The twentieth annual "how to grow your own algae" seminar will be held on May 3rd and 4th at the Ecogenics Center for the Study of Alternative Solutions in  Sevierville Tennessee...located at the foothills of the beautifull smoky mountains national park

. this seminar will cover economically sustainable  algae production for biofuels extensively,.

 closed loop ecosystems technology vs other algae production systems

,  the  co-production of value added products. logistical strategies, 

  alternative feedstocks will also be covered including.the utilisation of waste streams for biofuels production.

 algae culturing techniques as well as selection of algae types for biofuels production

.take advantage of thirty years of experience in algae production to learn the truth about algae and its potential as a major solution to the fuel and energy shortage, global warming mitigation and  other factors affecting the national security and economic well being and future of society.

registration fee is $350.00 payable in advance to cover the cost of manuals and other training aids.

make cheques or money orders payable to Marc Cardoso-ecogenics

115 west loop rd. Sevierville Tennessee 37862

 to make a credit card payment .. go the the products list  at ecogenicsresearchcenter.org and go to the shopping cart and PAYPAL

C'mon down Y'all

Marc

WHOOPS made a typo. I meant to say go to the SERVICES list to the seminars section.

marc

Well we now all now how to make money from algae, hold a siminar and charge a fee for attendance.

Dear Dereck In Texas, Very rarely I write much on this forum.  My name is Patti Nicely, Vice President of Ecogenics.  It makes me laugh to see what you wrote regarding our making money at seminars?  I myself am a liscensed professional, and I am required to do CEU hours of 12 per year or 24 every two years.  I pay sometimes way much more not counting my food, lodging, and other materials needed.  You have to pay for an education if you want one.  And though I may not like how much I have to pay sometimes for my training.  It is all well worth the money and time and it pays for itself in various ways.  I don't know what you're complaining about, we're not twisting your arm or others.  However, we offer the seminars for "serious" people who want to learn from our 30 years of experience in this field.  That's why Universities come to us in exchange programs with foreign countries and people come from all over the world to attend these important seminars and go back to their countries to apply what they have learned from us. Think about it, colleges charge, even the public schools charge through taxes, fees, etc.  

Sincerely

Patti Nicely         

Patti,

I apologize if I offended you. Like you I am a licensed Professional Engineer in Electrical Power and Communications, likewise I have to keep my license current with 30-hours of CEU credits every 2-years.

My comments were not personal, but reflect the ongoing debate on this forum with regards to algae oil production. Like solar PV to date, it is not economically feasible compared to fossil fuel methods. I really hope that changes soon, but after 30-years in the energy related field, the promises are the same they were when I started my career with:

IT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

Dereck, What does that have to do with your remark about our charging to conduct a seminar?  If you will go to www.opisnet.com/ethbiomgmt.  Look at this site and check the prices for their seminars.  Fees for early registration is $1,995.00 and if you register on the day the seminar begins, the fees will be $2,195.00.  This is not saying their prices are not reasonable.  And I'm sure their seminars are well worth the money.   But you made it sound like we were charging way too much.  I understand the frustrations of trying to find solutions to fuel costs.  But this is precisely what we've dedicated our time and efforts over the many years is to educate people.  One can only go so far in any field we choose.  We can educate, but if that person chooses to go off into another direction, then that's their responsibly and choices.  Our seminar deals with how to lower the costs of producing bio-fuels from algae and waste streams.  I've seen this done!  I would NOT in any way back this up if I haven't seen it done.  What we have run into are individuals and companies who express such concerns and we taught them what they needed to know to get started they either use the knowledge or went in another direction.  One thing I can clearly state, we as a nation are going to have to learn to rely upon our own sources and brains and stop talking and DO IT!!!!!.  But one individual can not do it alone, we all have to work together and become part of the solution or this major problem will be forever unsolved.  So understand the only reason my concerns were the comment you made in the earlier post sounded critical and I wanted to give you a clearer view.  So from one professional to another, I think it's only fair that you understand we are not out to make just the buck we want to teach people to help them become self sustainable and self reliant.  Don't you agree that we should take our country and all of our resouces and make the best for ourselves?  All I see are tons and tons of waste that we could recycle.  And misguided efforts using strategic food crops to make fuel.  We can't feed the people and make fuels.  One has to go.  So why not use the waste streams and the algae?   We're only getting in deeper relying on fuel sources that are going to finish us off?.... We know better and we want to share what we know.  We are a non-profit organization and our fees are well below most.  So check those prices and others and maybe you will understand why I felt I needed to clarify your misconception.  Your answer back was totally irrevalent to what you said in your original post.  Which was a derisive and sarcastic comment.  I do not take offense at this, just clarifying.

