AKCA Minutes of June 13, 2003

 

Officers Present:                            Directors Present:                                        Guests:

Chair:  Larry Leverett                       Harlan Glenn (San Diego)                               Tom Graham

Vice Chair:  Doug Dahl                    Bruno Kudfrecki (Koi Kichi)                         Spike Cover

Secretary:  Carole Elliott                 Bob Finnegan (6 clubs)                                    Carl Caddies

CFO:  Lisa Barnett                            Joan Finnegan (Greater Louisville)                Cindy Graham

                                                            Burt Ballou (OC ZNA +)                                 Ed Salinas

                                                            Louie Hernandez (ZNA So Cal)

 

Welcome to AKCA as a Member Club:

The Koi Club of Middle Tennessee

Rep:  Claudia Brownlie….2835 Candlewicke Dr., Spring Hill, TN 37174….(615) 302-0048 (also fax)

e-mail:  cfb123@charter.net

 

Board Highlights:

Ø      4 clubs have won the “Lottery” Grant

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Larry Leverett.  There are 103 paid member clubs.

 

v     MINUTES:

               Motion:  To approve the minutes of May 9, 2003 with the following corrections:  $6.95 should

indicate retail price for KOI ID poster; misspelling on Nature’s Coast.  Motion by Joan, 2nd by

 Lisa.  Approved.

 

v     MAY FINANCIAL STATEMENT/FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Lisa stated that we have a new P.O. box.  Larry talked to Jim Reilly whose advice was to hold on to our mutual fund for now and reevaluate in September.  The Finance Committee met.  Doug & Lisa met with Michael Pomerleau, CPA; engagement letter sent.  The CPA suggested a compilation this year and then next year, get a review.  This also needs to include doing our tax return and file to pay our sales tax due July 31st.  Getting bids.  Motion:  Fee not to exceed $5,000 with the Finance Committee selecting the CPA.  Motion by Lisa, 2nd by Doug.  Approved.   Lisa stated that anything under $1,000 will go to expense (for tax purposes) rather than depreciation.

Joan, Doug, & Carole will need to have their names for check cashing/legal purposes!

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

v     SCIENTIFIC:  Spike said that Sandy Yosha went to the Amer. Assoc. of Aquatic in Hawaii and was well received re:  KHA Program and Koi Herpes virus.   Spike would like to go to the Fish Health Management Course in Raleigh, NC (at Univ. of North Carolina).  Motion:  To reimburse Spike up to $1,400 for the Fish Health Management Course.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Lisa.  Approved.  (see attachment for upcoming KHA course!)

 

v     KOI USA:  Joyce stated that KOI USA will have a meeting at the Seminar.

 

v     MEMBERSHIP:  Doug said that dues notices have been mailed to all 103 clubs; after Oct. 1 there will be a $50 late fee per our new By-laws.  He has received dues checks from 37 clubs with 12 rosters provided.  Motion:  To accept the membership application from the Koi Club of Middle Tennessee.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Joan.  Approved.  He has new member applications for Rutherford, TN and Santa Clarita, CA; applications incomplete and sent back.  We are in the process of closing the contract with Sulma Perez for club member roster database.  Because there was no formal agreement and Sulma was unclear as to when her duties ended, Doug is in the process of reaching a final agreement/solution with Sulma.   It was decided that Board members contact club Presidents when unable to reach the club rep after repeated calls.

 

 

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v     JUDGING:  Bob stated that they have been busy.  He asked that all judges PLEASE let Bob know when you get an assignment.  Koi shows keep growing.  He is meeting with Galen Hansen next week.

 

v     SPEAKER’S GRANT:  Burt, using ping pong balls, picked clubs for the four (4) regions.  Congratulations to the following clubs have won for their area:

Area 1:  Central California Koi Society

Area 2:  Ohio Koi Club

Area 3:  Moto Kara Koi Club

Area 4:  Rocky Mountain Koi Club

 

v     GUIDES:  No report.

 

v     INSURANCE:  Burt stated that both policies will be due.  The Directors & Officers policy has gone up to approximately $1,800.

 

v     WEBSITE CONTEST WINNERS:  Burt stated that Lisa is making out the checks to the winners; will be announced at the Seminar. 

 

v     BY-LAWS:  Ballots were counted; Larry announced that the new By-law revisions pass unanimously.

