Hi Matt (
@xmattiex),
Your comments pretty well echo my sentiments; I believe that clubs, forums, and even Facebook/Youtube have the ability not only to promote the hobby but also to enhance our enjoyment of it. I do a little Facebook, I enjoy forums, but I get the most enjoyment out of meeting and talking with other hobbyists that are as excited as I am about our hobby!
GSAS is dedicated to promoting our hobby. When I joined GSAS a about 9 years ago our meetings consisted of about 15 people showing up and mostly local speakers (mostly other members). The club had about $300 in the bank account. Today the club has 250+ members, meetings regularly have 70+ members and guests, and we have an annual operating budget of about $14K for speakers (both national and international) philanthropy, monthly newsletter, programs promoting both fish breeding and plant plant propagation; an active CARES program promoting the keeping and breeding of endangered fish species, and various picnics and parties during the year. The club has an extensive book and video library (with most of the recent videos on-line and stream-able in HD) for our members. The
annual club dues has remained the same throughout the period, $15 for a single or $20 for a family.
I am willing to share how the changes outlined were accomplished. It did not happen overnight nor by just one or two members, there were about half a dozen or so members that have done most of the 'heavy lifting' to get GSAS where our club is today.