AKCA Minutes of October 13, 2006

 

Officers Present:                                  Directors Present:                                                Guests:

Chair: Larry Leverett                              Kelly Houston (Inland)                          Spike Cover

Vice Chair:  Harlan Glenn                       Joyce Glenn                                                           

Secretary:  Carole Elliott                         

CFO:  Doug Dahl                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                               

Board Highlights:

Ř        

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Larry Leverett @ 7:00 pm.  

v       MINUTES:  Motion:  To approve the minutes of September 8th.  Motion by Joyce, 2nd by Harlan.  Approved.

 

v       SEPTEMBER FINANCIAL STATEMENT/FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Doug reported that our investment fund gained $3444 in August; don’t know about Sept.  KOI USA Inc. paid

the 2nd installment of loan repayment of $6390.  Doug found that there is another section of the akca.org

website listing club newsletter editors.  If your club info is incorrect please contact Debby Young.  We have

 received the first 2 Seminar registrations by mail, both from Kansas.  Armed with KOI USA historical data

 Doug provided, at Stuart Adelson’s request, to use on our appeal for a KOI USA trademark, the Trademark

 Office has reversed their original refusal and have put us on a fast track for the trademark.  We have our

second Professional AKCA member in The Pond Store in Texas who will send 4 people to the KHA training

 program.  The Niagara Seminar made $5465 but after an almost $15,000 penalty to the hotel the net was a

$9511 loss so the host club received $0 for the Seminar but shared 40% of the $3110 raffle/auction revenue

 so Doug wrote the club a check for $1244 and a check to KHV Project for $1555.  We ordered and received

 the 50 “The Koi Doctor” books from Belguim and the funds transfer is completed.  Motion:  To reorder 36

St. Erne books at $35 each when we get down to 10 books.  Motion by Doug, 2nd by Harlan.  Approved. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

v     SCIENTIFIC:   Spike reported that 2 out of 5 goals have been met.  Karen Pattist did an outstanding job of designing, printing and mailing the document to those who achieved re-certification in the Program.  Spike is keeping up with the Fed regulation re:  importing fish and products subject to SVCv – sent into to a few dealers and asked them to “pass it on”.  It seems that now the Feds will inspect paperwork - - NOT the fish. 

 

v     KHV Project:  Spike reported that they made all their goals; received 3 proposals. 

 

v       PUBLICATION:    Joyce read the minutes from the Oct. 10th meeting.  Joe is splitting duties of the website design and material to be included with Tom and Karen of Alpha Servers.  He has been posting things in the calendar.  More development is coming.  Joe wants to post show results.  A procedure section needs to be developed for this department.  Steve is looking forward to his first issue as Editor; Nov/Dec issue.  He has more copy for Jan/Feb and he thinks it will be better than March/April.  Tom has been working with Joe, Alpha-Servers and PCS.  PCS now has a new service available where a subscriber can go on line to find out how many issues he has left, make address changes and the like.  Tom will look into costs and report at their next meeting.  PCS is working with another magazine on a “Members Only” section, and they will follow their progress and see if their system might be of benefit to their planning.  They need to a letter to send to people who have received the free trial copy of the magazine, offering them a subscription.  Steve will write it out and Tom will edit it and get it to PCS to send out two weeks after the free magazines are mailed.  Ron Sterbenz has been studying the reports they get from PCS, and has asked they spend some time on defining their goals, particularly in regard to subscriptions.  T

 

 

v      MEMBERSHIP:  Doug reported that we lost 8 clubs; now have 101 clubs in good standing. 

 

v      JUDGING:  No report 

 

v       SPEAKER’S GRANT:  NR

 

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v      GUIDES:   No report.

 

v      INSURANCE:  NR

 

SEMINAR REPORTS:

 

v      2007 Phoenix, Ariz.  Seminar:  Robbie is up to schedule; William Lim will be furnishing the tote bags.

