Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
IN THIS ISSUE:
A Journey to England & the British
and International Discus Show by
Martha Morris
Keeping & Breeding Amphilophus
zaliosus, the Arrow Cichlid
By Michael Liu
A PVAS Crossword Puzzle
by Scott Alexander
Project Amazonas
Directions to The Meeting: Until Further Notice The Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society will be
meeting at the Springfield Science Museum in Springfield, Mass. Directions to the meeting are
printed in this newsletter and are on the PVAS web-site at http://www.pvas.net.
The Underwater News is the official publication of the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. and is published either monthly or
bi-monthly except for July and August. The views and opinions printed herein are those of the individual authors, and are not neces-
sarily those of PVAS. The Underwater News is provided free to our members as part of their membership. Unless otherwise indi-
cated, original articles and drawings may be re-printed in other non-profit publications, as long as credit is given to the author and
The Underwater News. Two copies of the publication in which the reprint appears should be sent to PVAS. Address all exchange
bulletins and correspondence to the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. c/o James White, 11 Barry Lane, Windsor, CT 06095.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS The Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. is a not for
Bowl Show, NEC Delegate: James White profit educational group. We meet the first Tuesday of
Library: Bill Maier every month except for July and August, at the Springfield
E-mail: dreammaker2623@yahoo.com Science Museum. Meetings start at 7:00 PM and include
Refreshments, Mike Lucey refreshments. Club news and activities are discussed and
BAP: Chuck Pixley E-mail: cpixley3@verizon.net planned, and an education program or slide show is pre-
Alt. Editor: Linda Giza sented followed by an auction. The general public is wel-
Alt. Delegate:Will Fontaine, Sr. come at our meetings and is encouraged to see what fish
Programs: Mike Liu keeping is all about. PVAS is affiliated with the Northeast
Council of Aquarium Societies, Inc.
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________
Interests ________________________________________________________________________________________
To Join The Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, annual dues can be mailed to:
Linda Giza, P.O. Box 201, Palmer, MA 01069
Rates are $15.00 for a single membership and $20.00 per family
President’s Message
This President’s message finds us only weeks from the auction on Feb. 14th. We will therefore spend part of our
meeting finalizing plans for this year’s event. We’ve done very well over the last few years with club members volun-
teering and we are hoping for the same participation this year. Set up will begin early Sunday morning and the earlier
folks can get there the better. Normally, the February meeting is all about the auction, but we will be having a program
this month. Our speaker will be our very own Martha Morris on her trip to the UK Discus Symposium in England.
There are also several trips up-coming and the final sign up sheets for the Northeast Pro Aqua trip on February
6th and the Atlantis Hatchery trip on Feb. 13th will need to be filled out. Also, the deadline for the joint PVAS/Hartford
Club Bronx Zoo trip is rapidly approaching. If you are interested in the trip you must send in the form along with your
money for the trip to Dan McKercher. The bus is filling quickly so you will need to confirm your spot on the bus with
Dan. This bus trip is available for all members in good standing, so your dues must be current. If you need to pay for
your dues, (whether or not you are going on the trip ) it needs to be sent to Linda.
See you in February. David Giza PVAS President
PVAS Minutes of the General Meeting held at Springfield Science Museum December 1, 2009
7:15 PM Meeting called to order by Dave Giza who made the following announcements:
The Christmas party is tonight. Dave thanks the brave souls who went all the way to Burlington and Boston. He added that
it is important to go and show support for sister clubs.
It’s good to see the caravan from Ohio made it back. Dan says, `What happened in Ohio stays in Ohio.’ Welcome back.
Our website is up and running. Dave thanked Dan and Doug for their efforts. It has up-to-date information and is almost
complete.
We are going to the Bronx Zoo and will split the trip with the Greater Hartford club on May 22. There will be a sign-up
sheet next month. The trip costs $20 and $10 will be returned on the day. Members will get a mailing about it.
There was one entry for the grow-out contest. The judges were under pressure to pick a winner and Bill won. Next year’s
contest may be keyhole cichlids but it will probably depend on price. Keyholes are expensive.
Our January speaker is Karen Randall, who will be talking about plants. Fliers went out to the pet shops about the event.
Dues are due next month.
