C.o.a.s.t.

[wonder woman]

For those of you who don't know, and you live in or around the Los Angeles or Orange County areas, there is a wonderful fish-keeping club called COAST.
Its' website (although not always updated) is www.fishclub.freeservers.com.
We meet almost always on the first Sunday of every month, in the Costa Mesa Community Center (behind the Petco, and next door to the Costa Mesa Public Library, at 1 p.m.
Membership is $20 a year, and includes a monthly newsletter. You can "audit" your first meeting for free to decide if you'd like to join.
A typical meeting includes about a half hour of chit chat, followed by a guest speaker (recent subjects have included planted tanks, cories, cichlids, killies, freshwater caves in Central Amercia, and the 2004 (Aquarama?) fish show in Asia), followed by a large auction with offerings from members (mostly fish, but there's also usually some plants, and dry goods). I have gotten some amazing deals at the auction! The auction alone is a good reason to join.
If you're into fish, or even better, into planted tanks, please consider coming to one of our meetings. There are a few members who are specifically planted tank enthusiasts, but it would be nice if there were more of us!

[dennx]

I think there may be a need for a Aquascape Club of Orange County. Although COAST is a great club, I think one focusing more on the planted tank would be fun. Or, maybe a COAST special interest group. I've even thought of a name...

Aqua SCAPES ... Southern California's Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts Society ... say that really fast three times !

[wonder woman]

I like the name.
I've been actively trying to recruit planted tank people to join COAST because it's already well established, and because there are lots of members, and those wonderful auctions. It would be ideal if we could develop a sub-group of COAST, but still have enough serious members to meet a little more often that just once a month. Think of all plant trading we could do, and how we could offer eachother advice and help with aquascaping. When I changed my 100g from plain aquarium gravel over to having an underlayer of Profile and laterite, I had to completely drain my tank, all by myself. It would have been nice to have a few friends over to help, and to be able to return the favor someday.
I have managed to get a couple of people to join COAST that I've met here, and we've talked about meeting, etc., but I haven't heard from, or seen them, since their first meeting. People seem to flake out. We just need to get enough SERIOUS hobbyists who will make the commitment.

[Gomer]

1x a month I could do....more than that gets tricky ///but I'd commit to a plant club

[wonder woman]

Tony- yours is the kind of expertise that our club could really benefit from. I know you joined COAST, but I never see you, and Katy (remember her?) seemed to drop off the face of the earth, along with Vinny.
I have a family to clean up after, and a full-time job, and another hobby that takes up most of my evenings (pool league Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays), but I still make as much time as possible to tend my tanks and fish. For me, this is my relaxation.

[Gomer]

I was at the last meeting...where were you? I didn't go to the field trip in semi valley though. I'll be up north this weekend, so I'll see you in october

[LGHT]

Is this still going or is it dead?? The website seems like it hasn't been touched in months.

[guppy]

LGHT check this club out its for aquascapers in southern-california The Planted Tank - Articles, Forums, Pictures, Links also this one
SCAPE - Aquatic Plant Central- aquascaping...a living art

[turbomkt]

LGHT,
Yeah, COAST is still going. They have regular meetings a bit south of you down the 405. As Shane mentioned, we're trying to get SCAPE going well and you've got a couple links to do that with. Good to see you here!

[Ichthyology]

Here is the website for COAST. The group is still going strong....

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/coastfishclub/

[snafu]

what's the typical attendance at the monthly meetings? ... just curious as i was thinking about joining.
-snafu

[Ichthyology]

Usually has about 20-40 people. The best part is the HUGE auction they have. It usually last 2-3 hours.

[dafoghorn]

is there a coast meeting today? is anyone going? ive never been ,just wondering how it is?

[tiffie]

Do the meetings ever get together closer to the Inland Empire (ie, Riverside County area)?

[mgamer20o0]

COAST is always in the same location.