Convention Information Contacts:   Dr. Dan Nielsen ( drdann@frontiernet.net)  or Tom Grady ( killienutz@killienutz.com )

NEWS UPDATES 

You may download the Fish Show and Fish Sale Room Forms here:

CLICK HERE FOR FORMS IN PDF FORMAT

MAY 4, 2008:

   I have just received word from that it is likely Frans Vermeulen will be bringing to the convention two brand new species of Rivulus he collected in Colombia a couple weeks ago.  He stated they are unique and very interesting fish.  Most likely, these will be placed in the Auction Sunday - so bring your $$ with you!  Frans also said his experience of collecting during the tensions between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador made for a very interesting trip and he plans to regale attendees about those problems.

APRIL 29, 2008:

   Thanks to some cancellations for two other events, we have added 10 rooms to the Sheraton University Hotel block.  Please make your reservations now!  Once these rooms are gone - there are no more at the Sheraton.

   Please take a look at the new graphic header.  Due to some difficulties at the T-shirt printers, we had to alter the design slightly.  The new design is identical to the header above.  Many thanks go to Tony Terciera for the new photo of A. australe.  

   The Registration Confirmation letters have been mailed.  The letters include your Registration #, directions to the hotel, a schedule of events, and much more.  You should receive this information packet in the mail this week.

   New & Rare Species fish have been arriving and are tanked to be fed and cared for prior to the convention.  We are expecting a possible shipment of wild fish from the Congo and the Cameroons - but these are not yet confirmed.  We have received wild fish from Guinea.  At this time - we are almost 100% certain we should have all 5 types of Diapterons (and a couple different populations) for the show.  We also expect A. joergenscheeli. A. hofmanni, A. heinmanni, and A. cameronense to be included among fishes we have contracted for.  Some other interesting fish we have include Aus. viarius, Aphanius sp. Namak, Iran, Fp. avichang and Fp. kamdeni. 

  If you are planning on attending the banquet - even if you wish to register and pay at the door - please let Tom Grady know as soon as possible at killienutz@killienutz.com.  We will need to have a count of those planning to join us at that meal about a week before the convention.  If you have already registered, you can ignore this note.

  DONATING FISH TO THE AUCTION - While it is not often considered, one way everyone can assist the financial side of the AKA is to donate pairs of fish to the Sunday Auction which is a major fund-raiser for the AKA. As BOT Chairman Barry Cooper has indicated in the BNL, the financial picture of the AKA is stable, but could face serious challenges in the near future.  One way to offset those rising costs would be to raise more money via the auction.  Everyone is welcome to add fish, but please do not offer common species which would not sell well, but instead if you have an extra pair or two of uncommon fish, those will make money for the AKA.  After all - this is what the convention is all about - raising funds to support the services provided.  

 

 

April 14, 2008:

   The Sheraton University Hotel has sold out our block of rooms and as of today, there are no more rooms available.  Just to be clear - we are on a record pace for room nights with well over 200 already in place and it could not be predicted.

 

   We are working very hard with the Sheraton Hotel and have made special arrangements with them to handle ALL future reservations.  Please CONTINUE TO CALL THE SHERATON FOR YOUR ROOM RESERVATIONS.  The Sheraton is handling all room reservations for the convention - even if you are asked to sleep in the Renaissance Hotel - 3 blocks away.  The Sheraton is creating a list of room requests from the AKA and the following will happen before May 1.

 

   1.  In 10 Days, two other organizations which have blocks of rooms reserved will be releasing a number of those rooms back to the hotel.  Those folks who are on the Sheraton List will then receive a room on a first come - first rented basis.  We expect to have a fair number of rooms based on the information available at this time.

 

   2.  Once all rooms have be allocated - then the Sheraton Hotel will finalized the arrangements with the Renaissance Inn and all overflow convention goers will be added at the same rate.  We will provide transportation between the two hotels, although it is a short walk.  PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE RENAISSANCE INN for a reservation - they are not prepared to handle direct reservations for the AKA National Convention.  Call the Sheraton University Hotel at (315) 475-3000 for all hotel reservations.

 

  Only 2 Classes left to be sponsored - Slides & Prints and Artistic Renderings.

April 1, 2008:   ALERT!  Get your room reservations in now!  We have sold out the allotted block for the convention and received a small additional allotment.  Once these rooms are filled there will be no more available at the Sheraton.  Arrangements are being made at the Renaissance Inn about 3 blocks away for any overflow at the same prices.

Its registration time!   The registration will open by Feb. 10 for the 2008 AKA National Convention.  You may link to the online registration pages here:

2008 AKA CONVENTION REGISTRATION

CURRENT CONVENTION INFORMATION UPDATE: April 8 - 9:00 AM

REGISTRATIONS:  127

Tentative Fish Show Entries: 175
 The goal for Show Entries is:  400   Please support the AKA
(Based on registration form information which may not reflect the actual number
 of entries in this year's competition.  All entries in the competition are auctioned Sunday.) 

Tentative Fish Sale Room Entries: 725
This is based on registration form information and may not 
reflect the actual number of pairs available during the convention.

 

EARLY LIST OF SPECIAL FISH SALE ROOM FISH
RAFFLE/SILENT AUCTION AND/OR AKA N&RS AUCTION FISH
( All listed fish are tentative and the actual list of fish must likely will change at the convention.  We will make no guarantee whether any of the following species will be available or not.  The following list is from information provided to UNYKA via contacts in the US, Canada and Europe to provide fish for the convention. This list will continue to be modified as more information becomes available. )

 

February 3, 2008:

This year's fish sale room entrance will be slightly different than in the past.  Because electronic registration has an advantage over paper registration, UNYKA in an effort to be fair, will designate group entrance assignments based on registration date/time, but will designate 1/2 of the registrations will be electronic and 1/2 will be paper-based if received in February.  Your name tag will indicate the Group Number of entrance time.  Please understand, the sooner you register either way, the lower the group # you will receive.  We intend to allow the first group to enter between 7:00-7:30 am and each group will enter at predetermined times of 10 minutes.       

 

January 15, 2008:

The 2008 AKA National Convention Update:  The picture at the top of the page is the design for the Convention T-Shirt.  The plan is for the shirts to be Navy Blue with the printing in gold.

* Updated Website
* Speaker Presentation Updated

Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine, the Worlds Leading Aquarium Magazine
for over Half a Century is the Official Publication of AKA 2008.
www.tfhmagazine.com