Greater Seattle Aquarium Society

Latest News

GSAS starts its 2010-2011 season off with aquatic plant expert Tom Barr. A longtime contributer to the hobby, Tom is one of those lucky folks in the hobby to have both a forum and a method named after him!
Our annual General Auction was a big big success! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to our donors, our sellers, auctioneers, runners, cashiers, organizers, attendees and clean up crew. You've kept us going for another year. Please consider giving our donors and sponsors your business. Thanks again.

Want to know the absolute latest news, or just chat with other GSAS members? Sign up for our e-mail lists (or read the archives to see what you've missed)!

Meetings GSAS usually meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM, at Seattle Pacific University in North Queen Anne. Our meeting location is in Otto Miller Hall (aka Miller Science Learning Center) on the campus of Seattle Pacific University but closer to the canal at the intersection of 3rd Ave West and West Nickerson, on the canal side, across the street from the bank and the gym. Free parking in the lot at 3rd and Nickerson, and also on the street. Recently we have been in room 127 for most meetings, but also 109 for "big speakers" and across the street at the gym for auctions. here is Google's location of the building. We break for the summer months of July and August and hold no formal meetings. However, we do arrange a picnic during this time period. Over the course of a year, meetings will cover a wide variety of topics appealing to both the beginning and advanced aquarist. Meetings are usually focused around a guest speaker who is either a local or nationally known expert and range from discussions about koi ponds, to explanations of the cutting edge of marine aquaria technology, to tips on fish breeding and raising your own live food without annoying your neighbors. The months of February and April are especially important for the GSAS because this is when we hold our plant and general auctions respectively. These auctions are a major source of income financing our philanthropy and general funds. They're also a great opportunity to find unusual livestock and dry-goods, and generally have a hectically good time.

2009-2010 Meeting Schedule Date Topic September 14, 2019 Tom Barr - Growing Aquatic Plants October 12 Dick Au November 9 Barbie from Spokane - Loricarid Catfish December 14 Christmas Party January 11, 2011 TBD February 8 Plant Auction March 8 TBD April Annual Big Auction (Saturday TBD) - starts at noon! May 10 TBD June 14 TBD

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Newsletter/Magazine GSAS also publishes its bulletin, Northwest Aquaria during our active months. This publication (in color if you opt to receive the PDF version!) contains the latest meeting info, tons of photos of the latest events, plus informative articles written by society members. We offer to our members a comprehensive archive of the 39+ years of GSAS history, including most issues of Northwest Aquaria, and our newsletters. All articles are listed in an index, cross-referenced with an author index. It's available to GSAS members only, online right here, or if you prefer a CD/DVD-ROM, for only $12. Ask for a copy at one of our meetings, click on "Add to Cart" button to the right, or e-mail us. In addition, we also have a small collection of original articles from selected past magazines (1995-2000) for your online viewing pleasure.

Archive DVD-ROM $12

Contests and Award Programs If you breed fish, look into our newly-rescucitated Breeders Award Program (BAP). Members can now submit your spawns online! If you are a plant enthusiast, check out our Horticulture Award Program (HAP). Members can also submit forms online! We also feature a number of small contests throughout the year (some years we run some, some years we run others): Fish Breeding: Easy fish, such as livebearers, are given at a meeting; the most number of spawn returned at a later meeting wins. Plant Growing: Plants are distributed at a meeting. The most bulk, or best looking plant returned wins. Anecdotal: The most interesting topical article or anecdote submitted to the newsletter. (Here is an example.) Home Show: People come to your house and judge your aquariums and fish. Pictures from previous home shows can be found in the Home Show Archive Page.

Service Believe it or not, GSAS is also historically a service organization, and we periodically try to remember this. Our meetings, including the ones with national speakers, are free to the public. Occasionally the club is called upon to help find homes for fish that have grown too big for their owners' home or are no longer wanted. From time to time the club funds and helps set up a tank for a hospital or school. In the past few years, we have been very active on this front, having put together no less than four tanks in a 5-year period!

Membership You can now join or renew through PayPal; just click on one of the buttons to the right. If you prefer to renew by mail, print out the membership form, and mail it in! Membership includes the monthly newsletter delivered by mail or e-mail, entry into the contests, the free ``Fish of the Month'' at the meetings, and discounts at many local retailers. (You do not have to be a member to attend meetings or auctions, they are always free to anyone.)

Save a Stamp, Save a Check! Join or Renew Online Now! Single Membership $15 Family Membership $20 Senior (60 or over) Membership $10 Junior (under 18) Membership $10

Sponsors GSAS receives generous support from both local stores, wholesalers and national manufacturers, in the form of donations to our auctions, financial assistance to some of our speakers, promotion for our meetings and the club in general, and even by providing merchandise discounts to GSAS members. Here is a list of local fish stores that offer 5-20 percent discounts to GSAS members (show your membership card).

Contact Information

We have a very active e-mail list you might consider joining.

The Board: Name e-mail ("at" -> "@") President Meredith Crichton bluedooratwork at hotmail.com Vice President/Secretary Paul Wallace pwallace at u dot washington dot edu Treasurer Christine Renegger cranegger at msn dot com Susan Welenofsky welenofsky at comcast dot net Phil Lacefield Jr. phil at lacefield dot com Margie Cashman drmcashman at gmail dot com Roy Slettevold seattle_aquarist at comcast dot net Mary Sodawasser sodabogger at comcast dot net Cory McElroy corywmcelroy AT hotmail.com Newsletter Steev Ward - steevward at yahoo.com

Committee Chairs: membership Mary Sodawasser plant auction Erik Olson general auction Phil Lacefield, Jr. historian Erik Olson website Erik Olson library Florian Raymann breeders award program Cory McElroy horticultural award program Roy Slettevold hospitality Richard Parke picnic Shango Los home show Roy Slettevold philanthropy Clay Hess holiday party Christine Renegger

Other Clubs

There are many aquarium societies throughout the US and the rest of the world. Here are some within driving distance of Seattle, listed in order of familiarity:

• Greater Portland Aquarium Society, a jaunt to the south. These guys have a large member base and a very functional Breeders Award Program. Some of us like to make the three hour trek to their meetings or their annual show and auction in the fall.
• Northwest Killies, a virtual aquarium society that meets in various locations throughout the Pacific Northwest (though they are mostly based in Portland).
• Vancouver Aquatic Hobbyist Club, our friends in the Great White North. A few of us like to trek up to Canada for their big auction in November.
• Northwest Koi and Goldfish Club, based out of Portland.