What with it being 2008, I thought it would be good to open up the first official TONMOCON III thread. There has been some discussion in disparate places... and there have been a number of "mini-cons" where TONMOers get together in smaller gatherings. I thought we could start with a poll to gauge interest in location...

I voted Monterey. That way, even if I am puking this time, I can make it. :grin: Besides that, I like Seattle because we could organize a GPO dive.

<shamless>BTW, the talk I was going to give is still all ready...</shameless>

i think one in Miami would be amazing. Mostly because i live close by, but also because there are a lot of aquarists here as well as the Seaquarium nearby. Also Tom (the collector that gets many of the O. Briareus for our members) lives close as well, and he might be willing to come, maybe bring a few octos too :sly: For members that could come, there are also many interesting things to do while here such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, and for those who like it, fishing. If not, one in Sarasota wouldn't be a bad idea either..

I would say SF, but I don't think the new Cal Academy would be open then. If there is interest, I could find out.

I said Mote in Sarasota, Fl love the weather, and I have relatives close by could actually come!!!

If it cant be Miami, i vote for Sarasota as well.

Miami's good too, I have relatives their too!!!

anywhere in fl, a college students budget doesnt allow for much airfare, lol

I vote Miami, I could get cheaper airfairs to there (check out skybus.com, new, really cheap airline) if I was able to go, Sarasota would be good as well

If it's sarasota again, i am NOT driving... at least in one sitting again... or maybe at least not on 2 hours of sleep...

Have I mentioned that my new sister-in-law works at the New England Aquarium?

She does.

I voted Monterey, since I like alternating East Coast/ West Coast if we're sticking with the U.S.... Seattle might meet that requirement, and then #4 could be New England and we'd hit all 4 corners... I'm not sure I could afford an international version, but if I can I'd be fine with that.

I have to admit I voted New England because I've never been to that aquarium and we could drive there!:smile:

West Coast. If we choose Monterey, I could get the ball rolling pretty quickly. Frankly, I'm into Seattle. Great, great town, awesome aquarium. San Francisco is potentially good, so is Long Beach (everybody fly into Burbank, however, LAX sucks. Great bar, horrible experience otherwise), or perhaps San Diego (Scripps Institute, Sea World). Then maybe New England next time, just because I've never visited that aquarium. Then there's always Oahu, but for us mainlanders, that's like an international flight.

Were we intending to do this every year, or just biannually?

honestly, I don't know. Everywhere seems too far for me.


Edit: But Monterey was nice

Wow, talk about level voting! (At the time of this post, results are 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, respectively).

I personally haven't figured out annual or biannual. Once per year seems somewhat costly for me, but at the same time, 2 years feels like a long time to wait for something so fun and rewarding. Right now my going assumption is that this will be a 2009 event. It does require a fair amount of coordination and notification. But, I might be able to swing something this year if Cthulhu's stars were aligned.

NEAq is really great, been there a couple of times. Monterey was an amazing experience for me and my family, what a beautiful place to be. Mote was great -- Jason and everyone at Mote were so accommodating; it really made for a great experience. But, we were just there... I see a lot of posts from Floridians wanting us to go back, but I imagine for this next trip we may want to go someplace else.

I would be up for going back to Monterey this time (as I imagine we'll try Mote again in the future as well). I voted for Seattle, however. That's one place I've never been, and Dr. Roland Anderson has been a long-time friend of TONMO.com (although I haven't corresponded with him in years). However, if that does prove to be too remote and costly for the rest, I'm open to input. I know folks like Jonathan (pipsquek) and RabidSquid were able to join us in Monterey because it was relatively local for them.

Hmmm... hard choice. I chose New England, because there is a chance I could make it. I would prefer Seattle because I haven't been there in years and the diving is really cool (although cold...). It would be fun to have a field trip to Friday Harbor or Vancouver...

No where in the midwest? I doubt I will go unless it was in SLC (or, maybe Kansas City since I have family and friends there) but I'm sure there are other people from the midwest that would like something a little closer to home.

Hey, what about the NRCC? Will they be up and running by 2008?

I'd also love to see more of the small regional get-togethers. I had high hopes for the southern CA one, even though only marinebio_guy and I actually made it, but even if it's not an official "TONMOCON" it seems like trips to many of these places, possibly with pics/videos/trip reports, would be a great way to have some "in person" stuff that has a similar feel to the "cool, we get to meet these people" experiences of the TONMOCONS...

Agree 100% with that Monty! I've missed a couple of opportunities to meet Tintenfisch. :sad:

No where in the midwest? I doubt I will go unless it was in SLC (or, maybe Kansas City since I have family and friends there) but I'm sure there are other people from the midwest that would like something a little closer to home.