 

v      2008 Jacksonville, Fla. Seminar:  No report. 

 

v       2009 San Diego, CA:  No report.

 

REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTS:

 

q       Written report submitted by Doug:  Judy Schwartz, of Austin Pond Society, reports their October meeting will be an ice cream social and will include a photography contest for ponds.  Professional photographers will be present to give advice to club members.  Newsletter of Central Calif. KC reports the last club meeting discussed the cost benefit of changing a high Hp swimming pool pump and sand filter with a pump and filter designed for koi ponds to save much electricity.  Club members are getting ready for the 28th Annual Koi Show Oct. 14/15th.  Bob Finnegan will be Head Judge with Burt Ballou and Joan Finnegan as Assistant Judges.  Dawn Webster, of Dai Ichi KC, reports the August club meeting included an interesting lecture on Bonsai Trees history and care.  Club members also discussed speaker topics for the PNKCA conference in Vancouver next year.  Becky Maier, of Enchanted K&WGC, reports club meetings are still on hold.  Teresa Lawrence, of First Coast K&WGC, reports the club is getting ready for their 4th Annual Koi Show Oct. 14/15th.  Joe White will be Head Judge with Henry Culpepper as a Candidate Judge.  Club members will pick the Koi of the Year during the show.  (Note:  there is a form in the AKCA Club Kit that clubs can send in to AKCA to receive a Koi of the Year plaque to present to the winner if the winning koi is awarded at a koi show.  This is in addition to the club sending a photo and winner info to AKCA so the winning koi can compete for AKCA Koi of the Year at the Annual Seminar.  Don’t forget to send your koi show article to KOI USA magazine.)  Club members held an annual luau for the Sept. meeting and gave away a lot of great prizes.  Sue Boydstun, of Idaho WGS, reports a successful koi show in terms of public attendance but more entries would have been appreciated.  There were 94 koi from 14 entrants.  Burt Ballou was Head Judge and fell in love with an Asagi.  27 new or renewal members signed up during the show.  Two club KHA graduates answered questions and stressed the need for quarantine of new koi at the Sept. meeting.  There has been one confirmed case of KHV in the area.  Winterization of ponds was also discussed.  This club has commercial members who offer club members items at wholesale cost.  This helps to recruit club members.  Bob Sievert, of Las Vegas KC, reports the club held its 1st Annual Koi Show Oct. 8th indoors at the Palace Station Hotel Casino and it was a great success including one club member dressed as Elvis and another dressed in full showgirl regalia at the show banquet.  The wife of the Mayor of Las Vegas presented the Mayor’s award at the banquet.  Burt Ballou and Bob & Joan Finnegan were the Judges.  The show ran very smoothly for the first koi show due to dedication of club members.  Ardis Black, of Lone Star ZNA KC, reports they needed to cancel a road trip to Forbidden Gardens due to lack of attendance.  David Jones, KHA from Dallas, will speak at the October meeting on the status of KHV in the US and locally.  David Hester, of Mid Atlantic KC, reports in July, the South Chapter held a 2 day, 2 state ten pond tour ending in a dinner at a restaurant to discuss and review the day’s experience.  The Central Chapter was treated to a bonsai demonstration by Bob Mahler, former curator of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, at a recent meeting.  The Long Island Chapter held a BBQ auction/raffle and enjoyed the baby koi at the host pond.  MAKC members are planning the 18th Annual Koi & Goldfish Show in 2007.  Dr. James Hooper, of Mendocino Coast KC, reports Harlan Glenn was kind enough to analyze the soil from Dr. Hooper’s large natural pond and to make recommendations for soil improvement.  Dr. Hooper plans to attend the club Halloween party dressed as a koi.  Pam Francis, of Michigan K&PC-SE, reports club members held a Member Only Progressive Dinner in August attended by 40 members who toured 3 ponds including appetizers and a dinner.  Sept. 16th club members held an educational meeting on winterization of your pond and koi health including an Oktoberfest with Brats and Beers.  The club last event of the year will be the yearly social in Oct. or early Nov. where members will elect new club Officers.  The club Board is already working on the planning for next year’s Pond Tour.  One half of the proceeds from the 2006 Pond Tour went to a learning center for developmentally

