Conchology Section
Auckland Museum Institute

President's Report
Hi Folks!
Thanks for trusting me as your new President. I can tell you Heather will be a mighty hard act to follow! But I'll do my best.
Looking forward to seeing some holiday finds at our first meeting of the year, for me it will be a bit of a vicarious substitute for my own non-holidays. Made a rushed trip to Nelson and back, but the eating of scallops (huge ones) at a Paraparaumu takeaway bar was as close to shells as we got!
I've prepared a little survey for our members to give feedback as to what they'd be interested to see/do/hear about this year, so please fill it in and get it back to Jan or myself at martini@xnet.co.nz or 137 Ireland Road by snailmail. Especially note the spaces to contribute ideas for speakers evenings, field trips, etc.
See you next Tuesday.
Martin Walker

Happy New Year
Welcome back to another year with the Club where we plan to have great evenings with inspirational and educational speakers, a new look newsletter and even perhaps field trips.
Our December meeting seems a long time ago now. It was another great night with 21 members present for the AGM - we managed to get a lot achieved in what I think was club record breaking time! The subsequent DVD was fantastic - an awesome trip taken by Heather, Alison and Margaret to the Antartica. Thank you to those who brought in your special trays - some absolute stunners which inspired us all to get back out there again this summer for that elusive rarity.
This year we'd love to have more of your input in our monthly newsletter - Martin and I are excited at the chance to work together to make the newsletter something that you can look forward to and be included in. We intend to have a few puzzles, questions/answers, collectors columns, etc and would love to have your input in a forum less formal than our Poirieria Journal - anecdotes to finding that long sought after shell (yes Peter Poortman I know you have a few stories ... finding sunglasses, seasnakes and all). We would also like to feature a shell collector each month (be it a member of our club or an historical figure).
So, if you have any questions you would like answered, stories/ideas or other forms of contributions for the newsletter either email me at kevandjan@slingshot.co.nz, phone 444 8460, or post to 42 Black Teal Close, Albany, North Shore City 0632.

Thank You
A huge thank you to our wonderful Editors, Tony and Jenny Enderby for another superb edition of the Poirieria Journal. The timing couldn’t have been better to make for some brilliant summer reading. Thanks for the time and effort taken - your talents are appreciated!

February Meeting - Holiday Finds
This will be held on Tuesday, 12th February at Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom. You are welcome to arrive from 7:00pm onwards with the meeting commencing at 7:30pm
Expected to be a wonderful night of sharing, stories and laughter. We'd love to hear all of those summer adventures including Doug and Judith's "temporary shell display/museum", and any shell holiday finds/purchases people have made - it's interesting to note that in this day and age a "find" is just as likely to turn up over the internet as on a beach for some members. So bring along those terrific shells and photos.
Should Neville Hudson be able to attend he will present a power point presentation of wildlife photographs of his three trips to SE Asia (Thailand - Malaysia, 2003, 2005, 2007).
Guaranteed to be another fantastic meeting - see you there.

Update of offices as per our AGM held in December 2007

	Patron :	Professor J Morton
	Vice Patron :	W O Cernohorsky
	President :	Martin Walker
	Immediate Past President :	Heather Smith
	Vice Presidents :	Patricia Langford, Doug Snook
	Secretary/Newsletter :	Jan Munroe
	Treasurer/Membership :	Luen Jones
	Website :	Peter Poortman
	Editors of Poirieria :	Tony & Jenny Enderby
	Librarian :	Gladys Goulstone
	Archivist :	Betty Headford
	Committee :	Michael Bressolles
		Nick Britton
		Barbara Bycroft
		Angela Carter
		Neville Hudson
		Glenys Stace

Club Offices - Welcomes and Farewells
Heather Smith stepped down as Club President. Heather we would like to thank you for your wonderful enthusiasm and energy in making meeting nights a pleasure to attend, and for the vibrant pace with which you made club arrangements.
Neville Hudson stepped down as Treasurer. Neville your attention to detail and thoroughness was second to none. You have left Luen with some big boots to fill. Thank you for all your time and effort.
Welcome to Martin Walker as Club President, Doug Snook as Vice President, Luen Jones as Treasurer and Nick Britton who joined our Committee.

Attachments - Please find attached
. Membership Statement/Invoices, please return payment to Luen Jones either personally at Club Meetings or to 1A Rewarewa Road, Te Atatu Peninsula, Waitakere 0610. Should you have any queries or concerns regarding your subscription fee please contact Luen direct on phone: 09 834 5195 or email: wildhoney@actrix.co.nz.
. Questionnaire, please complete and return to either Martin via email or post (details as outlined in "Presidents Report") or Jan Munroe.
If you intend posting both cheque and questionnaire, feel free to save on postage and send both together to Luen Jones.

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