Dear Duiwenhoks Conservancy members and friends
This is a reminder about the AGM on Easter Saturday at 10h00 in the Vredesaal at Vermaaklikheid.
Our beautiful village and river is at a crossroads. There has been an epidemic of crime over the past year with a number of people having their houses burgled and outboard motors and other possessions stolen. A month ago, a conservancy member had their house burnt down in an attack of arson, the second such incident in the village over the past 5 years. A suspect is in jail but the systemic problems remain.
At the 2013 AGM I took over the chairmanship of the conservancy. However no-one else put their hand up leaving the conservancy short on man power and energy at a time when it is needed most. Like many of you, I have a full life in Cape Town. I am married with two teenage children and I have a full time job. But in spite of my limited time available, I believe I can make a difference. However I need active support from a committed group of people who can help me drive this conservancy forward.
The big questions that we need to answer are:
- Do we extend the mandate of the Conservancy to get involved in broader social issues in the village?
- What is our pro-active response to the crime in the village?
- Do we change the conservancy to become an NGO so that it can raise funds and implement a program of activities that can combine alien clearing and livelihoods in the village. Currently the Conservancy has no status as a legal entity.
At the heart of this, is the question: How can we ensure that the character of the village, the river and natural assets are managed in a sustainable manner for the all the people that use it.
I hope we can have a lively debate, develop a new vision and start to think about what we need to do make this vision a reality. I trust that members of the conservancy will put up their hands to join me in breathing new life into this organisation.
Please feel free to email me if you want to discuss anything.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Warm regards
John Thorne