Will reported on the auction: We are getting a lot of donations earlier than last year. If anyone has a 20 gallon high tank and
could bring it to the auction, let Will know. Eric is going to make a terrarium and will add a dart frog for the auction. Mike Liu
brought fliers so let’s get them out to supermarkets, drug stores, pet stores, etc.
We will be making a trip to Atlantis, possibly the week before the auction.
The lanyard order was cancelled.
Food, food, food, food.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
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Minutes from the Board of Directors Meeting held December 15, 2009 at Fish Frenzy:
Attending: Dave Giza, Linda Giza, Martha Morris, Mike Lucey, Will Fontaine, Ed Pecord, Bob McCarthy, Bill Maier, Chuck Pix-
ley,. Meeting called to order: 6:55 PM.
1.Grow-out fish: There was only one entry at the contest final. We’ll put up a sign-up sheet to see if there is interest. The idea was
discussed to let people vote for their choice of one out of three fish, with the longest list winning. There will probably be a tetra, a
catfish or loach and a cichlid. We’ll wait until after the auction to do this.
2. Website: It looks good! We have access to it so we can make changes. The automatic posting date below announced events might
confuse people.
3. Auction: Will has been doing a lot of e-mails. We have a list of companies who have donated. We need the stores as our friends.
We need to get the fliers out. Invites will go out to past bidders a the beginning of 2010. Jim White will be the auctioneer but we
need a second announcer to describe the contents of the bags. This will save time and Jim’s voice. Mike Liu and Dan L. can possi-
bly do it. We will need a second microphone. We will be picking a day when we can visit the hall. A few of the vendors have said
they will come but no all have responded. There will be no cash sales and no credit cards. There will be ditty bags for door prizes.
The gift bags will be decorated for Valentine’s Day and we will use bidders’ numbers for the door prize draw. Kudos to Mike Liu
for making the corrections on last year’s forms.
4. Other Events: A trip is scheduled to Doug Conklin, NE Pro Aqua on February 6. More information will be coming shortly. An
Atlantis trip in New York is being planned by Mike Liu. Bill is planning a central Massachusetts trip to Central Mass Aquatic, Uncle
Ned’s, etc.
5. Karen Randall: Her room is paid for and Scott will be picking her up. A few of the club members will be taking her out to dinner.
We’ll need more snacks for the meeting so let’s all try and make a contribution.
6. New News: Chuck wrote a few words on the Breeders’ Award Program (BAP), to be published in the newsletter and the website.
Mike Liu looked at an office supply store for name tags and lanyards. He will check to see what is in stock and will get a price. Dave
is going to place a few words about Ken’s Fish in the newsletter so people will pre-order for pick-up at the auction.
Meeting adjourned 8:35 pm
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PVAS Minutes of the General Meeting held at Springfield Science Museum January 5, 2010
7:10 PM Meeting called to order by Dave Giza who made the following announcements:
Happy New Year everyone. People who are new to the club made their introductions. New membership cards have arrived. We
want people to wear their lanyards. If people do they will be eligible for the draw for a $25 gift certificate. Dave thanked the people
who brought food.
The NEC weekend brochure is out and we should have received an e-mail message about it. Get reservations in.
Hopefully everyone has noticed our new website. Doug is doing a great job getting all the information up. No guest speaker
for next monthly because we will be talking about the auction. Please take fliers and get them out wherever we can post them. Janu-
ary 23 we will do a preliminary walk-through at the hall. We plan on setting it up differently this year. Mike Liu has fish bags for
sale for the auction. We have three sizes.
Next month we will have a sign-up sheet for the Bronx Zoo. We have 27 seats available.
Mike Liu is organizing the Atlantis trip on February 13.
February 6 – Chuck has a trip.
There is a grow-out contest sign-up sheet. Let us know what fish you want for the contest.
Ivan Dibbe passed away this weekend. He was one of the great fish-keepers of his time. He was a leading force behind Fish
Arc of Mexico.
Al Sabatta will be the PVAS speaker for March. The 21st is Norwalk’s “Name That Fish” contest. There will be a talk on
planted aquariums at the GHAS on the 26th. NECA will have out-of-state speakers three times a year. On Feb. 6 Ted Judy will
speak.
Announced Karen Randall who gave a presentation on the planted aquarium.
The bowl show winner was Bill.
Jim White conducted the auction with his normal engaging enthusiasm and good humor.
Meeting adjourned.