 

v     ELECTION RESULTS:  Ballots were counted; Larry announced that the slate of officers for 2003-2004 were passed unanimously:

Chairperson:  Joan Finnegan

Vice Chairperson:  Ed Salinas

Secretary:  Carole Elliott

CFO:  Doug Dahl

 

SEMINAR REPORTS:

 

v     2003 SEMINAR:  Eric Lunsford is the 2003 Seminar Host Club Chairman, not Frank Comtois.  201 people have registered so far compared to 295 for Concord.  54 people first time registrations compared to 94 for Concord.  25 booths sold so far for the Trade Show.  The KOI USA breakfast is Saturday 6-8 a.m.  There will be a cash bar from 5-8 both Thursday and Friday night in the Trade Show area; Thursday sponsored by Atlanta KC and Friday sponsored by So Cal Koi Club. 

 

v     2004 SEMINAR:  Burt stated that they have a tentative budget; everything going great.

 

v     2005 SEMINAR:  Doug stated that Tulsa is in the process of reviewing hotels.  Their chair will attend the Atlanta Seminar.  Ed Salinas will be the Seminar Chairperson. 

 

v     2006 SEMINAR:  MAKC wants to host as does North Carolina.

 

REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTS:

 

 

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without proof, there is nothing they can do except emphasize quarantine of new koi over and over

 to their members.  Leon Lopez, of Klahanie Koi & Goldfish Club, says their club is down to 5

families but they are still enjoying the club together.  Some club members attended the PNKCA

Seminar and plan to attend upcoming koi shows in Washington and Portland.  They arranged a

club koi food purchase at group rate with Dianichi Koi Food.  They have officially changed their

club name to include goldfish to draw more club members.  Ginger Duncan, of Las Pampas

K&WGS, reports their club is moving along slowly mostly with social, potluck dinners for

meetings; their club members seem to prefer.  They plan a Pond Tour in July.  Dr. Hooper, of

Mendocino Coast KC, reports their Pond tour is July 26 from noon to 5 pm with 5-6 ponds.

Tickets are $7.50/person at Harvest Market.  He gave AKCA a heads up the US Government is

looking closely at exotic animal imports into the US due to Monkey Virus and doesn’t know if koi

will get pulled into this screening.  Pamela Francis, of Michigan K&Pond Club-SE, reports their

club is having 2 near term events but did not elaborate on what they were.  Doug provided her

 requested information on the new Koi ID posters available from the AKCA Bookstore for $6.95

or $4.15 club price for 5 or more ordered thru the club.  Art Lembke, of Mid-Atlantic Koi Club,

reports they just completed the MAKC South Chapter Young Koi Show with Dr. Grant & Penny

Patton as Judges.  The small number of koi allowed the Judges to explain more and to take

questions during the judging.  Koi America is really moving it’s vendor booth sales and plans to

have 7 display ponds.  They will also have several speakers and a Koi Show with All AKCA

Judges.  Entry fee to Koi America is only $7 since the vendor booths fund most of the event.

They will install new MAKC Officers at their June General meeting that will include a Health

 Seminar with 2 top Veterinarians.  There will be no changes in Officers this year.  Dot Wilbanks,

 of Moto Kara Koi Kai, reports their last meeting was in Galveston at the home of the President

of the Galveston Orchid Society who also has a 3,000 gallon koi pond.  In Galveston, orchids

 thrive outside on the patio.  Ron Goforth gave a lecture on Kohaku.  Their meeting raffle included

an original koi art piece donated by club member and artist Karen Butler.  Claudia Brownlie, of

Nashville Pond Society, reports their annual fish sale seemed to be successful but work is needed

to improve care of the fish during future sales.  This month they will hold their annual plant swap

and auction.  Claudia and another member have started their own club dedicated to Koi and

Claudia is no longer the Director/Rep for the Nashville Pond Society.  Club President Karen

Kelley will act as interim Director/Rep until another person is chosen.  The Tulsa Koi Society is

very excited they were selected to host the 2005 AKCA Seminar and has started planning the

event including some club members attending this years Seminar in Atlanta to get ideas on touring

local hotels for potential sites.  They will have Biologist Dr. Conrad Kleinholtz speak at their next

meeting on biology of koi and how to keep them healthy.  The Aquaculture program at Langston

University exists to provide Oklahoma pond owners with information and technology needed to

manage their ponds in an ecologically sustainable manner including 46 research ponds, a fish

 hatchery and a laboratory.  Doug tried to contact the following clubs but received no reply this

month and will try again next month:  Idaho Water Garden Society.  Doug will contact the

following clubs in July:  Austin KC; Austin Pond Society; First Coast K/G & WGC; Lone

Star ZNA KC; Piedmont K&WGS; Pioneer Valley WG&KC; Blue Water Pond Club; Dai

Ichi KC; Ventura KC; Olympic KC; and, Valley of the Sun KC.

