How old is OVAS?

[BigDaddy]

This is the most conclusive evidence we have to date

An OVAS newsletter dated April 1969 says that the club celebrated its 15th anniversary on March 27 of that year.  So, that would mean that the club was operational in 1955.

Interestingly, the newsletter says it was attended by 70 people out of a total enrollment of 77.  The auction had over 170 items available.

Also a cool point, Dr. Herbert Axelrod is listed as an Honourary Member!

If anyone has any hard and fast info that would put the club's activities earlier than 1955, I would be happy to hear of it.

The newsletter is going to be scanned soon and available as a PDF file on the website.

Otherwise, we are 2 years late in celebrating our golden anniversary (in case you missed the cake in May)

[Julie]

Oh my goodness BD, I had no idea you were that old.

Anyways it's all a good thing. 

[BigDaddy]

After some further reading, I found the official date the club was created on.

March 11, 1954

[az]

After some further reading, I found the official date the club was created on.

March 11, 1954

wow!

[darkdep]

Very cool.

I've dug up a nugget of info from some of the old OVAS newsletters from around the 1989-1990 timeframe.  There are editorials in there talking about a joint project between the City of Ottawa, the Museum of Natural Science, and OVAS to set up a public aquarium in Ottawa.  From the sound of things, they were getting quite close to having it happen and the City was going to fund it.

Any oldtimers remember this or know what happened?

[pegasus]

BD, did you get these newsletters from Dr. Peter Rubec, if not I'll try to reach him again. One more thing... I think I saw the name of two of our most beloved presidents in the name of a forum member, maybe this person would have more info.

[pegasus]

Very cool.

I've dug up a nugget of info from some of the old OVAS newsletters from around the 1989-1990 timeframe.  There are editorials in there talking about a joint project between the City of Ottawa, the Museum of Natural Science, and OVAS to set up a public aquarium in Ottawa.  From the sound of things, they were getting quite close to having it happen and the City was going to fund it.

Any oldtimers remember this or know what happened?

I do and maybe so would Limmer (Peter) We all worked hard for this project. We were even looking for land on the Lebreton's Flats or in Aylmer. The person in charge of the project died a couple of years ago.

[BigDaddy]

BD, did you get these newsletters from Dr. Peter Rubec, if not I'll try to reach him again. One more thing... I think I saw the name of two of our most beloved presidents in the name of a forum member, maybe this person would have more info.

Actually pegasus, BigMomma got the newsletters from the National Library.  We will likely be scanning them and making them available online.

[gmueller]

Thats wild, i had no clue that ovas has been for like 52 years.
congrats on surviving.
the only other club that i am aware of that has survived for decadeds are the freemsons

once again congrats

[darkdep]

LOL the freemasons have been around a bit longer than OVAS I think

[mseguin]

The Question is...how many freemasons ahve been OVAS members? 

[gmueller]

The Question is...how many freemasons ahve been OVAS members? 

Thats true

[rockgarden]

Was this a TEST question? Don't know.

It's an interesting topic though and hopefully BD you will be able to find more info around.  I know that, in my case, I was a member of the Regina Aquarium Society executive back in the 70's.  I recently mentionned to one of their executive that I will be supplying them with scanned images of photos that I took of RAS events back then (assuming that I can find the originals eventually  .One of the benefits of the digital era - scanned images.


Ron

[GlaziersDaughter]

I remeber the joint project for the aquarium, it caused quite a stir in the membership, some for, others against.  The original idea was to incorperate OVAS along with a bunch of other legal stuff in order to get certain funding etc.  It started out messy... then eventually disappeared..

I must say I do miss the people though, Murray Latoure, Terry Bryant, xxxx Koontz (honourary lifetime member and breeder of incredible discus) The Cass boys and so many more.

Very cool.

I've dug up a nugget of info from some of the old OVAS newsletters from around the 1989-1990 timeframe.  There are editorials in there talking about a joint project between the City of Ottawa, the Museum of Natural Science, and OVAS to set up a public aquarium in Ottawa.  From the sound of things, they were getting quite close to having it happen and the City was going to fund it.

Any oldtimers remember this or know what happened?

[Sue]

Steve Cass is still a member, he might be one of the Cass boys you mention.

