Cayman Island Koi Club Pins Generate KHV Research Donation

[Dale Torok]

Several people have posted comments on this forum that Lee Aronfeld announced at the Chicago Koi Show he had Cayman Island Koi Club pins for sale at $10.00 each and he would donate 100% of the purchase price to the KHV research project.

This is the same project supported by AKCA that Ray Jordan has worked so very hard to raise money for with auctions of koi art and other items donated by koi hobbyists to help support this cause.

Since Lee is in the Carribean and mail can sometimes take many weeks to get to him, Lee has entrusted me to collect payments for the pins and send them out. Once we wrap up this 'fund raiser', Lee will send on check for the total amount of all the pins that have been sold to the KHV research project.

There has been an excellent response so far. Over 70 pins have been sold. I have received payment for all of them with the exception of a few pins purchased by hobbyist in England, whose 'check is in the mail' and a couple people who have sent me emails that their checks are on the way.

I say kudo's to Lee for doing something to help koi keepers everywhere by coming up with something the rest of us can support.

It's really a funny story to me how this whole thing started. Lee liked the koi pins he saw from other clubs and koi shows he attended . In fact, he started his own koi pin collection. Then Lee decided to start a koi club in the Cayman Islands so there could be a Cayman Island Koi Club Pin. This new club is comprised of 4 members made up of Lee and his wife Sheila and another couple on the island who also have a koi pond.

Of course, the new club had to have a pin. So the pin was designed and the pins have been made. A picture of one is attached.

If you would like to purchase a pin, here is what you get......

1. The pin, of course.
2. Through Lee's generosity, you are responsible for a $10.00 donation to KHV research for each pin purchased.
3. You become an honorary 'offshore' member of the Cayman Island Koi Club.

What a deal! And what a generous gesture by one of the most avid and serious koi keepers in the hobby.

If you would like to have a Cayman Island Koi Club Pin of your own and help support KHV research, PM me and I'll send you the details of where to send your payment. The pins are $10.00 each with $1.00 to cover shipping costs.

Dale Torok

[Dale Torok]

An update for everyone on Lee's project to raise money for the KHV research project.......

I have received checks and orders for many pins from some of the posters on this board. A couple weeks ago I sent Steve Eckard five pins he ordered, which will create a $50.00 donation to help KHV research. He sent me this email:

Hi Dale,

I just received the pins yesterday. They look even better in person.

Thank you to both you and Lee for making these pins possible. Plus another bonus of being counted as a member of the Cayman Islands Koi Club. I swear it don't get no better than this hobby.

Steve Eckard

I've received orders and checks for as few as two pins up to a high of 15 pins ordered by Roger Hand in England. Oddly enough, no one has ordered just one pin. Seems everyone wants to have one for themselves and a few more for gifts.

Thank you to many of the Koi Bito regulars who have purchased pins. I have sold or mailed out Cayman Island Koi Club pins to Burt Ballou, Russell Peters, Jim North, Mike Pfeffer, Larry Gill, Randy Fischer, Martin Douthitt, and many others. Bryan and Bay Bateman purchased 10 pins in order to have several extra to give as Christmas gifts. Why, bless my soul, even the hard nosed, penny pinching Steve Childers purchased some pins and became an honorary off shore member of the Cayman Island Koi Club.

How about you? Do you have your Cayman Island Koi Club pins yet? Lee's offer is still open!

Dale Torok

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dale Torok An update for everyone on Lee's project to raise money for the KHV research project....... Why, bless my soul, even the hard nosed, penny pinching Steve Childers purchased some pins and became an honorary off shore member of the Cayman Island Koi Club. Dale Torok

Awe Dale, that hard nosed penny pinching Steve Childers, AKA (the drunk, editor of koi USA) purchased those pins for me and Burt... I guess he cant be all that bad.. He would not even let me pay him, well except that I was supposed to buy him a drink, next time I see him, but since we have all discovered Steve's problem, I will most likely not contribute to his ongoing problem with alcohol.. .. Wait I just remembered it was not Steve with the problem, the reporter got his information crossed it was the old Editor Mark Whallen with the affliction to cabernet.

