Our speaker
Keith Kalinowski – KJE Aquatics.
Back in 2016, US Navy and Desert Storm veteran Keith Kalinowski started up KJE Aquatics with his sons Jake and Elijah. Like a lot of us, he had been in the hobby off and on for a long time (in his case, over 40 years). His service in the Navy had made him take a break, and at times, life in general. His love of aquatic things led him to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, and no matter what else was happening, he has always maintained a strong interest in underwater life.
As his hobby involvement grew, so did his awareness of exactly what was not being offered in stores. He wanted his fellow aquarium addicts to be able to get high quality plants and products at affordable prices.
Like most aquarists who set up small businesses, he started out trying to support his own hobby while offering a needed service. His focus was on the average hobbyist who wanted to explore the world of live plants. As the KJE project took off, the Kalinowskis branched into equipment for the fish room and high-quality foods, while always keeping their goal of helping out hobbyists of all levels of experience who had developed an interest in planted tanks.
KJE is a family-run e-commerce business, based in Scotia New York (03/2022 KJE became a full-time gig). KJE sells locally bred fish across the nation, via online sales through their website and on Aquabid. KJE's main focus on fish owadays includes many CARES listed wild-type livebearers and a few species are "Pseudocrenilabrus" dwarf African cichlids. Our fish are our hobby - Live plants, and hobby essentials are our business.
Check out our Website @ www.kjeaquatics.com and if you want to talk shop, you can always reach out to us on our Facebook page found @ facebook.com/kjeaquatics
KJE can do pre-orders on all goods in stock. Let folks know to message me prior and I can give them discounted pricing and deliver it to the meeting. I will also bring some Botanicals and a few other random goods typically not available in any local stores to sell They can email me here at this address or they can message me on Facebook our business page here : https://www.facebook.com/KJEAQUATICS FYI : Facebook is faster .
September was also membership renewal month. If you haven't renewed your membership yet please consider renewing it at the meeting. It is also important that we have your current phone number and e-mail address. We do not share this information with anyone. With winter and bad weather on the way it is important that we can notify you if we need to cancel a meeting. Membership is $25 for the year.
We will also have our usual meeting activities. You may bring any fish or plants you are submitting for the BAP or HAP for auction. You may also bring up to 3 lots for a Buck-a-Bag auction. We plan to have refreshments and a short business meeting as well.
The address of our Wednesday meeting is 19 Mohawk Drive, Riverside, Rhode Island. Mohawk Drive is directly off of Rt 114, the Wampanoag Trail in Riverside. Route 114 is a divided road at the entrance to Mohawk Road. If you are coming from the North you need to go past it to the next turnaround, which is on the left just past the "Welcome to Barrington" Sign. After you turn around, Mohawk Road will be on your right a short distance past the "Anchor Bay Assisted Living" sign. There is a Blue and White sign at the entry of Mohawk Road for the Riverside Sportsmans Association. The building is at the end of the road.