Should we form an official Killifish Club?

[timebomb]

Hi, folks,

In the light of Wright's insistence that forming a club would be the solution to many of our problems and that it does not take much to form one, I like to conduct a poll. Only a few have given their opinions on this topic but the argument has been going on for far too long. I hope the results of the poll will put the matter to rest, until someone comes up with a better idea, of course. Whichever way the results turns out, it's not an indication of who was right or wrong. It also does not mean that if the results are in favour of a club, we'll be forming one. By the same token, if the results are unfavourable, it also does not mean we will never form one. Let's just say the results will let people like Wright and I understand better what the perception is like *on the ground*.

The fact that we're talking about a local club which would mean Singaporeans should know better than foreigners, I would ask that those who do not live in Singapore refrain from participating in the poll. You are still welcomed to give your opinions in this thread, of course.

If you miss Wright's last post on this topic, please click here to read it.

Thank you.

Loh K L

[PohSan]

Yes. Despite of the poor response from the previous gathering and other differiculties will be encountering, I will still hope to see a killifish club to be formed.

Regards,
Ong Poh San

[stormhawk]

I second Poh San's thoughts.

(Added Comments):

I have long thought of our small community within SG as a club in itself but with each member having his or her individual ways of doing things.

I know that organising a mass order isn't easy, even though we're all living on a tiny island that's interconnected via rail and road. Sometimes its a little odd for just one person to organise everything all the time so I'm looking at a little help from others to also organise some mass orders by themselves too.

I know that conflicts are bound to happen from time to time but this is commonplace even in everyday life, at work or also at home. We all just have to deal with it somehow.

[whuntley]

I am eager to see the results of the poll and the comments.

I don't want to come off sounding like a club is the greatest invention since sliced bread, and it will ever assure a problem-free environment.

People are people, and I have witnessed some remarkable feuds among the members of local clubs. I think that is precluded, here, if the level-handed leadership we have enjoyed on this web site extends to any subsequent organized club.

Good luck,

Wright

[RonWill]

4 votes in 3 days... speak volumes regarding enthusiasm but at least those votes were in favor of club formation.

I, too, have been discussing with other club members and besides the usual "more talkers than doers", sustaining viability of the club is another.

In another post, I believe Kwek Leong excluded himself from any official appointment should a Killie Club eventually materialize, which makes me wonder... do we have enough serious hobbyists to take up the standard appointments?

[CM Media]

Hi Guys,

I'm still alive and I support the idea of forming a killifish club. I've encounter various setbacks when corresponding with others where they have a club to represent them. It's time we neet to move forward.

[ruyle]

Hi gang,
Since I will be a neighbor of yours due north, I'd like to see a club, too!

Bill

[zmzfam]

... do we have enough serious hobbyists to take up the standard appointments?

I'm sure there are enough people who would want to volunteer for office. There are people who would like to see the club succeed and be responsible enough.

[selena]

4 votes in 3 days... speak volumes regarding enthusiasm but at least those votes were in favor of club formation

.

Yes, go ahead. Guys, we gals support you silently(even if we do not post) whatever you do .

I'm still alive and I support the idea of forming a killifish club

Au, welcome back. Everyone misses you. Don't stay away too long. .

...............................................
selena

[CM Media]

Au, welcome back. Everyone misses you. Don't stay away too long.

Hi Selena,

You woke me up from my long... sleep.

I'm always around... Just that I do not have time to post as can't keep surfing the net while working. I've shifted to the corporate office with all the big bosses around and you know they wonder why am I visiting a forum with no relation to work!!

[Green Baron]

I think many would like to have a club but who is keen to take on official appointment ?

What we need is a poll of who is keen to take up official appointment should we form a club.

[timebomb]

What we need is a poll of who is keen to take up official appointment should we form a club.

Actually, I didn't want to say anything that may influence the voting but now that the results are overwhelming in favour of a club, I have to say Gan is right. It's easy to say we want a club but who's going to do the official work?

So far, I haven't seen any volunteers. Selana said she will support us silently but silent support is of no use to us. Let's just take a quick poll. Who is willing to step forward to be Treasurer or Secretary?

By the way, the fact that only 8 persons took part in the poll is also something that we all should take note of. I expected more as it doesn't take a lot of effort to make a few clicks to participate in the poll. But I didn't expect the results to be so one-sided though. I'm quite sure the 8 who participated are all our regulars so even if we form a club, where are we going to find the members? Do you really believe that with the formation of a club, we will be able to pull in more hobbyists? Don't forget as a club member, one has to pay membership fees. If our gatherings which are free can't attract new hobbyists, what makes you think a club will do the job better?

