A:  For a first convention for MCA, it went very well.  Jon Rink seemed overworked most of the time, but work seems to suit him. Bob Randall from the Minneapolis club pitched in and helped him work the enrollment process.  Matt Anderson from Mason City MCed Saturday, introduced the speakers (many of whom needed no etc), and helped with the Sunday Auction.  Doug Byal from EIAA ran the auction.  And, of course, Ray “Kingfish” Lucas ran his part.  This portion of the EXPO needed greater publicity.  Regular cichlid clubbers know what he does, but most noobies have no clue.  My Synodontis presentation went well because Jon Rink ran my equipment.  We had a wide assortment of fish entries in the show.  One of the best features was the awards presentation.  Brett Dailey took excellent photos of all the entries.  As the awards were presented, we saw the actual winning fish.  This would make an excellent presentation at the next IAA meeting.  I was going to make a web page of the entries, but Brett's pix were so good that I'm having second thoughts.  My (your) petricolas are evidently still learning how to breed -- no fry yet.  GCCA was apparently too busy to apply for MCA affiliation.  They’re hosting the ACA this July.  Some of us will be trucking on over.  I had lunch with Jon the Tuesday after the EXPO.  He was still too shell-shocked to talk about next year.  But I suspect there will be an EXPO II.  Just in from Jon: “EXPO 2007 will be either the last weekend in February or the first weekend in March.  Still working on the details.”  LA

The pictures below were taken by LA and by Sandy Cowles, Secretary of the Iowa Aquaria Association and co-owner of S&M Angels.

Friday -- May 5, 2006

12:00 pm -- Registration Table Opens

LA
Bob Randall and Jon Rink signing in Expo attendees.

SC
Opposite wall offered lots of cichlid items -- many available no where else.

12:00 pm -- Fish Showroom Opens

LA
Entrants, photographers, and observers start looking at early entries.

Meanwhile, upstairs at the restaurant ...

LA
Mo, LA (holding camera), Scott, Ad, Rusty's friend, Bill, Rusty, Brett at pre-EXPO munch off.

6:00 pm   -- EXPO 2006 Welcome

SC
Some of the usual suspects from the Iowa Aquaria Association.

6:30 pm   - Ad Konings - "Collecting Lake Tanganyika"

LA
Ad schmoozing before his presentation.

8:00 pm   - Larry Arnold - "Synodontis"

LA
Here's a Synodontis entered in the competition.  LA was busy.
 
9:00 pm   - Registration Table Closes

9:30 pm   - Rusty Wessel - "Welcome to Honduras"

10:30 pm - Hospitality Room Opens

12:00 am - Fish Showroom Closes

Saturday -- May 6, 2006

8:00 am   - Registration Table Opens

8:00 am   - Fish Showroom Opens

9:00 am   - Willie Goh/Jack Taylor - Discus Presentation

SC
Sandy experiments with photos during the lecture.

SC
Seems to work better with the lights on (Jon, Willie, Jack).

10:30 am - Ad Konings - "Collecting Lake Malawi"

LA
Ad signing one of his books before speaking.

LA
"We're here for the cichlids."

12:00 pm - Lunch

1 pm   - Mo Devlin - "Confessions of a Middle Aged Cichlaholic"

LA
Mo hyped on diet cola.

2:30 pm   - Rusty Wessel - "The Panuco Basin of Mexico"

LA
Ad and Mo with Rusty on the right.

4:00 pm   - Fish Showroom Closes for Judging
 
6:00 pm   - Awards Dinner/Pizza Party

SC
Who won?

SC
Where's the pizza?

SC
Where's the pizza and the beer?

SC
Where's the pizza and the beer and the band?

Willy Loh before and after winning Best of Show.

7:00 pm   - Dry Goods Auction

LA
The Kingfish gets around at http://www.kingfishservices.net/events.asp

LA
Ray "Kingfish" Lucas caught relaxing.  He donates all these items to the host club.

LA
More of Ray's stuff.

LA
Ray at work before the crowd arrives.

LA
Ray at work after the crowd arrives.

8:00 pm   - Fish Showroom Re-opens

LA
Who's looking at who?

10:00 pm - Hospitality Room Opens
 
12:00 am - Fish Showroom Closes

Sunday -- May 7, 2006

8:00 am   - Auction Registration Begins

SC
You are now an official bidder.  Bid 'em up.
 
8:00 am   - Fish Showroom Opens

10:00 am - Auction Begins

SC Warming up for the auction.

LA
"Alright now, what am I bid for ..."

SC
"Going once, going twice ..."

:SC
"Sold to the lady in the blue sweater."

Last Words.  Here’s the quote from Jon Rink to end this report:  “EXPO 2007 will be either the last weekend in February or the first weekend in March.  Still working on the details.”  LA