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Report on the 2009 Annual General Meeting

of

The National Fuchsia Society of New Zealand Inc.

by

Marion Prestney

FUCHSIA 2000 -- HOSTS for
The NATIONAL FUCHSIA SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND INC.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2009 and Silver Anniversary ot the Society
HELD IN NEW PLYMOUTH FROM 17-19 APRIL
At SCOTLANDS Boarding establishment for the New Plymouth Girls' High School. They were excellent facilities - with all being under one roof very conducive to a great chance for mixing and mingling over the 3 days.

Friday 17 was registrarion time as all the guests arrived they checked in, were shown their sleeping accommodation and given a "cuppa". So the conviviality started then - continuing after the Happy hour and Dining time to a popular forum where a panel plus others answered questions on growing fuchsias or club participation.

Saturday morning promptly at 9 am, the AGM commenced with a very competent President - Trevor Gamblin controlling the meeting really well. Apart from the annual presentations of reports and the usual business, this year it has been necessary to alter the Constitution to comply with the Charities Commission for our status to be as a charity - thus all clauses must be really transparent to meet the requirements. There were several remits to comply and these all resulted in achieving the desired goals, even though amendments were made for the better.

The Saturday afternoon programme included showcasing some of Taranaki highlights including a trip to Mt Egmont, Pukekura Park and the New Plymouth Walkway which has become very popular locally - a walk right along the sea coast of the City from the Port through the whole city to Fitzroy. Back to Scotlands for Happy Hour, our Anniversary Dinner and a very convivial evening ensued.

Sunday was a trip for all to Avis Moratti's wonderful garden and her huge 'goathouse' which now is a fuchsia house with hundreds of wonderful fuchsias - standards, baskets, bush - ofwonderful quality and cleverly summer pruned to be maximised for the April date- they were truly magnificent and very much admired by the visitors. Back to Scotlands for an excellent lunch before the guests departed during the afternoon.

(Pictures yet to be uploaded in the right hand column and lower row of cells)

The pictures show - 1 President of Fuchsia 2000 Avis Moratti, introducing the Mayor Extraordinaire of New Plymouth - Peter Tennent giving a very warm welcome to visitng fuchsia-lovers early on Friday evening.

2 Depicts some of the guests in one area of the room enjoying the Mayor's welcome.

3 Well-known fuchsia Patrons - Rita Proffit renowned with her husband Doug, for founding Grow-Wel Fuchsias and - - Patron of Fuchsia 2000 club New Plymouth with Alison Sweetman - National Fuchsia Society Patron and very well-known New Zealand identity.

4 The Annual General Meeting about to start - great venue in Scotlands' Prep room

5 The Executive - returned to Officd - from left -Jim Kane, Editor Link magazine, Bert Kennerley Vice-President, Trevor Gamblin President, Marion Prestney Secretary and Catherine Nunweek Treasurer.

6 Four of the 8 delegates to the AGM - Dick Bennett, Ashburton, Veronica MacMillan Dunedin, Olga Conner Wellington, and Avis Moratti Fuchsia 2000 New Plymouth.

7 Four of the host club 'workers' - Gwen Thompson, Brian Haughton, Marie Mawhinney and Ingrid Stahnke.

8 The School theme for the officials - Marlene Adams (Truancy Officer), Avis Moratti (Headmistress), Gwen Thompson (Teachers'pet, winner of many badges, head prefect bus prefect etc, and Marion Prestney (Prissy Prestney) and

9 The back view of the above - with their nicknames or sim!

10 Part of the Dining area - Wellington members with the required silver touch for the 25th Annivasary -
In front - Jim Kane - excellent Link Editor.