We are newer to Koi than many and have not taken the plunge into competition grade Koi. As new members of the Oklahoma Koi Society our only possible contribution is to help do some of the work "behind the scenes" when our club puts on its annual show this coming spring. I'm looking forward to it
.
As with any affiliation with a club, there are unwritten/unspoken natural "rights of passage" that I think are healthy, productive, and instructive. Nobody has even hinted that we "should" or "must" take part in the show in order to be fully accepted. In fact, we have simply been
invited to participate in activities as much as we want. Being made to feel welcomed is all it takes for me to feel encouraged to take part. In the process, we get to make new friends, help with something that is worthwhile, learn more about Koi firsthand from people with many years in the hobby, and see some stunning Koi
Along the way, we may also get to help encourage others to dive into the "deep end"... Helping out in some small way helps the hobby grow by saying "come on in, the water's fine
"