So, I'm really glad I didn't see anyone at Hooters tonight. I just figured I'd say so.

When did you here this? I talked to Tracey less than a week ago and she said nothing about this. Just asking.

Oh neat new club.

Does far south side of Chicago, (Mokena, near Frankfort) count as Northern Illinois? I know you Chicago people think southern Illinois is anything south of Chicago.

Anything south of I-80 is downstate. But I'm sure you downstaters would be more than welcome if you don't mind traveling to northern Illinois.

-hank

sign me up and please bring me a slice of antioch pizza



if your willing to drive (or take a train) i would think welcome all

Was the RC crowd there?

everybody is welcome!! also the first meeting date has been changed!! it will be Saturday June 7th at 3pm! Sorry for the change, but I just can't make it during the week! If you are interested in coming, please just sign up on the website! It's free and easy! Plus I'll have your email address to keep you posted on future events!!
Thanks!!

you guys are a bit north of me but I will try and make it!

The more the merrier! Hope you can make it! We have ideas on having alot of frag swaps and special speakers, and such, but Saturday should be a good time.

Hey!
Just thought I would give you a quick update, the web page is up and running, please sign up if you are interested!! Also, I went to the sale yesterday at CC Aquatics, I got some amazing corals for 50% off! They were pretty busy yesterday morning! If you are looking for a good deal, and you can make it out there, they have some great deals going!! Plus freed hot dogs and burgers!
That's all!
Thanks very much!

Registered on the website today.

ditto

Signed up on web today..

Not so sure I am welcome and completely understand if that is the case being someone locally involved in the industry for years. However, now I am out and just enjoying the hobby.

Gurnee Here

Since you're in Batavia - you might want to check out Reef Plus too. IT's in North Aurora ( by Tommy O's Pub and East China Inn strip mall.) Doesn't quite have as large a selectin as Sea Escapes - but looks to be a quality shop and I'm getting to know the owner since it's closer for me to go there vs 30 minutes travel north.

I went there for the first time a few weeks ago.

The Poi Ponds were up and running - and I spoke with the owners. They made no meention of getting rid fo teh Poi fish. I don't know what it used to look like - but the Poi Ponds are all outdoors off to the side of teh store - under a canopy like roof. THe store is 2 rows of salt / and freshwater fish - with corals in the back of store.

So who's going to IMAC this weekend? I'm thinking of going Sat and volunteered to work in CMAS booth Sunday morning.

i was thinkin about it, but also have 2 bdays on sat...
how do u get to do the volunteer work?

IMAC starts on Friday and runs thru Sunday, so you can still make the parties!

For volunteering, you can go the the CMAS forum on RC or CMAS website (www.cmas.net) - The CMAS forum also has a thread that details a Free Pass to IMAC, so you can get into all of the seminars (normally you have to pay for these) at no charge.

right on, thanks

well i registered but man i am not getting ANYTHING from that site. cant see forums, new events, nothing
do i just need to be logged in (have to wait 24hrs)?

there's usually a lagtime of 24hrs or so.

Truth be told, our club site (cmas.net) is kinda slow (not alot of activity yet). It's sorta new and alot of us still post on ReefCentral in our forum over there.

Here's the link (not sure if NR will let me post it though)
CMAS forum

IMAC threads should still be on the first page

thanks for signing up guys!

Sharky, your email addy came back undeliverable, but I have you on the list of members. As for the site, I just checked it and it worked for me, so let me know if anybody else has any problems with it!
Also if you did not get an email from me about your signing up, please let me know!!

Thanks!!

Scott

Just signed up. Ill try to make the meeting on the 7th.

Great!! Hope to see you there!!!

scott

Signed up, I'm in!

Got you on there to StevieT!

See you soon!!

scott

Just came across the thread. I just moved back home from University of Iowa (graduated) and looking for a local group to join for nano reefers. I am completely in the dark on LFS in my area but still willing to share information. Also I am a computer engineer so if you want a legitamit webpage setup, I can easily arrange that for you free of cost

Justin

Hey jstad!
Got you signed up! Hope to see you at the meeting tomorrow!

Did not realize there was one a meeting today. Unfortunately did not check my email until after 3pm today.

??? its tomorrow (Saturday, June 7) at three. Today is the 6 and its Friday.

yep, the meeting is on the 7th!

Nice to meet you today, bigfun. I cant believe the crazy amount of corals that were given to us for free! I dont ever have to buy any to fill my tank up now!

What are you going to do with your corals you got?

So I herd you guys had a huge turnout....

Ok so get this.

My girlfriend and I are on our way up to the meeting then on to Wisconsin for a graduation party. We are on 355 when I see my tachometer going crazy, from 0 to 2500, I look over and the battery gauge is at 0. Look down at the computer screen and it is displaying "check charging system", AC goes out, xm radio goes dead, no power windows, nothing.

