Winter is a few weeks away and my koi will be spending their first winter ever outdoors, in an unheated pond. I’m excited to see how they fare. Our gardens are looking a little thinner and drab as winter dormancy sets in throughout the area. Not much activity outdoors for water gardeners and koi keepers but the CKC board is busy planning for 2024…

I want to first say thank you to Carol Mathis for taking on newsletter editor for so many years. Carol is simplifying her life but plans to stay involved with CKC activities and Koi Rescue. Since I have hopscotched from club secretary to club president – we needed to find a new volunteer Secretary. I’d like to introduce Bradley Blocksom as our new club Secretary. Bradley has also volunteered to be the monthly newsletter editor and I think he’s going to do a great job. You can read a little more about Bradley in a post he shared on Pond Trade Magazine.

We had a lovely time at Peter and Wendy Zomick’s home for the November club meeting. Check out our meeting notes in this newsletter. Our last gathering for 2023 is the Holiday Open House at Felicia Santos and Carl Brinkman’s home on December 9.  I hope many of you have the chance to stop by even for a few minutes!

Finally, please take a look at the schedule of meetings for 2024. We will need a few hosts to cover March through November. The meetings will usually fall on the 2d Saturday of the month at 12:00 noon.  Hosts may adjust meeting time if desired. We truly hope the host is not burdened and attendees will be asked to bring something to share. We are also planning to schedule some optional group outings – more information in the weeks to come.  If you are able to host a meeting in 2024, please contact Felicia Santos.

Wishing everyone the blessings of the holiday season!

- Lori Vertin