restricted

chris1017 · Post by **chris1017** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:46 am

seems to be the only place i can post. My question is how does one gain the "permission" to enter the restricted forums as it seems that all of them are locked to me.

chris

gnatster · Post by **gnatster** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:22 am

The restricted areas are limited to GWAPA Members.

Post by **krisw** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:35 am

For more information on becoming a GWAPA member, please send our "How to join GWAPA" page:

<a href="http://www.gwapa.org/join.asp" target="_blank">http://www.gwapa.org/join.asp</a>

Thanks,
-Kris

chris1017 · Post by **chris1017** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:52 pm

ok, but why would you want to restrict people from using your board, don't you think you have a better chance of getting people to purchase a membership if they can actually see what you are all about. I understand keeping certain places for members only but to restrict 90% of your bord to those who only purchased memberships just seems a little strange. No offense, but I doubt I will ever make an event, so why would I want to fork over money to use your bord when there are a million others that are closely related that are free. The only reason I am still responding is that I like the fact that most of the members are should be in or close to Maryland, but I am not going to pay for that frill. Mabey a more detailed explination of the club would better persuade me.

chris

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:10 am

Sounds like what I said Chris, and I can't remember the 'pros' of having the restricted board except that we have a lot of distance members who paid to join for the forum. I thought having reading access would be a good idea so people could see the fun stuff we get involved in. Maybe now that Mr. Amano has come and gone we will reconsider changing this policy.

So, why won't you ever come to an event? We are actually a nice bunch of people. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">

chris1017 · Post by **chris1017** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 2:57 am

I work in a job where there is little time to myself and I am not much on traveling, plus I do have a few hobbies that take up my spare time so there is not much room for anything elese. I might be able to make a meeting or two, who knows.

By the way, I don't want to come off as a bad person and I hope no one was offended by my post but I was very confused. I have seen member sections only but never seen a whole forum blocked. Even just being able to read post would be odd enough but I can't even access any of the topics.

chris

RTRJR · Post by **RTRJR** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:53 am

I am a member on another board where most of the board is read-only for non-members, and the FAQ board allows no access at all except to memebers. All sorts of varaiants are possible. But I think that this was intended to replace a mailing list for the membership, not to be an open planted tank board as a stand-alone.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:47 pm

I thought the same thing at first, but trust me it's worth every penny. It's only $15.00 a year and you'll make that back the first time one of us nice people hooks you up with free plants

Not only that, but several of the persons in our group have extremely valuable information when it comes to growing and maintaining aquatic plants. You'll also get to get in on group buys to save money as well. All good reasons to consider membership even if you never set foot at a meeting.

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:45 pm

Why have a club in the first place?

- Social aspect
You get to meet new people who share the same
interests as you. A chance to make new friends.
Ask any member - how many more friends do you have
now that you met through GWAPA. I'm sure everyone
here will be able to rattle off 25 names easily.

- Information
The club creates a 'forum' for people to meet and
discuss everything related to this hobby. A place
to transfer knowledge and learn. I've had the
opportunity to learn from people who've been in
the hobby for decades!

- Promote the hobby
We all love this hobby so much, we try to get other
people involved - try to promote the hobby in this area.

- Trades / Freebies
Some of the plants we have locally in club
members tanks are not available anywhere else. Not
even online.

- Group buys
Economy of scale - 'nuf said!

- Workshops
This year is going to be one of the best ones yet.
We've got a number of DIY workshops planned. CO2
reactors, DIY lighting and even making a cube tank!

- Give back
We all start from square one with this hobby. Soak
in a lot of information provided by others, and
their experiences over a period of years.
The club provides a 'forum' for you to give back,
help others.

The information aspect can be covered by the numerous
free web forums out there. There's a slew of information
available to anyone. Though I don't want to discourage
you from joining, far from it infact. But
if the information is the only part you're
looking for, there's no point in joining the club.
Like you mentioned, why pay $15 / year just for
information that's available free elsewhere.

The GWAPA forum is a place where you can get
access to all the members and their knowledge
without having to actually attend a meeting.

But the fact is, GWAPA is more than just a forum.

<edited><editID>Ghazanfar Ghori</editID><editDate>38377.6160648148</editDate></edited>

restricted

Sponsors