CHAIRPERSON’S SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT:

1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018

Scope of Report

The Chairperson’s Report reflects the period 1 January to 31 December 2018. This is line with the Constitution, which prescribes an operating year as a calendar year, with an AGM before 31 March the following year.

Aims and area of focus

The geographical area that involves the Hermanus History Society Greater stretches from Voelklip to Fisherhaven. Research has been carried out in most of this area in 2018.

Briefly the aims of the Society expressed in the constitution are to bring the history of the area ‘alive to residents and visitors’, to disseminate information, collect and preserve historical resources and collaborate with relevant bodies engaged in activies compatible with Society’s aims.

Organisational activity

Committee: Angela Heslop (Chair); Robin Lee (Secretary); Michael Clark (Treasurer); Blaise Jones (representing the Overstrand Heritage and Aesthetics Committee); Storm Kreusch and Marinda Wilmans Committee Meetings: The Committee met four times during the year.

Membership: There were 108 members enrolled at 31 December 2018. There were nine Members Meetings and one excursion during the year, with a total of 400 members and guests attending.

Correspondence: Correspondence has been maintained with members, benefactors, other history societies, and the media and in response to queries received. The chairperson is a member of and attended the AGM of Historic Publications of South Africa (HiPSA), previously The Van Riebeeck Society.

Presentations to other organisations:
Presentations have been made to the University of the Third Age (twice), the South African Association of Retired Persons, and Probus.

Articles and books published:
A total of 20 articles has been published in a variety of media during the year.
Library
Holdings have increased to approximately 100 books, although very few books per month are loaned. The Library is based in the chairperson’s house, and SANTA Bookshop has agreed to house our books for loan purposes. Members requiring a revised book list may contact the chairperson.

Website:
The website is fully operational and more active, and is updated at least monthly. Both articles and website have been a source of enquiries, which have then been handled by Committee members.

Facebook: A weekly post on the Secretary’s profile was instituted late in 2017. In 2018, a total of 50 posts was made, on a wide variety of topics. Some 600 people requested with requests become ‘friends’, though no one was specifically asked to join. It is not possible to state exactly how many people see the posts, but records show that 1700 people ‘liked’ the posts, about 600 commented on posts and 488 shared the post with an unknown number of their own ‘friends’. We are now planning to integrate Robin Lee’s page with the HHS’s own Facebook page and post only on the latter in future.

Major projects ongoing: Elizabeth and Blaise Jones work continuously in the archives of the Hermanus Times and the Caledon Venster, searching for articles about Hermanus. This work is of great help in locating details of events taking place in the town. Angela Heslop and others presented material from the Zwelihle history to the History Society and U3A and writing up for publication is underway.

History Boards and Plaques: Mostly in good order and the Hoy’s grave name plaques have been replaced. We are still awaiting the replacement of Swallow Neethling’s plaque.

Future:
2017 has been a busy and stimulating year and 2019 looks forward to a variety of exciting members meetings. I thank the committee for their work and to members who have continued to make contribution to the work of our society.

Next reporting period:

This will cover the period January- December 2019. Next Annual General Meeting: March 2020 {date to be confirmed once speaker has been secured.}