Southern Arizona Koi Show & the 2007 AKCA Seminar

Tom Ayers shared with listeners an update on the preparations for the June 2007 AKCA Seminar jointly hosted by the Southern Arizona Koi Club and Valley of the Sun Koi Club. Ayers and Robbie Venditti are co-chairpersons for this coming year’s event. The hotel arrangements have been made and most of the speakers are lined up. “It should be a very koi-ish seminar,” Ayers said. There will be pro-baseball on Friday night, Grand Canyon tours available on Wednesday and Thursday, the traditional KHA wet lab, a Phoenix City tour, and a myriad of other activities for attendees. With the Grand Canyon tours available on Wednesday all that fun won’t get in the way of attending the wet lab and workshops. Having two clubs host the seminar has plenty of advantages. “What we are trying to do is spread out our resources,” Ayers said. “Both clubs have specialties among them. Also we figured that in this way no one club would have to drain its total resources to put on the seminar.”

Plus, there was talk of the Southern Arizona Koi Club’s 27th Annual Koi Show held on Nov. 11-12. Ayers shared details of the over 30 year history of SAKC noting they following in the path of the Orange County Club. Their first show was at the Tucson Convention Center. Since then the Southern Arizona Koi Club has held their increasingly historic show at numerous locations including parks, hotels, a swap meet, and Kino Sports Center, which is also the home for spring ball in Tucson. These days the club sets up in a park next door to Kino and typically expects 1500 to 2000 visitors.

Between 25-30 tanks was the projected need this year. Prior to benching Ayers and other members of the club set out on a mission as the Soggy Catchers. This group of koi wranglers makes house calls. Every year they head to the member’s ponds that request them and help catch and bag the fish for transport to the show event. Prepared with everything they might need including an oxygen tank, bags, and other supplies the Soggy Catchers are right on target with their effort. They relieve much of the stress that some show participants would otherwise have, further the cause of healthy handling, and doubtlessly facilitate the showing of more koi.

Along with Southern Arizona Koi Club’s interesting history it the tenure and accomplishments of many of its members. “We are very heavily AKCA judge bound,” Ayers said. “We currently have five members that are current or past AKCA judges.” Ayers is himself a candidate judge who recently took part in judging the 1st Las Vegas Koi Club Show and 7th Annual Golden Empire Koi Show for the Bakersfield Koi & Water Garden Society. For more information about the Southern Arizona Koi Club and the 2007 AKCA Seminar visit www.sakoia.com.

Comments at KoiShack.com

Eluned
post Dec 3 2006, 11:36 PM

QUOTE(KoiCluboftheAir @ Dec 3 2006, 06:32 PM) *

Southern Arizona Koi Show & the 2007 AKCA Seminar

(snip) Prior to benching Ayers and other members of the club set out on a mission as the Soggy Catchers. This group of koi wranglers makes house calls. Every year they head to the member’s ponds that request them and help catch and bag the fish for transport to the show event. Prepared with everything they might need including an oxygen tank, bags, and other supplies the Soggy Catchers are right on target with their effort. They relieve much of the stress that some show participants would otherwise have, further the cause of healthy handling, and doubtlessly facilitate the showing of more koi.

Audio of Tom's comments at www.koicluboftheair.org

That is an amazing service to the club members. Kudo's to Tom and his band of Soggy Catchers. I'm sure their efforts pay off in increased local participation. Thanks for sharing with us!

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KoiCluboftheAir
post Dec 4 2006, 04:04 AM

I agree! I thought it a truly amazing service.

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MCA
post Dec 4 2006, 01:07 PM

If the Seminar folks can arrange a pond tour that includes the ponds owned by Thom B. and Tom L......that would be fantastic!!! yes.gif

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Luke
post Dec 4 2006, 11:37 PM

I'm blown away by the soggy bottom boys...
First they thought of it, second they do it.