Shedd aquarium?

That would be cool. I doubt I would still be able to go though, but that might be nice for others as an option. I've never been there but I hear it's really cool.

Well ... I voted FL because I know I can get there BUT if we do this in 2009 maybe the money stars will align better. The thought of a GPO dive is totally exciting but the cost would likely be prohibitive since standard wetsuits designed for east cost waters just won't get it up there. Do we have a way to rank or do second and third choices? I have ALWAYS wanted to see the SHED (being a seahorse lover) so I would have to vote Chicago if FL is out.

Alternately, the FL keys would be way different than Sarasota even though it is the same state. It offers warm water diving (though not much of a chance of a ceph hunt) as well as snorkeling for those who are not certified, a possible look at some active restoration projects, a possible look at a coral nursery (where they culture live rock) and I might be able to help with info, a possible presentation and more if considered. Additionally, flying to Miami is often affordable (if flying is ever really affordble) and we might be able to arrange small groups for the drive south, reducing car expense. Just a thought ...

I voted Seattle. It seems repetitive to repeat past TONMOCONs so soon. Also, I know a few people up in Seattle that I can get into contact with when need be.

Greg

I'm not voting because I have no idea where I'll be in 2009, but I will certainly keep an eye on TONMOCON plans as there's a good chance I'll be stateside sometime that summer. However, the next CIAC meeting is also in 2009, in Spain. Not sure whether the dates have been set yet.

Yea i think the Florida keys would be a great idea, and if we go night diving we could probably find many o. briareus easily thanks to their greenish tint. Plus Miami wouldn't be too far away if anyone wants to have a one or two day trip to there.

what about San Diego? We have a pretty good aquarium down here that has a really neat tidepool exhibit with an adult Bimac in it as well as another tank with an adult GPO. I could also show everybody were I see all my octo's and such.

i agree San Diego is an excellent location. (who doesn't enjoy a nice brisk dive every now and then)

Hey, we only had time for a short off shore snorkeling excursion in the Northern Keys after TONMOCONII but I wore a wet skin even there!

i'm fairly new to the site but i voted new england because it's close to me but i will travel anywhere really as long as it's in the u.s.
i hope you decide to do it in 2008 because i'm anxious to go to one.

How about the National Aquarium in Baltimore? it's got a great nautilus display, and the harbor it's in has tons of hotels and exotic restaurants. they also have a GPO, but it's getting old now.


May cephalopods be bestowed eternal glory!!

i voted Seattle that way some of us Canadians can make it up relatively easy plus im always up for a dive:P

when is everyone planning on having it?

We're going to stick to our 2-year cycle for the official TONMOCONs. So, sometime in the spring or summer of 2009. It'll be here before we know it!

OK. CIAC is scheduled for 7-11 September, in Spain, just to throw that bit of information out there...

what's CICA?

OK. CIAC is scheduled for 7-11 September, in Spain, just to throw that bit of information out there...

That's 2009, not this year, right?

what's CICA?

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/CIAC/

I went trolling for names we know and came up with this ;>)

Steve O'Shea and Kat Bolstad at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand were the first to find evidence of cannibalism in A. dux, in a female caught in New Zealand waters. They published their findings in the New Zealand Journal of Zoology last year. But O'Shea suspected the cannibalism was accidental.

New England!!! Manhattan is a 2 hour train ride for me. Boston area is a doable drive for me.

i voted Seattle that way some of us Canadians can make it up relatively easy plus im always up for a dive:P

please be Seattle, PLEASE BE SEATTLE! I can get there!!! It'd be nice to actually show up to one of these things some time... well, maybe I can save up my money and fly to where ever it is this year
*cough* seattle *cough*

I would be interested in a conference in San Francisco. I know Monterey has already hosted once, but I'd like another excuse to go there. I'd also consider Seattle.

I would be interested in a conference in San Francisco. I know Monterey has already hosted once, but I'd like another excuse to go there. I'd also consider Seattle.


San Francisco! Everyone would be welcome to view my cuttles and I can give the grande tour of SF :lol:

Totally! Daisy Hill is right across the Bay! Party at the Hill! New Steinhart - nautilus and GPO (maybe even a great place for the con)!

Theres also the aquarium at Pier 39. Last I went their underwater tunnel tank had a GPO.

My octopus will be irate if you guys dont come to new england

I'd say Arizona, except we have no ocean front, no aquariums...not much of anything really. Oh, we do have cactus. Cactii. Cactusses. Whatever.

Cactopusses?

cactopodes???