Capital Cichlid Association March 4-6

[Mugwump]

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 4-6, 2016
Be part of the fun! 
Register TODAY!
Registration

Full Event Registration is only $35
for adults, only $10 for kids 12-17,
and free for kids under 12, and includes: All speaker presentationsSaturday
awards reception (Hors d?oeuvres, Beer, and wine.)Friday and Saturday
night hospitality (Beer and festivities; adults only)Exclusive access to
Saturday night rare fish auction

If you plan to register and sell fish
at the Sunday Marketplace
(swap meet), add a (6′) Seller?s table
for a discounted rate of only $25
more (i.e. Registration + Marketplace Seller?s Table = $60).

If you only want to reserve a table for the Sunday Marketplace (and miss out on the speakers and other events on Saturday and Sunday AM), a table is
only $30.

Buyers without registration can access
the Marketplace for only $8.

Registration is also available on site at
the same rates?but please register early!
Hotel

The Big Fish Deal will be held at the Gaithersburg Hilton,
620 Perry Parkway,
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301-977-8900). The hotel is conveniently located just off Exit 11 of Interstate 270 (northbound), near the intersection of MD Route 124 (Montgomery Village Ave.)
and MD Route 355 (N. Frederick Ave.).
A special promotional room rate of $102 is available to The Big Fish Deal participants from March 4- March 8
Make your reservations soon.
Marketplace/Swap Meet

Looking to buy or sell aquariums, fish, plants, aquarium supplies?or whatever (as long as it?s legal!)?

Wouldn?t it be great if:
Your favorite vendors and hobbyists fish breeders all came together in a big room.
You didn?t have to wait around all day to buy.
You could sell your fish and supplies for what they were worth (vs. roll the dice in an auction).
You could collect 100% of selling price
On Sunday, March 6, The Big Fish Deal will feature a Marketplace to do just that.

This is the big hit each year.  Don't miss out on lots of people selling the items you are looking for along with hundreds of people looking to make a deal.
Need a Table?

At last count, there were only a couple of tables left for the Sunday Market Place.  Have things you want to sell? Register for a table soon.  Don't forget you can pick up a partner for the table too.  Share the expense.
The tables will sell out.
Register here!
Opportunities abound!

As of this writing, there are over 30 sponsors for The Big Fish Deal!
Here is your chance to become a BFD Sponsor.  There are several levels of sponsorship and they all will get your name out to the Cichlid world.  Check out the site for some of the different sponsorships available.  Become a BIG Fish Deal  s ponsor today!
Rare Fish Auction

If you are registered for the weekend, dont forget Saturday nights Rare fish auction.  This is an auction of fish that are donated to the club by our sponsors and members.  There is usually some really neat fish in this auction.
You never know what will show up in this.  Most of the fish will be on display in the speaker room on Saturday!  This is your chance to get a great deal.  Watch for more information.
   
Give a Kid a Tank Contest

A key goal of ?The Big Fish Deal? is to expose new participants to aquarium-keeping, to give them the support that they need to be successful and to inspire them to become lifelong aquarists. This starts with kids and families!

In support of this goal, CCA is holding a contest to award up to 15 fish tank set-ups to children between the ages of 7 and 14.

The rules are simple:

Children between ages 7 and 14 will submit their answer to the question, ?Why would I like to have an aquarium?? in the media of their choice (e.g. written essays, pictures, collages, mixed media, YouTube videos?whatever) to the address (or email address) below to be received no later than Saturday, February 27, 2016.

Participants need to include their response as well as:

Permission from parent or guardian and acknowledgement that you?ll be able to attend if you win (March 5 and 6 at the Hilton in Gaithersburg, MD)

Your contact information (phone number and email address)


See the website  for everything you need to know.
BFD Group Buys / Preorders

Many of our vendors have announced group buys or preorders for The Big Fish Deal. This way you can order what you want and have it delivered to the event.  No worring about having the vendor run out or if the vendor is bringing the certain type of fish with them. Set it up in advance!
RULE #1.  In order to participate in a group buy or preorder for the event, you must be registered for the event.  Vendors will be located in the speaker room and you must be registered to enter.

BatFish - Buy information
Cichlids of the Americas - Buy information
Dave's Rare Fish - Buy information
Invertebrates by Msjinkzd - Buy information coming soon
Tangled up in Cichlids - Buy information
Ted's most excellent food - Buy information
Your Fish Stuff - Buy information coming soon
A Big Deal from the King

"The ultimate DIY handbook; For the DIY aquarist"
550 pages
Softcover
For "The big fish deal" REGISTERED attendees ONLY: The King is offering his book for $25.00 for anyone that RESERVES a copy with him prior to the event.This book typically sells at $74.95.
To reserve, email him your name and quantity to joey@thekingofDIY.com
Any extra copies will be sold at $30.00 on a first come first serve basis at the event.
All book details here: thekingofDIY.com

You only have until Feb. 19th to reserve your copy!!!

