PRESS RELEASE

Stop the rot.

The hobby fights back  

Link to : International Importers /Exporters -Public List 

The gradual but relentless erosion of the organized hobby throughout the world needs to be halted and reversed.

This is the sole premise behind the formation of  IFOCAS, The International Federation of Online Clubs and Aquatic Societies.

IFOCAS has been established simultaneously in three continents as a pro-active pressure group catering for the requirements of clubs worldwide. It is not only able to offer practical support in all areas of club activity and publicity, but also assists clubs to get out onto the worldwide web and collect the thousands of potential new members who are newcomers to the hobby and presently only use the internet as their means of communication.

Aquatic web services, help, and enquiry sites on the web receive an estimated one million enquiries per annum. There are presently less than thirty clubs worldwide with an active presence on the web – all are thriving. (There are at least 30 clubs in the UK alone dying through lack of new members. pers comm.).

All of the most important and active web enquiry sites have joined IFOCAS – all feel that they have huge traffic volumes that could be of great assistance to existing clubs. A question asked very frequently to all is  “Where in my area can I get help and advice?”   IFOCAS is therefore in a prime position to act as the conduit in redirecting these hundreds of potential new club members into their local clubs and societies.

IFOCAS is financed by sponsors who are granted Affiliate Membership but no other benefits.

Policy is dictated by the Participating Membership.

Membership is free to clubs, societies, public aquaria and fish study and research groups .

All IFOCAS services such as help with website construction, publicity and contact establishment are provided to members at no charge, save the members conforming to a few basic, simple terms of membership and placing an IFOCAS logo on their web sites.

IFOCAS has three categories of current membership.

Full Participating Membership is open to clubs, societies and organizations and is free as long as these bodies maintain an online web presence and supply an active email address to which enquiries will receive a reasonably speedy response. (Potential new members being redirected from the web are unused to slow responses which in web terms are often indicative of an uncaring attitude).

Affiliate Membership is a halfway house for clubs that cannot, or have not yet, established an online site and communications channel. Affiliate members will be freely given every assistance to set up and maintain a web site and email address. IFOCAS will provide free sites for affiliates plus any other ‘computer, material required.

Affiliate membership is by subscription to cover postal charges where email and web communications cannot be used. Currently (year commencing January 2001) Affiliate Membership costs:   US $10.00  Aus.$10.00  £ Sterling 5.00   euros  10

Per annum. Affiliate Membership charges will be refunded pro rata as soon as the Affiliate becomes a full Participating member.

Affiliate Membership is also granted to sponsors, though no other offers above apply to this grade.

Commercial Membership is open to all aquatic suppliers and equipment manufacturers and traders who are prepared to actively display the IFOCAS logo on their web sites and promote the activities of other fellow members where possible. Commercial Membership is free.