APPROVAL OF MINUTES
AGM dated 8 March 2008 - Proposed: Klaus Hoffman Seconded: Hans van Zyl

MATTERS ARISING:
No matters arising.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The full report for the period March 2008 to March 2009 can be found on the Cape Bird Club website.
In his annual report the chairman spoke about the beginnings of the Cape Bird Club, emphasising that it was not in May 1948 but a long time before that.
He reminded us of Sir Thomas Browne who in 1662 assembled a rough list of birds for what would become his Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk. From then onwards other publications began to appear. Vernon highlighted one such publication “A Natural History of English Song-Birds” in which one of the earliest pictures of birdwatchers appeared. Their dress was nothing like we would wear today but the light in their eyes would be recognised by “we digi-kid”.The chairman elaborated on how birdwatching moved away from fanatical fascination with Linneaean classification toward a fundamentally different form of environmental engagement and a more holistic approach was taken. This we were reminded was largely due to the influence of William Bartram, a great American ornithologist who saw a connection between the human and the natural in his observation of nature.

It was in the 1800s we were reminded that birdwatchers wanted to appreciate and understand the natural environment and not change it. Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shelley wrote poems about it and the great painters started to capture it on canvas.
Today birdwatchers may share their special sightings with a companion or simply note in a personal journal. The point is that bird watching is about seeking a connection. We might like to see ourselves in birds but the reality is tht birds are not like us but they certainly bring us together and it is in this context that we witness with pride the development and rise of the bird club.

The chairman shared an amusing incident about an early 20th Century birdwatcher, President Theodore Roosevelt. He recounts” People looking into the White House grounds and seeing me stare into a tree no doubt thought me insane” To which his wife added “And as I was always with him, they no doubt thought I was the nurse in charge!”
At this point the chairman drew our own “President Steyn’s” attention, the fact that after completing his term of office, President Roosevelt was then elected President of the Long Island Ornithology Club, which he regarded as some what of a promotion.
“So you are indeed in good company, Sir.” remarked the chairman.
The chairman then expounded upon the role that the modern birdwatcher of today has to play and the following points are highlighted.
· Record and protect our precious past. In this spirit, the chairman announced the formation of a Cape Bird Club Editorial Committee which will archive our 60 years of existence. The committee of Mel Tripp, Otto Schmidt, Sandy Schmidt, Leni Martin and Jo Hobbs were thanked and wished much success with their work.

• An obligation to the environment. We were exhorted to work together with the ornithologists and conservationists. At this point, the chairman welcomed the executive director of BLSA into our club. The chairman also proudly announced that The Cape Bird Club had been awarded a BLSA Owl Award for 2008 and was the first club to be lauded in this way.
• Enjoy bird watching. To do this, we were reminded that our ears and intellect were to be used as much as our eyes.

The chairman then thanked the Western Cape Birding Forum members and congratulated the Honorary Secretary Sylvia Ledgard and Honorary Treasurer Brian Dennis on another year of exceptional service.
He also thanked the Cape Bird Club Committee members, Helen Fenwick; Dave Whitelaw; Anne Gray; John Magner; Priscilla Beeton; Frank Hallett; Janet Hallett, and Julian Hare. He gave a special vote of thanks to the vice-chairman calling her his “ very special vice-chairperson, the unwavering Heather Howell.”

Next, he gave a vote of thanks to the honorary president, Peter Steyn.
The chairman admitted to having delivered his address with a nostalgic tone and referred to the highlights of our anniversary year the culmination of which was the handing over of a cheque of R50 000 to the Albatross Task Force. He thanked the Anniversary Sub-committee, Mel Tripp, Otto Schmidt, Sandy Schmidt, Klaus Hoffman and Jo Hobbs for an exceptional job achieved with a new standard in organisational achievement.
John and Jane Magner were given a special vote and of thanks for putting their 35th wedding anniversary celebrations on hold while they managed he transportation of delegates to the Pan African Ornithological Congress in Goudini.
Helen and Earl Fenwick and Klaus Hoffman were thanked you for their financial assistance in making the beautiful albatross painting a reality.

Otto Schmidt and Jo Hobbs were thanked for another excellent year of producing Promerops and for their extra labours and mitigation measures regarding the management of the “membership crisis’ created by
BLSA head office.
The Courses Sub-committee of Sylvia Ledgard, Brenda Anderson, Gill Ford and all their many helpers were also thanked for a wonderful array of courses.
Thanks also went to Professor Les Underhill, Doug Harebottle, the rest of the ADU atlasers and their citizen scientists, as they continue to expand the success of SABAP2 across the Region.
A big thank you went to Heather Howell for her inspired management and development of the Junior Bird Club.
Also thanked were: - Joan Ackroyd our membership secretary; Peter Cooper our outings and camps co-ordinator; Mike Buckham for manning or rarities hot-line; Gavin Lawson our webmaster; Gavin and Anne Greig our book-sales experts; Jan Hofmeyr our slide-librarian and, Des and Mary Frylink our CBC shopkeepers.

The chairman ended his address with a reminder to us all that a true birdwatcher requires vision, not just to see the bird, but to look deep in to the past and even further into the future for we are the custodians of a delightful obsession.
Heather Howell thanked the chairman for his tireless enthusiasm and for his background work with BLSA.

Adoption of Chairman’s Report; Proposed – Peter Steyn Seconded Helm van Zijl

CONSERVATION REPORT
The conservation sub-committee chairman, David Whitelaw, was absent. His report will be published in Promerops and on the CBC webpage.

FINANCIAL REPORT
The treasurer, Julian Hare, presented the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2008. He highlighted additional fund raising made during the Jubilee year as well as unusual expenses including a donation to BLSA to aid in their law suit to stop mining at Wakkerstroom. The funds are, however, in a sound state.
Adoption of Financial Report; Proposed: Sylivia Ledgard Seconded Anne Gray

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following members were elected to serve on the committee for the next 12 months: Vernon Head, Heather Howell, Helen Fenwick, Julian Hare, John Magner, Anne Grey, David Whitelaw, Pricilla Beaton, Frank Hallet, Janet Hallet.

The committee at its first meeting would confirm the following appointments
Chairman: Vernon Head
Vice Chairman: Heather Howell
Treasurer: Julian Hare
Hon Secretary: Helen Fenwick

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
The Chairman thanked Ian Lomberg for auditing the Club’s books for the past 12 months and appointed.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP
The chairman highlighted the wonderful work that Frank Wygold has done in educating the youth of the peninsular. Last year he was the recipient of a BLSA Owl Award. Sylvia Ledgard proposed that he be given Life Membership of the Cape Bird Club and this was seconded by Anne Gray.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Some members had questions and these were addressed by the chairman.

• What progress is being made with the house crow?
  It was explained that the poison had to be obtained through the correct channels and the eradication done humanely. Cape Nature is heading up the programme.
• Jan Hofmeyer asked how many member there were presently in the club and the answer was the there were about 950 but because of the BLSA’s membership system problems the exact number was unknown.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting was declared closed at 8.45 pm.