Book will be personalized and signed on the spot.
Remember, you must be registered for the event to participate!
Aquarium Beautiful Contest

Each year the BIG Fish Deal transforms the lobby of the Hilton Gaithersburg into an aquascaped paradise with lots of beautiful tanks set up in the lobby.

The Big Fish Deal will feature an exhibition of freshwater aquariums of all shapes and sizes on display for the public and in competition for awards and prizes in the following categories:
Class 1 NANO TANKS _____UNDER 10 GALLONS
Class 2 MEDIUM TANKS ___10 TO 29 GALLONS
Class 3 LARGE TANKS _____30 GALLONS AND LARGER Class 4 CARES TANKS _____ANY SIZE TANK AND AT LEAST ONE CARES FISH
Class 5 THEMED TANKS ____ANY SIZE TANK AND ANY DECOR AND A THEME NAME
Class 6 PLANTED TANKS ____ANY SIZE TANK AND LIVE PLANTS
Please click here with any questions and to register your tank or you can click here to find lots more information on this exciting event!

The latest information I have on this is that we have a decent number of entries but we still need to fill some of the classes.  Lets show you CCA pride and your skills!
Check out our Sponsors!

The CCA would like to thank our favorite people and companies in the world.   Our Sponsors!  The list keeps growing.  We are so thankful for the amount of support that the sponsors are giving us.
Events like this could not happen without sponsors like you!
Become a BIG Fish Deal  Sponsor today!
Another way to see our sponsors is through the header on the forum.  Most of our top tier sponsors get a banner on the CCA forum.  They are always there for us so we are there for them.
Let's Talk Speakers!

Chris Biggs - The BIG man himself - Winnipeg, Manitoba
?The Mad Aquarist? A satirical romp through his life as an aquarist

Jeff Cardwell - The Legend - Kokomo, Indiana
?Monster Fish of the Amazon? and ?Brazil 2015 Rio Abacaxis?

Joey Mullen - Uarujoey/ The King of DIY- From Truro, Nova Scotia.
?How to be a resourceful and creative aquarist? and ?Decide. Plan. Execute?

Dave Schumacher - Yes, The Dave of Dave's Rare Fish  San Antonio, Texas
?Building Dave?s Rare Aquarium Fish: a Tale of Trial and Error? and ?Lamprologines?

4 World class speakers + 7 talks = A Great time!
For more information on the talks and the Bio's for the speakers checke the website at speakers.
The BFD 4 Schedule

Fri, March 4
6:00 ? 9:00 PM Registration Desk Open Montgomery Annex
5:00 ? 10:00 PM Aquarium Beautiful Tank Placement and Set-Up Lobby
6:00 ? 8:00 PM Select Vendor Set-Up Montgomery
8:00 ? 9:00 PM Jeff Cardwell- Monster fish of the Amazon Montgomery
9:30 ? 10:30 PM Joey Mullen- How to be a resourceful and creative aquarist. Montgomery
10:30 ? TBD Hospitality Seneca (3rd Floor)
Sat, Mar 5
9:00 AM ? 4 PM Registration Montgomery Annex
10:00 AM Select Vendor Tables Open Montgomery
8:00 ? 10:00 AM Aquarium Beautiful Set-Up Lobby
10:00 AM ? 4:00 PM Welcome Table and Information Resources Open Lobby
9:30 ? 10:30 AM Jeff Cardwell- Brazil 2015 Rio Abacaxis Montgomery
8:00 AM ? 4:00 PM Aquarium Beautiful ? Public Voting Lobby
11:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Dave Schumacher- Building Dave?s Rare Aquarium Fish: A tale of trial and error Montgomery
12:30 ? 2:15 PM Vendor Shopping Montgomery
12:30 ? 2:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
12:30 ? 1:30 PM Kids Event Lobby
2:30 ? 3:30 PM Joey Mullen- Decide. Plan. Execute. Montgomery
4:00 PM Raffles and Aquarium Beautiful Voting Closed Montgomery
4:30 PM ? 6:30 PM Hors d?oeuvres and cash bar Reception Montgomery
5:00 PM Raffles and Aquarium Beautiful Awards Montgomery
6:30 PM ? 8:30 PM Dinner (on your own)
8:30 PM ? 9:30 PM Chris Biggs- The Mad Aquarist Montgomery
9:30 ? 10:30 PM Rare Fish Auction Montgomery
10:30 PM ? TBD Hospitality Seneca (3rd floor)
Sun, Mar 6
8:30 ? 11:30 AM Marketplace Vendor Prep Montgomery
10:15 AM ? 2:00 PM Marketplace Registration Montgomery
9:00 ? 10:00 AM Dave Schumacher- lamprologines - Darnestown/Gaithersburg Rooms
11:00 AM ? 3:30 pm Marketplace Opens Grand Ballroom
3:30 ? 5:00 PM Clear Marketplace
3:00 ? 5:00 PM Clear Aquarium Beautiful

Schedule is subject to change at any time.
THE CAPITAL CICHLID ASSOCIATION, INC
A Growing Force in the Cichlid Hobby!

[BillT]

Too bad I was so unaware of fish clubs when I was growing up in the DC area and kept fish as a kid.