WELCOME:
Welcome to 2008. We trust that you all have enjoyed the festive season with family and friends, and that we can all look forward to another great year growing and learning about bromeliads, and enjoying the friendships we share in the bromeliad world.
An apology from the Committee for the delay in producing this newsletter. Our editor has been plagued with technical difficulties, so we've had to recruit a couple of 'understudies' to compile this one. We hope all will be on track for the following edition.

REGULAR FEATURES OF MEETINGS:
Beginners Class - This short session is held prior to the meeting and conducted by one of our experienced members. Thanks to Len Trevor who regularly conducts this class.

Show and Tell -All members are encouraged to bring bromeliads for this popular session. Plants in flower, unusual plants, problem plants, colourful or special bromeliads that we can all see and from which we can all learn. Should you have a plant you would like to have identified, bring it in ( mature and preferably in flower) and perhaps someone can be of assistance.

Popular Choice - Bring in your special plants for this segment - remember, it is not a serious competition and plants are 'chosen' by member votes. There are 3 categories: 1. Neoregelias 2. Terrestrials and Tillandsias 3. Other Genera, with sections for Advanced and Novice entries in each. Please register your entries with Nigel before 1.45pm.

Plant Sales - Members are most welcome to bring surplus plants to sell to other members and visitors. All plants must be clean, free of disease and flyspeck scale, and emptied of water. Sales stickers are available from the Librarian and need to be clearly marked with the name of the plant, the sellers name and the price, and attached to the pot. All potted plants must be growing in the pot, not recently potted with little or no root development. Un-potted offsets may be sold but they must be reasonably mature, in good condition, with a sales sticker securely attached. Committee members and Stewards who are busy during the plant sales period are permitted to select 2 plants prior to the meetings.

Afternoon Tea - Thank you to Jean Jarick and Sue Murray, our Stewards for their cheerful smiles and their efforts in providing our Afternoon tea which is served during the plant sales period.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
As you know, this will be held in February. All Committee positions will be declared vacant and need to be filled at the meeting, so please consider nominating for a position. Remember, the Society does not function without an active Committee, and new members and ideas are always welcome. Nomination forms are included with this newsletter.
The Committee meets on the first Thursday bi-monthly ie. February, April, June, August, October and December, at 9.00am at the home of one of the members.

FROM THE COMMITTEE:
Since our monthly meetings are no longer held in gardens (due to the size of our group), the Committee has decided to call for expressions of interest from members to host small "friendship visits" in their gardens. It is envisaged that these visits would be of only a couple hours where members could enjoy the garden in an informal way, the time and day to be decided by the garden owner. Jan McCart has agreed to co-ordinate this activity, so if you are interested, see Jan at a meeting, or phone her on 5442 5454.
Some members have expressed concern over the difficulty in hearing some speakers during meetings. The hall is wired with a special sound system to cater for people with hearing difficulties, so the problem appears to be caused by people talking during presentations. The Committee asks that we all show consideration for speakers as well as the audience, during meetings.

SOCIAL NEWS:
A big thank you to Glenys Bruun who conducted the November meeting in the absence of our President. A job well done.
More than 60 members attended our Christmas Party held at the Rolling Surf at Caloundra, in a relaxed beachside setting. The food was superb and plentiful, the staff were friendly, the service was excellent and the live music was enjoyed by all. Following the meal, dancing was enjoyed by the fittest - or those who thought they were. Ask Dorothy !!!!!! Grace Goode's comment was that 'it was the best Christmas Party I've been to'. So good that she fell out of bed next morning!!! ( not good Gracie). Hope you have recovered from your fall.
Good to see Len Trevor up and running again after his stay in hospital - can't keep a good man down!!!
Congratulations to Len and Sheryl Waite on the latest addition to their family. Steve and Julie presented them with grandson Jacob before Christmas.
Best wishes to our Newsletter editor, Jan McCart, who is experiencing trying times and computer breakdowns. Hope everything is on the mend. We hope our attempt with this newsletter will fill the gap till the next edition.
Cheers …………. Sheryl and Jeanette ( partners in crime!!!)

A LITTLE BRITISH HUMOUR
The train was quite crowded, a US Marine, walked the entire length of the train looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a poodle, belonging to a well-dressed, middle-aged , French lady. The war-weary Marine asked, "ma'am, may I have that seat?"
The French woman just sniffed and said, "Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat."
The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog. "Please Ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired."
She snorted, "Not only are you Americans rude, you are very arrogant!."
This time the Marine didn't say a word; he picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down.
The woman shrieked, "Someone must defend my honour! This American should be put in his place!"
An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, "Sir, you Americans often seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand, you drive your autos on the wrong side of the road, and now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out of the window!"

web site problem? Email: Allan