European Bonsai Association - - From the Chairman

Conventions.

The EBA/ESA convention in Spain this year was an outstanding success. The venue was excellent together with a very high standard of Bonsai on display. The event was hosted by the Spanish Bonsai Association in collaboration with Expoflor Lorca. The event proved to be a success with the visiting public with a large attendance over the weekend.

The EBA/ESA Convention for 2010 will be held in Zurich, Switzerland – 11/13 June 2010.

The venue - Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich. The building was built around 1930 and is designated under the protection of historical buildings; it is one of the most important and largest museum in Switzerland with emphasis on design, visual communication and architecture. The layout of the venue suggests it is very well suited for bonsai/suiseki displays. Hopefully this choice of venue will encourage many visitors. The convention is being hosted by the Swiss Bonsai Association, Further details from Chrys Mathys on info@eba2010.ch

Earlier this year I circulated all EBA delegates regarding the rules pertaining to the New Talent Competition. To remind you it was requesting an opinion concerning the Judging of the competition. The question was “should judges be present in the room or not during the time when competitors were actually working on their trees?” and that “The EBA Board favoured - judges should be excluded from the room whilst competitors worked and not be allowed back into the room until it is time for them to judge”. I asked that each Country to reply with either “Judges in” or “Judges out” by 31^st October and that if I did not receive a reply from a delegate/country “I would assume that you agree with the EBA Board and Judges would not be permitted in the work area of the New Talent Competition whilst contestants work on their trees”.

I received ONE reply, Germany, they agreed with the EBA Board, - Judges out. Therefore at the next NTC, Judges will be excluded from the NTC work area during the time trees are being worked on.

The EBA Board discussed the Appointment of International Consultant to the WBFF at their last meeting as they are of the opinion that there should be a method for Regions to propose suitable candidates.

WBFF Article VI D (ii) states they are appointed by the WBFF Chairman with the approval of the Regional Directors and their term of office to be co-terminus with that of the Chairman. To allow this to happen a change to the WBFF rules would be necessary.

The current situation being - the new WBFF Chairman decided to retain the Consultants previous to his appointment and nominated additional candidates. They were approved at the recent WBFF meeting in Taiwan.