Wagtail
February 7th 07, 08:46 PM
Hi, folks. The American Livebearer Association cordially invites you
to attend what is well-regarded as the affordable and friendly
aquarium hobby weekend event: our 2007 Annual Convention April 27-29
at Strongsville Holiday Inn Select Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. This year
we will be offering a enjoyable weekend that offers something for
everyone in your family.
OUR SITE: Centrally located, and only 6-8 hours by car from Virginia,
New York City, Chicago, or St. Louis. Only 8 miles away is Cleveland
Hopkins Intl Airport with complimentary hotel shuttle. Our site has
just completed a $5 million dollar renovation featuring the largest
indoor pool in Ohio and an on-site restaurant where kids eat free.
Across the street is Iceland USA skating rink and one-half mile to
Southpark Mall featuring numerous dining and shopping options and
miniature golf.
HOST CITY: Named the "Most Livable City" in the United States by the
2005 Economist Intelligence Unit, Downtown Cleveland is only 15
minutes from the Convention. Or take the scheduled complimentary
shuttle to the airport and ride the Red Line rapid metro train into
the city. Cleveland boasts the MetroParks Zoo, The Rock-n-Rock Hall of
Fame, and a Theater District. 8 miles away is the historic Tricker
Aquatic Farms open for tours.
AT THE CONVENTION: For the fish fan, this year's Convention features a
30-class livebearing fish show and guest speakers from 3 countries.
Not to mention fish and dry good vendors throughout the hotel, a
manufacturer expo, and of course, a myriad of friendly fish folks from
around the world to meet and greet. A Banquet and hospitality room
will also be featured, And don't forget our Rare Fish Raffle and Wine
Testing events to benefit the Vern Parish Scholarship Fund! Sunday is
our famed all-day 70/30 split auction where you can acquire those
"dream fish." It's all here at ALA 2007.
SPEAKERS:
Bill Allen (Louisiana): "Fancy Xiphs." An aquarist, hobby writer,
pathology technician, former music teacher, and past band leader for
Percy Sledge, Bill Allen is the ALA's Jack-of-all-Trades and Talents.
His native climate affords him the opportunity to collect and study
wild mollies and gambusia (many of whom are promptly fed to his
Belonesox), and maintain an outdoor fish shed to work with both wild-
type and fancy livebearers.
Dr. Felix Breden (Canada): "Endler's Livebearer or Cumana Guppy?...and
other enigmatic Poecilia." An Associate Professor in Biology at Simon
Fraser University in Vancouver, Dr. Breden researches how complex
biological interactions control the divergence of genes, individuals
and populations. His subject matter has included among others:
molecular systematics of Poecilia; Parallel evolution in the guppy;
and divergent sexual selection and the differentiation of the Cumaná
guppy.
Rit Forcier (Connecticut): "3 Weeks South of the Border. This ALA
Chairman has been a fishkeeper for over 40 years, and is well-regarded
for his tireless support of the organized hobby. He has one of the
largest collections of Goodeids in the world, and draws ever-closer to
his goal of owning every known distinct population. He recently
returned from Mexico with Tom Crane and Ivan Dibble where he collected
livebeaers, visited Project Fish Ark, and attended an International
Livebearer Symposium.
Charley Grimes (Indiana): Banquet Speaker. The always-entertaining
Charley Grimes has been keeping tropical fish for over 40 years, and
currently maintains over 100 active aquariums and 3 large ponds. He is
one of the hobby's most accomplished aquarists and photographers. But
we in the organized hobby feel Charley's greatest contribution has
been his sense of humor and ability to always make us laugh.
Mike Hellweg (Missouri): "Adventures Breeding Livebearers" Well-
regarded as an aquarist, writer, and speaker, Mike has bred over 75
species of livebearers including rare Halfbeaks, Jennysia, and
Syngnanthiids. He has also perfected a species maintenance method.
Mike is a Grand Master Breeder and Horticulturist in the Missouri
Aquarium Society (serving his 9th year as President) and is also an
ALA Master Breeder. After working 21 years in retail and operations
management, Mike now owns and operates a retail pet business.
Dr. Arcadio Valdés González (Mexico): "Guppies: What are They Good
for? Studies from Genomics to Sexual Selection to Systematics." Dr.
Gonzalez is professor at the School of Biological Sciences, U.A.N.L.,
at the Pedro de Alba y Manuel L. Barragán, Ciudad Universitaria. His
specialties include aquatic ecology and extinction threats. His topic
will cover the guppy complex (e.g. Lebistes, Micropoecila, Endler's).
Dr. Gil Rosenthal (Texas): "Natural Hybridization and Mate Choice in
Xiphophorus of Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental." Dr. Rosenthal is an
Asst. Professor at Texas A&M and the 1999 ALA VPF Winner. His
principal research is on the diversity of animal communication
systems. He has worked extensively with the swordtails. Research with
his graduate students on chemical cues and pollution in the creation
of the Xiphophorus brichmanni-malinche Hybrid Zone in Mexico received
national press attention last year.
