[Nancy M.]

In the past 6 or seven years, all of the koi shows have gone English style. Due to health reasons, such as KHV. I have wondered around these shows and watched and listened to the judges, making there choices. From a layman's perspective, it seems to me that we have lost something, in this new era of judging. I have seen judges going back and forth trying to decide which fish looks the best on that day. I am sure it has made judging more difficult, without the leisure of having all the size 7 kohaku's in one tank. Is and can judging still be done fare? Does anyone else feel that with the changes we have gone through that perhaps koi shows have lost the excitement and teaching capabilities they once had? Does anyone think that in a short time koi shows will have lost there flair and will continue to decline in participation?

Many clubs today only have a handful of people to pull the show off, most of the new generation of members are not the workers in the club, and the ole timers are just not able to do the things they use to do. If this continues who will be there to put these shows on? Club participation from what I have seen here in California has dropped dramatically in the last 5 years, I think that some of this is due to the Internet, whereas before the newbies depended on the clubs to get help and information, now they have the Internet at there disposal. Will shows and clubs as we know them become a thing of the past?