[schildkoi]

First off, I am sure this will become another one of those threads. But some interesting questions/statements are posed so I'll give my 2 cents. First of all, a hobby" can exist on many levels. The popularity of a hobby is typically driven by the exposure that hobby has to the "outside world". Looking at the Koi hobby and its evolution from Japan to elsewhere, other than the invenvention of the plastic bag allowing for transportation of Koi over longer distances, its the Koi show itself and the exposure it created and still does today to both individual hobbyists that strives these indiviuals to search for knowledge. How can that fish grow so big? How can those colors and patterns be so crisp? The list goes on. Many people would never see these higher quality Koi without the Koi show. Although Koi are enjoyable in ones pond, but nothing beats the sight of a high quality Koi in a show tank.

Quote: Whereas many might claim that it is "the koi show" that drives the hobby, why not consider that it could just as easily be the outreach that local clubs do along with the hobby promotion of vendors, etc?

These definitely "add' to the hobby and should not be discounted by any means. But search out those with high quality koi and trace their roots and knowledgebase. I would bet that almost without exception, each were either exposed to Koi, or driven for higher quality Koi through a koi show(s).

Quote: Heck, having goldfish showing at a "koi, goldfish, and water garden" club show or even as part of what is preached through some ZNA shows hardly destroys some moral koi kichi fiber.

I am not sure anyone has said that? Some clubs would prefer to hi light their Koi only. Others may not have enough volunteers to take on other aspects of a show. Many others do in fact incorporate goldfish and other activities into their shows.

Quote: While sales of koi in the U.S. is seemingly growing by leaps and bounds is club membership or participation?

Over the last 10 years? Yep Does one measure "participation" as that at a given show or amongst all shows? The number of koi shows per year again has grown over the last 10 years. With added numbers of shows, some dilution exists, but overall exposure to the hobby has grown.

Quote: This is a far bigger hobby than some suggest and room for lots of ideas and means of participation. Heck some clubs don't even offer a show, but have pond, water garden tours.

Again true. Have you asked the clubs that do not have Koi shows, why they do not? Could it be because there are other shows in their locality that the membership helps at? Or perhaps they want a Koi show and do not have the funds or expertise to put one on?

Quote: The AKCA Seminar is certainly not about a koi show. Open the doors like the North Idaho Koi Keepers do with their Seminars along with others. Preaching to the choir doesn't grow much other than cobwebs.

John, its statements like the one above that tend to agitate people. "Open the doors" implies that the doors are currently closed elsewhere. Please list for us those closed door that do not do seminars, whether they have a koi show or not. We all will be waiting for that response. In the interim, I'll prepare the list of clubs that do. By the way, your "preaching" is growing "cobwebs."

Steve