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Minutes from the Board of Directors Meeting held January 19, 2009 at Bob McCarthy’s House:
Attending: Dave Giza, Linda Giza, Martha Morris, Mike Lucey, Mike Liu, Will Fontaine, Bob McCarthy, Bill Maier, Chuck Pixley,
Kevin White, and Jim White. Meeting called to order: 7:05 PM
1.Complaints: Linda received two complaints about excessive talking and noise when a speaker was presenting. It is rude, and if
people want to talk they should go outside. Secondly, Mike Lucy should ask for help cleaning up the tables so we can get out on
time. If we stay too late, we will have to pay more.
2. Receipts: If we spend money and need to be reimbursed, we need to get a receipt. We need a record of our spending.
3. Auction: We need people to volunteer for the kitchen. We will have burgers, dogs, sausage, meatballs, subs, muffins, chili, and
chips. If we run out of food we can order pizzas but they tend to get cold fast. There will be a free meal for everyone who is working.
Jim figured we will need 300-400 sodas. Linda suggested diet sodas too. Mike Lucy is running out of plates and cups. We have forks
and knives. We want to have chocolate kisses for the registration table. David will check for a power strip. If we can get crock pots
we can have hotdogs. Prices were discussed and Mike Liu recorded them. Kevin suggested adding 25 cents for cheese. Someone has
the easel for the food prices. Most things will be sold at double the cost. Ed Pecord is giving us a 38 gallon set-up and possibly a
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Animal Crackers Pet Store Fish Frenzy Tropical Fish PetStarr, LLC
Aquatic Life, LLC Rolf Hagan Corp. Portland Maine Baseball, Inc.
Atlantis Fish Hatchery Harris in Wonderland Reef Renovators
Boston Red Sox HBH Enterprises San Francisco Bay Brand Foods, Inc.
Boyd Enterprises Hikari Sales USA, Inc. Seachem
Brown Trout Publications Ken’s Fish Supplies Segrest Farms
B’Shara’s in West Springfield Kimmy Koi Sera USA
Craig Aquatic Specialties Kordon/Novalek Six Flags
Danner Mfg., Inc. Majestic Theater Ted’s Creative Jewelers
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. New England Aquarium Tetra Holding USA
DS Art Studio Gallery New England Hydroponics Tropic Marin
Eaquatics Northeast ProAqua Tropical Science Labs
Exotic Fish & Pet World Ocean Star International Zoo Med Laboratories
Finlay Aquatic Books Omega Sea
The Final results for 2009 are as follows: First place went to Bill Maier, Second place went to Mike
Liu and third place went to Dan McKercher. Bill also won the annual grow out contest as he was the only per-
son who managed to keep his Pearl gouramis alive to the end of the contest.
So far this year we have only one entry for January, Bill Maier’s convict.
Bill Maier - 4 Points
This month’s meeting will be our February Auction. Martha Morris will also give a short pres-
entation about the BIDKA discus show she attended in England.
Free Coffee!!
Bring the Family and Enjoy The Day with New & Old Friends!
From I-91 north or south: take Exit 12 to I-391 north; go 1 mile to Exit 3, take a right on to
Granby Road; go straight thru lights and up hill, Elks Hall is 1 mile on your right.
From I-90 east & west: take Exit 5 Chicopee; bear left after toll booth to Montgomery
Street, take a right on to Montgomery Street and stay in left lane; take a left at lights on to
Granby Road; Elks Hall is 1-1/4 mile on your left.
Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies
SPEAKERS
th
35 Tropical Fish Holly Lohuis
JM Cousteau Ocean
Futures Society
Convention Ingo Seidel
Loricarids
Tony Orso
February 26-28, 2010 Asian Fishes
Lee Finley
Speakers - Vendor Room Banquet
Fish Show - Discussion Groups Jay Hemdal
Breeding Marine Fish,
All Day Auction Sunday! & Mini Aquariums
Lee Newman
So. American Cichlids
Don’t miss this opportunity to see great speakers, get new fish
and learn from others who share your interest! Dr. Michael Kane
Culturing Aquatic Plants
THE CROWNE PLAZA Gary Bagnall
Cromwell, Connecticut Aquarium Collectables
Tony Pinto
Exit 21 off I-91 South of Hart- Anabantoids
ford. Turn left off exit.
Larry Johnson
An Educational and Social Lake Malawi
Weekend Open To All!
http://www.northeastcouncil.org/convention