 

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q        challenged adults.  The other half was donated to the AKCA KHV project.  Club members made strong suggestions for improvement to the KOI USA free magazine cards recently sent to clubs to improve the privacy of credit card info if the person wished to subscribe using the postcard.  (Note:  The KOI USA Board discussed these suggestions at the October Board meeting and will make changes to future cards to ensure privacy of credit card info.)  Dot Wilbanks, of Moto Kara Koi Kai, reports the discussion for the last club meeting was Ron Goforth and Brett Rowley discussing disease prevention and importing koi.  Ron also talked on Showa and he showed club members a DVD showing Niigata breeders recovering from the recent earthquake damage and what Japanese dealers are doing to prevent disease in koi for sale or import.  Melinda Christopher, of Olympic K,G&WGC, reports Dr. Craig Adams, local fish Vet, spoke on KHA and other more common koi conditions.  Dorothy Connors, of Rhode Island & Massachusetts KC, reports the Sept. meeting included a brunch and a discussion of the new restrictions, effective Sept. 29, on imported fish.  The topic of Winter Preparation was presented by Harry Dorsey, including Fall and Spring pond cleaning and shotgun treatments.  Sheb Masters, of The Great Smoky Mountain KC&PS, reports the last meeting of the year will be in October and will include a discussion on winterizing and kioi nutrition.  There will be a drawing for a free pond giveaway on Oct. 15th.  Dick Emerick, of Upper Midwest KC, reports the club has been contacted by a local Nursery regarding a potential koi show in early August, 2007.  Topics discussed at recent club meetings include the recent restrictions on importing koi and winterizing ponds.  The October meeting will be held at Koi Acres and will include a discussion of filter options and care, winterizing your pond, quarantine tanks and proper net handling.  Robbi McCleney, of Valley of the Sun KC, reports members are working hard on preparations for the 2007 AKCA Seminar including Wednesday and Thursday Tours to the Grand Canyon, Sedona shopping or golf or Phoenix area.  Mary Oxman, of Ventura KC, reports AKCA Chairman Larry Leverett will attend the next club meeting to discuss AKCA and his club Inland Koi Society.  A club member warned others that she had a leak in her pond that went undetected for a long time until the fish started showing stress from all the chlorinated water due to a malfunctioned autofill system on her pond.  Also to install a shut off valve at the bead filter outlet to a drain to make sure the bead filter valves don’t accidentally drain your pond.  Doug tried to contact the following clubs with no response:  Blue Water PC; Las Pampas K&WGS; Middle Georgia WGC; Nashville PS; Piedmont K&WGS; Pioneer Valley WG&KC; Salt Lake KC; Tulsa KS; and, Triad K&WGS.

 

