Miecia Burden

Miecia Burden 1941 - 2009. Miecia started in this hobby in 1975 with a just a 5 gallon tank in the bathroom as a decorating idea. Her next purchase was a 65 gallon for the living room in 1976. From there she expanded to a fish room in 1978 with a total of about 20 tanks in various sizes from 5 gallons up to a couple of 65's. She discovered Bob and Dorothy Daniells aquarium business in 1976 and through them learned about KWAS. Miecia joined KWAS in the fall of 1976 and volunteered to be the CAOAC representative where she was Recording Secretary in 1978 and hasn't been off the Executive or Board Of Directors since that time. She has held various positions multiple times (President, Editor and Corresponding Secretary) and currently is the Recording Secretary and Membership chair. Miecia has been active in CAOAC since 1977 and has held various positions in that association - President, Editor, Corresponding Secretary, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Membership and Information Binder. Currently, in CAOAC she holds the last three positions mentioned.

Miecia has received numerous awards over her years in the hobby: Junior & Intermediate Breeder Awards (KWAS), Breeder of the Year (KWAS) 1979, Service Award (KWAS) 1980, Bob Daniells Service Award (KWAS) 1981, CAOAC Service Award 1985 and 2003, Junior Merit Award CAOAC 1981 (BAP), CAOAC Past Presidents Award 1989, Hobbyist of the Year (KWAS) 2001, Honorary Member (KWAS) 2001, President's Award (KWAS) 2003, CAOAC 25 Year Service Award 2002 and CAOAC Newsletter Award 2003. She scaled back (no pun intended) in 1987 to five tanks and at that time became involved with computers and took on various other more time consuming positions in the two fish clubs - editor, membership and information binder. Miecia currently has 5 tanks from a 20 gallon up to a 65 gallon and has a "mixed bag of fish" ranging from an Oranda goldfish to a community tank of sharks and loaches which also houses a large Ghost knife fish. Another tank is devoted to Lamprologus brichardi, another to a colony of Neolamprologus multifasciatus and a third to a Paratilapia polleni.

Her interests in the tanks have always centered around catfish, sharks and loaches although she has raised and bred a variety of livebearers and egg layers. The only fish she has not ever dabbled in has been the African cichlids. She has even ventured into the marine environment at one time. Miecia has grown all kinds of 'live foods' for her fishes especially when she was in the breeding programs and has written several articles for the KWAS newsletter "Fins and Tales". She has one program that she has presented for our club on a few occasions about "Making Beef Heart Fish Foods". Miecia claims she is not a plant person although she does love gardening and has said that maybe that is some thing she should try in future years. Her other interests are her cats, gardening and the computer club. Sadly we lost a great friend in 2009 when Mieicia passed away. In her honour KWAS has introduce the 'Mieicia Burden Ambassador Award' last year at the 2009 CAOAC Convention. May you rest in peace dear friend.