please be sure to register today at: www.ACA2010.com or e-mail: tjudy@tedsfishroom.com. I know I can’t wait to see you in Milwaukee in July!
Do you want to be a part of the successful ongoing collective effort to preserve conservation priority cichlids by dedicating your time and tank space to one or more at-risk species? Over 400 species of Lake Victorian cichlids are gone...never to be seen again but in photographs. Malagasy cichids are not far behind, as well as a good number of Central American cichlids. If we act together, now, this reality will not come to those species that remain. As a member of the ACA, you will have the opportunity and we welcome you to join in the ACA C.A.R.E.S. endeavor where you will play a vital role in ensuring a bright future for these cichlids in peril. Together, we can and we are making a difference!
Your membership in the ACA offers so much more such as participation in international conservation efforts, the Paul Loiselle Conservation Fund, the Guy Jordan Research Fund, Show Sanctioning, a Speaker Program, a Club Liaison Program, Special Awards, and most especially the warmth and camaraderie of like-minded cichlidophiles.
As a hobbyist, I’m sure that you have found that reading on your subject is of utmost importance, and putting your theories into practice is the next most important step. For total fulfillment of the hobby, there is nothing equal to being a part of an organization such as the ACA, and the camaraderie of exchanging ideas with others that have a common interest. The ACA is a dedicated group of aquarists who are always more than happy to share their varied experiences, talents, and knowledge ~ regardless of whether you are a beginner or advanced hobbyist.
We welcome you to become a part of the ACA by logging onto www.cichlid.org where you will find the dues structure. The funds can be sent directly through PayPal to acapaypal@mac.com. Or, you may prefer to print out the Membership Application and send it to ACA Membership Chair, Marty Ruthkosky, 43081 Bond Court, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have by e-mail at ivyrose@optonline.net, or you may call me at 631-668-5125. I’m sure you will find becoming involved with such a special group of individuals as rewarding as I have! I look forward to hearing from you!
With Warm Regards,
Claudia
‘Dedicated to the Conservation and Dissemination of Knowledge of the Family Cichlidae’
