Catfish Convention in Maryland - Oct 20-22, 2006

The Potomac Valley Aquarium Society is pleased to announce its All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006! We will be in the same location as the '04 convention in Laurel, Maryland. The dates are October 20-22, 2006.

Just like last time, there will be a terrific group of speakers on catfish topics, as well as an all-day auction, vendor displays, field trips and a host of other activities. If you came to the '04 convention you already know that you need to come back and see us again. If you missed the last one, don't let this chance pass by!

Speakers will be:
Dr. Jonathan Armbruster, Loricariids
Chuck Davis, Banquet Address
Lee Finley, Auchenipterids
Ian Fuller, Corydoradines
Shane Linder, Bagrids
Dr. Mark Sabaj, Doradids
Mark Soberman (corybreed), African Catfishes
Dr. Peter Unmack, Australian Catfishes

The Convention web site is www.catfish2006.com. There are special incentives for early registration so reserve your spot now! Also, we have reserved as many rooms as possible in the hotel, but we suspect that it may fill up so please make your hotel reservations if you intend to come to the event.

You Can Register Online: http://pvas.com/catfish/register/paypal_reg1.htm

See you in October!

Chuck, Register Cat
All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006
regcat@pvas.com

REGISTRATION Q&A #1:

QUESTION On 4/18/06:
My husband and I are coming to the Catfish Convention, or I should say, I will
be accompaning my husband the fish enthusiast! In registering for the
convention, do we have to do one for him and one for me and pay twice? Just
want to be sure.

ANSWER:

Thank you for your message, and thanks especially to you and your husband (the fish enthusiast!) for planning on joining us in October at the All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006! We really do appreciate your interest and support.

In answer to your question, the fish-show viewing and auction are the only activities at the Catfish Convention where a convention badge is not necessary. All other activities, including speakers' presentations, vendor room and food services, require registration. If it's only your husband who plans to attend these activities, then only he needs to register.

However, if you plan on joining him for:

The Banquet (which features the Fish Show Awards, and a special presentation by Chuck Davis), or the Friday Night Buffet (which includes Salad Bar, Lasagna, Assorted cakes, Beverage), the Saturday Lunch Buffet (Deli express: Roast beef, ham, tuna salad, cheeses, assorted breads, relish tray, cookies, beverage), or the fabulous Sunday Lunch Pizza Fest, then I recommend that you register using the a la carte option (see http://pvas.com/catfish/register/paypal_reg1.htm).

Please feel free to contact me again if you have any further questions. I, along with the rest of the All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006 staff, want to ensure that the Catfish Convention 2006 is both an outstanding and fruitful experience for all.

See you in October!

Chuck Miro, Registration Chair
All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006

Registration Q&A #2

QUESTION (4/21/06):
With catfish being my favorite fish to keep (along with U.S. natives) and a native collecting trip being planned I would love to go, the problem is that it's friggin expensive as hell!! All well, maybe next time.

ANSWER:
Good news! It's not as expensive as you think. The Early-Registration Convention Package is $100 (which includes the convention fee, the Friday Night Buffet, Saturday Lunch Buffet, Saturday Banquet, and Sunday Lunch Pizza Fest), but you can also register a la carte.

Under the a la carte “menu”, the early-registration fee is only $30 (which entitles you to all the speaker seminars, the fish show, entry to the Vendor room, and other convention activities). You can purchase separately (or decide not to) the planned meal activities.

So, if you plan to hit the McDonalds for meals, the cost for the convention is only $30!! :bday: And it's not only McDonald's that's available. Less than three miles to Route 1 in Laurel, there is every kind of restaurant you can think of -- all the major chains + others with all price ranges of food (including a McDonalds).

Of course, that doesn't include hotel stay, but you can double or triple up with someone and save a bundle there too!

Visit http://pvas.com/catfish/register/paypal_reg1.htm to register online.

Chuck

Registration Q&A #3

QUESTION (4/24/06):
I got a question for you..... are they getting wilds shipped in again this year?

ANSWER:
You bet! There will be a great variety of FW fish and plants at the All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2006. Arrangements are being made to have some fish imported exclusively for the auction that will be held at the convention. In 2004, these fish were all varieties of freshwater fish, and were not limited to catfish. And we plan to have even more non-Catfish fish there this year!

The Fish Show is an all-species Fish Show too! In 2004, there were over 220 entries in the fish show and competition. Gerry Hoffman, chairman of the Fish Show does a tremendous job of organizing, setting up, having judged and displayed many varieties of fish.

The All Freshwater-Species Show has five freshwater classes, in addition to a catch-all category for everything else:

Class I: Livebearers
Class II: Killifishes
Class III: Anabantids
Class IV: Cichlids
Class V: Goldfish and Koi
Class VI: All Other Freshwater Fishes
Class VII: Photography, Arts and Crafts

And there are three awards that all freshwater, not-catfish fish are eligible to win:

* Best Freshwater Fish in Show (Classes I-VI eligible)
* Reserve Freshwater Fish in Show (Classes I-VI eligible)
* People’s Choice Award (all fish entries eligible)

Even though the speakers are on various species of Catfish, they have all kinds of fish. With our initial registration we have attendees from 13 States and 4 countries coming. We expect over 200 in attendance. There will be much at the Catfish Convention that will include other kinds of fish, and you will gain much information from everyone there.

See you in October!

Chuck