[GlaziersDaughter]

Steve Cass was one of the Cass boys, tonnes of chichlids ..... tanks taking up most of the basement of the house.  Back in the days when there was best planted tank show and best live bearer etc and the judges spent the day going from house to house in the competition.  Many were bribed with coffee and home made goodies... though we were all assured it never swayed the judges.  xxxx even refused to judge my bumble bee goby because he declared it too small to be seen... that we never let him live down...   I spent my childhood growing up in OVAS and became the youngest board member at the age of 14.  Jar Show Chairman (or woman in this case).  Alot of memories...

[PaleoFishGirl]

We'd love to hear more about the history of the club! Maybe there are some fun things that used to be done that we could re-institue

[Sue]

Steve still has wall to wall tanks downstairs! Or at least he did last time I was there. His parents are really nice too. His Dad comes out to club once in a while too. You should try to make the sept meeting and touch base with him.

[fishycanuck]

Can we have another cake anyway?

[dan2x38]

I remeber the joint project for the aquarium, it caused quite a stir in the membership, some for, others against.  The original idea was to incorperate OVAS along with a bunch of other legal stuff in order to get certain funding etc.  It started out messy... then eventually disappeared..

I must say I do miss the people though, Murray Latoure, Terry Bryant, xxxx Koontz (honourary lifetime member and breeder of incredible discus) The Cass boys and so many more.

Wow what a history lesson! I was not even born when this club was first in exsistance. Very successful! The fact that 70 out of 77 attended a meeting is excellent. That is a turn out of 91% of the club membership. Be some meeting today at 91% turn out!

[BigMomma]

Thank you for reviving this post ... I kind of forgot about it! I would like to hear more of what the Club was like in the 60s and 70s if anyone here would care to give us a little more history...

I still have in my possession those Newsletters from Library and Archives (I will have to return them at some point), I just don't have a scanner ... I thought it would be swell to have pdf versions on the site so that everyone could benefit from it. Maybe the new Librarian can figure out a way to do this ... right Peter?

What I noticed is that they use to put a lot of time and effort into their articles back then, which were typed on a typewriter not equipped with spell check (still they did a terrific job without it). Most of the adds were hand-drawn, they also had quizzes and crosswords. Also, what I found especially interesting (besides discovering the founding date) was that they had Junior Club members and their own little executive body ... What a swell idea, making the hobby a family thing and why not ... its a great thing for kids to learn and to grow up with!

[dan2x38]

how many pages per newsletter? I would help scan them and create as PDFs... let me know my hands are idol... you know the addage, "Idol hands are the devil's worship"... might keep me out of some trouble... 

[busdriver]

OVAS is almost as old as I am

[kennyman]

OVAS deserves to have a little biography on this site.

I would love to read those newsletter PDF's in the articles/info section.

I can ask my dear ladylove if she would let us use her office and equipment at Algonquin College to scan the newsletters and burn some roms.

[fender316]

that's crazy I would have never thought...... I assumed it was just a fish forum, they didnt have internet back then though!  So when did OVAS become an online club?

[Sue]

Its not an 'online' club, meetings start up again in Sept., and there's things like the BBQ and house tour going on this month.

[beowulf]

OVAS is almost as old as I am

Ouch.   

[dpatte]

After some further reading, I found the official date the club was created on.

March 11, 1954

Almost two months to date before my 0th birthday!

[dan2x38]

This thread was pointed out to me again. I was looking for some club history. Some cool info. in the thread give it a read.

Some interesting names in here does anyone know of them today? How to contact them? Whether they'd talk to us? Maybe attend a meeting or two? Any info. on past members or club history would be appreciated.

[BigDaddy]

Dude.. talk about Frankenposting!

[dan2x38]

Dude.. talk about Frankenposting!

What?

[groupie02]

ask wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenpost

[dan2x38]

I wanted to hopefully get some real info. about OVAS' past? 

[charlie]

Dude.. talk about Frankenposting!

This is good reading, & maybe can be cross checked with the research that Andre did and posted to make one article that is prominently displayed on the home page & the forum .
As the saying goes, "we need to know where we came from before we can get to where we want to go " or something to that effect 
So excuse the  Frankenposting!
A worthy bump