As the North Carolina Koi & Watergarden Society (NCKWS) enters its 3rd year, there’s very little coy about it. Located in the Research Triangle area, the NCKWS has made aggressive strides in not only bolstering membership, but organizing activities as well.

The NCKWS is a social club dedicated to the creation, promotion and enlargement of the koi and water garden hobby. In just two years, the club has attracted an impressive and diverse group of people. Among its membership are Koi dealers, nursery men and women, a water garden plant specialist, a North Carolina State University (NCSU) koi veterinarian, and last but not least, pond owners. What undoubtedly unites these koi and water garden professionals with nonprofessionals is a pure leisurely enjoyment of koi and water gardens.

The club holds monthly meetings, usually held in member’s homes. These meetings provide members with an opportunity to share their koi and pond experiences, develop professional relationships, and educate each other about new developments in the hobby--all in a light atmosphere of good food and drink.

There was no shortage of fun at the last monthly meeting, held at former President, David Smother’s, home. The club had recently held a koi photo contest among its membership and lavish engraved glass trophies were presented to the winners that evening. Although not every member walked away with a trophy, every member did walk away with hand crafted cinnamon Christmas ornaments, each shaped as a koi. A few members made jokes with the host about how the ornaments looked more like dolphins than koi, but there was certainly no joke about the spirit in which the ornaments were given and received.

Last year, the club worked hard to organize an assortment of club activities in addition to regular club meetings. Highlights of the year included an annual koi sale as a fund-raiser; club representation at Water and Garden Creation’s 9th Annual Water Lily and Lotus Festival, a tour of an aquaculture facility at NCSU; a road trip to a member’s pond, located in the Eastern part of North Carolina; and the launching of the club’s new web site, www.nckws.com.

The 2003 President, Dan Phillips, has exciting ideas for the 2003 year as well. Phillips would like to see the club partner with more of the Triangle area’s pond and fish retailers, making more pond owners aware of the club. Phillips is also working to put together several big events in 2003, including a couple of hands-on experiences at koi farms as well events to increase public awareness of the club.

Representatives from the club will be on hand at the 3rd Costal Carolina Pond Conference, March 8th, in Kinston, NC. The club will have member’s koi on display (weather permitting) and provide information about the club. In addition, the club has made arrangements for a veterinarian student from NCSU to speak at the Show as a fish health specialist. Phillips encourages Conference attendees to, "stop by, introduce yourself, ask us questions about the club, and check out the koi on display!"

The North Carolina Koi & Watergarden Society is a member of the Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA). The AKCA is a parent organization that boasts more than 100 clubs within the United States. AKCA provides an organizational structure for local clubs as well as a large information and material base. The AKCA web site, www.akca.org, features many articles that provide tips for the care of koi and ponds.