The Fish Wrap: July 2006
From The Koi Club of the Air
What a fun time we had at the Koi Club of the Air talking with nine different club and event representatives in June.
We did an extra show to accommodate everyone’s schedules starting on June 9 with Robert Lewis of the Charleston Showa Koi Club discussing their club and their 3rd annual June 10 pond tour. They had 30 ponds on their single day tour covering three counties. Ponds ranged from 160 to 30,000 gallons. With advance ticket sales in nearly a dozen and half locations they sold out prior to the tour. About a third of the proceeds of the pond tour went to the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In turn the SPCA provided commercial time for promotion of the tour. There are pictures of some of the ponds on the tour at the club website www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org. Robert’s pond was also featured in the last issue of KOI USA. Robert was planning to once again host the annual cookout after the tour Saturday night at his home.
Lois Salaun of the First Coast Koi, Goldfish & Water Garden Club discussed their 4th annual June 10 pond tour. They featured 14 lovely North Florida ponds on the one day self guided tour. They had three starting locations where tickets were sold. Congratulations to Lois and her husband Steve, the club president on becoming Koi Health Advisors after attending the lab while at the AKCA Seminar in Buffalo, New York (By the way so did Nellie Hawley, co-host John's mother). To find out more about the First Coast Koi, Goldfish & Water Garden club visit their website at www.firstcoastkoiclub.com.
Burt Ballou, Chairman of the 25th Annual AKCA Seminar shared with us news of that important event prior to it being pulled off successfully by host club Niagara Frontier Koi & Pond Club in Buffalo, New York, June 22-25.
Chester Bailey of the Indiana Koi Club updated everyone on their 10th annual pond tour to be held July15, which will include 12 ponds, and an exhibitor showcase on July 15 and 16 that will include educational lectures. Chester also shared how this exciting club is involved in a tremendous amount of community outreach and education. One of their efforts has been building community ponds at schools. One pond was built at the Indiana School for the Deaf and the other at an elementary school in Pendleton, Indiana. The club also is proud to donate to the AKCA Project KHV. They are considering developing a Koi Show that would be part of this same annual weekend event. The club website is www.koiclub.cjb.net.
Paula Biles shared with us details of the July 19-25 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society Annual Symposium to be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Vero Beach, and Orlando, Florida. There will be vendor exhibits and seminars along with field trips to koi farms, nurseries, gardens, and many other locations and fun activities will be included. If you miss the event this year you will have the additional expense of airfare to Thailand required in order to attend next year. Learn more about the IWGS at www.iwgs.org.
Roseanne Conrad, publisher of the PondKeeper trade magazine joined us with details of the Pondapalooza National Pond Expo & Conference to be held July 19-23. National Association of Pond Professionals meets there along with another group of manufacturers that plan to possibly create a new association. Pondapalooza has become a hub for those in the industry to network and further develop standards. There will be a four day pond build with the first day being a class and final day include a test provided by the NAPP to extend standards and excellence among members of the industry. Whether new to the business or interested in starting one Pond Keeper magazine and Pondapalooza is a terrific resource. Find out more at www.PondKeeper.com.
Steve Johnson with the Rocky Mountain Koi Club updated everyone on their July 15-16 pond tour. They have an interesting approach to splitting their 15 or 16 ponds into two groups with one set available for viewing one day and the other set of ponds available for viewing the second day. They have a Saturday night barbecue at Steve’s house that will be open to the public. Steve notes most of the club’s new members first get acquainted with them at www.rmkc.org. Check them out.
Allen Hill of the Tulsa Koi Society shared with us details of their July 15 Seminar featuring lectures and a roundtable discussion. The club wanted to continue to support educational opportunities in the vein of their hosting last year’s AKCA Seminar, which provided the impetus for this event at Langston University. Speakers will include Dr. Andrew Goodwin, Conrad Kleinholz, and the roundtable discussion including dealer Tony Krehbiel, breeder Larry Soukup, and Tulsa Club representative Michelle Kincaid. Contact Allen for more information at ARCHHILL42@MSN.COM.
Pioneer Valley Water Garden & Koi Club's Cindy Patnode shared with us some details of their 13-year history and the orientation of their Massachusetts and Connecticut club membership base along with details of their upcoming July 8-9th pond tour. Pioneer has structured their pond tour pricing to allow for visitors to join the club for only $5 additional. Check them out and find out more at www.pioneervalleypondclub.com.
And there were other features on the Koi Club of the Air this month including a discussion led by Todo of 10 koi myths provided by www.Koistuff.com.
Thanks to all the club representatives that share news of their events and more! Remember to contact Koi Club of the Air to help your club get the word out about your next event.
Happy ponding!
John & Todo hosts of the Koi Club of the Air
www.KoiCluboftheAir.org