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o       Written report submitted by Bruno:  Koi Kichi & WGC auction this month was a great success.  They raised $4,266; purchased 9 more show tanks for their upcoming show.  They have changed their meeting day and time to the second Saturday of every month at 5:00 p.m.  They had a lot of positive feedback on this change.  They are tossing around the idea of having a pond tour early next year. 

 

o       Written report submitted by Larry:  Debrah Gunderson, of The Madison Area Pond Society, said they are having their annual Water Garden Tour on June 22nd from noon to 5:00 p.m.  There will be nine ponds to tour, ranging from 100 to 4,000 gallons.  Call (608) 664-8871 for more information.  Ledean Paden, of Prairieland Koi & Pond Society, said they had a pond tour on

June 14th open to members only.  Their KHA students returned from a weekend of intense

education and are now ready to share their information with the club.  Paden also said their club

lost a few ponds to Tornados.  Shelly Klinger, of Central Illinois Water Gardeners, said their

club sponsored a charter bus trip to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford and Hornbaker’s

Perennials in Princeton in lieu of their regular meeting.  Door prizes were given every 15 minutes

on the bus.  Bob Dice, of the Ohio Koi Club, said they had a great turnout for their first Koi

Health Seminar in May featuring speakers Dr. Eric Johnson and Carl Forss.  At their July meeting

they will have a special club sale of tosai Kohaku.  Each member will have the opportunity to

purchase fish and grow them for one year.  Next year they get together for a special contest with

prizes for most growth, best pattern, best color, best overall, etc.  The following clubs have not

responded:  Cherokee Strip Koi; Gulf Coast Koi Society; Mid-Michigan P&WGC; Nanaimo

Fish Pond; St. Louis WGS, and West Plains WGS.  The people of AKCA, who write these

reports spend a lot of their own time to contact clubs to get the information published in the

minutes.  It seems that these clubs could take a few minutes and respond so we at AKCA know

you’re alive.  Sorry for venting; I am frustrated. 

 

o       Written report submitted by Lisa:  The Oregon K&WGS held their last meeting at Norm Calls and had over 20 members enjoying his 7,500 gallon pond.  They are busy preparing for their 3rd Annual Koi Show which will be held July 19/20.  Larry Christensen will be the guest Judge and will be judging koi & goldfish.  The banquet will be held at Chin’s Restaurant and tickets will be $10.  They have some great vendors attending the show and may even have a booth just for kids.  OK&WS is planning a field trip to Sunset Koi.  In addition, the club has an early deadline for paying the dues.  All who pay by that deadline go into a raffle for a free year membership and a free year subscription to KOI USA.  Nishiki Koi Club held their last meeting at the home of Tom Holder who was also the guest speaker.  He talked about his new filter setup from Sacramento Koi, who provides a great book on installing plus everything you need including values (exc ept for basic pvc).  As usual, Tom had some fancy plumbing and crystal clear water.  The following weekend the club held their pond tour which featured 6 small to medium ponds, 3 of which were front yard ponds.  Most of these ponds were built in smaller areas.  The weather wasn’t as nice as was hoped for but the tour was a great success with 125 attendees.

 

o       Written report submitted by Bob:  Pat Christensen, of Northwest K&GF, said that they had a successful koi auction last May.  Their annual Koi Show will be next July 26/27.  Bob Watenpaugh, of Rocky Mountain KC, said that they are getting ready for their koi show.  Their koi auction last May went very well.  The meeting in June will be about injecting koi.  July 19/20 is their Annual Pond Tour.  Their koi show will be August 16/17.  So Cal Koi Club will have their Annual Potluck and White Elephant Auction on July 13th.  Lester Berkow, of Tropical KC, said that the club is doing very well.  They are having a club meeting on Father’s Day.  Art Brock, of West Garden Club of So Texas, said that their Pond Tour will be on June 28th.  Don Apol, of Greater Ponds & Koi of West MI, said that they will have a koi display at Meyers & Sculpture Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI in August.  Six members are going to the Atlanta AKCA Seminar.  Charles Phelps, of Greater Louisville K&GF, said that their annual koi pond tour will be on July

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o       15th.  The club is doing very well.  Richard Thomas, of Indiana KC, said that their annual pond tour will be June 21/22.  Two club members are graduating from AKCA Koi Health Program.  Todo Todorsky, of No. Florida KC, said that the club will visit with Nature’s Koi Club this next meeting.  The club members will have a koi equipment swap meet in July.  Bob was unable to reach the following clubs:  No. Nevada KC; Niagara Koi & Ponds; and, Sierra Koi Club.

