COMUNICACIONES / AVISOS / CIRCULARES
ACTA Nº 6/2006: ACTA DE LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL ORDINARIA CELEBRADA EL 19.03.2006
Dear Member,
According to the information included in the electronic mail sent on March 31, please find enclosed the translation into English of the minutes of our Regular Meeting held on 19th march.
This year we will send the information by post to include the membership card corresponding to the present year.
We want that the contents of the letter can be understood by English speaking members, so as they can feel more united to the Society.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
Eduardo de La Rubia
Secretary of the Spanish Camellia Society
MINUTES Nº 6/2006: MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON 19.03.2006
At the Soutomaior Castle (Pontevedra), at 12:30 on Sunday 19, a Regular meeting of the Spanish Camellia Society was held on second call, according to the call passed on to all members following the instructions provided in the Articles of Association, but considering the incidence reported by the President of the Spanish Camellia Society and explained bellow.
60 persons (attending and represented members).
The President opened the meeting welcoming all the attendants and commenting the incidence of the meeting notification delivery; all envelopes were handed to MRW on February 22, to be distributed through their courier company, but only those letters addressed to members living in cities with an MRW branch were delivered. Thus, on March 13 we telephoned all members to check whether they had received the letter. In case the letters were not delivered, the information was sent again by regular or electronic mail. The decision of sending the Meeting Notification letter by MRW was a decision adopted by the Board of Directors, since they offered us a better price and conditions than our National Mail. But this service has disappointed us and so we won't consider their services in the future and the invoice sent by MRW won't be paid.
Afterwards the issues included in the agenda were discussed:
• Reading and Approval, if applicable, of the last minutes of the meeting
The Secretary reads the minutes of the last meeting held on March 13, 2005 at the same place. The minutes of the meeting were approved unanimously.
• Incomes and Expenditures in 2005
The Treasurer reads the summary of the incomes and expenditures of the financial year. The summary is as follows:
INCOMES:
- Member Subscriptions 4,863.36 €
- Grants (Provincial government and others) 2,300.51 €
- Others: books, translations, etc. 179.88 €
_________
7,343.75 €
EXPENSES:
- Journal printing 2,912.24 €
- Edition of 200 DVD copies 881.60 €
- Three-page leaflet edition 707.60 €
- Administrative expenses 426.30 €
- Bank expenses 192.34 €
- Other expenses: books, tables for exhibits, etc 374.41 €
-Stamps 781.08 €
___________
6,275.57 €
SURPLUS 1,068.18 €
OPENING BALANCE 2003 > 2,557.32 €
CLOSING BALANCE 2005 > 3,625.50 €
Later, the President informed about the acquisition of 13 copies of the book ‘ La Camelia. Un Regalo para Occidente ' at the price of 12.00 Euros each, to be used for commitments of the Society, and for sale to those members that are interested.
The DVD contains the slides used by Dr. Samartín for her book ‘La Camelia. Un Regalo para Occidente'. The society considers that this document has a historical value. Thus, we decided to edit this DVD, although it does not have the quality of the digital image and sound systems used nowadays. This DVD is on sale at the price of 10.00 Euros each.
The President informed about the acquisition of 10 books written by her and Pilar Vela Fernandez, ‘ La camellia en la colección de la Diputación de Pontevedra '. The book is sold out, and we do not know if the book will be edited again. This book is at the disposal of all members at the price of 20.00 euros each.
We also have copies of the Poster edited by The Spanish Camellia Society and presented at the International Camellia Exhibit held in Vilagarcía. This poster is the number 1 of a series, and includes photographs of several varieties of C. japonica .
Other books, of free distribution, are the following:
• “ Las Rías Baixas. El jardín de las Camelias” , which can be requested at: Turismo Rias Baixas . Pza. Santa María, s/n ·36071 – Pontevedra. Tfno.: 00.34.986.842690 · fax: 00.34.986.868750 inforb@riasbaixas.org .
• “I Mostra da Camelia”, which can be requested to D. Enrique Gómez . Concello de Narón. Praza de Galicia, s.n. 15570 – Narón (A Coruña). Teléfono: 00.34.981.337700. Fax: 981 337 701 naron@concellodenaron.com
These books and those purchased by the society in the future, can be consulted at the Estación Fitopatolóxica do Areeiro.
