EBS – ACCOMMODATION – SABA CONVENTION 2013

The Countdown has begun

12 months to go to Convention 2013

The venue has been confirmed and paid for

All three headliners confirmed

And, best of all

We already have 100 Delegates registered.

My big concern is that some delegates have fallen far behind in their “Pay it Forward” installments, whilst others have only made their R350.00 payment at the end of April 2013 (which was the deadline for registration to get onto the Pay it Forward Scheme without making any further payments)

LET ME REPEAT :

1              The Pay it Forward Scheme allowed you the opportunity to pay your Convention Fee in installments of a minimum of R50.00 per month from October 2011 when the Scheme was announced.

2              For this commitment you were to pay only R1,200.00 for your Convention Registration Fee.

3              The Early Bird Registration – R1,300.00 once off payment – Deadline is 30 November 2012.

Only the first 120 Delegates to register will qualify for the 42cm BIG JIM TOOLBOX (worth R250.00 with goodies inside the toolbox).

1              Herein lies the rub :

With us rapidly approaching the 120 delegate number, I urgently urge those of you that are not up to date with their payments to do so immediately so as to avoid the disappointment of not qualifying for the TOOLBOX.

We will allow you until the 31 December 2012 to catch up with your payments.

Please go to www.easternbonsaisociety.co.za to check if you are up to date with your payments

Those of you on the Pay it Forward Scheme ought to have paid in a minimum of R750.00 by 30 November 2012.

2              PROOF OF PAYMENT

Please, please, please e-mail your proof of payment to barbara-anne@polka.co.za, and remember to let Barbara have your name, contact details and Bonsai Club that you belong to for record keeping purposes.   Reason being is that

We have two payments          :           Morne du V – paid in R400.00 in April 2012

                                                            And

                                                            Early Bird National – paid in to date R1,400.00

Morne please could you contact Tommy on 082 451 6283 or e-mail barbara-anne@polka.co.za with your contact details.

The delegate “Early Bird National” – could you also contact Tommy on 082 451 6283 or e-mail barbara-anne@polka.co.za with you contact details and the names and contact details of the delegates, if more than one, who are the Early Bird National.

When making payments remember to use your name and club as the reference.

3              LOCAL DEMONSTRATORS

I am busy finalising our local demonstrators for the Convention.   The idea is to have a Senior Member (mentor) with a younger/newer member (from the same Bonsai Club) doing a demonstration together.   I believe it is an ideal opportunity to blood some new talent into our South African demonstrator pool.   If you know of any exciting new talent out there, please let me (Tommy) know a.s.a.p.    Our local demonstrations will be done in the Main Hall, possibly sharing the stage with our International Speakers.

Again let me know your thoughts on this.

Also let me know what topic you would : e.g. Literati, Seikei,  ??? etc.

Once we have our local demonstrators finalised, we can then draw up our Convention Programme and make it available to you.

4              REGISTRATION FORMS

We are awaiting quotes for the Convention Golf Shirts.   Once we have these we can then also finalise our Registration Forms.

1              WORKSHOPS WITH INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS

Cost     :           R400.00 per Workshop if paid before 31 December 2012.

R500.00 per Workshop thereafter, i.e. 01 January 2013 onwards.

There will be two (2) Workshops with each of our International Speakers.    Each Workshop will consist of ten (10) delegates only – NO SILENT OBSERVERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THESE WORKSHOPS.

30% OF THE WORKSHOP SLOTS ARE ALREADY BOOKED.

Do not miss out – book now and pay for your Workshop – e-mail proof of payment for your Workshop booking to barbara-anne@polka.co.za.   Please state on your e-mail to Barbara your preference of demonstrator/international speaker and date, e.g.

1              Rob Kempinski

2              Ryan Neil

3              Walter Pall

If Rob Kempinski is fully booked, you will be allocated a slot with Ryan Neil or Walter Pall and so             forth.

Delegates who have already booked Workshops, have booked Workshops with all three International Speakers.

We have kept the cost of the Workshops to a minimum so that more of you will have an   opportunity to do a Workshop with one, or all of these truly worldwide bonsai artists.

With the slots filling up fast, I have every belief that all the slots will be taken up shortly – so do     not miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity – BOOK NOW.

Can you imagine years from now having trees that were worked on by greats like Rob Kempinski,             Ryan Neil and Walter Pall ???!!