Thank You

Patti Nicely         

I think our friend Dereck is expressing what many of us think when you claim 'The Vision Becomes Reality' and the other claims out of Ecogenics...

Many of us think ' well... why not just set up systems yourself? Many of them, 1000's of them... get yourself some seed money and set up acres of them. If you say you know how to do it and have been for 30 years... and its such a reality... and its so profitable that anyone can learn it from a video and 2 day symposium for a few 100 bucks, why sell it? Why isnt there a Ecogenics pump on every corner? Or why hasnt some company bought you out? or Stole your idea? That is how business works, they latch onto the best ideas and make money off of them. So why havnt they?'

Then many of us flash back the countless advertisements of 'get rich by buying my book' or 'we will teach you how to trade stocks like the pros by coming down to your local hotel and paying us 295$'... Why sell a stock trading book if it works? or any valuable idea? I would venture to guess that the only reason you would sell it is that it doesnt work.

It is just biz and not personal.

Gentlemen,

I don't think there's just a difference in opinion here, but a difference in mindset.  I've looked at the Ecogenics web site from time to time and read many of the threads here from Marc and of those responding to him.

My take is that he is someone that is appealing to the pioneer spirit of many people, those who want to be self-sufficient somehow on a grassroots level that works differently from big business and big academics.  A belief that there are people who want to learn about the process of growing algae and the possibility of using it as a biofuel who could only otherwise learn these techniques after completing an advanced college degree (or be hired by a company with non-discloser agreements).   Perhaps the heading "The Vision Becomes Reality"  is a bit overstated, but isn't that true of almost any product or service that offered in the market place... it's presented in the best light possible.

I think it's unfair to characterize his efforts as a scam and Dereck no need to back peddle on this, the sarcasm of your first post was a bulls eye shot to the heart. 

Anyone that reads Marcs post here, goes to his web site, looks at the photos, can clearly see what he has to offer and can make the judgment for themselves if it suits their interest.... therefore no scam.

I'm considering attending and maybe I'll learn some of the techniques of growing algae, maybe I'll find that it is more difficult that it would appear, maybe I'll learn that the processes of extracting and removing the oil are not complete, but at the least I'll learn that the pioneering spirit that made America great is still alive in the hills of Tennessee.

Hugh

dear froggy,

 what makes you think that we are not doing this all over the world? we have many companies that we are dealing with as consultants and are at various levels of development of  implementation programs in many countries, not only with closed loops but with PBR designs as well as in other alternative energy technologies that we have developed. I have a strict policy ..I do not borrow money for any reason whatsoever but will work with others under technology licence agreements.

 we deal with at least five clients that we are helping to develop thier PBR systems but we are also dealing with  entities in india, mexico,  many organisations in the USA, asia and europe some of these projects deal with many acres..

 why sell products and services?? because our research costs money and we support ourselves by the sale of our products and a few grants which mainly involve training students in many countries. we have many offers from companies trying to buy us out but we wont sell.. as we have a lot more plans for the future.

 we licence our technology instead and are negotiating  arrangements with at least six entities at this time some of them are oil companies 

.  we dont have ecogenics pumps on evry corner because we are not interested in getting into the fuel distribution business although we have proposed a nationwide system called the "energy hiway".I described it somewhere in these forums just as i have described many of our. ideas and projects.

 we are a research and educational facility first and foremost. we are not a commercial company and all our dealings with people on a business level are  entirely seperate from ecogenics that is why you dont see the ecogenics logo on evry corner.

like any educational and research entity we can licence our technology to other entities but that is seperate from our main activities which are primarily in the research and educational field. we have taught countless people in not only algae production but on methane, solar, ethanol,(under contract with the Tennessee Valley authority) gasification ,vermiculture, and other areas of  sustainable technologies including housing and sustainable community development(.another field in which we have been active for just as long as we have been in the field of alternative energy.) with many houses, condominiums,convention centers, even a church and industrial buildings and nightclubs  restaurants and amusement centers to my credit as designer and builder.

 research costs money  equipment costs are incredible, we dont line our personal pockets like so many others  in fact my lifestyle is quite modest. but i have no debt so the little money i allocate for my personal budget goes a long way and 90% of the money that comes in ,goes into ongoing research and development of various types in various fields. so thats how our "business" works. research and education are foremost, all other activities and enterprises are seperate and really none of your business.. yes we licence our technologies, yes we consult with many companies around the world.our outreach is global.

