2015 BRANCH CONVENTION AND AGM – PART 2

Merrilee Berrisford

Last month you read Part 1 of Merrilee’s report on the annual gatherings of BotSoc SA held on 16 September at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. This month we give you Part 2.

Then came the branch report-back session. I started by saying that the past year had been the year of the book and bounty. Kogelberg Branch has been on the receiving end of much bounty from power saws to Ethel Dixie flower paintings (see separate article). There were cheers when I said that the Mayor had formally proclaimed Ed’s Valley. George Bredenkamp then went round the room commenting on the reports. When it was our turn he said, ‘Kogelberg Branch … WOW!!!’ and then ‘Please take back my presidential congratulations to all concerned with the book.’

I had taken ten copies of the book, sold them all easily, the last going to an enthusiastic Richard Cowling. I also gave one to Jeffery Manuel for the SANBI Library which falls under him.

There is a nature reserve attached to the university and in the afternoon, Richard Cowling led us round to see intriguing Satyrium species, Rapanea gilliana, Dwarf Cape Beech and the dreaded-in-Betty’s Bay Felicia echinata or dune daisy, growing in its right place.

Local BotSoc members joined us at six for the AGM and to hear a talk on the genetics of thickets by Prof Alastair Potts of the university’s Botany Department.

New members of Council are Wim van Zyl, Lee le Roux, and Ashwell Glasson (see Veld and Flora for details). The new treasurer is Moegamat Stenekamp.

Caroline Voigt, retired editor of Veld and Flora, has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Society.