Remember, if you have any queries, suggestions or criticisms, please e-mail to Barbara-anne@polka.co.za, or call Tommy on 082 451 6283 or 011 648 4964 (after hours).

Thanks once again, to all those who have already registered for the Convention and to those of you who call me with words of encouragement.

Yours in Bonsai

Tommy Ramiah

Convention Chairperson

082 451 6283 or 011 648 4964 (after hours).

e-mail : Barbara-anne@polka.cop.za

Banking details :          ABSA Sandton City.    Acc. Name Eastern Bonsai Society.

Acc. No. 711951156

Please use your name as Reference when transferring.

Buddleja saligna – Louis Nel

It is that time again for the Annual General Meeting of the members of the SOUTH AFRICAN BONSAI ASSOCIATION. This year it will be held on Friday 21 September 2012 at 18:00 at The Women’s Memorial Santa Fe Restaurant Monument Road Bloemfontein.

Remember members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend, speak and on a poll to vote or abstain from voting in their stead.

A form of proxy is available for those members who wish to be represented at the meeting. The instrument appointing a proxy must be received by the President of SABA not less than 48 hours before the meeting.

AGENDA
1. Welcoming
2. Members to sign attendance register
3. Record any Proxy votes
4. Receive any apologies
5. Approval of the minutes of 2011 meeting
6. Matters arising from the minutes
7. Presidents report
8. Treasurers report and acceptance of the financial statement
9. Acceptance of budget for 2012 – 2013
10. Financial decisions to be taken if any requested.
11. To consider amendments to the constitution that may have been received. Any amendments recommended must be received one month prior to the AGM.
12. Election of office bearers for the period of 2012 – 2013
13. Photographic Competition
14. SABA Convention 2013
15. Mini Convention 2014.
16. Other items: Members are to send any requests for items for inclusion to the secretary, in writing, 48 hours before the meeting.
17. General

For more information please contact centuref@icon.co.za

On 30 June 2012

Bonsai Olympics

On the day, these club teams will upon arriving register so that we know they are all there. At the time of the demonstration, we will draw teams from a hat (luck of the draw) to work on the provided tree. The rest is a BIG surprise! We ask that every club member please attend the day to make the day a fun filled occasion.

***All clubs must please elect 4 club members that have to be present on the day and be prepared to do a demonstration as a team. Please forward their names to us in advance!***

ERBK BRAT 2012 Registration

Registration Now Open!

Crespi Bonsai, leading company in Europe, organizes for the year 2012 the 10th International Bonsai and Suiseki Meeting, from 14th to 23rd September, an event already very expected.
Conceived in 1995 by Crespi Bonsai has soon become an event of great importance in Europe, thanks to the wealth of its contents, quality and organization.
For this occasion the Enthusiasts’ Exhibition (amateurs’ bonsai trees) is planned in the first week-end, from 14th to 16th September, while the exhibitions Crespi Bonsai Cup, Crespi Shohin Cup and Crespi Pot Cup (professionals’ and collectors’ bonsai trees and bonsai pot collectors and pot masters) will be held in the week-end from 21st to 23rd September.
From 14th to 23rd September will be planned the competitions Crespi Suiseki Cup, for all suiseki collectors.
The prizes introduced in the previous editions are confirmed: the Coppa Kaneko Memory, in honor of the Japanese master Kaneko Noboru, will be awarded to the best tree selected not only for its technical quality but also for its naturalness and artistic quality among the bonsai in competition for the Crespi Bonsai Cup; the Coppa Yokohama will be awarded to the best conifer bonsai and the Coppa Masakuni to the best deciduous bonsai, selected among all the bonsai exhibited in the Enthusiasts’ Exhibition.
To the already consolidated international character of the Crespi Cup will contribute the presence of amateurs from all over Europe, as it happened on the last editions.
This aspect gives importance to the International Bonsai and Suiseki Meeting, since it helps to join people of different countries, giving the enthusiasts a meeting opportunity and a constructive competition, thanks to the exchange of suggestions, opinions and experiences.
A wonderful opportunity to show your own bonsai, suiseki and pots in the exclusive Crespi Bonsai exhibition place and to enter the annals of the most prestigious event dedicated to the bonsai and suiseki world.

For information

CRESPI BONSAI
Corso Sempione, 35 – 20015 Parabiago (Mi) – Italy
Tel. +39 0331 491850 – Fax +39 0331 559410
crespicup@crespibonsai.it
www.crespibonsai.com

As you are all aware by now, the BRAT day will be hosted by Shibui Bonsai Kai on the 31^st of March 2012 in The Floreum, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens.