 

o       Written report submitted by Phil Hunter:  Linda Siler, of the Springfield Water Garden Society, reported that the May meeting was held at the home of Bob and Donna Simpson.  Brian

Williams, from Kentucky, brought water plants to sell and was overwhelmed by the clubs

response.  The member’s only pond tour was a great success.  The June meeting will be a

presentation on building your own skimmer by David Bagwell.  Finally, the public pond tour will

be held on June 21/22.  Judith Minor Roberts, of the Mountaineer Koi & Water Garden

Society, reports that the May meeting was held at the home of Ray & Jean Ramsey.  Carter Gilitan

discussed pruning and how to deal with invasive plants.  The June meeting will be the club’s

Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony.  Becky Maier, of the Dayton Koi & Goldfish Club,

reports that the May meeting was held at the home of Van & Lisa Woodruff.  A discussion was

held by several of the clubs members who recently attended a Koi Health Seminar.  All who

attended agreed that a lot of useful information was gained.  Several members traveled to the

Louisville Koi show.  The clubs annual pond tour has been set for July 12th.  Don Hellard, of the

Gainesville Koi Goldfish & Water Garden Club, reported that the May meeting was held at the

home of Don & Sherry Hellard.  In addition to a great cookout, Don demonstrated an isolation

tank biofilter that included a Rio Powerhead, pumping through a 25-gallon tub with weir overflow

back to the main tank.  The club also acquired a copy of Mr. Kodama’s book for the library.  Also,

 Ed Kellar presented an art show of Patti Grafix and Virginia Chen watercolors and tiles of koi and

water lilies.  The next meeting will be on June 8th.  The following clubs had no report this month: 

Capitol Area Koi & Water Garden Club; Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society;

Shasta Koi and Water Garden Club.

 

o       Written report submitted by Kelly:  Inland Koi Society’s May meeting was held on the 25th.  It was hosted by TNT Koi Ponds in Moreno Valley.  June 22nd, the club will be having their yearly pond tour; 5 different ponds.  There will be a banquet at the last pond @ the home of Phil & Rachel Hunter.

 

o       Written report submitted by Burt:  Henry Culpepper, of Central Florida KC, said they had a meeting at his home.  Joe & Shari White gave a talk on their trip to Japan; Henry gave a 10 question quiz on his lecture of last 2 years; winners got 10 raffle tickets for Sakai 19” female kohaku.  Next Saturday the club is going to the Renaissance Hotel to see their koi pond.  Johnny Foster, of Nature’s Coast K&WGC, said that their next meeting will be at a member’s business which is a pet & koi business.  They are starting to work on their next fall koi show; maybe a 2 day show with a banquet.  August meeting will be @ a ginger nursery.  Joe White, of Florida East Coast, have found some ich this spring in a few ponds; next meeting will have Paula Biles to speak about water plants.  No meeting in July.  At their last meeting, John & Susanna Trittschuh’s talked about their filter system & talked about their recent koi spawning.  The club approved friendship awards for other koi shows that any of their members go to; had a good AFKAPS show.  Norbun Watson, of Middle Georgia Koi Society, had a pond social in Thomaston, GA @ the Weaver’s home; speakers were Peggy & Cecil Ferguson, the pond docs.  Talked on pond maintenance; discussed going to the Atlanta Seminar.  At their pond tour on May 31th, they had 300 attendees plus some 5th & 6th graders from BonAire Elementary Ecology club; they study plant & animal life; the school also has a pond.  Jesus Brito, of Oklahoma KC, said that koi from Infiltration came in & judging & selecting will be next weekend at the Down’s.  Will be putting in females only in the mud pond.  Getting ready for their koi show in the fall.  Ron Ernst, of Koi & WGC of No. Texas, said that they don’t have anything planned; last meeting was @ the Dallas

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o       Koi Kichi group.  A speaker from Fritz Products will speak on koi pond products.  Kenneth Wong, of Dallas Koi Kichi Group, said that they had a great first koi show; lot of high quality fish.  At their last meeting, Steve Childers was the guest speaker; discussed pond dynamics.  Working on getting some speakers for future meetings.  Several people have parasites & are testing them.  Debby Young, of Southern Arizona KC, said they have a case of KHV in Arizona; sent fish to Univ. of GA; was confirmed.  Their annual barbeque will be in July.  Sheila Jackson, of San Francisco Bay KC, said that their pond tour will be on July 19th; getting ready for it & some

publicity; have 7 ponds for the tour.  Last meeting they went to Pescadoro & Rich Little; did a talk

on pumps.  Next meeting in Danville; still working on Koi Show in Sept. in Fremont @ nursery. 

