Rocky by CLAUDIA DICKINSON
ACA Convention 2004 t's time for a "Rocky Mountain Hi!'9 as the ACA Convention 2004 will be hosted by the Rocky Mountain Cichlid Association, on July 22nd ~ 25th, at the Marriott Southeast in beautiful Denver, Colorado. Made up of a membership of over 1200 people, embracing twenty nations, the American Cichlid Association has three major objectives, one being to gather, organize and disseminate knowledge of the family Cichlidae. Furthering the conservation of species and their natural habitats is another primary goal, as well as promoting fellowship amongst the members. The annual convention serves a perfect role in achieving all three of these goals. It is such an exhilarating extravaganza that as you step off of your return plane home, you will most certainly be ready to turn around and hop back on the next flight out for the following year's event! It is here that you will witness the most spectacular collection of the finest cichlids to be found! The yearly convention is an action-packed, non-stop weekend filled with world-renown speakers, workshops, vendors, raffles, specialized Study Group meetings and incredible side trips, all culminating in Sunday's magnificent cichlid auction. Most importantly, you will always find the warmth and fellowship of being amongst friends, fish and fun! With the Rocky Mountain Cichlid Association at the helm, and over 400 participants expected, July of 2004 promises to be a most fabulous convention not to be missed! The program line-up is exemplary, with an assemblage of speakers and topics as you've never seen before, as the esteemed Mag. Dr. Anton Lamboj presents West and Central African Cichlids and the celebrated Ad Konings speaks on Lake Malawi. We will have the great fortune of Alex Saunders joining us with his program on Madagascar Cichlids, Bob Allen on Lake Tanganyika, Chuck Ram bo on African Rift Lake Cichlids, Alf Stalsberg on South American Cichlids, Oliver Lucanus on Discus, Mike Wise onApistogramma, Don Conkel on Mexican and Central American Cichlids, and the renowned Ray Lucas will treat us as our Banquet MC. The prestigious Denver Zoo will open the Convention Tours on Thursday morning, followed by an afternoon at the Ocean Journey Aquarium, where you will take two river-to-ocean journeys, as
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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)
well as view over 300 other special exhibits. You will have an extraordinary experience, not to be forgotten, upon meeting Mshindi, the rhinoceros, and viewing the over 1200 creatures housed within the natural habitat of Tropical Discovery, an underglass rainforest, which also includes the world's largest Komodo Dragon exhibit. Friday begins bright and early, as you take a bus into the breathtaking Colorado Mountains and visit the Argo Gold Mine, an active gold mine where you will pan for gold! A camera is a must as you next take a thrilling ride of 13,000 feet up to Mt. Evans and Echo Lake. Naturally, there is time allotted for browsing and dining at a memorable locale, with a visit to Heritage Square concluding the trip in a unique shopping experience! Meanwhile, back at the hotel, the halls will be brimming with socializing and cichlids, of course! You will want to make your way directly to the Guy Jordan Bulletin Board to check out the fish posted there, then head over to view the rare fish and place your bids in the Guy Jordan Silent Auction, and then onto one of many perusals through the Silent Auction held by The Babes in the Cichlid Hobby. Their efforts, along with your generous donations, will benefit cichlid research through the Guy Jordan Endowment Fund, and cichlid conservation through the Paul Loiselle Conservation Fund. From here, winding your way through the friendly throngs, a visit to the showroom is next, with cichlid specimens as you've never witnessed before, resplendent in their perfection! If you are ever able to pull yourself from the fish and the friendship found here, onto the vendors room for a dose of more of the same! Your nights will be late and your mornings will be early, for you won't want to miss out on a moment of the activities and fun, but the memories will be there to last a lifetime... For registration and complete information, please logon to www.aca2004.com, e-mail ACA 2004 Convention Chair, Mark Whitney, at hawkimw@comcast.net, or contact him by phone at: (303) 429-5917. As always, I am here and more than happy to help you register or to answer any questions that you may have. I can't wait to see you in Denver in July for a "Rocky Mountain Hi!"
May 2004
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