AKCA Minutes of May 14, 2004

 

Officers Present:                                Directors Present:                                             Guests:

Chair: Joan Finnegan                               Burt Ballou (OC ZNA +)                                            Kelly Houston

Vice Chair:  Ed Salinas                   Larry Leverett (Inland)                                  Spike Cover

Secretary:  Carole Elliott                      Bob Finnegan (Louisville)                                           

CFO:  Doug Dahl                                  Lisa Barnett (Nishiki)                                  

                                                                Harlan Glenn (San Diego)                                   

                                                                Joyce Glenn (Ikiru Hoseki)

                                                                Carl Caddies (Oregon K&WGC)

                                                                Louie Hernandez (ZNA So Cal)

 

Board Highlights:

Ø       Speaker Grant winners are:  Mendocino Coast; Cascade; Tampa Bay KC; Prairieland Pond Society; WGC of South Texas; and, Koi & WGC of No. Texas

 

The meeting was called to order  by Chairperson Joan Finnegan @ 7:00 pm.   We have 104 clubs.     

 

v      MINUTES:

Motion:  To approve the minutes of April 9 , 2004.  Motion by Joyce, 2nd by Larry.  Approved. 

 

v      APRIL FINANCIAL STATEMENT/FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Doug handed out the financial reports.  The Financial Committee met in April to review/approve the CFO Responsibility document and to discuss future investments in Calif. Bonds; missed opportunity to invest in the bonds recently released.  The investment account decreased $844 in April.  A $10,000 CD expired.  Portfolio balance is now:  42.5% Money Market Funds; 38.2% Mutual Funds; and, 19.3% Bonds all coming due this year.  Our mutual funds increased 8.3 & 11.6% respectively Nov thru mid Feb but have given back 5 & 6% respectively since mid February.  To date, we have $38,932 in income and $12,902 in expenses for Seminar.  The Hawaii Host club wishes to give their club members a 30% discount on Package II and individual events.  Everyone present thought this was a good idea; way to try to increase their local club membership.  Doug sent out invoices.  He also stated that he would like to move some short term CDs into money market accounts and stagger them.  Motion:  To authorize up to $95,000 or 37% out of the money market accounts and stagger them, in $10,000 amounts, to 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., and 12 months apart.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Burt.  Approved.  Discussion about the $556 travel expense for Burt to go to Hawaii last month.  Motion:  to let the $556 figure stand.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Harlan.  Approved.  Motion:  To accept the April Financial report.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Joyce.  Approved.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

v      SCIENTIFIC:  Spike handed out the Scientific Committee reports as well as the KHA Program report.  He stated that Sandy Yosha has met her contractual obligations.  The KHA program is near it’s 3 year completion.  He would like the Board to consider renewing it, perhaps on a year to year basis.  Everyone involved in the program has stated that they would return; they have had tremendous feedback, especially during the Orange County program.  A survey has been sent out to past graduates to see how they have been applying what they learned during the KHA program.  Motion:  To continue with the KHA program for one additional year.  Motion by Louie, 2nd by Lisa.  Approved.  Reported on the UGA report by Bran Ritchie and the UAPB report by Andy Goodwin.  There was much discussion on fundraiser plan; Spike stated that it needed leadership, scientific advisors, accounting, and a fundraising committee.  Who would lead?  Would need an administrator over volunteers as we don’t have a staff for this.  AKCA will create an administrative program to guide KHV research programs & developed with checks & balances.  Motion:  To come up with administrative guidelines and start process.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Carl.  Approved. 

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PRESS RELEASE

 

The AKCA believes that Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) represents a significantly large and growing threat to the koi community.  Therefore, in addition to the AKCA sponsored research that is ongoing, the organization will undertake a project to raise additional money from outside sources which will be used to fund additional research and education to counter this threat.

The AKCA plans to form a project team that will have the following functional parts:

(1)     A steering committee, (2) a scientific advisory committee, (3) a fundraising committee, and (4) an accounting function.

