[Killietalk] RE: Getting fish to the AKA Convention Show

["Koran, David HQ02" <David_Koran at hq02.usace.army.mil>]

There have always been some basic assumptions which sort of come together
during the National Convention and much of it deals with the concept of new
and rare fish.  There is always tremendous interest in new fish, rare fish or
fish from a new gene pool.  For as long as I can remember fish from Europe
always generated a buzz at any show (they met one or more of the three
requirements!).  If you look at the DKG shipment in this year's show they
were all really good examples of their species and most (young breeding
groups is a different concept than our matched breeding pairs) were really
show fish and not simple donations.  It might be interesting to note that we
received 28 entries and I had taken 28 entries to the DKG show earlier in the
month.  We also receive a few KFN entries.  Also, in the past, we received
much larger contributions of foreign fish (and usually sent a slew of awards
overseas).  Last year we announced the effort to ship to European shows and
we had a small team (Dick Martino, Brian Perkins and myself) to receive and
coordinate the shipments.  I ended up doing the shipping (or hand carry as
was the case of the AKFB).  I can't remember the exact numbers but we were
able to ship over 100 pairs of fish to 7 shows, the idea being you need to
send something to get something in return.  Over half of those fish came from
my fishroom and consisted mainly of pupfish and a few other native killies
which are eagerly received in Europe because they are "new and rare" to them.
Only three other people actually supplied "show quality" fish with many
providing extras or no-sales leftover or pulled from auctions.  We all really
appreciate the generosity but the quality didn't improve our image as fish
consumers.  I would like to get a message out and I think you should too that
the AKA produces killies and also produces good quality killies; we want to
show you that.  And then hopefully that if you want to see more of them, send
us something from you our way.  So point #1, is this a right or wrong
assumption or working premise?

The DKG shipment was sent to us at the DKG's expense, about $180 for air
cargo.  My carrying of fish to the DKG show was my expense and I hadn't asked
to be reimbursed.  However, when Dick and I investigated the cost to air
cargo fish to Europe it was estimated to be about $250.  Contact me privately
and I can tell you how the fish were shipped instead of air cargo (5 shows
for about $200 total!).  I have suggested to the BOT that they consider
providing a $175-200 grant to individuals who will attend a foreign show if
they carry AKA entries for the show.  So, should you "throw money" this way
to enhance the flow of fish from Europe (i.e., discussion point #2)?

Point #3 involves bringing fish of any kind across US borders.  I recently
renewed my import/export license thankfully at the old rate.  All US F&WS fee
have gone up!  A license fee went from $55 annually to $100 and the
inspection fee also went from $55 to $100.  Hence the cost of bringing fish
into the country has gone up.  So adding to your difficulties of air
transport, inspection fees will also be an extra burden.  On point #3,
shouldn't we be making a stronger, coordinated effort to make sure we breed
what we get instead of relying on importation to meet our demands (sounds
like I am developing an energy policy, doesn't it!)?

I think we also owe Brian Perkins a big thanks for assembling the selection
of N&R fish he provided for the AKA's auction.  The selection didn't have a
lot of wild fish or many really new fish but a great selection of "rare"
stuff that we haven't seen for a while, much of that coming from European
breeders who have been maintaining the fish for those years since we lost
them right after the initial collection and distribution.  On this pass the
fish do go to the highest bidder and only a relatively small portion will
probably surface any time soon.  This is the link that needs some work.  Fish
are provided here to the membership (albeit only those in attendance at the
Convention) and also through the N&RSC listings.  Without the fishsale and
Aqua-Bid in the past you might expect the fish that were successfully bred to
show up in the F&E Listing and at least have a chance to get a foothold in
the AKA so we didn't have to constantly restock.  Some fish always get
siphoned off into club auctions or club show auctions but for the most part
this did go back into the AKA.  The Convention fishsale does plow some of
these fish back into the AKA for a shot at maintenance but the window is a
bit narrower for acquisition.  My only gripe might be that the AKA gets
nothing on this that might go toward acquiring more N&R.  Maybe what cheeses
me is that fish acquired using AKA resources by AKA members gets turned
around and auctioned to the highest bidder on Aqua-Bid and not offered up to
AKA members where you might think the chances for maintenance would be
better.  So multiple points. #4, is Aqua-Bid good for the killifish hobby?
Point #5, is Aqua-Bid good or bad for the AKA?  Point #6, should we have an
AKA internal electronic auction system?  Point #7, is there a way to get the
AKA bad boy Aqua-Bid sellers to be more loyal to the AKA if that is their
source of breeding stock?

At the heart of all of my complaining is that I just don't think many of
today's members feel they owe the AKA any loyalty.  You really would not have
much of anything if it were not for this organization.  You don't need to
lord over everything like it is the private domain of a select few but if you
want the organization to prosper you need to give something back.  This goes
for fish and it also goes to volunteering to do something for the AKA.  We
can always come up with great ideas and then criticize when they don't get
done but just like folks having families and other priorities when finding
where to place killies in their order of importance, most folks have jobs and
other requirements that doesn't permit them to spend all that time on killies
and services.  Often if you want something you pretty much have to build it
yourself and offer it up for use in the hope you have built the better
"mousetrap".  Remember its apple pie, motherhood and the AKA!

Dave Koran

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