Introduction

The DVRC Donor Program is a resource available to club members that provides fragments (frags) of corals for propagation wthin their own home aquaria. This program is made possible through the generosity of DVRC members and sponsors. The goal of the DVRC Donor Program is to encourage education, responsible reefkeeping, and sound husbandry techniques through aquaculture.

Explanation

Frequently members of DVRC will happily discover that they have a coral that grows extremely well for them. These are the corals that form the basis of the Donor Program. The concept is that this coral would do equally well in the tanks of other members of the club, so long as they provide it with the optimal growth conditions required by that coral. The owner of that coral, being familiar with it and how it grows, brings frags to a meeting where they are distributed to other people interested in growing that coral. These people then take the newly acquired frag and nurture it such that it also grows. Once the coral has reached a sufficient size such that it can be split without damage to the colony or the frag, it is then divided and a new frag is returned to the club. This is repeated at a later date so that each person returns at least two frags of each coral they receive. As a new coral is entered into this program a thread detailing that coral is started in the Donor Forum. A person bringing the first frags is noted as the Original Donor. People receiving frags are referred to as Sponsors. Should you wish to be on the waiting list of any coral, you simply respond to the thread specific to that coral asking that your name is added to the Sponsor list. The Donor program Officers will then automatically update the thread with your name in the Sponsors Waiting section of that coral. As a frag is made available and passed to you, your name will move to the Sponsors -Not returned section. This indicates that you have the coral but that it has not grown sufficiently to be split. Once a frag is returned to the program, you will advance to the Sponsors Returned 1+ Frag list. It is an obligation of this program that at least two frags should be returned to the program to ensure sufficient frag stock to cover losses that may occur in this program. We also encourage you to report on the growth of your frags in the same thread as that which you signed up in.

Theoretically, this will allow an endless supply of frags to DVRC members. Once a DVRC member has received a frag and passed on at least 2 more frags, they can freely do what they wish with their Donor Frag.

In an event where an extra frag is available and no one on the Waiting List is there to claim it, the Donor Frag can be passed on to any willing member present. This person does not need to previously have been on the Waiting List, but must still adhere to the other rules of the program.

If a DVRC Member has received a Donor Frag and it dies on them, they must report this to the Donor Program Director who will add annotation to the lists. The sposnor is able to place their name on the bottom of the Waiting List to receive a second try at a later date in order to give others a chance to receive a frag.

In an effort to distribute frags more evenly, we have instituted the Rule of FIVE frags per member. This number relates to how many frags a person has out, and how many have been returned. Each frag taken from the program adds 1 to the total, each frag returned removes 1 from the total. For example, a member has 4 frags out and has returned 2 frags. Essentially they have 4-2= 2 frags, thus they are eligible for a further 3 more frags.

Threads which contain sponsors growing a coral are marked with a yellow smiley face

A thread where all sponsored frags have died are denoted with a purple sad face. If more frags of this become available at a later date, the thread will be reactivated.

Participation

In order to signup and receive a Donor Frag, you must complete the following:

• You must be a paid, current DVRC member.
• You must be in attendance at the meeting they are handed out.
• You must previously be on the Waiting List.
• You must not have more than five Incomplete Donor Frags.
• You must be able to provide the correct environment for it to grow.
• You must have reported on the growth of all of your current Donor Frags.

Frag Standards

In order to make sure that everyone participating has an equal chance at growing their frag, it is necessary to establish a predetermined size and standards. This will ensure that all participants have a frag that is considered healthy and growing as well as large enough to be self sufficient. All frags are recommended to follow the standards, as well as their respective standards for the type of frag, provided below:

• All frags should be mounted with the exception of starter cultures.
• All frags should be showing new growth.
• All frags should be healthy and not visibly deteriorating.
• All frags should be packaged securely. Double bag if necessary.
• All frags should have the name of the sponsor and what the frag is on the container.
• All frags should meet their respective requirements listed below.

In addition:  All Frags must be passed to the Donor program Officers to be distributed to the next sponsors