Minutes of the NELA meeting on March, 19, 2005
An excellent presentation was made at the NEC Weekend by Mike Hellweg (ALA Board of Directors) Rit Forcier (ALA and NELA chair) and Tom Crane (chairman of the ALA Species Maintenance Program).

Rit said that We as a group will sponsor and host the ALA convention for 2006 to be held in East Hanover,NJ 4/28-30,2006.

By unanimous vote, Bob McKeand of Greenwich and the NAS has been elected our first Honorary Member. Congratulations, Bob!

Rit also mentioned that we have applied to the NEC for member status. Since Dave and Linda Giza already are in NELA and on the NEC Board, they were made our delegate(s) by acclimation.

Highlights of the presentation on the ALA Species Maintenance Program
information gathering electronically, email as the enabler.
Select an initial species to concentrate on.
Narrow the scope. There was 500 species of livebearers in 14 + families
Goodieds are highly endangered, much ALA expertise on the established list gathered.
Confirm breeder and stock availability.
Take a breeder quest ,email it in excel to be filled out and mailed in.
List on website.
Select an interesting fish within the species.
Zoogoneticus Tequila the ultimate endangered species.
Confirm breeder interest and stock availability.
Follow up availability questionnaire.
Re outline the project etc.
Sell at uniform price.
Price consistency with rareness of fish, affordable to members.
Stay below Aquabid through generosity of club members.
Ensure good data collection data collection.
Make it easy buyer/seller
List will be confidential only 1 person to have list.
Consider fish of the month, quarter approach for ALA website.

Respectfully submitted,
Linda Giza, NELA secretary.

X. Birchmanni