 as to people stealing our ideas there have been many instances of that happening including the  scandalous theft of the design of a major building which was built in a city which shall remain unnamed

 but I dont discuss those incidents and certainly not here as i try to STAY ON TOPIC. unlike so many others... you know, ive been very patient and so has Patty about answering these questions but frankly, i really dont think any of  this is any of your freaking business 

marc

Dear Hugh, On behalf of Marc & myself (Patti J. Nicely), of Ecogenics thank you for your comments.  It's almost absurd how the cheap pot shots and sarcasm seems to continue.[:'(]  As I've told Marc many times, you need to consider the source of where the sarcasm and derisions come from.  Seems the same few delight in acting like jealous little children.  When they want attention, all heats up and it's on.  Everybody has the right to their own opionions, but shouldn't smear their crap and pushing their negativity on others.  While this is disruptive behavior, it only gives Marc another opportunity to make his case.  We're not pushing our agenda upon anyone, we are mainly interested in sharing the information with others that are interested in what we do.  Marc has devoted so much of his years into this, and the vision of hopefully one day our nation will get off this oil ride and come to terms as to using our own resources.  Again, thank you very much and I hope to meet you should you decide to attend our seminar.

All The Best!

Patti Nicely    

hcoleman:

I think it's unfair to characterize his efforts as a scam and Dereck no need to back peddle on this, the sarcasm of your first post was a bulls eye shot to the heart. 

So is Patti or Marc a he/she double team?

Okay, Mr. Dereck, look on the web site www.ecogenicsresearchcenter.org.  You'll see my picture.  I'm very much a she....... There's no double team.  Marc and I are a team.  I am his Vice President and Secretary of Treasurer, and proud of it.  You really make me wonder.  I've been very nice to you.  I'm not going to get angry and pull myself down to your low level.  You think what you want.  

Patti  

Seems clear to me, Patti works for Marc and it is his seminar we're discussing.

I feel i should clarify what is meant by the  slogan THE VISION BECOMES REALITY, any of you who went to our website to see the pix of patty ,my VP. on the pictures page, will also see a pix of me wearing a" vision becomes reality t shirt." that has been a slogan of ours for many years. lets have a little english lesson for those who read this out of the intended context.

the word" BECOMES"is a transient verb it means something is in the PROCESS of becoming ..... an evolutionary process..

 had I meant  THE VISION IS REALITY i would have said so

or i would have said The VISION BECAME REALITY..

. I notice a phenomenon of our times possibly due to environmental degradation. affecting the thought processes of people,  PEOPLE DONT READ  and what ever little reading they do. they  misconstrue the meaning. very often.this could also be due to bad diets

or maybe they are under the influence of medication, alcohol or  wacky weed

.or maybe they are just so malicious and screwed up that they  must take evry opportunity to be sarcastic and negative. whatever the reason.

this does not serve the biodiesel forum well in fact it damages the intent of this  forum which is to inform and discuss in a dignified and intelligent manner the issues involving this emerging technology.  we all wonder why this technology is stagnating what is holding it back. certainly one must count this kind of divisiveness and disgracefull banter as a good reason . weve had this kind of behaviour occurr only too often. there is nothing wrong with disagreeing or taking issue with matters but it should  always be done in a dignified manner.. Ecogenics more than most, interacts with the public and opens itself to public scrutiny

one should ask if we had anything to hide or werent "for real" would we allow the countless stream of people  who visit us evry year for over thirty years to come here and see for themselves? would our work be published  in media and technical papers? would the academic community interact with us?. Would I be on the board of advisors of various companies? would I share the podium and be a speaker before institutions related to alternative energy or environmental issues?

I really think that there are a few people with serious issues that need to realise just how pathetic and transparent they are. envy jealousy or deep seated feelings of inadequacy are no excuses for wehat has transpired here.

 we should stay on topic

disagree in a civilised , professional and courteous manner.

individuals should present themselves with dignity, not act like little petulant children

Marc......

Any chance this seminar will be available on video? no way I can fly down from AK during construction and farming season

 we have a set of two dvds that we offer

 one is a condensed version of our seminar and the other shows the closed loop operating in winter and summer conditions. they come as a set only

 the socond dvd shows how efficiently the closed loop ecosystem performs in winter and summer conditions.

 the DVD set is $30.00 you can order it through our website and pay through shopping cart through  paypal... but the dvds are not yet listed.. so just order one of our algae cultures and well know by your name that you want the DVD.

marc