October 2025 Meeting Recap

October 2025 Meeting Recap

Hello All!!

Hard to believe but yes, it’s time for our monthly meeting this Friday the twenty first! Both this meeting and the December meeting are perfect, being one week before the holidays. Our November meeting is important in that we hold our yearly elections that could have an impact on how the rest of the year will go. I am running for President with my Vice being Carla. We have been actively campaigning, and I think that the News and Marist polls have us in the lead! The club will have other positions open, and I hope others will step up. I will announce the positions at Friday’s meeting.

At our last meeting I spoke about what to do when the power goes out. When I finished, our member Henry, who owns and operates O’Henrystanksalot, spoke about how he raises aquarium plants in his facility here in Suffolk. Of course, we had our fish show with third taken by Kosta and Mary, second by Buzz and First won by Gene! Afterwards, we had our raffle and our fish auction with lots of laughs as usual. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a small comedy show. The Krispy Kreme donuts were an unexpected hit at the refreshment table with everything else.

Our next meeting on Friday will include elections.  Due are still due and to vote and participate in all our activities you must be a member. It’s only twenty dollars a year. That’s two dollars a meeting which is cheaper than a cup of coffee and you get much more. Fish Food, Club Shirts, and Insulated bags will be available at the meeting. Our guest speaker will be Henry with a longer presentation about his facility in Suffolk that he built and operates. I will be there at 6:30 starting to set up if anyone wants to help. Try to arrive between 7 and 7:30 to talk and mingle. The meeting will start promptly at eight.

See you there!!!

Tom Keegan
President

Link to the Fish Show Rules

Here’s a Google link to the location:
https://goo.gl/maps/R1mvrKVPFGJeYzDj7

September 2025 Meeting Recap

September 2025 Meeting Recap

Hello All!

    It was great to see everyone back after our summer vacation for the first meeting. I think we all kind of missed the club get togethers but were also busy doing summertime activities. Now it’s time to get back into the swing of meetings every third Friday of the month. I have some ideas for a few changes this year to keep the club interesting. The fish food has been a hit, and I have totally restocked, so food will be available at the next meeting. There will be a new item available that will be announced at the next meeting that I will let out of the “bag” then.

         At our last meeting all went as usual.  We did have a really good fish auction which I did not expect.  It helps the club when members bring their fish in to sell, and people bid then up.  Also stores that donate fish and plants we must thank, especially Don from Aqua Hut in Coram, and Fluid Dynamics in Deer Park.  The fish show had multiple entries.  Maxx taking third with a killie, Mary and Kosta second with a gold marble angel, and Carla first with a pineapple sword.  Our fish show chairman Buzz wants to shake things up a little and at our next fish show, so only angelfish will be entered.  Our club seems to have lots of angels so it should be interesting.

          October is dues month.  It’s twenty dollars for the whole year.  This is only two dollars a meeting for two hero parties, fish shows, auctions, raffles, refreshments, speakers and all the other laughs and hoopla that goes along with our meeting.  Only members get a door prize ticket and can vote in our yearly elections.  Speaking about the November elections, anyone can be nominated for a position in the club, and all nominations will be welcome.

          Hope to see you all at the next meeting!  Plan to arrive between 7 and 7:30 especially if you have angelfish for the show or fish for the auction.  There will be a speaker so the meeting will start at eight, so we have enough time to hang out.  Also, if anyone has a question or fish problem you want to bring up to the group you can talk to me or ask during the announcements in the beginning.  We all learn from each other.  And remember Peter will be collecting dues!

See you there!!!

Tom Keegan
President

Link to the Fish Show Rules

Here’s a Google link to the location:
https://goo.gl/maps/R1mvrKVPFGJeYzDj7

June 2025 Meeting Recap

Hello All!

    Yes, it’s time to resume our meetings after a long and interesting summer. I call it interesting because of the up and down temperatures that made the outdoor tubbing season a problem sometimes. Putting fish outdoors started late and ended sooner than usual. I still hope that some of our members put fish outside and will be bringing some to the fish auction.

      Sorry I did not put out a letter after our end of year party, which was an amazing success with lots of fun. There were many entries in the fish show and lots of fish in the auction. Of course, the can raffle was a hit and always creates some discussion about the items up for grabs that I acquire. The heroes made by a fellow hobbyist and friend for years from Nino’s Deli in the heart of Smithtown are the best! Deserts are always donated by a member of our club for the feast, who wishes to remain anonymous. Donations from Aquahut and Fluid Dynamics helped to make our fish auction even bigger! Thank them by checking out their stores. I included some of the pictures from the party here and on Facebook.

      I am looking forward to seeing everyone together at the next meeting on September 19th at 7:30 or so. It will still be at the AFW hall in Ronkonkoma. I did see some members at my house this summer either picking up pond plants, food, or exchanging fish that I arranged. I also talked to many members either over the phone or by email with questions. At the meeting I will talk about the year ahead and always welcome any ideas for the future.

     As most of you know we are in the middle of hurricane season and winter is coming with possible power outages. With this in mind, I want to go over what to do if you lose power with your fish tank or pond. I know we talked about this once before and there are basic things to do but also some new products that have come out. This topic is worth revisiting and if any members have found new products, I think all would like to know.

      See you all on September 19th! I will be there at 7 to start setting up if anyone wants to help. Please bring fish for the show and auction. Of course, there will be the raffle, fish food, refreshments and a door prize.

See you there!!!

Tom Keegan
President

Link to the Fish Show Rules

Here’s a Google link to the location:
https://goo.gl/maps/R1mvrKVPFGJeYzDj7

Meeting Location:

AMVETS Post 48
660 Hawkins Avenue

Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

https://goo.gl/maps/R1mvrKVPFGJeYzDj7