Crap, alternator is fried.

get off quick in Lombard and park in the Odyssey lot

K, now what.... Explorer won't start, I am stranded in Lombard with no tools.

Get the GPS and search for Auto. Comes up with AutoZone 1.0 miles down the road, cool.
So we walk the mile and get to the AutoZone, hoping that they lend or rent tools out.

Talk to the store clerks about the situation and they say they only loan out odd tools, nothing regular like a socket set etc. Basically I would have to buy that (and theirs really sucked) or wait about an hour or more for someone to show up with some tools from Morris or Wisconsin...

As I am talking to the AutoZone guys this man walks up to me.

"sure it is the alternator"
"yep, tell him what happened and what the computer is saying"
"I can help you, I have tools with me, I can change it no problem"

What!!! really, ok, so I'm in this bind, walk to the AutoZone and find a mechanic that has nothing to do on a Saturday than wait and give free labor out.

So I pay and we walk to his van (not as creepy as it should have been, it was a Windstar)
The guy was rough around the edges, his van was a total mess with tools and grease and equipment, but it was a work vehicle.

He drives us to my truck, offers for my girlfriend to stay in the van so she can enjoy the A/C, which she denies.

He starts going to work on the alternator. I tried to jump in but he would just say no, I got it, he even said that we could go over to the bar, have a drink, eat, and he would let us know when he was done.

I am trying to get my hands dirty with this guy and since this wouldn't be the first alternator replaced in a vehicle I knew what I was doing. But he insisted on doing it only letting me be the gopher and a spectator.

We get the alternator out in 20 mins, get the new one back in 10 mins after that, but got hung up on the serpentine belt (always the tough part) so that took 30-40 mins to string back on. By this time the sky is looking rather dark, and this guy is actually apologizing for it taking so long!!! I am more than appreciative of his help and keep telling him it is fine, you are the my angel for the day!

So we finish up, and just as we get the last tool put away the sky just opens up, dumps about an ocean of water on us, but we were done so talk about timing.

I am saying my thank yous’ and try and pay this guy for his help

"no, no, I won't take that, go and have a nice rest of your travels"

"please sir, take this"

Well he wouldn't take any of my cash, he did take the core of the alternator but I had already gotten credit for it at AutoZone so no cash there for him....

This guy, who never even told me his name, saved my ass and changed my alternator for me, all for free.

So, we get back on the road, debating on sill driving to the meeting, and looking at the weather.

We clean up, luckily I had a change of clothes because my shorts were trashed.

Get to the LFS around 5

Just the owner and the younger guy. They said there were 2 people that showed up, told me a few of the details and we walked around the store for a bit. After about a half hour of telling them my story and other small talk we decided to get back on the road and try and stay in the bubble of these massive storms in the area.

We made it up fine, after a little stop at my Grandpa and Grandma's house in Lake Geneva, and we ended up not having to drive in barely any rain. The day went from very bad to very lucky.

Crazy story! That makes two of us doing auto work yesterday!

Channahon is near where the tornado was, isnt it?

Yea, there were only two of us, and no corals for free.

Hey jwalsh!
It was great to meet you as well! That's funny on the coral! I'll bet there will be quite a few people kicking themselves before they get to read your post above!
StevieT, sorry you had such trouble. Sounds like you ran into one of those people, give, give, give! My mom always says angels comein different forms! Sounds like you ran into one! Nice story!
Sorry we missed you! I think the weather kept quite a few people at home. I don't blame them, certain areas were nasty!!
I'm putting updates on the webpage today!

later!
scott

I will have to try this adventure again, this time I am sure the power in the truck will be fine!!!


jwalsh- We got a call from my girlfriend's father and he said he saw three tornados touch down around Morris, at that same time I get an email on the blackberry from my dad (near Milwaukee, WI) who says the family is in the basement. So now I am thinking OK I can't go south, I can't go north, now what?!!!

I really hope Channahon is OK, I would hate to go back to a empty tank!

what a crazy day.

Dude Sea Escapes sucks their prices are horrible , go to Reef Plus their prices are awsome and the owners is really nice they also have a larger selection of corals and clams and they ACTUALLY take care of their fish properly Heres their web site http://www.reefplus.net/

Sorry I missed the first meeting. I'm a bit laid up at the moment, have an appointment with a Surgeon Tuesday, plan on being cut up by weeks end.
Hope to be there for the second meeting

Also cool job on the RC Club Forum

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay...amp;forumid=570

StevieT, that is a really great story. I also missed the meeting, but not due to to car problems. I had my cousins and aunt and uncle visiting from England, so I couldn't really blow off the family for reefing. (although it was tempting). I live less than 3 miles from the LFS too! For the next meeting I will do my best to be there, thats for sure.

Thanks Colin!
Hope your operation is not too serious! I'll be keeping a good thought for you! As for the rest of you, don't sweat missing the first meeting! I'm already trying to plan for the next meeting in a month or so.