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schildkoi (Steve Childers KOI USA)
post Yesterday, 12:27 AM

Luke, if you'd get out more you'd find out a lot of things. I can't even begin to count the number of people I have ventured out and caught koi for and help deliver to a show. The problem once again is having enough club members who are skilled enough to provide this service. Many of these individuals end up at the show on the benching teams and are not available.

Steve

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Luke
post Yesterday, 12:46 AM

Steve

I'm more blown away that you'd be a putz.
Listen I just got back from helping HenryC load his koi in the KoiWagon. So go to hell...and stay in more often.
The point was this seemed to be an official undertaking by the club to help people that might be a little unsure of their transportation skills. So go to hell.
I hope you take this personal. You need to allow a person to compliment a group for their idea of forming an "official" function that is aids so mnay hobbyists...now go play drinking games with Ray Jordan and Miss Treed.
...and if your nice StEphen will BUY your drinks.
How in the hell did you decide to hit the "Add reply" button, after you reviewed what you were attempting to accomplish...
I take it back... Child Squire you are RIGHT....
Southern Arizona Koi Show and the Soggy Bottom Boys...you aren't doing a da,mn thing that the Child Squire and all his dweebs Do, so THERE.

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schildkoi (Steve Childers KOI USA)
post Yesterday, 01:38 AM

Luke,
I wasn't attempting to take anything away from the soggy bottom boys, on the contrary, I too comliment them. My point to you was that it is not uncommon and more experienced "wranglers" are always needed by all clubs. I am thrilled that you helped Henry. If you weren't so brash, you might even be able to represent a club in this type of fashion someday.

Steve

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Luke
post Yesterday, 01:56 AM

Steve,
don't back up...you made a little and much ill-played dig at me by saying i don't get out much...Like you would know, how?
You wouldn't....and you shouldn't take digs at someone who is not pointing out how badly you are lacking in langauge and social skills, and how insecure you are...to the point that you would attempt whenver possible (but still inappropriate) make it seem (even when it isn't) that someone might know less than yourself...because you what? get out and play drinking games in the bar?
I've been playing nice. You need to quit being a pompous ass...especially if you are going to back out of it as poorly as that.
And i don't aspire to serve a position you identify as almost one i could attain if I put up with your feelings of inadequacy.

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schildkoi (Steve Childers KOI USA)
post Today, 03:20 AM

Luke,
How would I know? If you get out much or not? To koi shows? Hmmmmm, could it possibly be that You have hardly attended any? Especially outside of your given area (Florida), much less know how a koi show opperates and all of the work involved and how hat work is organized? Luke, you have a way of representing yourself as if you are knowledgeable and in some ways you may very well be, but as it relates to koi shows, you have a very limited knowledge base and to understand how, what and whys of shows around the country, you have to become partof them and not only attend them but become intamately familiar with how the actually work before you start to draw conclusions and offer ideas for improvement(s). Its not a crime nor even a bad thing mind you, but you continue to act as if you actually know things and thus offer opinions when you actually don't know what you think you know. Its better to ask questions and learn, become involved, before you render your authorative opinions and advice without the concrete foundation to base them on.

BTW, I'm not backing out of anything since there really isn't anything to back out of. You acted like it was a surprise that a club offered "wrangler" service for a Koi show. Its nothing new. But for one who was worried about sanitizing tanks after or before a show, you should think of the logitical nightmare that service has become for clubs in they way or maintaining proper bio hazard controls. Think about that.

Steve

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KoiCluboftheAir
post Today, 04:09 AM

Steve,
Please provide a list of other clubs that have officially organized functions such as the Soggy Catchers. I’ll gladly punch out a story about this group of clubs as these are the sorts of troopers in the hobby that deserve mention. Such advocacy isn’t inappropriate at KOI USA is it? Of course I must rely on your said knowledge of such things, as must others less familiar with such things.

thank you,

John Hawley

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Luke
post Today, 04:17 AM

Child Squire,
You tell me the shows I've worked on and attended..since you know.