Conchology Section
Auckland Museum Institute

Report
As advised in last month’s newsletter, Club President, Heather Smith, is currently away due to be back in time for our May meeting.

Alan Peterson held a wonderful meeting on the night of the 13th. About 13 members were able to join us on a gusty evening. Alan joined the Club in 1955 and remembers fondly the wonderful suppers served at the Museum after the monthly meetings in the company of Dr Powell and other great names of our conchology history.

He spent 19 years in Papua New Guinea and lead us on a reminiscent journey over this period filled with butterflies, orchids, one engined planes, shady and not so shady characters, faithful friends and ... shells. Alan’s wonderful story-telling style and sense of humour made this a wonderfully refreshing and delightful evening to enjoy.

Upcoming April Meeting
This will be held on Tuesday, 10th April at Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom. The April meeting will be an open format with sharing and participation by members. Please bring along examples of shells that you need help with identifying, shells from a favourite location, of a favourite family, with an interesting story behind, or one that has pride of place in your collection — take your pick — your choice! Please also bring along your favourite shell book. Looks to be another great night of sharing, stories and laughter.

You are welcome to arrive from 7:15 pm with the meeting commencing at 7:30 pm. Our Chairperson for the evening will be Doug Snook. Doug is now at home on crutches following recent leg surgery and a short stay in hospital. Doug would appreciate your support on this evening as he is frustrated by his lack of mobility.

In Short:
Reminder to pay your subs to Dr Neville Hudson, 4/20 Hayden street, Freemans Bay, Auckland 1011.

The shell auction shall be held on Saturday, 16th June 2007 at the Albany Hall. It is looking to be another great auction with a wonderful variety of shells, shell trays and books. All completed auction lot lists need to be to Jan Munroe by 15th April 2007. Unfortunately I am unable to attend the April meeting so these lists will need to be either posted to me at the above address, or emailed to kevandjan@slingshot.co.nz.

Congratulations to club member, Angela Carter, whose art will be shown alongside works by Lynnemaree Patterson and Rama Aycrigg at Marco Gallery, 47 New North Road, Eden Terrace on Friday 13th April at 5:30 pm. The exhibition is labelled "Confluentia". Angela’s work is influenced by illustrations of Dr Seuss and the varied forms of life that exist in marine environments. (http://angelacarter.co.nz/blog/ or http://marco.org.nz/ for more info).

Anyone interested in attending the MSSA (Malacological Society of South Australia) Shell Expo on 5th/6th May 2007, please make contact with Glenys Stace.

Interesting website to peruse — www.savehappyvalley.org.nz. It is home to many threatened species including the Great Spotted Kiwi and the large native Patrickensis land snail whose environment is being actively threatened by the creation of an open-cast coal mine.

Mark it in your diary: There will be a committee meeting earlier in the evening before our May meeting.

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