The steering committee will set the goals and lead the project.  They will seek advice from the scientific committee which will evaluate and advise them on the best use of the moneys.  The fundraising segment will provide the financing to the group and will look for support across a spectrum of possibilities including the commercial and hobby communities.  The accounting function will provide fiscal accountability to the activity.  The Project head will report to the AKCA Board. 

The intent of this project is to organize and execute a rational and measured approach to:

(1)     funding effective and timely countermeasures to KHV, and,

(2)     the development and distribution of accurate information about KHV.

 

v      PUBLICATION:    Ed said that he received an e-mail from Dave Hester stating that the May/June issue was GREAT!  Discussion on increasing subscriptions.  PCS to change current form on the KOI USA website by asking “Are you a member of a club?  If No, would stay at current price.  If yes, club member would get club price when the second screen popped up.   Motion:  To have PCS web page updated at a maximum cost of $1,425.  Motion by Ed, 2nd by Burt.  Approved.   Gary Chin, of Camellia KC, proposed that clubs who have 100% of their members subscribing to KOI USA receive a ½ page color ad for one event per year.  The ad would be worth $650.  Discussion followed; decided to table and take proposal back to KOI USA for further discussion.

 

v      MEMBERSHIP:  Doug has suggested to MAKC that they encourage their individual Chapters to join AKCA as individual clubs who also belong to the MAKC Association.  Individual Chapters could choose to pay their $100 AKCA dues and reap all benefits offered to AKCA member clubs.  This would be a win-win for both AKCA who would get $300 or more in dues from these clubs and would help the Chapters become more involved with AKCA just as the club members of PNKCA and the All Florida Associations profit from membership in AKCA.  The only difference is the parent MAKC club would keep membership in AKCA representing the members or Chapters not part of the individual Chapter clubs that join AKCA.  The new MAKC Board will consider his recommendation after the June elections assuming the AKCA Board supports his offer.  Motion:  To support Doug’s position of having MAKC individual Chapters joining AKCA as individual clubs.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Ed.  Approved. 

 

v      JUDGING:  Bob stated that they should have a good turnout at the Hawaii Seminar.  Will have a program for the beginner; 4 people are trying to be certified. 

 

v      SPEAKER’S GRANT:  Burt did the drawing for the 6 area Lottery Grant with the following winners:

Region A: Mendocino Coast             Region D:  Prairieland Pond Society

Region B: Cascade                      Region E:  WGC of South Texas

Region C:  Tampa Bay         Region F:  Koi & WGC of No. Texas

 

v      GUIDES:  Burt discussed the number of guides sent out.  Felt it is fiscally responsible; major expenditures come from tying them in to subscribers to KOI USA.

 

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v      INSURANCE:  Burt talked to Doug Bannister about increased property insurance.

  . 

v      POLICIES/PROCEDURES:  No report 

 

KOI PERSON OF THE YEAR

It’s still not too late to e-mail Burt Ballou with your Koi Person of the Year

 

SEMINAR REPORTS:

v      2004 SEMINAR:  Burt stated vendor booth sales are slow.  Leroy Taba proposed to give members of the Hawaii club 30% off on the Wetlab (Pkg 2) from $195 to $140.  Hoped this would help them build their membership.  Motion:  To allow the Hawaii club to discount the Wetlab on Package 2 to Hawaii club members.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Larry.  Approved.

 

v      2005 SEMINAR:  Ed stated that they need to get their 1st ad for KOI USA.  Hotel room rates are somewhere between $76-78. 

 

v     2006 SEMINAR:  Burt stated that the hotel contract has been signed; $104 for room night. 

 

v      2007 Seminar:  Burt stated that there are a number of clubs who have expressed an interest in hosting the 2007 Seminar.  Discussion; tabled until future meeting.   

