GARDEN TOUR SETS OFF
17 April sees a very large group of enthusiasts led by Bill Willmott and Di Madgin arrive in Shanghai to commence our Society’s 2010 Garden Tour that includes amazing sights in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Yangzhou and Guilin. So much effort and preparation has gone into preparing for this group that we know they will have the experience of a lifetime.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE HAMILTON IN MAY
Hamilton is awaiting your conference registration – remember to have it in their hands by April 20 for the early bird discount. The Conference runs from Friday evening 21 May to midday Sunday 23 May at the Hamilton City Council Chambers, Garden Place. Registration forms are available from Meryl Lanting email [email protected]
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SUNDAY 23 MAY
Branches and committees are reminded to forward their annual reports and entries for National Achievement Awards to our National Secretary as soon as possible. It has been very pleasing to learn of the excellent calibre of nominations that were received by the National Secretary for elected officer positions of the Society.
2010 PROJECTS TOUR
The projects team is taking a small group of members to visit selected projects and rural communities during October this year. Places that will be visited are associated with Kathleen Hall’s work, Chinese Industrial Co-operatives and other projects, plus some stunning places including Tibetan townships, Chengdu, Duan and Guilin. Email Dave Bromwich for more details of this special tour for a very memorable experience.
YOUXIE VISITORS
This week Ann White of Timaru and I were fortunate to meet Qing Boming, Deputy Director of American & Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC and Ye Zi (Karen) at Christchurch Airport on their way to Dunedin for the Sister Cities Conference where Qing Boming was a guest speaker. Ann and I had excellent discussions on many topics to do with relations between our two organisations and Christchurch Branch President Judy Livingstone continued these over lunch.
On arrival in Dunedin our visitors were hosted in Dr James Ng and also had a Chinese meal with a group of locals interested in reforming our Society’s Dunedin Branch. On Sunday they will come through Christchurch again after visiting Invercargill where we arranged for the City Manager and the Deputy Mayor to host and show them something of Southland and Lake Te Anau. The Mayor of Invercargill, Tim Shadbolt, being in Christchurch at the time of their visit to his city, will meet them at Christchurch Airport. Some time ago Mayor Tim enjoyed the hospitality of Youxie on one of our Society’s arranged delegations and recently publically expressed his gratefulness for that opportunity.
SHANGHAI EXPO DELEGATION JULY 2010
The delegation to Shanghai for the World Expo has grown to the maximum of 15 people following applications by ten partners & members who wished to join the initial five on a paying basis. We certainly will be well represented especially with eight members coming from the Wellington Branch.
JIANGSU SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO VISIT
We are delighted that Past president Margaret Cooper, who has done so much for relations with Jiangsu Province, has received an invitation from Jiangsu Youxie to visit them and the World Expo in Shanghai as their guest. She has been asked to bring a companion and has selected the later period of September / October for the visit. This visit to both Jiangsu and Shanghai will be for five days four nights at the hosts expense and we would now call for nominations for the second position. Please contact Margaret, myself or our National Secretary Alistair Shaw if you wish to be considered for this great opportunity.
VICE PRESIDENT TREVOR
I am so pleased to advise that South Island Vice President Trevor Linyard is so much better , is now home and resting. Great news.
Best wishes
National President