We are honoured and excited to have Roy Nagatoshi as the featured demonstrator.

We are expecting a large number of people on the day and all clubs have been invited by BRAT to enter trees for judging, but we only have a limited number of tables and space available for these trees.

There will be 11 tables available, which means that the maximum number of trees we can accommodate is 33 in total.

If you are going to enter trees please be selective as to the number and quality of your entries and advise us as soon as possible on how many you will be bringing.

The closing date for notification is Wednesday the 28^th of March 2012 and will be on a strictly first come first served basis.

If you intend joining us for the day and have not yet done so, PLEASE register with Ruza  -  see attached.  This applies to everybody.

Yours in Bonsai

Trevor Botham

Shibui Bonsai Kai invites you to come and enjoy the B.R.A.T. open day on SATURDAY 31 MARCH 2012 featuring from California:  ROY NAGATOSHI :

 P R O G R A M M E

08:30                           REGISTRATION

09:00 – 09:30              B.R.A.T. ANNOUNCEMENTS,GENERAL INTRODUCTION

09:30 – 10:30              ROY NAGATOSHI – DEMONSTRATION

10:30 – 10:45              TEA / COFFEE BREAK

10:45 – 12:30              DEMONSTRATION – CONTINUATION

12:30 – 13:15              LUNCH

13:15 – 15:00              ROY NAGATOSHI -  DEMONSTRATION

15:00 – 15:15              TEA / COFFEE BREAK

15:15 – 16:00              ROY NAGATOSHI – ‘FINALE’ AND CRITIQUE OF BONSAI

16:00                           RAFFLE DRAW AND CLOSE

COST:                           R60.00 – INCLUDES TEA / COFFEE / BISCUITS AND LUNCH

VENUE:                     THE FLOREUM, Johannesburg Botanic Garden, Olifants Road entrance, Emmarentia.   26 09’11.59″S   28 00’10.26″E

R.S.V.P:

If you will be attending, or for more info, please contact:

Ruza Whitaker on 082 873 7955, or e-mail:   bonsaikebana@mweb.co.za before 26 March, 2012.

Numbers and special dietary requirements are

needed for catering purposes.

DO COME AND SHARE A FUN-FILLED BONSAI  DAY WITH US!!

Dear Bonsai Friends from around the world,

 The World Bonsai Friendship Federation announces the beginning of the 2013 WBFF World Bonsai Photo Contest. The Contest is in memory of the WBFF founder, Saburo Kato. The WBFF photo contest originated in 1999 and was initially organized by Tom Shigemitsu, International Director to WBFF and supported by the Nippon Bonsai Association in cooperation with JAL. The contest begins immediately and submissions will be accepted by your regional coordinator until September 1, 2012

 Two trophies will be awarded to the for the grand prize winner: the “Saburo Kato Memorial Bonsai Trophy” which the winner will be awarded to keep, and a large rotating trophy with his/her name engraved on it which will remain with the winner until the next WBFF contest is held. The awards will be presented at the World Bonsai Convention in China in 2013.

 In addition to the grand prize winner, 5 runner up entries will be selected, and 25 additional as “Exceptional”. Each of these 30 entries will also receive special awards. 169 additional entries will each receive “Honorable Mention Entry Certificates”.  Thus, 200 trees selected by the judges, representing all 9 regions of WBFF, entered in the contest will receive formal recognition. Photographs of these 200 bonsai entries will be exhibited during WBFF 2013, and a permanent record of the contest entries and winners will be available in full color book which will be available for order at WBFF 2013 and subsequently on the WBFF website.

The “WBFF 2013 Bonsai Photo Contest” will be conducted primarily via the internet.  Entry forms and additional information will be available of the websites of each of the 9 world regions of WBFF, and the main WBFF Website as well.  Entries submitted to each regional coordinator will be collated and judged following the submission deadline of September 1, 2012.  Each region is then permitted to forward up to 50 world class bonsai entries representing their region for the final judging in the fall of 2012.   A schedule for submission and judging is provided below.

 WBFF strongly desires and encourages participation from bonsai lovers from the entire world.  The success of this important contest requires and counts on your full support.

 Solita D. T. Rosade

Chairperson WBFF EMERITUS

wbff photo contest entry form 2013 final feb 1 2012