Why isn't there a American Garter Snake Association?????

[GarterGuy]

Well shouldn't it be the World Garter Snake Association?

[Thamnophis]

Well shouldn't it be the World Garter Snake Association?

That would be nice.

[Cazador]

The closest thing there is to an American Garter Snake Association is the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, as far as I know. It's made of scientists who either study fish and herps or use fish and herps to study various phenomena. There is a pretty fair amount of garter snake research that's done and presented, but this organization caters to scientists... not hobbiests. In my opinion, there is a niche that could be filled here: perhaps in collaboration with the EGSA. Then, garters could be shipped to Asians, Australians, Middle Easterners, Africans, etc. to form a larger organization...


but we'd need a catchy name for it .

[Thamnophis]

And some people would consider the Messageboard of Kingsnake.com (the Garter and Ribon snakes forum) as a sort of Americain Garter Snake Association.
I take a look there sometimes, but I "hate" the lay-out and so of those messageboards. I prefer the forums like this one. Much more well-organized and easier to look back for information.

[GarterGuy]

And some people would consider the Messageboard of Kingsnake.com (the Garter and Ribon snakes forum) as a sort of Americain Garter Snake Association.
I take a look there sometimes, but I "hate" the lay-out and so of those messageboards. I prefer the forums like this one. Much more well-organized and easier to look back for information.

Yeh, I agree Thamnophis.....I used to be on the Kingsnake.com Garter/Ribbon snake forum, but really wasn't impressed with how it was put together either. I guess I'm lucky that there is a Herp club here in Lancaster where I live and the pres. of it is a big gartersnake fan.

[Cazador]

I think Kingsnake.com offers a good business model, but it's not what I picture when thinking about a garter snake association. I think of an organization that has goals, occasional meetings, perhaps conducts or sponsors research, an so on. I don't think Kingsnake does any of these things. Like Kingsnake (and this website), it should promote responsible pet care and provide information to help and educate its members. I suspect that the EGSA has a charter or stated goals like these. Is this right?

[Thamnophis]

The goal of the association is: (in German)

Die EGSA möchte den Austausch von Informationen unter Gleichgesinnten fördern. Neue Erkenntnisse bei der Haltung und Zucht von Strumpfbandnattern sollen gesammelt und bekannt gemacht werden. Zuchtprogramme sollen die Zahl der Importe aus den USA verringern helfen. Darüber hinaus sollen neue Freunde für die Schlangengattung Thamnophis gewonnen werden.

Let me try to translate this in English:

The EGSA wants to stimulate/promote the exchanging of information between Thamnophis-lovers.
New knowledge about the keeping and breeding of Garter snakes must be collected and made public.
Breedingprogramms should decrease the import of snakes from the USA.
Trying to make new friends/lovers of the genus Thamnophis have to be made.

I hope I translated it in the right way.
Maybe Daniel can tell more about the goals of the EGSA.

[KITKAT]

Your translation was very good.

[abcat1993]

I may have said this before but if you get the Yahoo! toolbar it lets you translate. Just pick the language and press a button and you're done. But it doesn't always work and doesn't know some words

[Cazador]

Holy cow. Can you provide a link where I can get that Yahoo! toolbar?