An open letter
To Ottawa Chris,
First your comments of me being proud are nothing but absolutely wrong. I have worked diligently for over twelve years in promoting this hobby to all of the general public. I had hoped that most people out there by now have lost the thought or stereotype that reptile keepers are freaks and weirdos.
As for a dictatorship that is the last reign I am attempting to achieve. As for ruling the hobby, I am presently not interested there are much better people out there that are just hobbyists not like you or I.Family is where it is at these days for me.
As for the personal gain comment when anyone has spent a tenth of the funds or hours that I have put into promoting this hobby then that person is welcome to cast a comment such as yours. I would love too see more people instead of taking as much time as to stereotype others or posting slanderous remarks put that time into working on the promotion of educating the public on reptiles.
The facility had asked me to change the date for the May expo do to a mix up in scheduling a number of weeks ago. They gave me the closest date that would also in addittion allow us to celebrate the
www.ssnakess anniversary as well the anniversary for
www.portcreditpets.com, by throwing a party the evening before with some live entertainment (two live bands) and food etc. Then the expo the next day. The event was booked for 7pm in the evening with the thought that if anyone attending the Ottawa Expo they would be able to travel back in time to attend this function. The Sunday would have hosted again the Toronto Reptile Expo. Saturday the 5th in Ottawa and Sunday the 6th in Toronto. This would have been a province wide reptile weekend extravaganza. April has always been a month we would normally have an Expo scheduled for. I believe actually ten years ago it was our first date back in Toronto. This date has now been cancelled and rescheduled.
As for the talk of the Ottawa show. Well I can say it was in the works. It takes a lot of time and planning to promote and organise an event of this magnitude. One cant handle it like a garage sale. There are officials and people to get on side in which I am sure you are finding out as you go. By-laws can assist an Expo or flatten an Expo.
In the past as well as in the future I have supported any and as many as I possibly can, Ontario Herp Shows. I have supported them across the country if when possible. Be it through table representation or flyers being distributed like yours were at the expo or our retail store. I will still post The Ottawa show flyers.
All in all after speaking to you tonight I was a little dissappointed from the discussion as well as the post. That is my opinion though. I would have thought considering we were in the same room yesterday for eight hours almost that if there was an issue you would have brought it up then. Instead of airing it out on a public forum. Regardless I took the initiative to contact you as my emails to you were unanswered to discuss this. As you can see though I think it will work out in the long run.
The date has been changed from April 06 to March XXth for the next Toronto Reptile Expo, the anniversary party for
www.ssnakess.com and
www.portcreditpets.com has been cancelled until further notice. This hopefully will not cause any conflicts with the April 05 event you are working on.
I can only add one more thing to this that I am hoping everyone will consider. These forums are a great tool for everyone to learn and express their experiences on. Thanks to Jeff, Shane, Matt, Linds, Trace, VG and the other mods it will survive. It is not a place to air problems between individuals. Talk it out or take the time and make a phone call or email even. Your right that when this communiity can work together we can make changes in any commuinty. We did it in Toronto and hopefully herpers in Ottawa will also be successfull in thier efforts.
Grant Crossman
www.portcreditpets.com
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