• MACNA 2012 is coming to DFW, Texas



    Sept 28-30, 2012: DFWMAS is hosting MACNA 2012!

    For the past 18 months, the Dallas Fort Worth Marine Aquarium Society has been working towards hosting MACNA (the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America) in 2012. For the past 6 months, contracts have been signed and an incredible amount of planning has gone into making sure this will be an event to be remembered.

    The Sheraton in downtown Dallas is where MACNA will be held, during the last weekend of September. The hotel can hold 4000 reef addicts, so make plans now to attend. As many of you know, I'm a guy that loves to have fun and we have lots of ideas in the works

    Room rates are $114 per night, and the full conference package is $85 this weekend. MACNA lasts three days, and I strongly urge you to plan to attend the full weekend.

    This is our 20th anniversary for DFWMAS, and our second time hosting MACNA. That last time was 2002, and was my very first MACNA. I've not missed one since. Every year, speakers share their knowledge, vendors show their products, and attendees soak it all up. And then there's the late night drinking...

    There is lots to share, but for now, go check out our new site and register now.
    http://www.dfwmacna.com





    Richard R. is our first registrant - way to go Richard! You will be rewarded.
    Comments 23 Comments
    1. Electrobes's Avatar
      Electrobes -
      Hmm... Sheraton Stargroups Reservation Page isn't loading :*(
    1. Jessy's Avatar
      Jessy -
      So excited for this one. The DFW crew are long time MACNA attendees and are usually the center of the party anyway....this one is going to be epic
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      The site is working, and we are accepting registrations at the best (that means lowest) prices right now. It will go up within a few days, so if you want to attend the entire conference, $85 is a steal.

      Hotel room nights will be $114 at the Downtown Dallas Sheraton.
    1. yankieman's Avatar
      yankieman -
      signed up and looking forward to seeing you all there next year
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Be sure to reserve a room at the hotel as well. I've heard that it is filling up nicely, and you don't want to be stuck elsewhere away from the fun.
    1. snorkeler's Avatar
      snorkeler -
      "Drinks Sponsor – Reef Addicts – 508"... LOL... what does that sponsorship mean?
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Melev's Reef is sponsoring the two Margarita Stations in the vendors hall, and Reef Addicts is sponsoring the program. You'll see Crown Royal in the R.A. booth for sure.
    1. Robb in Austin's Avatar
      Robb in Austin -
      I am so there!
    1. yankieman's Avatar
      yankieman -
      Quote Originally Posted by melev View Post
      Be sure to reserve a room at the hotel as well. I've heard that it is filling up nicely, and you don't want to be stuck elsewhere away from the fun.
      Room all reserved would love to have a drink with you when we are there,,,,,,
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      That's an easy promise I can make.
    1. BigAl07's Avatar
      BigAl07 -
      Can't wait to meet yall at MACNA 2012!! Yall sound like a wild and crazy group
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      We definitely like to have fun. And that's really the biggest draw for me personally. All the talks and products are great, but the people factor is what makes it memorable.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Reminder: The $85 early bird package price is going to go up October 1 to $109.
    1. BigAl07's Avatar
      BigAl07 -
      I wish I could go ahead and book/sign up right now. Love to save some $$ but just not the right time.. Not yet!! I can't wait
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      The next price level will stay that way for a couple of months.
    1. reefkoi's Avatar
      reefkoi -
      Quote Originally Posted by melev View Post
      Melev's Reef is sponsoring the two Margarita Stations in the vendors hall, and Reef Addicts is sponsoring the program. You'll see Crown Royal in the R.A. booth for sure.
      Margarita stations?? If you need to add a third station I know w vendor that would make room in his booth.....under his table LOL
    1. coigula's Avatar
      coigula -
      Just quick note for a sanity check here.

      I go to MACNA conferences, but I also have a family to take on vacation. So when conference is in Dallas it is a bye year for Macna. No offense to Dallas as it is a great place to live but not where you go on vacation. I also lived in Cedar Rapids, IA - so I obviously didn't take a vacation in Des Moine. The thing is I dropped people off at Disney Land. Not dropping them off in a mall in an industrial city.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      There is plenty to do in the Dallas area for your family.

      The State Fair is the biggest on in the nation. And it is in the fair grounds, very close to an opera house (I saw Phantom of the Opera there one year), the Dallas Aquarium, the Science Museum, the Women's Museum (which was fascinating).

      The Dallas World Aquarium is a three story rain forest with all kinds of wild life, and thousands of gallons of aquariums at the foundation.

      Dallas' West End is entertainment for the evenings, with all sorts of things to do and see at night.

      Plenty of restaurants offering every kind of cuisine desirable, the most per capita in the nation.

      The Dallas Zoo would be a fun time. Six Flags over Texas isn't far. Hurricane Harbor is a massive water park, bring your sun screen. Glen Rose is a long drive, with drive-through Fossil Ridge Wild Animal park that lasts four hours with a lunch break at the center point.

      Downtown Dallas has the JFK Memorial and the Library museum for the tourist-inclined.

      The Galleria Mall is a three story spend fest that would melt you best credit card. But you said you didn't want to do that.

      Downtown Fort Worth has it's cultural district, the stockyards are just north, and you'll find Billy Bob's of Texas, the biggest Honky Tonk in the nation with more bars, indoor rodeo riding, and live bands playing simultaneously throughout their massive facility. The Fort Worth Zoo is just south, another destination worth considering.

      The Texas Rangers will have a ball game that weekend. They've been in the World Series twice, definitely one to watch.

      Frankly, if you put in the research, you can find plenty for your family to do for a solid week, without question.

      Plus Friday night is Casino night at MACNA, and Saturday night is the Gala with Jean-Michel Cousteau.

      Your problem is a lack of time, not a bad destination. None of you will be bored. The weather should be great that time of year.

      How's your sanity now?
    1. coigula's Avatar
      coigula -
      Wow my head is spinning just like that cartoon above. I'll run this by the family.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      I want to hear a resounding "we're coming to MACNA!"