q       Written report submitted by Bob:  So Cal Koi Club will have their November meeting at Eastern Nishikigoi where there will be a discussion about purchasing young koi.  Club members attending will each get a raffle ticket; the winner will get a young koi picked out by Bob Finnegan.  For their annual Xmas party, they will meet at Marie Callender’s for a Champagne Brunch; will have a Chinese gift exchange.  Charles Phelps, of Greater Louisville K&GFS, said their next meeting is Oct. 26th; will have election of new officers.  No more meetings except for the Xmas party in Dec.  Richard Thomas, of Indiana K&WGS, said the club will have a joint club koi show with Northern Midwest Indiana chapter next year.  The clubs next meeting will be their Halloween Party and election of officers.  They will also have a Xmas party in December.   Lester Berkow, of Tropical K&WGS, said the club meeting this week is about the koi show they will have next Feb.  Also, the club members are planning a field trip to Naples, Florida.  ZNA show Nov. 18th; Bob & Joan Finnegan will be the judges.  Norm Call, of Oregon K&WGS, said the meeting this month is at Norm’s home.  Larry Christensen, of Northwest K&GFC- ZNA Northwest Chapter, said their koi show was in July; very successful with 120 koi.  The dealer turnout was good and they were happy with their customers, especially those selling koi.  Lyly Gills, of Sierra KC, said they will have a meeting Oct. 15th; will elect a new VP with the current one becoming President.  This is the last meeting until Spring.   Jan Davis Brown, of North Florida KC, said that they will have their Halloween Party on Oct. 21st.  Larry Christensen, of Northwest K&GFC-ZNA Northwest Chapter, said that they last minutes were incorrect as to the number of fish at their show; they had 120 goldfish & 230 koi.  Their Oct. 17th meeting will be electing officers.  Bob tried but was unable to reach Great Ponds & Koi Society of West Michigan and West Tennessee Pond Society.

 

q       Written report submitted by Burt:  Jack Gardner, of Koi & WGC of North Texas, reports they finally got rain.  The last club meeting featured a speaker about Bats and how to build houses for bats.  Another speaker discussed water changes.  The next meeting speaker topic will be Herons and other birds and how to deal with them and another speaker about dragonfly.  Carole Lee, of Santa Clara Valley K&WGC, reports they had a wonderful Pond Tour in the Santa Cruz area last month ending with a BBQ.  The October club meeting will feature Pond Design taking new members thru the process who want to build a pond.  Club elections will be held in November with the Holiday Party Dec. 10 with club members bringing a toy for Toys for Tots.  Linda Montgomery, of Cascade KC, reports the next meeting will feature a hands-on demonstration of how to build an outdoor fountain water feature.  New club Officers will also be elected at this meeting.  Planning

 

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q       is well underway for the Christmas Banquet.  There have been no reports of sick fish at members ponds this year.  Joe White, of Florida East Coast K&WGS, reports club members went on a road trip to Cocoa Beach in Sept. to visit the oceanfront home of a club member well known as a water lily expert and founder of Water Gardeners International.  They have over 35 water garden ponds with several types of lilies.  The October club meeting will be at Clark Properties in Port Orange.  The grounds have buildings and water features dating back to the 1930’s and contain a number of interesting sites including an old deluxe rail road car, historical chapel used for weddings, a show white cottage and a series of ponds connected by water trails.

 

q       Written report submitted by Carole:  Larry Hursh, of Genesse Valley Pond & KC, said their club is doing well and have signed up several new members.  They will submit an updated membership list after and with the results of the November elections. In October, they will have nominations for Board candidates for the Nov. election.  The presentation will be a Round Table discussion reviewing their successes and failures with their ponds and fish with members responding with what works for them.  They will also review preparations for winter closing of the ponds.  In December they will be hosting their Christmas Party as well as celebrating the end of their 10th year.  They will play their version of Pond Jeopardy to review some of the information presented in the newsletters and meeting presentations.  Prizes will be awarded to the winners.  Kathy Hoffman, of South Carolina K&WGS, reported that their August meeting was held at the home of Coral Stone; Bob Miracle gave a presentation on making fake rock planters.  In September they met at Bob’s home for a presentation on Shade gardens.  They are very excited to be a part of the upcoming (May ’07) Southern Koi Expo in Winston-Salem, NC.  They want to learn all they can about putting on a koi show and hope to have one in their area soon.  Jan Jordan, of Mid-Columbia K&PC, said they had another successful pond tour even though the turn out was light.  Carmen Stafford, their star organizer of events for 2006, managed to get enough advertising that ticket sales were all profit.  The club also voted in new officers and gave a vote of confidence to those who remained in their positions for another year.  Next will be their club Christmas party at Jim & Tina Morris’s home.  The High DesertKoi Fanciers Oct. 7th meeting topic was “Getting ready for colder weather.”  Their Christmas party in December will be at El Mirage.  The Water Garden Club of South Texas will have a plant/fish swap on Oct. 14th as well as a BBQ house party.  Garden volunteers will be present to give lecture on fall plantings.  On Nov. 4th, Carlos Flannery will be giving a presentation on how to build a stream for your pond.  Slide show with step by step instructions.  A follow-up presentation on winterizing your pond will also be given.  On Dec. 16th they will have their annual Xmas Party.  Joe Copeland, of North Texas WGS, reported that Linda Love is retired and no longer an officer with NTWGS.  They will be having their elections.  They are also having a project at the Texas Discovery Gardens.  They will clean the Leftwich Reflecting Pool and plant some new plants so the pond will look great when the Texas State Fair opens.