On the web page of the Spanish Camellia Society (http://scamelia.efa-dip.org) we can find information on all the books on camellia that have been edited in the world, as far as we know. If any member had knowledge of other books not included in our list, we would appreciate to let us know, sending a photograph of the front and back cover, and the place where this book can be requested.
The statement of accounts was approved unanimously.
• Approval of the amendments to the Articles of Association
The President informed about the negotiations carrying our with The Ministry of Home Affairs to make amendments on our long and dense name so as it can be substituted by either Sociedad Española de la Camelia or Asociación Española de la Camelia , or any other considered to be appropriate by the Board of Directors, provided that either it is authorized by the Regular Meeting or its name is shorter than the current name. In this case we would modify the Article 1, whose wording will be only changed in those words referred to the name of the society.
Article 1
The ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA PARA LA DIFUSIÓN DE LA FLOR Y EL ÁRBOL DE LA CAMELIA , was constituted on 9th March, 2001 and its Articles of Association were amended on 15th May 2004, in order to adapt them to the Organic Law 1/2002, 22 nd March and complementary regulations, and were modified, rewritten and approved at the General Regular Meeting held on March, 13, 2005, and now they are modified again.
She requested authorization to modify the Article 3, so as the Society can become a Federation gathering local, provincial or regional associations, sharing our purposes and either those being already constituted or that will be constituted in the future. Some of them are already members of our society. Thus, the article would be drawn up as follows:
Article 3.
The purpose of the Association will be to spread and promote the Camellia flower and tree through any media or event, as well as to develop research activities to improve the technology currently used with camellia.
The Association will seek, the integration and coordination of other societies regardless of their location, provided they have same purposes. And among their objectives will be the promotion, diffusion and support of these societies, specially the defence of their rights.
Thus, the association will organize activities linked with camellia culture and addressed to their members , such as : courses, conferences, trips, exhibits, edition of journals and other type of publications , as well as any other topics considered interesting by the Board of Directors.
(all the changes that will be performed on the article paragraphs were shown in bold).
Both amendments were approved unanimously .
• Information on the activities to be developed along the present year.
Before dealing with this issue, the President informed about the activities scheduled for the last year and still pending. A course on bonsais was planned to be held, but having contacted with some experts who lived in Barcelona , we have not found adequate dates for them to travel to Pontevedra.
Regarding the activities to be carried out along the present year, the President informed us that one of the main purposes of the Association is to promote tourism in Galicia . Thus, three marks: “Camelia, flor de Galicia ”, “Camelia de Galicia” and “Flor de Camelia” have been registered in the Registro Oficial de Nombres y Patentes ( Official Register of Trade Names and Patents ) so far.
We have also negotiated with Xunta de Galicia to promote Galicia and the camellia. Thus, we planed to develop a Camellia Route , and to organize the long-awaited Camellia exhibit in Madrid . The conditions proposed to hold it this year did not satisfied us, thus we have preferred to postpone it until 2007. They have guaranteed us this event will be held at an adequate place and that it will have the importance it deserves.
Thus, we have signed with TURGALICIA (Regional Tourist Board) a cooperative agreement, of which the President gave detailed information and that was approved unanimously at the Regular Meeting.
Regarding other activities, the President informed about:
• Participation of the Spanish Camellia Society in the exhibit organization.
She informed about the inclusion of some of the photographs taken at the exhibits in our web page.
On account of the incidents occurring in some of the exhibits along this year, we suggest the drawing up of a protocol that will be handed to the exhibit organizers, so as they would comply with it in subsequent exhibits.
Some of the proposals that may be included in this protocol are the following:
• The Organization must inform all exhibitors about the access routes to the building as well as the place assigned to each exhibitor.
• Assistance for car unloading, and loading on the closing day.
• Exhibitors must enjoy free parking which must be located near the exhibit place, during the exhibit period.
• The exhibition won't be opened to the public during plant arranging, and plant removal.
• Once plants have been placed and arranged, the organization must invite all exhibitors and the person accompanying them to have lunch. However, in case they do not have enough economical capacity, they must have a place to hold it.
• Depending on the economical capacity of the organization, an economical reward should be given to the Society.
