obrien.david.j Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Received the following email today. And saw equiv post on Instagram. Looks like I'll be getting a refund for my already purchased macna tickets, and have to figure out how to repurpose my already purchased airline tickets. @Brittany @markvo @Stephen Sturges (& @Krux I think) - we'll all have to figure out something else to do on Labor Day Weekend. Looks like MACNA is an overall bust. (cancelled 2023 & 2024) Any suggestions of other large scale reefing events worth it? We like vendors, swag, and raffles. June 7, 2024 The Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA) deeply regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2024 Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA), originally slated for August 30th to September 1st at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida. This decision, made by our Board of Directors with heavy hearts and immense disappointment, stems from a list of factors including disruptions to our revenue stream post Covid, pre-existing contractual obligations, and a systemic change of how the aquarium community gathers and shares educational information. Despite our earnest efforts, we are unable to proceed with the event as planned. We understand the excitement and anticipation that attendees, exhibitors, and partners had for MACNA 2024, and are forever grateful to those who have shared their support and encouragement. All ticket holders will receive a full refund of their ticket purchase price. Sponsors and exhibitors will be receiving refunds consisting of a combination of funds and tax deductible donation receipts. We hope there is some way the education, scholarship, awards and other programs that have made MASNA a key factor in the marine aquarium community for over 30 years, can continue, and not be lost forever. We express our sincerest gratitude to everyone, especially the companies that have shown support for MASNA/MACNA, and we encourage the community at large to support those companies that stepped up in sponsoring this year’s events. Those sponsors as well as others who have put forth invaluable effort are listed below. Please do what you can to show your appreciation to them by your patronage. Thank you, The MASNA Board of Directors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 Aquashella is a lovely weekend. Lots of vendors and talks.. They have speakers fresh and saltwater. Bigger than reefapalooza. Orlando November 2nd and Chicago first weekend in August. i can’t make the Chicago one. Reef stock Chadanoga also likely to have speakers/ vendors etc. I’m bummed about MACNA. Brittany 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 Looks like reefstock Chattanooga is the same weekend as MASNA was going to be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 The best part of these meetings is hanging with you people. I would go to Chatanooga or Orlando….. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 My favorite is currently Reefstock. I will be going to Reefstock Denver every year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted June 9 Author Share Posted June 9 17 hours ago, Lexinverts said: My favorite is currently Reefstock. I will be going to Reefstock Denver every year. Why, what makes it your favorite? And do they have good raffles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krux Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 I enjoyed the smaller nature of it and accessibility to the speakers, particularly if you like to stay up late and are at the hotel… lobby gatherings at the end of the night were a great opportunity to engage with people. As a fly in who wasn’t really purchasing anything the giant show room of coral doesn’t hold a lot of value to me, but the constantly rotating seminars were great and worth the cost of the trip. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 On 6/10/2024 at 5:24 PM, Krux said: I enjoyed the smaller nature of it and accessibility to the speakers, particularly if you like to stay up late and are at the hotel… lobby gatherings at the end of the night were a great opportunity to engage with people. Krux had a lot of fun pretending he was me in the lobby of the hotel...lol. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 On 6/9/2024 at 6:25 AM, obrien.david.j said: Why, what makes it your favorite? And do they have good raffles? Good raffles and good speakers. It really is like MACNA on a smaller scale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krux Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 2 hours ago, Lexinverts said: Krux had a lot of fun pretending he was me in the lobby of the hotel...lol. I had a lot of great conversations, offered advice and expertise on things I had no knowledge of… good times. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sturges Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 Wow that is kind of an end of an era. I was planning on touring Florida for a week while we were there, looks like I will just be doing more of that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 (edited) Just canceled my flights and hotel for MACNA. I’m doing ReefStock Denver next year….. Edited June 17 by Brittany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obrien.david.j Posted June 17 Author Share Posted June 17 Just cancelled my flights and hotel as well. Refund for MACNA event tickets showed up last Sunday. Done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.fe177d4e243fa0a2f5c6c5891f6b1bca.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.