Austin Pond Society Logo

For those of us whose interest lies
in ponds and plants and magnificent Koi
one Monday each month is a special day
as together we gather in our own way
to talk about pond things and hope
that others have stories they want to say.

Sometimes if a question is asked
responses come thick and fast
as everyone an expert be
at least in their mind is what we see.

Sonja-The most popular person at the meeting.

Even before the meeting starts
Sonja has got to play her part
as she provides the food we eat
always so good and what a treat

as she really goes out of her way
to make good things and we all say
“Thank you Sonja” for truth be known
some of us come for the food alone

Linda Tinsley – President

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Next up Madame President speaks
and for those of us whose interest peaks
as we wait to hear what she has to say
usually business but in her own way
she makes it light and cracks a joke
and the rest of us laugh and feel relaxed
more from the food than the business at hand.

Rollie Sidla-Treasurer

Others in turn have roles to play
and each stands up to address the room
Jeanne usually goes next to tell
of another one of her Programs from hell
that she has dreamed up for us to enjoy

Jeannie Ferrier – Programs and Special Events

Paper and pen she will hand out
and then try to test our minds
with some long forgotten fact of life
back when I still had a wife
and that was twenty years ago
and even though my body is slow
my mind is still quick but try as I might
I cannot seem to turn on the light
and remember what it is she asks
to hell with it, I’m gonna pass.

It’s true looking around the room
a lot of grey hair can be seen
or a shiny top where hair used to be
as we are an older group
probably because our hobby requires
lots of time and patience along with the desire
to create something beautiful that will last
far beyond the time we have to pass.

Karl Tinsley – Webmaster and Pond Tour

Others too take turns to speak
Karl about the website he designed
and also about the upcoming tour
as he is the Chairman and has the floor.

He speaks a little about the need
for ponds for other people to see
and volunteers to man the gates
and a host of other things he relates.

Most of our people are pretty good
at hearing the call of brotherhood
and volunteering their time and resources too
even though they may not have a clue
as to what they have volunteered to do.

Darren Bayhi – Membership

Julienne Smith – Newsletter

As one by one their interests peak
as each their special subject do speak
Darren talks about  Lily Shows
and Koi so big that in Japan
they grow them to be as big as a man.

B.J. Jenkins – Publicity

B.J. always has something to say
which she does in her charming way
and her interests are very diverse
but she is so good and is not averse
to telling the rest of us how to traverse
and a part of the party be.

Steve Ferrier – Librarian

Sometimes others stand up to speak
and when they do the rest of us blink
so as not to fall asleep when they talk
as they go on and on as though
they are singing a song for a show
and maybe they are, truth to tell
as its their song and they know it well.

Glen Hubenthal – Historian and Photographer

Sometimes the stories are funny too
and others are searching for a clue
on how to do a particular task
and how to make it better to last
or solve a problem a question or two

Of course I jest in what I say
as all people are entitled to
have their own point of view
and actually it’s not a sin
that the more people who join in
the better the conversation will ring.

Mary Word – Newsletter

I got to thinking the other day
that at the meetings I have little to say
instead, pictures and notes fill my time
and listening to others with words so sublime
spoken by them who have much to convey
as we listen and nod in agreement the way
that people do who prefer not to say
exactly what is on their mind
but rather a quiet part of the group
as we try others not to dupe.

We are a very amiable group
as we have in common the love of ponds
most of us have stories to tell
and most of them go down well
as we want to lead in this dance
human nature leaving nothing to chance.

Steve Smith – Austin Area Gardens Council

Some of us that built our own ponds
can relay to others the perils we faced
and how we managed the tasks at hand
and of the different things that we planned
and how we were able to expand
in the most expeditious of ways.

These are fish stories with arms so wide
and are not about the ones that got away
but all about the interest we share
close to Nature and spending time outside
and those of us who have had the luck
it’s all about the magnificent Koi.