 

REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTS:

 

o         Written report submitted by Doug: Judy Schwartz, of Austin Pond Society, reports their last club meeting speaker was from the Nat’l. Wildlife Society on how to create a wildlife yard.  Their club annual plant and fish swap on May 16.  Bob Slack, of Blue Water Pond Club, reports their club has resumed meetings now that Spring is here.  Their club went on a bus trip to Moore Water Gardens in Port Stanley, Ontario and also stopped at the historic Village of Sparta and Canadale Nursery.  For their first meeting, Allen Noon, who is a koi breeder from London, Ontario, spoke on pond water and filters.  The club also had a booth at the Sarnia Home and Garden Show which gained some new club members.  Their club is planning a photo contest of member’s ponds in the fall.  Next month each club member will be given a 4” koi for a growing contest.  The goal is to teach members how to select baby koi.  John Hawley, of First Coast K&WG Club, emailed Doug to introduce himself as the new club Director/Rep and also to give him the club information he had requested for the AKCA records.  John writes articles for the club newsletter and is also the club webmaster so he wears many hats.   Bob Sievert, of Las Vegas Koi Club, reports they are very hopeful the AKCA Board will select Las Vegas for the 2007 Seminar location.  The club recently revised their By-laws.  The club created a KHV Health Research fund to be used only for that purpose and wondered what AKCA was doing in this regard.  The club selected the club Koi Person of the Year who struggled with KHV in her pond this year and saved some of her koi by heating her pond.  The club voted to accept the new slate of AKCA officers.  The Las Vegas club will hold a pond tour on May 29 with 7-10 ponds.  Tickets are $25 per couple.  Each pond will be visited on a schedule and will be open only for 1 hour for each pond.  A picnic style Koi & Cocktails session will immediately follow the pond tour.  Dr. James Hooper, of Mendocino Coast Koi Club, reports one of their club members has made a patch for their club to be placed on the AKCA banner of member clubs.  Dr. Hooper requested this banner be available at the Seminar in Hawaii to display patches provided by each club and other clubs should bring their patches for the banner.  (This banner has not been displayed for many years and is not up to date with patches for all the clubs.)  David Hester, of Mid Atlantic Koi Club, reports they will hold the discussion of allowing individual MAKC Chapters to join AKCA as individual clubs until the new MAKC Officers take their places in June at the annual meeting for MAKC.  Doug Dahl needs to verify that Chapter clubs joining AKCA has the support of the AKCA Board.  Bill Greer, of Nashville Pond Society, reports their club is having a plant swap Sunday, May 16.  They are thankful KOI USA subscription forms and ads are now available for clubs to use to help get subscribers.  They have posted the KOI USA subscription form on the club website.  Pam Francis, of Michigan Koi & Pond Club-SE, reports their club Spring Fling is May 22 with a panel of speakers focusing on pond opening hints.  June 19 is the club annual Fish Auction including educational comments on the fish being auctioned.  July 10 is the

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o         Annual Pond Tour in Livonia, MI.  Timothy Czech, of Pioneer Valley WG&KC, reports their club voted to allow Dealers to show koi at their first koi show planned for 2005 but the dealer koi will be separate from the hobbyist koi.  They hope this will help to teach members the difference between pond and show koi.  Their club elected Koi Person of the Year and Koi of the Year.  The club officers gave a small lecture on the benefits of subscribing to KOI USA magazine and said the KOI USA  subscriber form will be in the next club newsletter to encourage more members to subscribe.  The Tulsa Koi Society newsletter reports the weather in 2 different areas of Japan where koi are bred.  The club voted Koi Person of the Year and Koi of the Year at the April meeting.  The newsletter included a discussion on Spring salt treatment for the pond.  The Tulsa club had a Koi Rescue tank at the Tulsa Garden Center Spring Garden Mart for koi no longer wanted.  These koi will be offered for sale.  The Ventura KC newsletter reports one of their club members has 55 gallon plastic barrels to give away to club members to use as upflow filters.  Doug tried to contact the following clubs with no response:  Las Pampas K&WG Society; and, Olympic K,G&WGC.

 

o        Written report submitted by Bruno:  Koi Kichi & WGC reports that their April meeting was held in conjunction with Eastern Nishikigoi’s health Seminar with Dr. Nick Saint-Erne.  He was terrific!  He had a slide presentation and demonstrated how to sedate our fish and scrape them for parasites.  They were able to go and look into the microscope and identify several parasites.  Their auction that was to be held on Saturday, April 17th, was cancelled due to rain.  They have rescheduled auction for the month of June.