Please go to www.livebearers.org to download our colorful registration
brochure which gives more information including show classes and
schedule. I would be happy to answer any questions you have on or off
this list, too. Feel free to forward this post to your livebearer
friends.
regards,
Ted
to attend what is well-regarded as the affordable and friendly
aquarium hobby weekend event: our 2007 Annual Convention April 27-29
at Strongsville Holiday Inn Select Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. This year
we will be offering a enjoyable weekend that offers something for
everyone in your family.
OUR SITE: Centrally located, and only 6-8 hours by car from Virginia,
New York City, Chicago, or St. Louis. Only 8 miles away is Cleveland
Hopkins Intl Airport with complimentary hotel shuttle. Our site has
just completed a $5 million dollar renovation featuring the largest
indoor pool in Ohio and an on-site restaurant where kids eat free.
Across the street is Iceland USA skating rink and one-half mile to
Southpark Mall featuring numerous dining and shopping options and
miniature golf.
HOST CITY: Named the "Most Livable City" in the United States by the
2005 Economist Intelligence Unit, Downtown Cleveland is only 15
minutes from the Convention. Or take the scheduled complimentary
shuttle to the airport and ride the Red Line rapid metro train into
the city. Cleveland boasts the MetroParks Zoo, The Rock-n-Rock Hall of
Fame, and a Theater District. 8 miles away is the historic Tricker
Aquatic Farms open for tours.
AT THE CONVENTION: For the fish fan, this year's Convention features a
30-class livebearing fish show and guest speakers from 3 countries.
Not to mention fish and dry good vendors throughout the hotel, a
manufacturer expo, and of course, a myriad of friendly fish folks from
around the world to meet and greet. A Banquet and hospitality room
will also be featured, And don't forget our Rare Fish Raffle and Wine
Testing events to benefit the Vern Parish Scholarship Fund! Sunday is
our famed all-day 70/30 split auction where you can acquire those
"dream fish." It's all here at ALA 2007.
SPEAKERS:
Bill Allen (Louisiana): "Fancy Xiphs." An aquarist, hobby writer,
pathology technician, former music teacher, and past band leader for
Percy Sledge, Bill Allen is the ALA's Jack-of-all-Trades and Talents.
His native climate affords him the opportunity to collect and study
wild mollies and gambusia (many of whom are promptly fed to his
Belonesox), and maintain an outdoor fish shed to work with both wild-
type and fancy livebearers.
Dr. Felix Breden (Canada): "Endler's Livebearer or Cumana Guppy?...and
other enigmatic Poecilia." An Associate Professor in Biology at Simon
Fraser University in Vancouver, Dr. Breden researches how complex
biological interactions control the divergence of genes, individuals
and populations. His subject matter has included among others:
molecular systematics of Poecilia; Parallel evolution in the guppy;
and divergent sexual selection and the differentiation of the Cumaná
guppy.
Rit Forcier (Connecticut): "3 Weeks South of the Border. This ALA
Chairman has been a fishkeeper for over 40 years, and is well-regarded
for his tireless support of the organized hobby. He has one of the
largest collections of Goodeids in the world, and draws ever-closer to
his goal of owning every known distinct population. He recently
returned from Mexico with Tom Crane and Ivan Dibble where he collected
livebeaers, visited Project Fish Ark, and attended an International
Livebearer Symposium.
Charley Grimes (Indiana): Banquet Speaker. The always-entertaining
Charley Grimes has been keeping tropical fish for over 40 years, and
currently maintains over 100 active aquariums and 3 large ponds. He is
one of the hobby's most accomplished aquarists and photographers. But
we in the organized hobby feel Charley's greatest contribution has
been his sense of humor and ability to always make us laugh.
Mike Hellweg (Missouri): "Adventures Breeding Livebearers" Well-
regarded as an aquarist, writer, and speaker, Mike has bred over 75
species of livebearers including rare Halfbeaks, Jennysia, and
Syngnanthiids. He has also perfected a species maintenance method.
Mike is a Grand Master Breeder and Horticulturist in the Missouri
Aquarium Society (serving his 9th year as President) and is also an
ALA Master Breeder. After working 21 years in retail and operations
management, Mike now owns and operates a retail pet business.
Dr. Arcadio Valdés González (Mexico): "Guppies: What are They Good
for? Studies from Genomics to Sexual Selection to Systematics." Dr.
Gonzalez is professor at the School of Biological Sciences, U.A.N.L.,
at the Pedro de Alba y Manuel L. Barragán, Ciudad Universitaria. His
specialties include aquatic ecology and extinction threats. His topic
will cover the guppy complex (e.g. Lebistes, Micropoecila, Endler's).
Dr. Gil Rosenthal (Texas): "Natural Hybridization and Mate Choice in
Xiphophorus of Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental." Dr. Rosenthal is an
Asst. Professor at Texas A&M and the 1999 ALA VPF Winner. His
principal research is on the diversity of animal communication
systems. He has worked extensively with the swordtails. Research with
his graduate students on chemical cues and pollution in the creation
of the Xiphophorus brichmanni-malinche Hybrid Zone in Mexico received
national press attention last year.
Please go to www.livebearers.org to download our colorful registration
brochure which gives more information including show classes and
schedule. I would be happy to answer any questions you have on or off
this list, too. Feel free to forward this post to your livebearer
friends.
regards,
Ted