Established in January 1993, the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS) is a nonprofit organization of marine hobbyists brought together by the desire to promote a better understanding of the life we keep in our marine aquariums. Our focus is to increase the longevity of marine life in a controlled environment and to encourage that life to propagate freely. Only through education and the sharing of ideas can we expect a future for our hobby. Anyone interested in advancing these goals is invited to join.

CMAS meets monthly September through May, on the third Saturday of the month. Our regular meeting space is at the Schaumburg Library DIRECTIONS. (phone for library is 847-885-3373), in the Rasmussen Room on the second floor, at 1:00 p.m. Meetings generally begin with a short review of club business, moving on to the main program (if applicable) and then to an open discussion among members present. Everyone is welcome to bring their questions and/or problems to the club for help and most discussion topics originate this way.

Over the years, CMAS has had the good fortune of being able to bring its members some extremely informative and interesting programs. Some of these programs have been presentations by fellow club members. For example, recently Mike Kirda showed us slides of his diving trip to the Philippines, and John Brandt told us of his trip to American Samoa to address the Coral Reef Task Force. Doug Lehman has discussed do-it-yourself calcium reactors. In previous years John Vanore gave an outstanding slide show presentation on some of his diving trips. Bryan Bortman spoke on how he netted and collected his own fish during his early diving excursions, and way back in 1993, Steve Kossack and Dennis Gallagher each gave presentations on protein skimmers and the nitrification cycle respectively. There have been hands-on demonstrations of propagating soft corals and gorgonians, swap meets, raffles, and field trips to such places as the Shedd Aquarium and supporting dealers' stores. For more details about past meeting see the meeting section and peruse past editions of Ocean Currents, both of which can be found from the home page on this web site.

CMAS sponsored day-long seminars in 1999, 2000, and 2002 which included talks by three or four well-known aquarists (Dr. Ron Shimek, Mike Paletta, Scott Michael and Lynn Funkhouser in 1999; Julian Sprung, Larry Jackson, Richard Harker and Morgan Lidster in 2000, Giselle Muller-Parker, Lynn Funkhouser, and Ron Shimek in 2002),exhibitor booths, dinner and a raffle. CMAS will probably not repeat these day long seminars as long as IMAC holds it's excellent 3 day event in the Chicago area since many nationally known speakers attend (see the CMAS meetings section for details on the IMAC seminars).

Besides the forum for fellow member presentations, CMAS also has had the ability to bring its membership some truly outstanding guest speakers. Recent speakers have included Janet Nestlerode and Beth Hinchey from the Aquarius, Kelly Jedlicki speaking on puffers, Sanjay Joshi talking about aquarium lighting,and Ferdinand Cruz speaking on net-caught-fish. Farther back in time speakers included Rick Freed of Aquascape Aquarium; Jay Raymaker and Mike Sergey of Living Sea Aquarium; Burt Marks of Northbrook's Aquarium Inc., internationally recognized author and lecturer J. Charles Delbeek, underwater photographer Lynn Funkhouser, local clownfish breeder Joe Lichtenbert, author and lecturer Julian Sprung, author and lecturer Tom Frakes of Aquarium Systems, Inc. (SeaScope Magazine), and author and lecturer John Tullock, formerly of Aquatic Specialists.

Although these special guest meetings bring out the largest attendance, the regular monthly meetings are really what CMAS is all about. Information exchange is the heart of our society. From homemade wave makers and protein skimmers to Magnum canister filter repair -- debates over calcium levels, cloudy water and pH control as well as helping new hobbyists learn the ropes -- the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society caters to the making of all of its members welcome.

In the summertime CMAS holds a barbeque at a member's house, and occasionally during the year members open their homes for "Tank Tours," when all are invited to come see others' tanks.

CMAS also has a good relationship with many pet stores throughout the Chicagoland area, as many of these stores offer our members discounts on livestock and supplies. Supporting dealers are listed in our newsletter, Ocean Currents, and we urge members to visit them.

The Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society is also a member and supporter of Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA) -- the national society to which CMAS actually owes its origins, for if it wasn't for MASNA, the founding members of CMAS would not have "found" each other. And MASNA announced its support of CMAS by awarding the 1997 Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA IX) to the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society!

So regardless of whether you're a beginner, an "old salt," a fish-only person, or a reef maniac, the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society has something in it for you. To join please e-mail Bob Sosolik at twoslik904@sbcglobal.net and request information or come to a meeting and join in person. Either way, join CMAS today!