 

o         Written report submitted by Bob:   Don Apol, of Great K&KS of West MI, said they will be having a koi display at the famous Mayer Garden’s in Grand Rapids, MI on Sept. 17-18th.  Charles Phelps, of Greater Louisville, said they will have a koi show on May 29-30 at Charles’ property.  Ann Miller, of No. Florida KC, said that everything is OK.  Mona Coleman, of Northern Nevada, said they are having a Pond Tour on June 26th.  They had 75 attend their Seminar in April.  Pat Christensen, of Northwest K&GF, said that everything is OK.  So Cal Koi Club is busy getting ready for their upcoming Pond tour on May 23rd in the Laguna Beach area with 6 ponds.  They had a meeting in May to work on the tour at the home of John & Natalie Loftus in Laguna Beach.  Great pond and setting (watching the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean).  They will have their annual June Potluck at the home of Linda Messenger, in Corona del Mar (also overlooking the Pacific Ocean).  Bob spoke with Frank LaPome of Sierra KC and will have more to report next month.  Lester Berkow, of Tropical KC, said that everything is OK.  Bob tried but was unable to reach the following clubs:  West Tennessee; Rocky Mountain KC, and, Indiana Koi Club.  

 

o        Written report submitted by Burt:  Kenneth Wong, of Dallas Koi Kichi Group, said there was no meeting; preparing for their koi show.  Henry Culpepper, of Orlando Area K&Pond Club, said that Henry Culpepper was on a TV cable show, “Pet Talk,” about the AFKAPS show & koi in general; it has brought in 6-8 new members.  Last meeting a member spoke on growing Victoria water lilies out from seeds; now the club is exploring putting on a koi show jointly with the new Southern Koi Association club.  Joe White, of Florida East Coast, said their next meeting will be at a new pond that Joe helped the member build; it is going through the green water cycle.  The Ziegler koi food rep will be at this meeting as the speaker.  Did not have a meeting last month; will also set up their nominating committee for elections next Nov. or Dec. meeting.   Joe White, of Southern Koi Assoc, said they held their first meeting at Henry Culpepper’s house.  Matt McCants, from Quality Koi, was the speaker & he gave a talk about the small sanke’s the club bought.  There was a random drawing for the koi.  The plan is to bring all of these sanke’s, next year, to the AFKAPS show or a separate koi show to be judged; the club is exploring having a koi show next year.  Norbun Watson, of Middle Georgia Koi Society, said a member has had a major aeromonas outbreak and lost most of his koi.  The club’s pond tour is scheduled for June 5th with 13 ponds.  It will be a combination day & night pond tour; they elected their new president, Lamar Pounds.  Martha Foster, of Nature’s Coast K&WGC, said their koi show was small (42 koi).  Joe White was the judge; had a separate contest for some sankes they bought last year from Blackwater Creek.  Only 4 sanke’s were entered from the original 11.  Johnny Foster won & got a $200 gift certificate from Blackwater Creek for winning.  Their next meeting will be on May 16th; Alan Riggs will be the speaker on koi health & treatments.  The 1st Saturday in June is a field trip to a day lilly nursery owned by one of their members.  Their regular meeting on June 17th will have a speaker on butterflies.  Their membership would like it if AKCA sent guides for all members as it is hard to decide who gets the 25 since they have over 80 members; understand it would depend on costs; only have about 10 members that subscribe to KOI USA but they talk it up at every meeting; also been running KOI USA ad for their koi show in their newsletter.  Linda Montgomery, of Cascade K&GFS, said the club is seriously considering bidding on the 2007 Seminar.  Next month there is a field trip scheduled at Moorehaven Water Gardens; a picnic in August.  Lucia Rose, of San Francisco Bay KC, said their next meeting is a wet lab done by Noreen Rancourt; they will bring their own scopes.  Will cancel pond tour due to lack of

