Bromeliads Down Under - Cairns Australia

FUTURE CONFERENCES
Meeting: Lynn gave a brief history of the Future Conferences Meeting - In 1998 when Jim Wait first proposed this meeting hoping that at each conference the next two future conference locations could be decided.
a. Lynn said it has been decided that in 2009 the South Australian Society will host the 15th Australian Conference.
South Australian Delegate Adam Bodzioch confirmed and said they proposed to hold the conference at Easter.
b. Lynn said several items needed to be discussed - from a letter dated 10th July 2006 sent to societies/groups, Dion Fourie had requested we consider several issues -
1. “.. consider moving to a three year interval between conferences”.
2. “.. give thought to regional or state-based pooling of resources, where a number of societies co-host future events”.
In this same letter Mr. Fourie stated, “There is some thought in BSI circles that they may extend the intervals between their conferences from two to three or four years.”
Lynn (as BSI Director) stated that she did not know from which “BSI circles” Mr. Fourie had sourced this information, as the Board of Directors has not discussed it during their past four meetings! Mr. Fourie was/is not a BSI member.

General discussion took place:
(a) Len Trevor said the conference should stay at two years.
(b) At present we have the World Conference alternate years to the Australian Conference, changing either would result in conferences occurring in the same year.
(c) It was agreed the two-year gap should stay for now, to be reconsidered in the future should BSI alter their sequence.

Motion: That the Australian Conferences continue to be held every two years
Moved: Harry Frakking. Seconded: Greg Aizlewood. Carried.
Future Conferences locations as follows:
2009 Adelaide
2011 Australian Soc. / Northern Territory Soc. / Victorian Soc.
The Australian Society bid was queried by Lynn as they had declined in 1999 & 2007.
Lynn suggested that all be left as bids, finally if required, society members could vote through their committees and then vote through Future Conferences Group for the 2011 location.
Australian conferences were originally allocated anti clockwise. That would be difficult now as there are 19 groups on the eastern seaboard.
(a) By email Graham Bevan suggested that a Roster be organised for future conferences, with a drop out clause.
(b) Greg Aizlewood suggested along the lines of a conglomerate – eg Southern Queensland groups could join together to make a bid. Have an outgoing/incoming committee – to have the charter to go on.
Lynn said with Members life situations’ changing it is hard to plan four years ahead.
Lynn said each conference needs one strong leader – one person who knows everything that is being planned; who will listen to and with the committee, consider all ideas that are suggested. One person who is strong enough to wear each good result and any bad result.
Without funds societies are cautious of taking on a conference. Lynn stated the importance of keeping a support base when organizing a conference. She said the majority of societies had backed the 2007 conference. A Sydney location would have attracted more Delegates - one example: the cost to travel New Zealand/Sydney was almost the same as to travel Sydney/Port Macquarie. Several New Zealanders had decided to save for Cairns.
Lynn said organizing a conference is like organizing a large family party. She had never been to a conference before she ran the Cairns 1999 Conference and agreed it is always hard to step out when planning a conference. You need to start working on your conference two years in advance. It is a windfall to a hotel, so negotiate for any deductions of the Delegate Rate.
Lynn said she would forward conference planning notes to Adam Bodzioch of South Australia and any other group who requested them.
Lynn reminded attendees that finance for Societies is mainly received from commercial growers in your membership. She suggested they looked after their commercial growers as they are the main source of income.