Presidents End of Year letter

12 December 2011

Dear SAAFoST member

Yet another year draws to a close - a slightly less hectic one than the previous - without a World Congress to organise. This year has, however, still seen many changes taking place - most to the benefit of our members.

SAAFoST members are now receiving Food & Beverage Reporter and Farmlink, as well as Packaging & Print Media if they wish. This year also saw the announcement that SAAFoST will be launching it's own magazine, South African Food Science and Technology (FST) in February 2012. FST will be unique in its content and make-up and will endeavour to provide industry professionals, academics, students and marketers with a reliable source of the latest scientific innovations, technologies, trends and news. It will also keep SAAFoST members and non-members up to date on SAAFoST activities around the country and internationally.

SAAFoST is again supporting education in food science and technology with it's Matric and Undergraduate bursaries, administering 20 FoodBev SETA bursaries, Aubrey Parsons Study Grants and Academic Achievement Awards (one each to all tertiary institutions offering food science or food technology) and the Brian Koeppen Memorial Scholarship - totalling nearly R1 million. To enhance our education initiatives, SAAFoST will be launching the SAAFoST Foundation in 2012 - to independently administer bursaries and academic prizes for SAAFoST, as well as companies wishing to have bursaries administered on their behalf. This will make it easier for companies to contribute directly to educational initiatives (with a Tax benefit), but also allow the Trustees to maximise the number of bursaries and awards from the dividends of the investments.

As our membership continues to grow - currently around 2100 - I would like to remind you to please pay your membership subscriptions timeously. I don't think you will find better value for money from any other society or association!

As always, this year would not have run as smoothly for SAAFoST it if wasn't for our Executive Director, Owen Frisby and Irene Burke (Membership Development Officer). Their day-to-day hard work keeps the wheels turning. I would also like to thank all the members of the SAAFoST Council and the three Branch Committee's - who all give their time generously as volunteers.

Finally, I'd like to thank the most important people, namely the SAAFoST members for all your support through 2011. I wish you and your families a peaceful Festive Season and a prosperous New Year.

Kind regards

Gunnar Sigge
President

Previous Letters: 2010 | 2009