Start an Aquarium or Pond Club

Aquarium Society Formation Checklist

Planning Stage

• Contact FAAS for additional support and list of active clubs in your area.
• Contact nearby clubs for sample rules and guidelines.
• Make contacts in your local area
• Possible members
• Possible meeting places
• Possible supporters
• Local pet shops and hobby outlets
• Local sources of ribbon awards
• Local sources of publishing materials
• Possible sources for loan of publishing equipment

Advertising mediums

• TV
• Radio stations
• Newspapers

Formulate a plan of attack:

• Draft a sample constitution and bylaws
• Draft bowl show rules
• Draft committee structure
• Draw up a workable time schedule of formation
• Prepare your publicity (letters, posters, press releases)
• Join FAAS

Formation Stage

Hold your first organizational meeting

• Elect interim chairman and secretary
• Select a name for your society
• Introduce constitution and bylaws
• Keep members interested by frequent contact and reminders
• Actively solicit support from pet shops and hobby outlets
• Confirm a site for the general meeting
• Continue formation meetings as required
• Plan for general meeting date, place, time and schedule of activities
• Introduce bowl show and/or other activity guidelines
• Plan additional meetings in advance.
• Decide on a meeting format and schedule
• Set goals, desirable to urgent and from immediate to long-range
  with emphasison easy to difficult
• Renew publicity campaign for this first meeting

Your First General Meeting

• Submit constitution and bylaws for approval.
• Nominations for office with elections at the second meeting
• Fully brief all those present as to schedule of events, plans andexpectations;
  solicit actively for memberships
• Distribute free door prizes to encourage future attendance at meetings
• Encourage support in bowl show and introduce the planned auctions, etc.,
  as part of all future meetings
• Keep the meeting interesting and play down business
• Request all present to attend planning meetings/business meetings to input for formation phase
• Encourage maximum membership involvement in all areas

Follow up to Meeting

• Carefully assess what has happened, what has been accomplished, possible changes and introductions for future meetings and activities.
• Determine the degree of interest expressed by the attendees and place emphasis
  on the areas of greatest interest.
• Develop plans and activities quickly if it is seen that the activity in question
  might be well accepted. Proceed with caution where less interest has been displayed.
• Organize a newsletter to all members (even a single page which announces the next
  meeting will suffice). Increase this as you obtain additional funds and interest.
• Maintain interest with new ideas and by actively soliciting membership participation.
• Keep in touch with FAAS as things develop and as problems are seen to develop.