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Words from our chairman Stuart M. Grant
Words from our chairman Stuart M. Grant
The CRLCA was, I believe, largely conceived when in late
1999 a group of eight Canadians came to Malawi and undertook
a two week lake safari conducted/led by Ad Konings. Ad had
been to Canada the previous year and was impressed by the
hospitality, zest and keenness exhibited by Canadian
hobbyists. And - with mutual contact and arrangement - the
safari finally came into being.
Esther and I have been no stranger to overseas visitors over
the years - but somehow - as Ad had explained/mentioned -
there seemed to be just that bit more "zip" in the air on
this safari and a magic time was experienced by all. The
maple leaf flag in our private bar - was clearly here to
stay. And our visitors book was graced and enhanced by the
addition of entries from citizens of a Dominion. Possibly as
an "old-colonial" having served in the RAF in Cyprus,
British Government, Nyasaland Government, Malawi Government
such linkages of "former-empire" retain an understandable
extra personal significance.
In March 2000 the inaugural meeting was held of the
Association - and I was privileged to have been nominated
Honorary Chairman - a post which I hold with great
appreciation and respect.
A major factor in the formation of the Association was I
contend, the technological advances made in communications -
it now being possible for virtually instant communications
to be accessible to all members. And with Canada being the
largest country in the world since the demise of the USSR
what more appropriate way of setting up an association than
by taking advantage of modern telecom linkages?
The CRLCA has endeavoured to establish a multi-faceted
spectrum of activities. Its web site has been the medium for
mutual interfacing and contact - supplemented of course by
e-mail. An impressive number of members have been achieved
in just two years of the association's inception. The
bundling of the Cichlid News publication with membership is
another feature.
Substantial wild-caught shipments of Lake Malawi fishes have
now become an established part of the routine - a far cry
from three years ago when little or no wild-caughts were
entering the Canadian scene - and those that were
constituted a somewhat prosaic and pedestrian selection. A
further totally successful safari was held in November 2001
in Malawi for thirteen Canadian and USA CRLCA members. Links
have been established with the Toronto Zoo.
Distribution of the Ad Konings books has taken place in a
constant and ongoing manner and now Ad's impressive Lake
Malawi CD with no less than five thousand pictures is being
handled/distributed by the Association. A CRLCA member
stayed and worked in Malawi from August to December 2001 as
an "intern" - a mutually rewarding experience for us in
Malawi and the intern himself. So far three interns have
been selected for the year 2003 and it is intended that a
further safari will take place to Malawi later this year.
In addition we expect to host Glenn Marshall and Tom Herman
with a buyers
group in middle October 2003. Separately - but with liaison
with the
association - Ad Konings will be leading a second CRLCA
safari into Lake Tanganyika later in 2003 as well as a group
into Malawi in October. A full programme of meetings and
events has been prepared during the three years of the
CRLCA's existence with fish auctions and shows enabling
members to meet and speak together socially and barter and
trade.
As might be expected and anticipated with the formation of
any corporation there have been some trials, tribulations
and vicissitudes along the way.
The path has not been smooth and painless. Inevitably some
founder members have gone their own way - replaced in turn
by new blood. This is the way of life. Any new activity is
sure to meet up with the disapproval/umbrage of others - and
the association has to move on continually without being
demoralised or down-heartened by listening to too many
alternate and
self-confusing suggestions. The CRLCA now has over 500
associate members.
It is little short of remarkable that all of this activity
has taken place in just three short years! By any yardstick
this is an impressive achievement. Many long-standing clubs
or other aquatic societies could furtively look on this list
of "already have-dones" with an unabashed element of envy.
Others will no doubt endeavour to emulate and follow along
the defined path demarcated by the CRLCA in its continuous
search to provide even further services and features for its
members. No harm in this - the CRLCA leads from the front
and welcomes the competition...it can only make the hobby
stronger!
To conclude these few notes I have to place an
acknowledgement of the ceaseless application to the CRLCA of its executives in Guelph. This is no half-hearted
politesse - the considerable achievements and undertakings
of the association have been completed in Canada - by the
executives and members and their long-suffering and
understanding spouses.
On the occasion of the launching of the new web site - may
Esther and I extend a warm welcome to members considering a
trip to Malawi and see your fishes in their natural
surroundings. Make the effort! Have the experience of a
lifetime! Come to Malawi!
The CRLCA
Canadian Rift Lake Cichlid AssociatesWe promise informative and interesting meetings for all
levels of the African Rift Lake Cichlid hobby. We are not a
social club but an international buyers group (think of a
wine buyers club and you will get the
concept) and as such do not replace your local Aquarium
club. Our Corporation is for the hobbyist, researcher,
breeder or importer/exporter, retailer and wholesaler who
want to share the latest in research and information about
these Cichlids. Our quarterly meetings feature study groups,
interesting and informative speakers, top calibre
presentations, 'how to' sessions, highest quality (fish
only) auctions with Generation 1, tank raised and wild
caught specimens available..
http://www.crlca.com
Through the internet we provide a member's forum, member's
trading post, links to other Associations, clubs and sites,
convention and show information and a calendar of
Association events. At our site you will find original,
advanced content from hobbyists and specialists readily
available with new features added regularly. Downloadable
photographs and articles are also available. We are the
source for keeping up with the latest news in the Cichlid
hobby including upcoming tours , internships program and
safaris to the Rift lakes.
Membership
The Association is open to all qualified and accepted
African Cichlid fanciers worldwide who are 16 years of age
and older. Annual membership is
$25 plus GST and is payable in USD for out of CANADA
members. CRLCA is a
corporate member of CAOAC.
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