MACNA XX, want to go?

[michika]

I'm planning to book to go to Macna XX (macnaxx.com) by the end of April. The conference fruns the 4th-7th of September in Atlanta Georgia. Just wanted to see if anyone else was going or wanted to book together to save some cash. The whole thing runs from about noon on Friday the 5th to 3pm on Sunday the 7th.

Admission is $129 per person until 5/31 for everything. I looked on a few websites, and the cheapest flights I can get for two people, round trip are ~$1030, and the Westin Peachtree Plaza, a hotel right near the conference runs about $450US for 3 nights. I figure two people can for for $2500 with some nice spending money.

I hear its well worth your time to go and see all the vendors, listen to speakers, and attend the workshops. There are also raffles, a reception and a banquet.

[Veng68]

I've attended the old WMC 98 (Seattle) & WMC 99 (Vancouver), and it is well worth it. Make sure you stay on the very last day because the vendors try to get rid of all the free sample that they did not give away during the event.

I'd love to go but I don't think I can make it. I think TomR and some others from around Vancouver are going.

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

[michika]

I'm planning to go from Thursday night until Sunday evening. I want to be there for the raffles etc.

[Delphinus]

I do really want to go. I'm thinking about it, trying to convince the family to let me go, or come with :)

I might be able to get a commitment by end of April, ... problem for me is with #2 coming in .. I guess any day now up to a couple weeks I'm not really sure what I'm able to firmly commit to, right at this very moment.

[i have crabs]

Me and stinky are already booked for friday to monday

[michika]

Sweet!

[dsaundry]

What type of conference is this? What do all those initials stand for?:question:

[michika]

MACNA = Marine Aquarium Conference of North America.

Its a chance to see all the new drygoods, buy livegoods (if your a US resident, or know some way to get them back here), and socialize with other hobbiests as well as professionals. As well you get to visit the Georgia Aquarium!

[Veng68]

So anybody still going?

I really wish I could have gone........ I have some friends that live there (well 45 minutes away from the convention).

Next years in in New Jersey.

Cheers,
Vic

[Delphinus]

Man alive I wish I could go. Heard this morning the Georgia Aquarium now has a manta ray (was rescued from some shark nets or something), one of four anywhere - the other 3 aquariums large enough to house one are in Japan, Bahamas and Spain.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26391759/

[michika]

I traded my chance to go for the chance to buy a house. I am so bummed out because this house thing isn't looking so hot.

[Veng68]

I hope they bring it back to LA.......... I missed my Chance in 2000 :(

Cheers,
Vic

[karazy]

i swearif it ever comes to calgary i will freak!
or even edmonton i will get my dad to drive me :P

[i have crabs]

me and stinky are all booked and payed up so if anyone wants some spy info or smuggled items let me know

[Veng68]

me and stinky are all booked and payed up so if anyone wants some spy info or smuggled items let me know

If you don't mind me asking....... roughly how much will this trip set you back?

Cheers,
Vic

[Jeff_]

Ill be there :mrgreen:

[i have crabs]

we book a while ago, i think the flights where about $500 each $600 for the hotel(shared) and $130 for the macna tickets and whatever for spendin money, im not shure how much gold teeth and a machinegun tattoo cost in the dirty south but ill have to look into it

[Delphinus]

Hey, so how was MACNA for those that went? Please share some pictures when you get a chance. :)

[Jeff_]

Macna was incredible this year! saw some neat stuff and came home with a bunch of stuff too. There's nothing like having a banquet with whale sharks periodically swimming by. Here are some of the many pictures we took.
Our Room:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0018.jpg
View from the room:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0078.jpg
Trade Show:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0030.jpg
ORA zero edge tank:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0042.jpg
Dr. Foster and Smith Booth:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0147.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0152.jpg
Massive Clam:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0039.jpg
Sun Corals:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0162.jpg
Georgia Aquarium:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0165.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0306.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0230.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0274.jpg
Lastly our view from the table at the banquet:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0322.jpg

[Veng68]

Great Pics :)

The next one is in NJ........ very tempting.

Cheers,
Vic

[Delphinus]

Is Atlantic City something like Vegas? Never been there, don't really know much about it.

Man I'm sad I couldn't have gone to Atlanta. It's just one of those places I really want to go to.

[michika]

I just saw my dream sorta nano-tank there. All those clams, and SPS in the awesome wedding-cake like tank! Any more shots of that?

Love the photos though. Post more!

What did you come home with?

[Veng68]

I've never been to Atlantic City but if it was in Las Vegas........ I would be all over it like a fat kid on a smarty ;)

Cheers,
Vic

[Parker]

Nerds! :mrgreen:

[Jeff_]

I just saw my dream sorta nano-tank there. All those clams, and SPS in the awesome wedding-cake like tank! Any more shots of that?

Love the photos though. Post more!

What did you come home with?

Sure here's a few more of the tank, As for stuff I picked up a aqua mag rock, basically a rock with magnets that allow you to attach it onto the glass. The Accli-mate made by Reef Gently Inc. It is basically an acclimation device that allows for dripping, and also serves as a fish trap. Pictures can be found on their site,got a few tee shirts for free and some IO from the banquet, also won a CSS 220 from the raffle that was a bonus :mrgreen:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0159.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0151.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0158.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0032.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/Jefferz_2008/IMG_0033.jpg

[OCDP]

Wow.. that tank is neat-o. Seems like it would be odd to view through it though?

[Jeff_]

it was hard to see at some angles but most of the tank was easily viewable.