 

q       Written report submitted by Larry:  Joan Woelfel, of St. Louis Water Gardening Society, said they held their annual banquet last month at the Jewel Box in Forest Park where they design, plant and maintain the three lily pools.  Speaker Anne Lewis, president of the architectural firm working on updating the area, told them of their plans for next year, and the club awarded their two Service Awards to Pam Jokerst (Board member who has done an outstanding job on field trips and member-only pond tours) and Howard Nies (Board member who headed up their Pond-O-Rama public tour committee).  Both very well deserved.  They held their tiki (evening) pond tour last Saturday which showcased four outstanding ponds in the area and ended up at McGurk’s restaurant for a nice social get-together.  This month, their regular programs end with a talk on “Closing your Pond for the Witner” by Joe Summers of Best of Nature.  Shelly Klinger, of Central Illinois Water Gardeners, said they will meet on Saturday, Oct. 14th, at the home of President Jackie Tridle in Bloomington.  The yearly social potluck will be held, along with the elections for officers of 2007.  There will be no meetings for Nov. or Dec. to allow club members a little break in their hectic holiday schedules.  Darlene Jennings, of Mid-Michigan Pond & WGC, said their October meeting will be held at Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan.  Their speaker will be Jennifer Trovillion, Horticulturist for the Flint Cultural Center Corp.  This will be the last newsletter and meeting of the year.  The next meeting will be in March.  Michael Jackson, of West Plains WGS, said they will not meet in October.  No contact with Prairieland K&WGS.

 

q       Written report submitted by Phil Hunter:  James Slider, of the Capitol Area K&WGC, reports that the September meeting was held at the home of Chad & Kim Dilts.  Gary Heilig, Ingram County Horticulturist, talked to the members about the Master Gardening Program against the picturesque backdrop of the Dilt’s pond.  Several members asked questions about the program as well as questions about plant problems.  The October meeting will be held at one of the clubs retail partners; Preuss pets, that is located in historic Old

 

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q       Town Lansing.  The meeting will consist of a dinner followed by a private tour of the facility given by Rick Preuss.  There will also be a presentation by photographer Richard Galosy, who, besides regular photos, does amazing animal photography.  The club will hold its “Fall Finale” in November.  Tess Little, of the Dayton K&WGS, reports that the August meeting was held at the home of Tess & Jim Little.  The program consisted

of choosing the winners of the 2005 Kohaku Contest Fish.  The winners were: Best Overall Fish – Linda & Keith Kinney; Largest Fish at 21” – Linda & Keith Kinney; and, Smallest Fish at 12” – Mike Bianchi.  Judith Minor Roberts, of the Mountaineer K&WGS, reports that the club elected new officers at the September meeting.  The club will have a Christmas dinner in Dec. at the home of Greg & Beverly Campbell.  Next year the club will be having a 10th Anniversary celebration in July.  Tom Tranbarger, of the Shasta K&WGC, reports that the August meeting was held at the home of Marveen Moore.  The September meeting, which was the clubs annual BBQ, was held at the home of Bob & Penny Hart.  In addition, the Koi of the Year contest was held and a new contest, the Ugliest Koi was also held.  The October meeting will feature the annual Koi auction.  Linda Siler, of the Springfield WGS, reports that everyone has a great time in September, at the home of Dave & Helen Simmons.  Becky, from Wickman Gardens, gave an informative talk on rock gardening around ponds.  The October meeting will be at Robin & Shelley Richards home.  Michael Fessenden will discuss fall color plants for the yard and garden.  In November the club will elect new Board members.  Clubs with no reports this month are:  Gainesville Koi, Goldfish & WGS and the Inland Empire WG&KS.

