Bromeliads Down Under - Cairns Australia

COUNCIL OF AUSTRALASIAN BROMELIAD SOCIETIES

Minutes of Meeting held at 15th Australian Bromeliad Conference
Meridien Hotel Adelaide on 13th April 2009.

Present: Societies represented at the meeting were:
Queensland Society, Gold Coast Society, Cairns Society, Gladstone Society, Sunshine Coast, New South Wales Society, Australian Bromeliad Society, Central Coast, Hunter, Victorian Society, South Australian Society, Western Australian Society, Northern Territory Society, New Zealand Society, Far North Coast NSW Discussion Group.

1.0 Open:
Facilitator Lynn Hudson opened the meeting at 8.35am, welcoming delegates in attendance. Olive Frakking took the meeting minutes.

2.0 Minutes of the Last Meeting:
Minutes of the meeting held on 21st September 2007 had been emailed to all societies in October 2007 and posted on the website. Olive summarized the 2007 Minutes.
Lynn advised that following the last Council of Australasian Bromeliad Societies she had contacted all societies, but nobody had replied, apart from Eileen Killingly of Illawarra and Alice Williams who acknowledged receipt of the email. Bromeliads Downunder Website has the Council Minutes and other information posted.

Ross Little has started a small group in Northern New South Wales; Gympie has started a Discussion Group. Lynn requested that she be advised when new groups commenced so that they can be kept in the information loop.

3.0 General Business:
3.1 Speakers List:
Lynn sent out forms to all societies, asking for anyone willing to speak both in Australian and overseas to complete the form. Power Point and DVD programmes are welcome, also in lieu of speaking. It is invaluable for societies to have a list available to assist in conference and society programmes and to share knowledge.
Lynn advised that the BSI, who could make this information available to all societies, also requested a list of presentations. They would also appreciate donations of any programs on CD and DVD for sale via their online store to members.

3.2 Next Conference:
Lynn said she had received interest in hosting the 2 conferences from three societies, being the Australian, Northern Territory and the New Zealand societies. Since arriving in Adelaide the New Zealand Society have said they would prefer 2013. Lynn asked the Delegates if they had any objections to the 2013 conference being in New Zealand. There being no objections it was agreed to hold it there.
The next Australasian conference is to be held in 2011. There are two bids for that conference, the presidents of each society were asked to address the delegates, Australia, being alphabetically, first then Northern Territory.

Australian Society Bid by President Ian Hook:
The Australian Society has the funds available for the conference, and has people willing to help on the Committee. There is enough space - a location out west near Fairfield is the preferred location. Transport is available, and the location is close to the railway station. Because of high taxi costs, the Australian Society would gladly collect delegates from the Airport.
The preferred venue would easily accommodate 200, but the conference facilities can cater for much larger numbers. The registration costs would be kept similar to other recent conferences.
Olive Trevor asked would there be plant competitions as they are an important part of a conference; Ian answered was “Yes”.

Northern Territory Bid by President Ross Hutton:
The Northern Territory Society advised that they would offer sunshine, fishing, Plant Sales & competition, Garden Tours. It would be a new venue for the conference. Information would be obtained from Dept of Primary Industries and Fisheries for delegates about plants coming into the Territory. The date is being explored; and will be advised in four weeks time. It will not be held at Easter.

Voting: Lynn Hudson again asked if a silent vote was wanted, delegates unanimously declined. By a show of hands, the Northern Territory society grossly outvoted the Australian society vote.
2011 Conference will be held in Darwin, Northern Territory.
2013 Conference will be held in Auckland, New Zealand.

3.3 Commissions on sales at Conferences:
Lynn said there had been a query on the percentage deducted on gross plant sales. She said there was no set rate, each society can elect their own charge, according to their individual costing parameters from 10 to 25%. Delegates agreed that it was entirely up to Societies to set the commissions to be deducted from plant sellers at conferences. The rate should be advised to sellers, by inclusion in the Plant Sales Rules.

3.4 Competition and Plant Shows at Australian Conferences
Olive Trevor said the conferences were traditionally where new plants were shown and where new plants were released for sale. It was agreed that whilst it was preferred that these be held at conferences, it would stay as the choice of the host society to elect to hold Competitions and Plant Shows at the conference.

3.5 Accommodation suggestion for Conferences:
Ross Little suggested that future conferences offer the option of share accommodation at conferences as there are many single people that come to conferences, who are happy to share rooms rather that bear the cost of a room for one person.

3.6 Seminar held by other Societies back to back with Australian Conference:
Chris Larson said that for the past two conferences the Queensland Society have held Seminars the following weekend with the conference Guest Speaker as their Guest Speaker. He said that Seminars held at this time could be detrimental to attendance at the Australian Conference as Brisbane locals would elect to not attend the conference as the guest speaker would be available nearer their residence. Olive Trevor advised that although they go to both, they hold their new release plants for the Australian Conference to support the Australian Conference.

4.0 CLOSE:
There being no further business, Lynn closed the meeting at 9.12am.