Tom Dinning
Another busy year with some 2,266 items of mail sent out. Average time spent on Tree Crops business was nearly 4 hours per day.
In trying to keep expenditure down I have not visited any Branches again this year but I will be only too happy to visit any Branch that extends me an a invitation. I'm happy to meet with Committee Members, Members and give the odd talk or two, and help a Branch solve any problems at may have. Just give me adequate warning.
The highlight of the year was attending the Associations stand at the National Agricultural Fieldays. It seems to get better and better. Quite a few members signed up (around 40) with some forms handed out then still coming in.
Still some problems with communications with Branches, hopefully this new Branch Manual due out in late February will solve this problem. This Manual has taken almost a year to put together. It is NOT a rule book but for guidance.
Likewise the new Members Handbook would appear to be a great success if the comments I have received are anything to go by. Gives all the material I used to produce a profession touch. Most welcome of all is the Members Discount Scheme. I hope we can expand the Handbook for the 1993 year.
1991 was a year that saw a great demand for our publications particularly the 'fact sheets'. These sheets need constant updating as more information comes to hand. So please do not wait for me to ask you for it, send it in whenever it comes to hand. I'm also on the lookout for subjects, if you have one in mind then let me know.
In November 1991 Management approved a visit by the NI Vice President and National Secretary to Taranaki to try and revitalise the Branch. This trip is scheduled for late February 1992.
Also in the pipeline is a "draft" of proposed rule changes to our Constitution and general re-wording to make these rules clearer. It is hoped to have these available in tame for the Conference, so that members can advise Management on them. The intention is to distribute these changes to all Branches in 1992 so that they can be formally adopted at the 1993 AGM. If your Branch has any ideas on this subject would you please contact Maurice Denton DIRECT.
Tom Dinning.