• If the exhibit held is the Exposición Internacional de la Camelia, the table of the winner of the ‘Camelia de Oro' in the last exhibit must be placed in a remarkable place, since it has a honorific meaning.
As well as other proposals which can be added now or later. The Regular meeting approved unanimously these conditions, as well as others:
• No member of the Jury can be present during the flower placing and arrangement.
• Exhibit schedule must not be altered by the organization.
• Exhibit opening must take place in the afternoon or evening.
• Labels including the name of the exhibitor must be big enough to be read.
• Posters, programs and brochures edited must include the logotype of the Society and the logo selected for “camellia flor de Galicia ”.
4.2. Development of a Survey to increase exhibitors number.
The President informed about this project and appreciated suggestions of members.
Jose Ramón Teixeira informed about the Working Plan developed for Arousa Norte exhibit to increase the number of local exhibitors, so as they were not dependent on those exhibitors coming from other places.
Mercedes Pita commented that some people did not appreciate the value of their camellias. For the C. E. I. P. Campolongo Exhibit she invited two friends that presented extraordinary specimens, never shown before.
Enrique Gomez informed about the importance of the “Mayos” (traditional festivity held on May 1 st in Galicia in which they create different shapes arranging plants and flowers) in Narón, and so flower arrangement. They would like that camellias will be used in the “Mayos”as well.
The President commented the involvement of the students of the CEIP Campolongo (Primary School Institute) in Pontevedra in the camellia exhibit held at their school. Since, in the future they may not need contributions from other exhibitors. During the exhibition opening event the Director of the school involved the authorities and particularly the Mayor in Pontevedra, so as this exhibition could rotate among all or at least some of the Schools in Pontevedra.
The participation of all schools in Soutomaior Exhibit was highlighted.
4.3. Study of changes on the rules of the International Camellia Exhibit.
Apart from the mistakes made by the organization for not having exhibited non-awarded photographs, the President appreciated the opinions regarding this matter and asked whether it was convenient to give only one prize per exhibitor. The Regular meeting was against this proposal, arguing that the current limit of prizes was appropriate.
• Any other business
Fernando Vila showed dissatisfaction for not having received any prize, saying that it was unfair. This issue was under debate. Some of the opinions regarding this matter are explained bellow:
• The Board of Directors was requested to propose either the awarding of three prizes for each prize category or the creation of a consolation prize in each.
• We must value more the quality of the exhibit and our love for the flower than the prizes.
• We must not question jury's work, since they are honest and dedicated workers, but they can't please everybody.
• We should not end all Regular Meetings talking about the Jury.
The Regular Meeting recognized unanimously the work of Xosé Ramón Teixeira (Aurosa Norte exhibit), Enrique Gomez (Narón exhibit) and Lelita Gradín ( Soutomaior Castle exhibit). They have contributed to increase the number of participants. The quality of the flower exhibited there has been magnificent.
The Secretary commented that sometimes we do not express facts because to an excess of modesty and reserve, or because these are thought to be of common knowledge, but sometimes this is unfair. To avoid this, he commented that now more than 350 members belong to this society and that it has been consolidated, and if the agreement previously commented by the president is finally signed, the society would have a much wider scope. The importance of the society at an international level could have never been imagined when we created this society three years ago.
This could have been due to several factors explained bellow:
• The Estación Fitopatológica do Areeiro allowed us to use its infrastructure: address, telephone, fax, by all our visitors. He wanted to express his recognition and gratitude to the Director of the Estación Fitopatológica do Areeiro, Dr. Pedro Mansilla. On behalf of the Society. The proposal of awarding this institution with a commemorative plaque was unanimously accepted by the Regular Meeting.
• The Secretary added that in his opinion, the second factor affecting the rapid development of the Society was due to the work of some people in the society and specially the President, who sometimes you did not know whether she was working for the society or for her job, being this fact extremely beneficial for the society.
• I know that she is exhausted and that she does not want to continue once her term of office is finished, in approximately a year. This decision would not be beneficial for the society, and so she made an appeal to all the members so as the team more appropriate for the necessities of the Society will be formed, and we hope she propose us to be re-elected.
• All members attending the meeting showed their approval to the proposal applauding the President enthusiastically.
• And not having more issues to discuss, the meeting was closed at 14:00 hours on the same day.