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o        leadership for it; they plan a pond construction Seminar in the fall.  They had 99 koi at their koi show & Duke Nguyen brought a couple of his large koi just to exhibit them; they were well received as they are huge & very beautiful.  ZNAOC held their last meeting @ Andrews’ Koi for the annual judging contest; the club voted to let Andy use any of our tanks when he needs them as a thank you for allowing them free storage on his property.  John Hathaway, of Pacific Wonderland, said that their April 17th meeting was at Drake’s 7 See’s Garden Center; had several speakers on how to keep a koi pond properly; got some new members @ the meeting.  Their last meeting was @ Howard & Kay Long’s home in Vancouver, Wash.; discussed long range plans.  Next month will meet @ Peter Enfield’s.  Carl Fridenstine, of Santa Clara Valley Koi, said they had a very successful Cherry Blossom Festival; a big turnout.  The only other activity was working on the plans for their Pond tour.  Debby Young, of Southern Arizona KC, said they had 14 ponds on a pond tour last weekend; sold 600 tickets @ $5 a piece.  June is annual picnic; 3 people going to Hawaii Seminar.  Norm Call is going to design the 25th Anniversary Show pin and only 60 will be available for sale; anybody interested should contact Debby.  Jesus Brito, of Oklahoma KC, said their upcoming meeting topic will be how to prepare koi for a show and the different way of transporting your fish to and from the show.  This year they are not going to have the koi sale from Infiltration; did not have many members interested; will try again next year. 

 

o        Written report submitted by Carole:  Bryan Bateman, of Mid-West Pond & KS, said that their Trade Show is coming on May 7/8th.  They will have 25 vendors from around the country.  They are also having a speaker seminar with local experts talking about building, water gardening, selecting young Koi, Koi health, and other topics on koi.  They will have their second Tosai Koi Auction; they are auctioning 45 one-year-old Japanese koi.  On the last weekend of June they are heading out to Iowa to visit Kloubec fisheries; sell koi as well as food fish.  Will have a barbecue out there and a tour of the farm.  After that, it’s their Pond Tour on July 10/11th/have 62 ponds signed up this year.  Gregory Young, of Niagara K&PS, said they cut a great dealon the hotel; convention center also secured.  They are finishing up artwork on the logo/theme and actively getting speaker commitments.  Really on-track!  Kathy Bergh, of Puget Sound KC, said they had a busy April.  Skipping the regular meeting in favor of having a booth for 4 days @ the Puyallup Spring Fair.  They are also hard @ work on their Annual Young Koi Show which will be held August 7/8th.  Jerry Woodbury, of Miami Valley WGS, said it’s a busy time of the year for them.  They’re getting their ponds opened & plants divided & fertilized for the growing season.  May 6-8th they will be participating in the Spring Flower Sale @ Cox Arboretum.  Their plans are still moving forward for Pond Expo 2004 sponsored by the club in association with the City of Kettering; to be held July 17th @ Polen Farm in Kettering, Ohio.  Pond tour to be held July 18th; also, in June they will be helping out with Lilyfest held @ Green Vista Water Gardens in Enon, Ohio.  Jan Jordan, of Mid-Columbia KC, said they are having a koi auction this Thursday; bringing in fish from Pan Intercorp.  They’re doing a Koi & Goldfish Expo @ the Master Gardener’s Garden Faire in their Demo Garden mid-June.   Bill Bedwin, of Northern Lights KC, had a phone call from Access Network.  One of their local Learning Network Stations.  Ben Coxworth came to Bill’s place as well as the President of NLKC.  Both Matt & Bill were wearing their Koi Club T-shirts; this will be aired May 3rd @ 6pm all across Canada.  The object of the program is a talk on water gardening.  AquaLine Waterfeatures & Landscaping is where the plants are filmed.  This will be good advertising for NLKC.  They are planning a BBQ, no set date as yet.  Then the middle of Sept. the club is invited to Ellerslie Green House both Sat. & Sun.  They will be having a meeting in the near future. 

