Thank You--LOL is great

[sully]

A little preamble and then the rest.

About six boards are reciving a very heartfelt message of thanks and appreciation. They are the boards that helped convince me that No Clowns In A Cube.net was worth pursueing. This place was special though. You helped shape my thinking in more ways than I can easily list. From the goofy emblem we use to the tone we employ. What is neat is that i expected that help -- and received it. I have floated in and out of Loaches On-Line for years. Everytime I was made to feel welcome and part of the community.

This time though it was the best. Not only did I get help in clarifying thinking I got an incredible amount of help (whether she wants to admit it or not) in defining purpose and approach from Shari. You guys have a pretty special lady here. It wasn't in endless hours of tedious work. It was the value of her thoughts about ways to go about things. She has earned a debt of gratitude I am not sure she appreciates. So Shari--especially to you, THANKS!

Emma you had more influence than you know.

Martin--heck you are just Martin.

Now the rest--lol

12 weeks ago NoClownsInACube.net did not exist. A group of hobbyists came together and began to work. Some of us fanned out across the web asking for help, encouraging fishkeepers to send letters to a specific retailer. We improvised as we went along. Always amazed at the feedback and encouragement we received from members of the on-line fishkeeping community.

You guys responded. You helped to provide a shape and substance to the NoClownsInACube.net presence. You helped us create an awareness individuals acting alone could not achieve.

We have made great progress with PETsMART. They continue to prove they are a responsible retailer. We have been able to “talk” with them. We have been able to voice our concerns and questions. PETsMART has scheduled a review of Point-Of-Purchase Signage and other materials relating to the fish they sell. They have listened to our input. We have been able to take the steps required to begin the development of an open and honest discussion based upon respect and integrity. We applaud them for the steps they have taken for opening the door to discussion.

PETsMART has already assured us that one of the problems with care guides and Accuracy of Information will be fixed. PETsMART is open to receiving and considering additional input concerning other issues. A single change already committed to evidences a level of sincerity on their part.

We could not have gotten to this step, however small or large, without the support and help of this community. You are one of the first groups we talked with about the issues. You are part of a very small group that convinced us to spend the time and money to expand our effort and make it a reality.

Thank You for your help and support. We are a long way from done. And, we have expanded our focus. So we will continue to ask for your active help, participation and support with many more retailers of Tropical Fish. A critical first step has been successfully taken. Some success achieved.

Once again, Thank You! You guys deserve a lot of credit for helping promote Responsible Husbandry and Humane Treatment of fish!

[Martin Thoene]

"just Martin"?

In this matter I actually feel I have been "just" because I've not been actively involved. I have been concentrating for a long time now on getting the revisions to LOL done and I've had all sorts of personal issues to deal with. 2006 has been somewhat fraught on several fronts.

So though my heart is with NCIAC, I've hardly been much involved and certainly haven't even sent a letter (yet). As I told Shari the other day, at the start I wondered if you were just wasting your time. But I also told her that I have been TOTALLY impressed with what I've seen develop and I find the whole campaign brilliantly toned. I am very impressed with your leadership and commitment to this project sully.

I was just in my LFS today and saw a magazine cover that featured a campaign going on in the UK to stop the keeping of unsuitably large fish species in aquaria. I think there's an awareness and ethical approach creeping into the hobby that is a growing movement. More and more hobbyists....probably because of Internet information spread....are realizing that there are thousands of species that are suitable for aquarium keeping and a smaller bunch of species that are regularly exported for the aquarium trade, yet are totally unsuitable for the vast majority of home aquaria. So NCIAC is just one part of what seems to be a move towards greater ethics within the ornamental fish trade. I've never seen a greater example from the actual trade side than Emma Turner.

This site IS special sully because we have a hard-core here of very dedicated hobbyists and tradespeople who have a very ethical approach to their dealings with fish. They're also intelligent and eloquent, nice people and that can move others to a different way of doing this hobby.

I walk in my local Petsmart now with different eyes. I'm sure others do to.
I know others have suggested that you make this campaign wider, but I'm totally in agreement that dealing with a major first is the way to go.

Continued success to everyone involved and yes, I will send a letter....I better because now Shari knows the truth I'll never hear the last of it

Martin (just).

[shari2]

but, I really didn't do much...

[Martin Thoene]

Copious self-depreciating as usual

Martin.

[sully]

"just Martin" is a very good thing.

Shari, value not volume.

[Emma Turner]

Emma you had more influence than you know.

I'm lost! I didn't realise I had really done anything!
Congratulations on making such great progress with all this.

Emma

[sully]

Emma you made a comment about distorting your babies. Not in favor at all--lol. You made me stop and think about what several of us had discussed at a different board. I wanted to keep it lighthearted and fun. I did not realize that my idea of fun might disturb others. You hammered that home. Very quickly and very nicely.

Your concern eliminated an initial direction. It changed the look we adopted. You made us treat it with the seriousness it deserves.

a small change in course at the very beginning of a trip makes were you end up by considerably different.

[Mark in Vancouver]

It's very gratifying to hear that we can make a difference, both for hobbyists and the hobby. Nice of you to post that, Sully.

[wasserscheu]

Hallo Martin,

"Just Martin" appears to me, like an outstanding brand, that needs no further commend to explain it´s value. It´s like canoeing "up north" in Ontario, it´s "Just Canada" ....it´s a gift... and so are YOU!

Now the "bad news" as I was borrowing your Pic today, in a discussion, where I watched a sewellia "crawl"-out of the water (while in a closed bag)

I wrote "... the nobs underneath the fin of Martin" (meant was "the picture of Martin" (="Bild" that you posted in the profile), I thought you find it funnier if I right away confess...

That was my above mentioned posting in a very good german forum:

http://www.aquaristikimdetail.de/thread ... post168166


Thanks Martin for your Energy you are putting into this (... also for the boring work of uploading and sorting all those wonderful pictures).

The entire LOL Team does make a difference!

SHARI,
I will even try to look into possibly using your Pattern of NCIAC to some stores that are opening now as hardwarestore-departments... asap. may take a little, but you motivated me....

Wolfram

[shari2]

SHARI,
I will even try to look into possibly using your Pattern of NCIAC to some stores that are opening now as hardwarestore-departments... asap. may take a little, but you motivated me....

Thanks Wolfram. If you decide to get into something similar sully is the man to talk with. NCIAC is really His baby.

[wasserscheu]

... your pattern of support then...

we´ll do.

wishing a good week

wolfram