Presidents Message

Fluffy (my wife Lynn) and I just returned from the mid-meeting and show in Michigan. What a great time we had. Many of the best breeders in America were there and it seemed there was at this show more time to visit and talk guppies than we have had in the past. The show committee reported 498 entries. There would have been many more but unfortunately two breeders that show regularly, and normally have multiple entries, did not make it due to illness. Keep in your prayers Bill Orth and Gene Baudier. We all are thinking of you guys and hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

The judging board continues to refine the PowerPoint presentation used in the judging seminar. They now have graphics added to demonstrate many of the areas that are covered, thanks to Jim Alderson. If you have never attended a judging seminar and you are showing fish or are going to show fish I encourage you to attend. The cost is zero. The information shared in the seminars is invaluable. It just makes sense that if you want to show your fish you should know what the judges are looking for. These seminars will teach you just that. You do not have to continue in the judging program to attend. The next one scheduled is in Atlanta, Georgia on November 4^th. Plan on attending.

After the show and auction we ventured on to Canada and visited the fish room of Doug White in Toronto. Doug uses an automatic drip system which saves him hours of time with water changes. His room is kept immaculate and the fish he is working with look very good. He hatches brine shrimp in wine bottles with a system I have never seen before. I won’t go into specifics but I will encourage Doug to write an article on his system. I believe it will work for many of us.

The mid-meeting went very well I thought. The IFGA is moving forward with plans to go to an e-bulletin. The target date is December 2005 or possibly January 2006 at the latest. Additionally and closely related I might add there are two proposals on the agenda to be voted on at the annual meeting concerning individual memberships to the IFGA. Personally I am very excited in the direction the IFGA is going. I know change is difficult for any organization but I believe our organization is headed in the right direction to attract new members and increase the number of people wanting to breed show quality fancy guppies.

ALAN