 

o         Written report submitted by Spike:  Dan Phillips, of North Carolina K&WGS, reports their April meeting was at the home of Philip & JoAnne Bronikowski; seined a mud pond.  It is filled with several high end tosai; nisai and sansai that are growing in the red clay of North Carolina.  Following the seining, they had a meeting.  They voted for the Koi Person of the Year (Philip Bronikowski) and Koi of the Year

 

o         Written report submitted by Louie Hernandez:  ZNA So. California thanks Carl Grooms and Pam Durgin for hosting their last meeting.  Their 20,000 gallon plus pond houses some very lovely koi, is covered by triangular canopies, and has a very sophisticated filtration system.  There was, however, some debate as to where the future waterfall should be placed.  The May meeting is at the home of Murray Siegel; his pond is unique and a real treat to visit.  To make this meeting extra special, Dr. David Salmon, of Mazuri Koi Food, will give them the straight facts on Koi nutrition.  He will share a scientific perspective on what it takes to properly nourish your future grand champions. 

 

o        Written report submitted by Carl:  It looks like the Oregon K&WGS is growing.  There is a very strong possibility of a chapter opening up in Southern Oregon soon.  Annie Sedlacek, from Bonanza, has invited

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o        OK&WS members to an open house on the Sedlacek Ranch on May 22nd for introductions.  There may also be a new chapter starting up in Newberg, Oregon with the first meeting maybe at Pearls of Paradise.  OK&WS will be setting up a Koi display at the Valley River Mall in Eugene on either the weekend of July 9th & 10th or the 17th & 18th.  On June 5th, the club will have a “Garden, Pond and Plant Sale” at the home of the Lugars, donations are welcome.  The club has turned in the Ballot and the Koi Person of the Year.  The Koi & WGS of Central New York said they just had their elections and are still trying to get organized.  One of the problems they are having is growing the club (getting new members). 

 

o        Written report submitted by Larry:  Shelley Klinger said the June meeting of the Central Illinois Water Gardeners will be held June 12th at 9:30 a.m. at the home of member Kathy Mundell-Bligh.  Kathy and fellow member Mariellen Griffith will discuss the Wildlife Habitat project and they can enjoy Kathy’s ponds.  Roger Wilke has resigned as President of Central Illinois Water Gardeners; therefore, Vice-President, Jackie Tridle, has graciously stepped up to the plate.  Lynn Jones said the St. Louis Water Gardening Society’s April program was a question and answer panel; they had an installer field questions on pond construction, a retailer to answer questions on plants, and Lynn handled questions on fish.  They also submitted nominations for Koi Person of the Year (voted on after the meeting by the Board, Congratulations go to Hilda Adams), and, also voted on their club’s favorite koi (Mary Biederman’s longfin).  Melissa Jackson, of Cherokee Strip Water Garden Society, said she liked the idea of free ad in KOI USA for 100% club subscription to the magazine.  Ledean Paden, of the Prairieland Koi & Pond Society, said their May meeting was held at the Heck Family Tree Farm in Galesburg as a joint effort with the Galesburg pond club.  They then ended the meeting with a mini pond tour.  Great attendance and everyone is looking forward to the summer.  Sandy Fisher, of the Mid-Michigan Pond & Water Garden Club, said they are busy with their upcoming Pond Tour on July 10th, 2004.  For more information contact Cindy Winters at (810) 653-4046 or Marshall Callard at (810) 655-6388.  No response from Gulf Coast Koi Society, Madison Area Pond Society, Ohio Koi Club, or West Plains Water Garden Society. 

 

o         Written report submitted by Kelly Houston:  Inland Koi Society is busy planning their eighth annual Pond Tour on June 13th, 2004.  There will be seven ponds on the tour, located in the Corona & Riverside area.  Hours are from 10am-4pm and cost if $8 per person.  Bob Walters or Scott Zehm has more info at (909) 681-4064 or (909) 798-0607.  Their next general meeting is May 23rd at Angelo & Diana Pazmino, in Riverside, Ca.  The pond has one small and two large waterfalls that drop into the dual level pond.  A bridge extends from the public sidewalk to the patio.  The depth of his 960 gallon pond is 13”.  Angelo is an experienced pond builder; he makes natural looking designs of the land from wire, lath, and cement.  Koi Person of the Year is Peggy Milfeld who works behind the scenes helping with the treasury, pond tour tickets, brochures, and attendance records.  Their Koi of the Year is owned by Tom & Theresa Wright; a beautiful sanke.    

