Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Regional Pond Boss Meeting

I'm curious to know if any of you in the Midwest would be interested in a regional meeting sometime this summer '05.

Would something like Western Ohio or Central Ohio be a good location to get folks from MI, IN, IL, KY, OH, PA, WV, etc. to come out for a day and night?

Then we have to ask: What would we talk about?; Why would we meet?; What would we do?

If we had a central location, perhaps we could do a few pond visits.

Certainly it would nice to put names with faces and strengthen the cyber-friendships that we've been developing.

I'm not hell-bent on this, but it's just something I've wondered about.

I've been thinking about the same thing around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Trouble is, it would have to be on the weekend and a bunch of are hell bent to get out of town on weekends. Now, in August, thats a different story.

Consider me interested.

I'm in and would like to see fisheries/ponds.

The lack of responses from the Midwest region is a little surprising, but no big deal really.

The forum is still the greatest thing.

I think that Lincoln, Nebraska would be a good central meeting place. We're as middle of the road as you can get.

Sorry Sunil, hay season is coming up.

Sunil, sounds an idea if a good format could be devised. Might be a lot of work to put together if you are talking about presentations/field trips, etc. How about a fishing trip to Cecil's ponds?

dave, you mentioned a meeting in dallas area. i would sure come.

darrell stringer

Just what I need! Some guys that are experts on fishing ponds fishing my ponds!

Actually this sounds like fun maybe we should talk more about it.

Count me in with the Texas boys, I'm betting ponds are spread too thin for field trips, maybe we could rotate meetings, pond by pond Nothing big, fish for a couple of hours, BBQ, and go home

p.s. Nick, I owe you e-mail...and will respond eventually ! Seems like life has been kicking me in the crotch lately.

I personally would love to meet Bruce and see what he is doing at Lincoln.

Would also be interested in this idea, Ted NW Ohio

Aquatic Control (Pond Boss supporter) from Southern Indiana is having a Lake Management Workshop June 11 in Louisville Kentucky. The mailer I received says to contact them for directions and to RSVP at 1-800-753-Lake. It starts at 9:00 a.m. Is anyone from this forum planning to attend?

Hope everyone had a safe/happy Memorial Day.

When I picture a meeting of forum members in my mind, it seems like more of a social thing. Certainly there could be an exchange of technical or experienced based information, but that seems to be covered here on the forum.

I also agree that it would be nice to see some of the ponds that the members have.

It could be as simple as dinner and drinks on a Friday or Saturday, and then go to someones pond the next day.

Dave C., Thanks for the heads up on the Louisville meeting. I won't be able to make it, but would love to hear highlights from those who end up going.

I would be very interested in talking to a few folks locally to find out what stategies are working for or against you in the same region of the country. My farm is located on the Texas/ Oklahoma border north of Dallas.

Being the Rookie in the group I would really appreciate an opportunity to share some time with all you pond guys. I would be willing to coordinate the whole thing in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. I can get cheap hotel rooms, and free meeting rooms. I could put a package together very inexpensive. It would be worth my time and energy. I think for starters we could have some guest speakers like the Pond Boss and a few of you lunkers out there. I bet we could even line up some of the product suppliers. Lets see how much interest we get and I will put a package together for a Saturday/Sunday. Give me your feedback please. Gary "Pond Rookie"

Greg Maybe YOU could set somthing up down here in the southeast!!

Rookie,

I think you would have a good turn out in the DFW area. There are a few things that I think you should consider...

1) Another Pond Boss member, Dave Davidson was wanting to have a DFW Pond Boss gathering...so you might want to talk to him and get some ideas of what he was thinking. Your combined efforts might yield greater results.

2) You also might want to consider timing especially if you are wanting guys like me that are in the business to show up and speak or give a presentation. This is the busiest time of the year for all of us that are in the pond and lake management business and I'm sure is true for the manufaturers of pond and lake products, too. If you are wanting to invite some of the professionals, you might want to wait to have your gathering in the winter months. Our pond and lake season in the DFW area is typically from February to late October (depending on how warm of a fall we have).

3. It may be a good idea to use part of the time at a pond or two looking at several different aspects of management, construction, renovation, etc. Hands on experience is always invaluable to have at a function like you are suggesting.

I hope this helps. Don't hesitate to call or e-mail if you have any further questions or comments. See our website at www.pondmedics.com for contact information.

Thanks!

Trent,
Thanks for the excellent feedback and I couldn't agree more. I will certainly follow up with Dave Davidson and see what we can come up with. I don't have a lot of pond experience but I do at setting up meetings/conventions. Hopefully we can start working toward something in January 06.
Thanks again, Gary Condo, PondRookie

pondrookie,

I'd like to encourage your efforts...it would be a fine thing.

By way of brainstorming, I'll throw out some thoughts...

1) We might want to give consideration to bringing in selected State guys who have been speaking at the Bass 101, Bass 102, conferences in Texas. We can find those contacts if there is interest. Much of their material is basic stuff, but it might be a good intro.

2)I encourage the inclusion of open panel discussions in which we can all share information.

3)I'd also like to throw out the idea of asking for and then reviewing presentation papers from actual pond owners that cover new things people are trying...I could make a list of those just from the forum posts. The selected papers would then form the agenda, in part. Really, there are some excellent topics that members right here are working on everyday. We could form a committe to review papers and make recommendations for inclusion as a presentation.

If we are going to pull this off, it will take a lot of detailed planning and time...I'm willing to invest both if there is interest.

MeadowLark,
Thanks for your response. There is obviously a great deal of interest in putting something like this together. I think a good start would be to put together a planning committee of those interested in making an event like this happen. I have sent Dave Davidson an email to see if we can join forces. Your support would really be appreciated.

Anyone interested on being on a planning committee can send me their name and info to my personal email. Condohouse@aol.com.

Sounds good, would be willing to help.
E-mail djennings1@hotmail.com

Live in Weatherford -- Ponds in Desdemona

Tentmaker is one of those who I would really like to see present a paper...on what they are doing and have done to improve the catchability of LMB.

Count me in for the DFW hoedown. We could do meet at a hotel. (Or) We could rent some area lake resort at a winter discount rate. (Texoma has some nice resorts.)