MyGroupAuctions moving to RAS

MyGroupAuctions (MGA) has been run by the Madison Area Aquatic Hobbyists for the last few years. Sadly, the club has shutdown, so a new home is needed. The Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) has agreed to do so. RAS has been using MGA for many years, and is critically dependent on it at the present time (we typically use it every month).

In the short term, no changes should be visible to users of MGA. Clubs can continue to use MGA at no cost. The intention is to keep it running as it has, just new owners paying the bills and being responsible for keeping it running.

That said, given that a number of clubs are using MGA (some more than others, obviously), we are hoping that other clubs will help cover the costs of maintaining MGA. For 2025, we are budgeting about $1000 for the year. This covers operational costs - AWS usage, DNS costs, etc. It would take only a handful of clubs chipping in to cover that cost. E.g., if 10 clubs donated $100 each, that should cover operating costs comfortably. Contact me if you are willing and able to contribute.

I have also setup a mailing list for MyGroupAuction adminstrators (or others responsible for using it within their clubs). The list will be used to discuss topics related to MyGroupAuctions (funding, bug reports, features, etc.). You can join the group by signing up here:

• mygroupauctions@ras.groups.io | Home

Finally, let's all thank Megan McGuire for her work in keeping MGA running for the last few years. Thank you Megan!!!

For more information, please contact RAS via Thomas Narten <narten@cs.duke.edu>.

RAS Porch Pickup Program

Before covid-19, the club held monthly auctions. Auctions are of course a highlight for many, as they provide a way of getting nice healthy fish, plants, and invertebrates. They also provide a way for club members to make their stuff available to others in a way that "gives back" to the club.

Auctions have also been an important part of the BAP & HAP programs, as the main way for breeders to show the results of their activities and earn points.

With auctions and other activities effectively on hold due to covid-19, we've been looking for alternate ways to enable sharing of goods while also benefiting the club.

As a result, we now have a "porch pickup donation" option on our web page, that allows people to make small donations to the club in return for member items. The idea is that those who have fish, plants and invertebrates to give away (i.e. a "supplier") can make them available as a "porch pickup" in return for a donation to the club. The amount of the donation is completely up to the supplier.

This is a bit of an experiment, and we may adjust details in response to experience and feedback. But it is intended especially for BAP members to share their items.

More details can be found on the Porch Pickup Program page.

Thomas Narten

RAS President

RAS Code of Conduct

Over the last year, there have been a few incidents where club members received or observed interactions between members that made them uncomfortable. Incidents included an interchange at one of our meetings, comments made during some of the workshop presentations, and some contentious interactions on Facebook. This prompted the board to have discussions about the need for the club to send a clear message that it intends to be inclusive and welcoming to all members, including new members that are participating for the first time.

As a result, the board has adopted a code of conduct for its members. In many ways, it states what should be obvious. Details here:

Code of Conduct — Raleigh Aquarium Society

Credit is due to Potomac Valley Aquarium Society, whose policy we largely adopted as is.

Thomas Narten
RAS President