Conchology Section
Auckland Museum Institute

February Meeting
Shell Show Preparation and Holiday Finds.
This will be held on Tuesday, 10th February at Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom. You are welcome to arrive from 7:00 pm onwards with the meeting commencing at 7:30 pm.
With only a month to our much awaited Shell Show our main focus for the evening will be on what shell show entry category would suit you, how to prepare a tray, what the judges are looking for, etc.
We'd also love to hear all of those summer adventures 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.
Guaranteed to be another fantastic night of sharing, stories and laughter - see you there.

Update of officers as per our AGM held in December 2008

	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
	Newsletter Mailout:	Joan Hetherington*
	Treasurer/Membership :	Luen Jones
	Auditor :	Derek Lamb*
	Website :	Peter Poortman
	Editors of Poirieria :	Patricia Langford*, Jan Munroe (formatting)*
	Librarian :	Gladys Goulstone
	Archivist :	Betty Headford
	Committee :	Graham Bould*
		Michael Bressolles
		Nick Britton

* denotes new member in position.

Thank You
A huge thank you to Tony and Jenny Enderby for the hard work and time that you have put into the Poirieria club journal over the past years. It has always been a great pleasure to receive the journal. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated by all. Many thanks.

Thank you to Gladys Goulstone for the beautiful fruit cake supplied at our December Christmas meeting.

Subscriptions are now due
As agreed at the AGM subs will remain the same as past years. Please contact Club Treasurer Luen Jones direct if you have any concerns in this regard phone 834 5195.

Wanted - Articles for Poirieria
We would love to have your articles of any length ... Holiday/personal interest stories, historic anecdotes, stories of unusual finds, photos of interest.
Please send to Jan Munroe at the above address, or via email kevandjan@slingshot.co.nz (MS Word attachment if possible).
Contact Patricia Langford phone : 479 6149 if you have any queries.

New Zealand Shell Show 2009
This will be held at the Pakuranga Community and Cultural Centre, (aka "Te Huhi, Centre for the Arts"), 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga, on 27-29 March 2009.
The weekend schedule has now been finalised as follows :
. Friday 27/March - Set up time 12 noon to 6pm. Followed by judging from 6pm to 9pm.
. Saturday 28/March - Open to public 10am to 5pm. Buy/sell/swap tables 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Auction 5pm to 7:30pm. Prize-giving and dinner at Valentines from 7:45pm.
. Sunday 29/March - Open to public 10am to 4pm. Packing up from 4pm to 6pm.
. Monday 30/March - Barbeque lunch at Heather's place (42B Combes Rd, Remuera) for all exhibitors, dealers, and club members.

Early indications are that this show will be well attended by exhibitors and dealers from throughout Australasia. It is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend, so let's hope the weather obliges!

The NZ Shell Show is a bi-annual event which is only held in Auckland every 4 years - so don't miss out. We particularly encourage first-time exhibitors to have a go, and there are a number of classes available for inexperienced exhibitors. Spare display cases are available if required, but it is not too difficult to make your own - Heather Smith can provide instructions on how to construct quick and simple display cases.

Our Shell Show Schedule contains more information as well as the show classes and an entry form. You can download a copy from our website (http://nz_seashells.tripod.com), or request a copy from Peter Poortman or Jan Munroe.
Entry forms must be sent in by the end of February, so please start planning your exhibits now!

Attached please find a "special invitation" advising details of the Shell Show which we would love for you to hand to friends, relatives and workmates.

Just Published
Powelliphanta augusta a new species of land snail with a description of its former habitat, Stockton Coal Plateau, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of NZ Volume 38 (3) 2008 pp163-186

Member Chris Horne has now moved to Whangarei
Thank you Chris for your contributions to the Club including being speaker on several occasions at meeting nights and often bringing in specimens of interest. Chris also has a great knowledge of botany. You will be missed.
Chris is now residing at McLeods Bay, Whangarei and has offered to let members camp on his property for a field trip - sounds great!

Condolences
We were saddened to hear that Margaret Morley's husband had lost his battle with cancer and passed away on Christmas Eve. Margaret, our thoughts are with you and your family at this time.

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