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Post by exoticimports on Oct 26, 2021 3:52:40 GMT -8
I wonder if anyone would attend a swap meet in eastern USA.
Not a “show” open to the public, as it that gets complicated. Just a $200 conference room somewhere and a bunch of enthusiasts show up to swap.
Thoughts?
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Post by nomihoudai on Oct 26, 2021 4:01:13 GMT -8
That's the way to go. This is how insect fairs take a start. First as a swap meeting in some local conference room. I would have joined if I still was in the US.
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Post by Paul K on Oct 26, 2021 5:44:27 GMT -8
I think this is a great idea to exchange/buy insects, talk to other collectors in person and if organize during summer months the opportunity to research and collect in perhaps new locality ( at least for some ).
Unfortunately I personally won’t be able to attend as our dictator Trudeau imprisoned Canadians and no one knows when that will change.
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Post by exoticimports on Oct 26, 2021 5:57:14 GMT -8
One of the questions is how far people would drive, and how much cost they'd absorb. Manhattan might be centrally located for some, but I'm neither driving to Manhattan nor paying the costs.
I tried years ago to coordinate something with the local butterfly zoo, and they were positive about it, but the management turnover was so frequent that after the third restart in two years I gave up.
Wonder if it would work to host it at a university or educational facility like Cornell or Carnegie? That way we could get tours of "behind the scenes" as a bonus.
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Post by 58chevy on Oct 26, 2021 7:16:59 GMT -8
Texas A&M hosts an annual "Open House" for their insect collection. It is held in early January, between semesters. It's open to the public, but most of the attendees are local collectors who socialize and swap/sell specimens. It seems to me that other colleges (especially agricultural) around the country would do the same thing. Maybe some of the forum members know of other such gatherings.
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Post by bandrow on Oct 26, 2021 7:32:08 GMT -8
Hi All,
This sounds interesting to me, and I think with some planning, an 'open house' at the Carnegie Museum here in Pittsburgh could be doable. We just hired Kevin Keegan as the Collection Manager of Lepidoptera, so you folks wouldn't have to be assaulted by me and my beetles, unless you so choose! I think a Saturday/Sunday event could happen, but I'd need to check into a number of issues with our Curator and the museum admins. If something like this happens, it may be winter 2023 (or summer 2022?).
One other possible option for the Carnegie idea is our field station, Powdermill Nature Reserve, in the Laurel Highlands about an hour east of Pittsburgh. They have a nice nature lodge where a meeting could be held, and collecting done on site or nearby (mothing at night as well) with some cabins with limited capacity, depending on availability. A carpooled commute could happen to go in and see the museum.
So nothing more than an idea right now, but I'm willing to look into the idea and see what possibilities exist. How many members here might be within shooting distance of Pittsburgh if such an event became reality?
Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by jshuey on Oct 26, 2021 7:34:13 GMT -8
Texas A&M hosts an annual "Open House" for their insect collection. It is held in early January, between semesters. It's open to the public, but most of the attendees are local collectors who socialize and swap/sell specimens. It seems to me that other colleges (especially agricultural) around the country would do the same thing. Maybe some of the forum members know of other such gatherings. Likewise, Michigan State has an annual "Breaking Diapause" gathering each spring at the MSU collection.
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Post by foxxdoc on Oct 26, 2021 8:10:21 GMT -8
GREAT IDEA. WHAT ABOUT A TIE IN WITH ANOTHER EVENT SUCH AS LEP SOC MEETING ?? U OF FLORIDA GREAT COLLECTIONS. BEST TOM
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Post by jhyatt on Oct 26, 2021 11:12:28 GMT -8
Hi All, This sounds interesting to me, and I think with some planning, an 'open house' at the Carnegie Museum here in Pittsburgh could be doable. We just hired Kevin Keegan as the Collection Manager of Lepidoptera, so you folks wouldn't have to be assaulted by me and my beetles, unless you so choose! I think a Saturday/Sunday event could happen, but I'd need to check into a number of issues with our Curator and the museum admins. If something like this happens, it may be winter 2023 (or summer 2022?). One other possible option for the Carnegie idea is our field station, Powdermill Nature Reserve, in the Laurel Highlands about an hour east of Pittsburgh. They have a nice nature lodge where a meeting could be held, and collecting done on site or nearby (mothing at night as well) with some cabins with limited capacity, depending on availability. A carpooled commute could happen to go in and see the museum. So nothing more than an idea right now, but I'm willing to look into the idea and see what possibilities exist. How many members here might be within shooting distance of Pittsburgh if such an event became reality? Cheers! Bandrow That's a tantalizing possibility, Bandrow. I'd personally drive up to 4-5 hours to attend such an event, although making it some season other than winter might make the travel more appealing. Cheers, jh
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Post by exoticimports on Oct 26, 2021 12:09:52 GMT -8
I’d do Carnegie.
Personally I’d prefer winter, as I’ve got nothing to do for six months.
Actually next week would be fine so I can free up drawer space!
Chuck
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Post by bandrow on Oct 28, 2021 17:55:39 GMT -8
I’d do Carnegie. Personally I’d prefer winter, as I’ve got nothing to do for six months. Actually next week would be fine so I can free up drawer space! Chuck That's the catch-22 - a winter gathering would break the doldrums and provide some good mental stimulation during the off-season, but then a summer event would provide collecting opportunities. I'll talk with the rest of our staff and see what they think, and if any of you have any preferences for timing or recommendations one way or the other, let me know... Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by eurytides on Oct 29, 2021 15:01:36 GMT -8
Although I am unsure if I will be able to attend, I certainly think this is a fantastic idea. The University of Ottawa has something similar.
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Post by exoticimports on Oct 29, 2021 15:17:28 GMT -8
Although I am unsure if I will be able to attend, I certainly think this is a fantastic idea. The University of Ottawa has something similar. We will hold in Cape Vincent just for you. That’s centrally located, right? Not to put Bob on the spot, who could do Pittsburg in February or March? Cincinnati?
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Post by bandrow on Oct 29, 2021 17:18:01 GMT -8
Although I am unsure if I will be able to attend, I certainly think this is a fantastic idea. The University of Ottawa has something similar. We will hold in Cape Vincent just for you. That’s centrally located, right? Not to put Bob on the spot, who could do Pittsburg in February or March? Cincinnati? Not a problem, but if it turns out a winter event is preferred, it would have to be winter of 2023. Summer 2022 may be doable, but the upcoming winter is going to be hectic for me as I'll be tangled up in several commitments to other projects... Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by kevinkk on Oct 31, 2021 20:52:53 GMT -8
After looking at the pics of the Czech fair, (I've probably misspelled that) it would be nice to have something here in the USA, it needs advertised properly. Seasons both have their pros and cons, summer brings it's own possibilities, winter is slower, and there is livestock to consider? Location is important, at least for the present, I'm afraid to go to Portland for anything.. Driving would be my choice, it's 2.5 days from here to Chicago, and no flight issues.
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