Loh K L

[stormhawk]

Having a club that's just based on members residing within SG is not possible in the long term since some people just drift off elsewhere over some time, or until they get burnout, whichever comes first. Of course we have to cast the net wider and if it means to Antarctica, hell yeah!

Look at the way things are done with KT and other associations. They have international members in some of the associations. We can have them too.

If the gatherings are free and nobody comes, then its okay. It doesn't mean we have to stop meeting up on certain days. Besides, if we charge an entrance fee I bet plenty of locals would scoff at such a suggestion.

We're not the AKA, nor the BKA, nor the SKS (and the list goes on), so we really can't compare ourselves to them yet, in terms of membership strength. We have only what.. 4? 6 years? of experience in killifishes? We've got a long way to go.

Our numbers may be small but the number of species being kept in Singapore by a handful of people is impressive at best. How's that for a local milestone in killie keeping.

Count in the moss-nuts and you'll have even more people within the community here that would join up to the club.

To start things rolling I'd be more than happy to be Secretary.

Volunteerism is important in any club or society. That much is a fact. Now lets see who else will step up to the plate.

8 votes to zero means something, even if its too small in numbers.

[zmzfam]

Well, we already have one volunteer. I'll also be pleased to do whatever it is to promote this hobby in SG.

How about listing down the appointments and see who volunteer for which.

[timebomb]

I checked and the Guppy Club of Singapore has something like 12 persons on its committee That figure is higher than the number of persons who participated in our poll, mind you. So even if everyone volunteers, we will still be short of 4 committee members.

They have a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, 6 committee members and another 2 who are internal auditors. I don't know if the last 2 appointments are required by law or something. Why would a fish club need internal auditors? To check on the Treasurer? It doesn't make sense.

Anyway, although I don't share Jianyang's optimism that as a club, we can recruit international members, there's a chance hobbyists from Malaysia or Indonesia may join. But what can we do for such members? Unlike the AKA whose journal alone is worth the membership fees, we are not in a position to publish any journal. The AGA (Aquatic Gardeners' Association) publishes a quarterly journal, a very good one but last I heard, they are also facing declining membership. It's good to think "international" but it's better if we restrict ourselves to "local" first. If as a local club, there's little or no chance of succeeding, I can tell you now there's no way you will ever get to be "international".

I can go on and on about why we should not think of forming a club but there's little point in going into the details. What can be said has already been said. As someone who has seen the rise and fall of many fish shops and businesses, I know in every fibre and bone of my body that a Killifish club in Singapore will have only, at best, limited success. You will be struggling, year in and year out, to recruit members. You will find that committee members aren't there for life. They will plead "shortage of time", "family or work committments" when there's work to be done. You will also find the AGM meetings which have to be held annually, extremely boring. In short, you will find your morale gradually being sapped and the day will come when you decide to throw in the towel. You will be so discouraged then you may even decide to give up on Killies altogether

For the last time, I appeal to you all to come to your senses. There's little a club can do for us that this forum cannot. Let's keep the status quo. They say, "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" but in the case of a club, this rule does not apply.

As someone who has been very vocal against the idea of forming a club, I hope I'm not standing in the way of one being formed. Much as I hate the idea, you can always count on me for support and help. They also say that "The man who's slowest to make a promise is also the one who's most likely to keep it". That's me

Loh K L

[keehoe]

KL, allow me to make this comment. Perhaps if you put the discussion in the common area, would get more reader. Took me a while to find thie poll as we are trained to look at those discussion that are more current. I wouldn't be too surprice if most of us miss the topic as it is being place away from the common topics.

I read messages in killies.com 10-20 times a day. It is only until Selena called me then i realise this is going on.

[timebomb]

I read messages in killies.com 10-20 times a day. It is only until Selena called me then i realise this is going on.

Hmm, that's a surprise. Don't you log on when you come into the forum, Kee Hoe? I would imagine a post designated as an announcement would be more visible. No? You must have missed this thread because of the many stickies. As I've said once, it isn't a good thing to have too much *clutter* in the forum. If I disable the sticky in this thread, there's a chance it will sink into oblivion. So I rather leave things as they are.

By the way, it's still not to late to cast your vote.

Loh K L

[keehoe]

I already did.

[ruyle]

The fact that we're talking about a local club which would mean Singaporeans should know better than foreigners, I would ask that those who do not live in Singapore refrain from participating in the poll.

Gee, just saw this, could you delete one vote? My apology.

Bill

[timebomb]

Gee, just saw this, could you delete one vote?

You voted!! It's okay. There is no need to delete your vote but I'll remember to minus one from the total. The poll is set to expire in 10 days. It should be soon. Let's see how many more will take part in the poll.

Loh K L