 

o         Written report submitted by Joyce Glenn:  David Marier, of Atlanta Koi Club, reported they had their annual koi auction and plant sale on April 17th.  It looks like the club made some serious money this year.  They are fortunate enough to have members Bill & Lyn Dowden, of Coastal Pond Supply, who have all the equipment needed for such an event.  Several members helped rescue koi from a foreclosed house and abandoned pond.  A huge swimming pool has been converted to a pond simply by stopping any water maintenance and adding new koi & goldfish.  They emptied NASTY water and muck and came up with 376 goldfish, two koi and one frog.  LeRoy Taba, of Hawaii Goldfish & Carp Assoc., said that they have everything under control.  They are very busy tying up the last details for the Seminar.  Joyce reports that Rosemary Renner, of Ikiru Hoseki, passed away April 19th due to an allergic reaction to a prescribed medication.  Dave Peebler, of Koi Club of Kansas, reported they all had a great time at the Peebler Koi Ranch.  A Western theme provided a very different and happy meeting.  Everyone looked so happy in the pictures Dave sent and the decorations were wonderful.  The May meeting is going to have an Oriental theme.  A progressive dinner is scheduled in June.  They want to make the koi meetings more fun.  To involve more members, each couple coming will talk on one variety of koi.  They are planning to have a wet lab next September.  A couple of years ago over half of the members’ fish needed shots.  Because of education and research the fish have not needed any shots for the last two years.  Overall, they have healthier ponds.  Dave credits progress due to education in bottom drains, better filters, air stones and doing away with the rocks.  Jenny Shillington, of Charleston Showa Koi Club, said they are having a big pond tour this coming weekend with 21 ponds involved.  The Grand Finale will be at Grant & Penny’s home.  Washington Koi & WGS reports all is quiet there.  Ludo Van Den Bogart, of Tampa Bay KC, reported that their April meeting was held at the University of South Florida Gardens.  In true Japanese tradition, Bill Henderson, an

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o         avid koi enthusiast, gave a presentation on the care of and repotting of plants.  Joyce tried but was unable to contact Florida West Coast.

 

o         Written report submitted by Harlan Glenn:  Chuck Poppe, of ZNA Potomac, said they will have a meeting on June 6th at Mike Walkers home.  Main business is to elect new officers and plan the coming year.  The club will have their auction on May 16th.  San Diego Koi Club had nothing to report.  

 

o         Written report submitted by Lisa Barnett:  Janice Martinez, of the Placid Pond & Koi Assoc., reports they have been busy starting another water gardening season.  They have had 2 very informative meetings so far this spring with several interesting topics to be covered as the summer moves on.  They are also working on a combined pond walk with the Peoria Society this summer.

 

PROXY CALLS FOR JUNE

§         Is your club promoting KOI USA subscriptions?

 

OLD BUSINESS:  

 

Ø       KOI OF THE YEAR:  Burt stated that Debby Young is getting polaroids and some digital pictures for the Koi Fish of the Year.  She feels that we need to change the rules to allow digital pictures, to go into effect next year.  With the new rule change, there would be no voting because of the ability of digital film to be altered.  Motion:  To allow digital pictures for Koi of the Year starting next year with no voting for the koi.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Joyce. Approved

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: 

 

Ø       Bookstore:  Doug stated that the bookstore is out of PKK2 and has 449 copies of PKK1.

 Motion:  To send out 4 copies of PKK1 to each club.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Lisa.  Approved.

 

Ø       Jacket patches:  It was stated that we’re out of jacket patches.  Do we want to reorder?  It was felt that we didn’t. 

 

Ø       Kokugyo:  Kodama has just published Volume 2 of Kokugyo.  We had purchased 100 copies of Volume 1.  Motion:  To order 50 copies of Volume 2, only ordering 100 if Kodama won’t go below 100 copies.  Motion by Burt, 2nd by Doug.  Approved.

 

Motion:  To adjourn the meeting 10:03 p.m.  Motion by Carl, 2nd by Burt.  Approved

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Carole Elliott