April 2008 Photo Contest Winner:
2007 Photo of the Year Contest Winner:
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Oklahoma Aquarium Association
Club History
The Oklahoma Aquarium Association traces its origins back to the very first aquarium club in Oklahoma started on June 8th 1949 by Mr. Bill Burt. He had placed an ad in the now famous "The Aquarium" magazine about forming an Oklahoma City club and found fourteen other "fans" to meet with him on that first night. Mr. Burt found us just last year through one of our flyers at a local pet store and was made an honorary member by unnanimous decision at his first meeting appearance. Mr. Burt was the club's first President and stayed involved with the club until he moved into a part of the city that, at that time, by his own account "killed all his fish." At last report, he still possessed a few guppies in his Nichols Hills home - so I guess the water there did get better over time. Another well-known figure of OKC aquarium fame, Howard Link, the distinguished owner of OKC's oldest aquarium store; Aquarium Interiors, was also an early member of this first installment of the OKCAA. This club was only active for a while, producing a bimonthly newsletter called "Aquarium News". From the records in our possession they had a membership upward to 35 people before fading into obscurity. In the late 1960s, another group of people reformed the club and were successful in their bid (the first and only time this has happened) to bring a National Aquarium organization to Oklahoma City. They hosted the American Cichlid Associaton's very FIRST National Convention in 1972. Time took its toll on this version of the club as it faded away as well. The original members if this club did go on to form several spins offs, one of which; the Sooner Fancy Guppy Association is still going strong today. The current OKCAA still enjoys a good working relationship with this specialty organization. The current incarnation was formerly incorporated in 1999 under the name Oklahoma City Aquarium Associaton, Inc. We now enjoy an on-line membership of 200+ at our forum and about 20+ regular members attending our monthly meetings. We meet regularly to discuss issues pertinent to the hobby and of interest to our membership. We also plan one social dinner every year in December and at least one outing - generally during the Spring or Summer of each year.
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