The 2008 AGA Aquatic Gardeners Convention was held the weekend of November 14-16, 2008, and was a rousing success. If you missed it, you may wish to purchase a DVD from our online store.
The Aquatic Gardeners Association would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the highly successful 2008 AGA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2008 AGA is now over, and what a convention it was! Amidst all the talk of gloom and doom in the current economy this year's convention actually had the highest attendence ever!
Perhaps the reason was that this year's convention showcased what could possibly be the best planted aquarium speaker line up ever assembled in North America (or perhaps anywhere).
Your Aquatic Gardeners Association assembled some of the best speakers from all across the globe. With topics ranging from mosses to tissue culture, water chemistry, collecting aquatic plants, composition and of course aquascaping. There were a wide range of topics offered for anyone interested in aquarium plants.
But the talks were not the only excitement in store for this year's attendees. We also had a field trip to the Georgia Aquarium with a special visit and tour from the staff members who are in charge of the planted aquarium exhibits.
The return of the highly anticipated Iron Aquascaper was also a big hit. Think two highly skilled aquascapers battling it out to see who can cook up the best 'scape. Jeff Senske of ADG did a fantastic job of running, Emcee'ing, and he and the folks at ADG generously donated the ADA tanks and aquascaping elements-all of which were hand selected. Congrats to John Ciotti, who won First Place and also to Jason Baliban who was exceedingly gracious about taking runner-up.
The headliner was the legend himself, Takashi Amano, who conducted a live aquascaping demo. Have you ever seen an artist at work using an aquarium as his medium of experession? The demonstration lived up to the billing with people raving about it afterward.
The activities did not end with the talks, tours and demonstrations either. The hospitality room awaited those interested in talking planted aquaria while enjoying the company of like minded folks. Finally we concluded the planted festivities with the largest rare aquarium plant auction this side of the planet.
I would like to thank our major sponsors: Seachem (and all their really cool peeps), Aquarium Design Group (ADG) and Florida Aquatic Nurseries for their generous support.
I would like to thank the AGA Board of Directors who served "double duty" and were actively involved in this year's convention as volunteers while continuing to perform their Board duties; Erik Olson, Cheryl Rogers, Karen Randall and Scott Heiber.
I would also like to thank the AGA volunteers without whom this convention would not have been possible:
Ben Belton,
Larry Bugg,
Brandon Dement,
Jonathan Dooley,
Kirsten Eidsmoe,
Phil Edwards,
Kristin House,
Efren Leonida,
Luis Navarro,
Kathy Olson,
Brian Revennaugh,
Jeff Senske,
Bailin Shaw,
Chris Tidwell,
Ben Van Dinther,
Paul Wallace,
Tomoko Schum - Translator for Mr. Amano,
and the many other AGA members who although not formal volunteers were always willing to step in and help out whenever needed.
If we forgot someone, email us.
The Speakers: Takashi Amano, Dr. Michael Kane, Dr. Greg Morin, Karen Randall, Jeff Senske, Dr. Benito Tan
The Vendors: Aquatic Plant Central, Blue Fin Aquatic, Invertz Factory, Aqua Design Amano (ADA),
I would also like to thank Jeff Krenner and Nathan Farnau of the Georgia Aquarium.
Hope to see you all at AGA 2010!!!!!
Larry Lampert
Pres
