missouri's aquatic hobby and conservation organization
The MASI Challenge
We started the MASI Challenge in 2004 to encourage our local members and those of other aquarium clubs around the US to raise funds for and support education and charitable programs in the aquatic field. This was started with a donation to the Vern Parrish Fund of the American Livebearer Association (ALA), which awards annual grants to graduate students working with and studying livebearing fishes. A public challenge was made to the entire organization (ALA) to help support the Vern Parrish Fund which resulted in quadrupling our startup Challenge donation to the VPF. That year they were short of funds to make a single grant, with our donation and the subsequent response of other clubs, they were able to make two grants. We have run the MASI Challenge as an annual event ever since.
A History of MASI Conservation
MASI's commitment to making a positive difference in our community and in our world is baked into the organization's DNA from the star.
From our bylaws:
Article 2: Purpose:
The corporation is formed and shall be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes as set out in Paragraph 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any subsequent corresponding provision of the Internal Revenue Laws of the United States; more particularly, for the propagation and care of tropical and marine fishes; the instruction and dissemination of information on the propagation and care of tropical and marine fishes to the public; the purchase of supplies and equipment for the maintenance and operation of aquaria for educational, charitable and scientific purposes; to promote the keeping of aquaria for purposes of occupational therapy; to promote the hobby of aquarium keeping; and to raise funds for various aquarium and aquatic life related conservation efforts, charities, and/or educational organizations.
Article 7: Dissolution:
If for any reason it becomes necessary to dissolve this corporation, the assets held for charitable, educational and scientific purposes shall be applied so far as feasible toward carrying out the purposes stated in the articles of incorporation, excluding similar societies not Incorporated.
MASI was officially incorporated as a charitable and educational organization promoting the aquarium hobby in 1959, but was active for several years before as an informal group of friends who met in each other’s homes on a monthly basis
Several of our original founders were WWII and Korean War vets who installed and maintained aquaria in the “day rooms” of various veteran’s hospitals and rehab facilities free of charge – this charitable work carried over into the mission of MASI to this day
Some examples of our many charitable and educational works in furtherance of our above stated bylaws since the 1950s
1950s to today: Purchase classroom aquaria, supplies, and fish for various school programs
1950s to today: We run a Fish Rescue that provides help for folks who need to find new homes for aquarium or pond fish whose owners have passed away, that have outgrown their homes, or that are unwanted for any reason
1950s to today: We offer monthly hour long free to the public educational programs on various aquarium, pond and general aquatic topics
1950s to early 2000s: We have purchased, donated and maintained aquaria for recreation rooms in various veteran’s homes and hospitals
1950s to late 1990s: We provided free educational programs for grade schools about aquaria, aquarium animals, science, math, geography and culture of the people where tropical fish come from as well as helped teachers and students with various fish related science fair projects
1960s to 2010s, and again starting in 2022: We offer annual spring weekend events featuring several free to the public educational programs
1980s and 1990s: We co-ran an art program with the St. Louis City Public Schools art department that provided art supplies, and at the end of the school year, an art show and awards for the students
1980s and 1990s: We supported and our members maintained the aquarium in the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis
1980s and 1990s: We supported the St. Louis Zoo Aquatic House and Aquatics programs, bought equipment and specialist supplies for the tanks, supported the local founding of the Lake Victoria Species Maintenance program
1980s and 1990s: We purchased, donated and maintained aquaria for recreational areas of retirement homes
1990s: We supported the St. Louis Zoo’s Living World stream tank and supplied fish for various display tanks in the Living World at the St. Louis Zoo
1990s: We supported and bought equipment and supplies and donated large fish for the large Amazon Aquarium at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron
1990s to today: We supplied volunteer workers to help maintain the ponds at the Jewel Box at Forest Park
1992: During the Great Flood of 1992, we conducted an all donation public Fish Auction where all fish were donated by various fish farms and wholesalers around the USA for Flood Relief for the American Red Cross
Late 1990s: We purchased and donated books on various fish and aquarium topics to the St. Louis County Library system
2002: We purchased and donated identification guide books to the Missouri Department of Conservation to help them identify potential exotic invasive species of Channa
2003: We purchased and donated various Cyprinid fishes to St. Louis University’s Cyprinid genetic mapping project
2004 to 2006: We raised funds to help kickstart the Fish Ark Mexico at the University of Morelia in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
2007: We bought equipment for the Fish Ark and delivered it directly when we learned most of the funding had been misappropriated by the University’s president to fund his new office
Lake Tanganyika is one of the world's most diverse aquatic ecosystems, but is plagued by many problems including habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.
The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is called the "Piaba" in Brazil, where the innovative "Project Piaba" is addressing conservation by training locals to sustainably harvest fish for the aquatic trade.
Lake Ayamaru in West Papua New Guinea is home to many species, including Melanotaenia boesemani, but is under threat from a loss of habitat quality.
Lilies cover the surface of Lake Mirogoane in Haiti, an ecosystem that has a rich diversity of endemic livebearing fishes in the Limia group, but is also under constant threat from pollution and misuse.
MASI's Challenge Projects
The MASI Challenge has raised funds annually for and donated as much as 50% of our net revenue each year to various Aquatic related educational organizations and programs around the world. Some examples over that time include:
Project Piaba
Innovative program in Brazil that provides jobs by involving local workers in providing sustainable fish for the aquarium trade.
Coral Restoration Fund
A Florida program that grows and distributes corals into damaged marine ecosystems.
Hobbyists Aquatic Life Conservation Program
From the University of Morelia, a program aimed at helping hobbyists to assist in conservation program.
Stuart M. Grant Lake Malawi Net Buster project
Program that aims to prevent overfishing and harvesting of cichlids from Africa's famed Lake Malawi/Nyasa.
American Livebearer Association’s Langhammer Conservation Fund
ALA fund supports aquatic conservation and habitat restoration in prime livebearer habitats.
American Livebearer Association’s Vern Parish Fund
ALA program that supports conservation education and students research on livebearing fishes.
American Cichlid Association’s Guy Jordan Fund
The ACA's Guy Jordan fund supports research into cichlid diversity and conservation.
American Cichlid Association’s Paul Loiselle Conservation Fund
The ACA's Paul Loiselle fund supports habitat conservation research and species restoration.
American Killifish Association George Maier Educational Fund
The George Maier Fund supports research into killifish conservation and habitat preservation.
Conservation Fisheries
A U.S. program that focuses on the conservation of habitat for native U.S. fish species and populations.
Lake Miragoane Limia Conservation Project
Program from the Univ. of Oklahoma aimed at preserving the unique livebearers of Haiti's Lake Miragoane.
Running River Rainbowfish Recovery Project
Australian conservation program attempting to save the Running River Rainbowfish from extinction.
Zoogoneticus tequila Restoration Project
Mexican program sucessfully reintroduced an extirpated species to Mexico's wild rivers.
Amazon Research Center for Ornamental Fish
Organization that provides education on sustainable fish industry practices and conservation.
Save Amaru Lakes Project
Program supports aquatic conservation of Australia's Amaru Lake and habitat preservation.
Missouri Department of Conservation’s Sturgeon Watch project
Program from the MDC studies sturgeon reproduction and gains information for preservation.