 

q       Written report submitted by Joyce Glenn:  Leroy Taba, of Hawaii Goldfish & Carp Society, said it was enough to have all the state regulations for the shipping of fish but now the federal regulations apply as well.  In November they will plan their Christmas meeting.  Dave Peebler, of Koi Club of Kansas, said it has been cold, very cold.  Sunday they will be meeting with their photo contest, loosely judged, at a house with an indoor pond.  Robert Francis, the host, has just redone his pond plumbing and has the ultimate system.  From Dave’s description of this pond, this is an article for KOI USA!  Roderick MacNeil, of Charleston Showa Club, said they were going to picnic in Little Mountain, S. Carolina with a couple other clubs to share ideas, probably about winterizing.  The club doesn’t usually meet in November because of the Charlotte Koi Club show, but the next event after that will be the Christmas party.  Michael Anderson, of Atlanta Koi Club, reported everyone is decompressing from their koi show which was a huge success.  Had an election of officers and David Boyd was reelected president for another two year term.  The President Carter Library held a reception on Sept. 23rd to thank them for donating koi to the Japanese pond at the library.  Bob Waag, of Florida West Coast, reported everything is wonderful.  They are going to Whispering Winds Bamboo Nursery and are really looking forward to that trip.  Dec. 3rd is their holiday party.  Bob Bosek, of Washington K&WGC, said that all is well.  The show in Sept. went fine; lots of new people showing fish.  Many of the new people won prizes.  They were also able to sign up many new members.

 

q       Written report submitted by Kelly Houston:  Inland Koi Society reports they will not have a general meeting this month, instead they are having a bus trip to Barstow Koi Farm.  The IKS is providing a Continental breakfast and Ken at the koi farm is providing a Chinese lunch and will take everyone on a guided tour of the koi farm.  Barstow Koi farm will have koi fish food vendors and a koi pond builder to talk to the members.

 

q       Written report submitted by Harlan Glenn:  Chuck Poppe, of ZNA Potomac, reports the club is looking for a good place for next years show.  Club is progressing quite well with their new President, Mike Frady.  Bill Thompson, of Koi Club of San Diego, said the October meeting was a picnic potluck held at Live Oak Park in Fallbrook featuring a BBQ cook off.  Their speaker was Rory Francis, of Aquaneering, talked about filtration and UV lights.  November’s meeting will be in Valley Center and the speaker will be Chris Cleavers, of Hikari.  Seinichi Mano, of Izumiya fame, will be the Head Judge at the KCSD 20th Annual Show in February.  Mr. Mano, Chairman of Shinkoikai will be joined by two other Shinkokai Vice-Chairmen, Shunichi Yoshida and Masaaki Matsumura, both respected Japanese koi breeders.  The show this year will return to President’s Day weekend making it the first show of the year and giving everyone an extra day to recover.  

 

PROXY CALLS FOR November

§         Ideas for topics/speakers for upcoming Seminars as well as locations you would like to go to!

 

 

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Upcoming AKCA Annual Calendar Events for November

Update Seminar events page for KOI USA

 

OLD BUSINESS:  

q       None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

q       None

 

Motion:  To adjourn the meeting 7:50 p.m.  Motion by Joyce, 2nd by Kelly.  Approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carole Elliott