[dick benbow]

Dale, I've been impressed with the number of individuals over the years that collect pins and have quite an extensive collection. I know judges like Larry Christenson, and Larry Gill are pretty avid and most folks in the Northwest know Jerry tyler. But I was surprised by the number of collectors in the UK.
I know these pins are a first of a kind, and i know they've gotta be going fast. Dale, did Lee tell you how many were made? I know Jim North should have gotten his pins by now. I had some old pins from when the shows started in the Northwest that I got to a collector in the UK. Was shocked to find out later what they were valued at! I think that besides, the uniqueness of this pin, that it's value will only increase and might be a safer investments
than some stocks! Certainly can't argue with what good the funds will produce for the hobby! Hope folks will think about picking up several before you run out! Thanks for volunteering to do this. Lee's a classy guy, and deserves a lot of credit for providing this opportunity to advance the hobby of koi!

[KoiCCAPW]

I just ordered a couple pins also. I think this is a fantastic idea!

It's a really cool looking pin, and since I think it will be a long time before I get to visit the Cayman Islands, it's a great opportunity to join a very exclusive club(4 members, wow!), and to help support a great cause!

Kudos to Dale and Lee for putting this together for us! Thanks guys!

[jnorth]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow I know Jim North should have gotten his pins by now.

Funny you should mention that....I actually did get the three I ordered but before they arrived Lee actually hand delivered one to me so I have 4 of them . And I agree that Lee is a classy guy for sure.

[Dale Torok]

Art Lemke, show chairman for the MAKC Koi America koi show this weekend has agreed to make Cayman Island Koi Club pins available for sale at the MAKC booth.

Lee Aronfeld will be bringing a supply of the pins with him to attend the show. Ruth Rice is responsible for MAKC sales at their booth during the show and will be selling the pins and collecting the $10.00 sale price for Lee.

Please pass the word and if you see Ruth or Art at the show, thank them for their support of KHV research.

Dale Torok

[dick benbow]

Aussie's, Brit's, japanese......makes the Cayman's a natural tie in......Thanks
Art for making it possible to get these pins at MAKC and for Ruth for helping to find homes for them all

Take a little bit of the islands home with you this weekend

[Pin Man]

Hey Dick, don't forget the Pin Man! If you want to see the extent of the koi pins of the world check put the International Koi Pin Club.

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow Dale, I've been impressed with the number of individuals over the years that collect pins and have quite an extensive collection. I know judges like Larry Christenson, and Larry Gill are pretty avid and most folks in the Northwest know Jerry tyler. But I was surprised by the number of collectors in the UK. I know these pins are a first of a kind, and i know they've gotta be going fast. Dale, did Lee tell you how many were made? I know Jim North should have gotten his pins by now. I had some old pins from when the shows started in the Northwest that I got to a collector in the UK. Was shocked to find out later what they were valued at! I think that besides, the uniqueness of this pin, that it's value will only increase and might be a safer investments than some stocks! Certainly can't argue with what good the funds will produce for the hobby! Hope folks will think about picking up several before you run out! Thanks for volunteering to do this. Lee's a classy guy, and deserves a lot of credit for providing this opportunity to advance the hobby of koi!

[RayJordan]

Just received my Cayman Island Koi Club Pins. All proceeds will go to Project KHV because of Lee's generous donation. Special thanks to Dale for handling the orders, etc. I understand the 2007 limited edition is almost sold out and a new 2008 edition will be sold as soon as the 2007 pins are gone.

If you are like me and have been wanting to order some pins but have procrastinated until now you had better get in touch with Dale right away while a few 2007 pins are still available.

Lee & Dale deserve a lot of credit for helping Project KHV in this fun way.