Fwd: Re: NANFA-L-- topics for discussion


Subject: Fwd: Re: NANFA-L-- topics for discussion
dlmcneely at lunet.edu
Date: Wed Sep 01 2004 - 12:54:54 CDT


Originally sent to Chris Scharpf but intended for NANFA. thanks, Dave

David L. McNeely, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Langston University; P.O. Box 1500
Langston, OK 73050; email: dlmcneely at lunet.edu
telephone: (405) 466-6025; fax: 405) 466-3307
home page http://www.lunet.edu/mcneely

"Where are we going?" "I don't know, are we there yet?"

attached mail follows:


Thanks for your observations, Chris, and thanks to everyone, especially Peter U. and Bob S., who have tried to clarify this for me. I hope everyone who participates in the list can try to remain collegial (and I think they have; I don't remember name-calling) and I hope that all discussions will help people to achieve the mission of NANFA. Being that that includes conservation, I suspect that some of the restriction on discussion will impede that part of the mission somewhat. Education about conservation is accomplished through discussion, and understanding of the laws and politics related to them is essential if conservation is to be accomplished.

But I think this organization is great, for all the reasons that other list participants have cited, including the contributions of fish keepers and breeders (which have been helpful to me as an academic biologist, btw), the contributions of academicians, the contributions of conservation agency personnel ........... and on to include all members, including those who just want to read about fish.

And Chris, AC has become a super publication, for not only the technical articles, but for the papers on fish maintenance and breeding, the abstracts of reports published elsewhere, the ads for books and aquarium paraphenalia, the inquiries from those seeking or offering fish for trade, on and on. The early days of AC were great, too. All publications start, evolve (oops, the word just slipped out :-) ) , grow, become what they are. I remember National Geographic when it was strictly non-political. Many don't know that it started as an academic publication (now, I don't remember that!). Things change. AC has changed, and will continue to do so.

I have not been able to attend a convention, but I have contributed in other ways, and intend to continue to do so. I'll lay off the list for a while, while I think about it. Thinking about things is a part of my nature, and a part of how I manage to get through the morass of life and work. Since I tend to feel like I think best when stimulated by other's thoughts, I tend to favor discussion that is as free and open as possible. I may feel like I've lost something for a time (short, long, forever?). I certainly missed the list when it was "down." Unlike Peter, I did see some acrimony in the thread on "ugliest fish .......... ." But I can work around that, unless it degenerates into name calling directed toward other list participants (it didn't), or that is simply venal. A colorful, well directed epithet can be useful in a discussion.

The conservation and education grants are super!! Yes, I sought and won one, so maybe that comment is self-serving? With the support, I contributed to education, and I hope to conservation -- my students and I found a previously unknown population of Arkansas darters. So it served the purposes of NANFA. Thanks to all who made it possible!!

Peter, do let me know about your planned trip to NE Okieland.

I've got some things to think about. Bye for now. I'll just monitor, and see whether I want to participate again eventually.
  

Dave in Okieland, where all fish except those in reservoirs are endangered, since all water has only five purposes: drinking, irrigation, waste disposal, industrial activity, recreation.

David L. McNeely, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Langston University; P.O. Box 1500
Langston, OK 73050; email: dlmcneely at lunet.edu
telephone: (405) 466-6025; fax: 405) 466-3307
home page http://www.lunet.edu/mcneely

"Where are we going?" "I don't know, are we there yet?"

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: Fri Dec 31 2004 - 11:27:11 CST