Burt Ballou, of ZNA OC, said they had their annual picnic @ Chibana’s; they were having some

spawning activity in their main pond.  Members discussed their upcoming koi show; may be

moved to the spring (possibly October).  Their koi auction, a few weeks ago, was a big success;

koi tutorial last weekend brought in a couple of new members.  Carl Fridenstine, of Santa Clara

Valley Koi, had 400+ on the pond tour; got a lot of new members.  Having a “Thank You”

barbeque for the workers.  Next meeting will show photos of the ponds on the tour so no speaker;

a few members are going to the Atlanta Seminar.  John Hathaway, of Pacific Wonderland, had a

great trip to Peter & Sylvia Enfield’s home; had a fish raffle, a big buffet.  They had about 50-60

koi in the raffle; all proceeds to the club.  Linda Montgomery, of Cascade K&GFS, said they will

 have a field trip to Pan Intercorp next week via a bus.  The Northwest Club has been invited to

join them.  Will have a plant sale @ a member’s home for 4 weekends; the plants will be from

club members as a fundraiser.

 

o       Written report submitted by Carole:  Darlene Jennings, of Mid-Michigan P&WGC, said that due to bad weather and the cancellation of their meeting, election of officers was delayed this year.  Darlene is still the rep; Jeanette Leim was reelected President (no e-mail address).  They meet from February thru October on the 1st Wednesday of the month.  They have 175 family members.  Mike Przewoznik, of High Desert Koi Fanciers, said that their club is starting its pond tours.  They recently rented a bus and had a field trip to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.  They are currently pressing with members to be ready for spring and have supplies necessary for any ailments.  Linda Hursh, of Genesee Valley Pond, made comments regarding by-law changes.  They currently have 41 family members; down slightly from last year but anticipate a few new members as a result of their participation in GardenScape (a local flower and garden show) and LilyFest.  Their February meeting was a video on dedicated koi ponds in England.  March meeting was on pumps, plumbing and finding and repairing pond leaks presented by Greg Young, of the Niagara Frontier Koi & Pond Club.  April meeting will review native plants for boggy and swampy areas and the May meeting will hopefully start the outdoor season with a presentation on preparing the pond and the fish for the spring changeover.  In June they will have a pond plant, fish and product auction as well as having a staffed informational display at LilyFest.  July will feature an off-site meeting at an oriental style garden.  August will be the annual pond tour and picnic.  The Southwest Koi & Pond Assoc. held their May meeting @ John & Elisa Subia’s home; had a great turnout.  Their June meeting will be held in the home of Josie & Gary Brown.  In July, they will meet at Paula & Frobert Wilson’s; will be a pot luck dinner.  They will have their 2nd Annual Pond Tour Sept. 6/7th. 

 

PROXY CALLS FOR JULY

 

§        Is your club interested in purchasing  the new AKCA book “Judging & Buying Koi”?

§        Do your club members subscribe to KOI USA?

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Ø      Proxies:  Burt asked if e-mails were a legal for club proxy confirmations since they do not have a

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 signature? 

 

Ø      AKCA Books:  Doug stated that we have $8,000 worth of PKK1 & PKK2; felt that we need to reduce cost of books so that we can sell the remainder.  It was felt that we should sell the books for $10 each or 2 for $15.  Can be purchased through the bookstore.  Motion:  To sell the remaining PKK books for $10 each or 2 for $15.  Motion by Harlan, 2nd by Burt.  Approved. 

Doug stated that the new book “Pond/Filter/Water Quality” was to come out in 6 mos.   Instead,

he would like to have it released in 5 mos. so that it is available for Xmas.  The other books will

be on a 6 mos. release (Disease & Medication book).

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

None

 

Motion: To adjourn the meeting at 9:20.  Motion by Joan, 2nd by Lisa.  Approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Carole Elliott

Secretary