Present
| Adam & Daniella Saffer, Avigail & Yaffa | Bernice & Dov Crouse |
| Leon & Sandra Abrahams | Graeme & Tania Victor |
| Marion & Ivan Hollander | Bill & Sylvia Miller |
| Dov Ber & Millicent Saffer | Lilian & Cecil Wolpe |
| Stan & Bobby Victor | Miriam & Marilyn Merkel |
| Eli Milner | Bev Goldman |
| Claire Charne | Steven Abrahams |
| Heather Taback | Andy Kollenberg |
| Adam Victor | Russell Wolpe |
| Rosalie Wolpe | Aliza Freeman |
| Howard Freeman | Shana & James Furman |
| Darren Hollander | Alan Crouse |
Apologies
| Anthony & Minnie Saffer | Elana & Robert Hendry |
| Brian & Adrienne Schiff | Tammy & Jeff Henen |
| Neil & Joy Saffer | Sandra & Gerald Danziger |
| David & Sheila Saffer | Steven & Leora Crouse |
| Dennis Goldman | Verna Freeman |
| Zelma Brameld | Bruce & Helen Wolpe |
| Nadine & Martin Milner | Ryan Abrahams |
| Todd & Sharon Kaplan | Ryan & Rosy Hollander |
| Robyn Merkel | Perele Wolpe |
Welcome
The Chairman, Brother Adam Saffer, welcomed everyone to the meeting
In Memoriam
The Chairman asked the meeting to stand in silence in memory of the founding brethren and sisters, whose names he read out.
Minutes of the 71st AGM held 2009
The Chairman read the minutes of the previous AGM.
Chairman's Report
There being no matters arising from the minutes, the Chairman delivered his Report for the year April 2009 - April 2010 (see below)
Messages
A message from the Cape Town Chairman, Evan Goldberg, was read out to the meeting. He wished the incoming Chairman and Executive another successful year during which the committee and the members would continue to uphold all that made the Fund so unique and special.
In her absence given Gerald's recent surgery, a letter was read out from Sandra Danziger. She thanked Bev for her regular notices, mazeltov letters, condolence letters and get-well notes. She praised the Fund for its Yiddishe Chesed and its pre-emptive approach to those in need. She lauded the involvement of increasing numbers of members; and acknowledged that while the committee may not have been perfect, any constructive criticism was dealt with with great alacrity. She noted that the Exco had by and large attended nearly all the meetings, and hoped they and the incoming Executive would continue to build and strengthen the Fund.
Treasurer's Report
This was delivered by Treasurer Howard Freeman. He began by paying homage to Brian Schiff, past treasurer, who had held the position for 20 years and was a hard act to follow. He mentioned a few glitches that had arisen, including the decision to move all the information to Pastel but that was not yet operational. He had had a personally difficult year; and this had resulted in the 2009 subscriptions having not yet been disseminated. His plan was to send two billings out, a month apart, first 2009 and then 2010, and see whether that would be successful.
At discussion time, a proposal was put forward that a properly qualified financial committee be elected. This would be discussed at the first Exco meeting of the new year.
Dov Ber Saffer proposed that election of this financial committee be delayed until after the holding of a specially constituted financial meeting to discuss some of the figures missing from the Treasurer's report.
It was noted that R60 000 worth of interest-free loans had been given during the year after intense consultation with the finance committee.
Russell Wolpe suggested that in view of the somewhat straitened conditions of some members, their loans should rather take the form of gratuities. This would also be discussed further.
Special Letter
Bernice Crouse delivered a letter from her son Steven Crouse, who was with his wife and new baby, which he had asked to be read out on his behalf.
Some of the points raised by Steven included the following:
- Having stepped down (a decision not easily made) as Chairman last year, he looked forward to a new Chairman and a new year, but was sadly disappointed.
- Monthly meetings held but with no minutes or records kept
- Meetings held with no announcements so that information on activities of family members was not available
- No secretary - the portfolio of the Communications secretary did not include taking and sending out minutes
- A committee that should have had 3 members according to the Constitution, but somehow had been increased to 4, with no ratification on this point ever made
- The implication of the position of 'Events Co-ordinator" being a paid position, which led him to question if other positions received remuneration
- "If my committee were criticized for 'letting the Fund die', then I shudder to think."
He was critical of the past year's committee and actions or lack thereof, and noted that his children would not experience what he as a child had done.
He concluded his letter by appealing to members who accepted nominations to think about what they would do for the Fund rather than for themselves; not to sit on the Committee merely to "pass your perspective"; to think what they would do with passion rather than what they would gain materially or not from it; and to assess whether they could contribute to the leadership of the Fund into the next year, without which right leadership the Fund was going to die.
He looked forward to a new and better-than-the-last year, and called on the incoming Committee to uphold the ideals of those who came before us.
Discussion on the letter was brief. Howard stressed that the rumour of a "paid events co-ordinator" had to be quashed as this was patently false. No money had been paid to anyone for any work done, other than a fairly large amount for the new website which was efficient and an excellent means of disseminating the most current information to everyone.
Daniella Saffer noted that there was currently a very warm and friendly atmosphere pervading the meetings and gatherings, possibly as a result of the less official, more informal stance that had become the norm.
Graeme Victor suggested that discussion on this contentious letter be left to the new committee; and he proposed a vote of thanks to the host and hostess for their sterling efforts and involvement.
Bechers
A number of bechers were then handed out to babies born during the past year. These were:
| Noah Viv Starkowitz | 30 April 2009 |
| Aaron Bass | 11 May 2009 |
| Rachel Menachemson | 25 June 2009 |
| Daniella Bloom | 1 July 2009 |
| Ahava Wald | 8 August 2009 |
| Adam Trope | 11 September 2009 |
| Rylan Harley Apter | 22 October 2009 |
| Lia Danielle Allal | 23 November 2009 |
| Yaakov Yosef Wolpe | 26 November 2009 |
| Anja Olivia Frankal | 16 February 2010 |
Family Announcements
- Aharon & Rachelli Bloom and their daughter Daniella were on their way home to the UK after visiting grandparents Dov Ber and Millicent
- Steven and Leora Crouse had just that week become the proud parents of a brand new baby daughter
- Nicky Falkof was in SA for 3 months, primarily in Cape Town, doing research for her doctoral studies
- Jamie Trope and Benjamin Kollenberg had returned from a very successful Rugby trip to Australia
- Riley Freeman had been elected to the Mini Council and was Chairman of the Civic Awareness Committee
- Leon Abrahams and Sandra Abrahams had announced their engagement and would be (re)married later in the year
- Bruce and Helen Wolpe celebrated the batmitzvah of their daughter Shalva
- James Furman had celebrated his barmitzvah at the beginning of the year.
- Sara Saffer had announced her engagement to Ryan Stoller
- Refeal Saffer had celebrated his barmitzvah
- Chaya Bloom (in the UK) had married Moshie Ginsbury
- Shlomo Bloom (in the UK) had married Shuli Inglis
- Ariyeh Leib Bloom (in the UK) had celebrated his Barmitzvah
Three families and one individual had made aliyah:
- David and Sheila Saffer
- Phyllis & Brian Mehl
- Pam & Ian Davidson
- Candice Kotzen
- Todd Kaplan had undergone major back surgery
- Gerald Danziger had had an aortic valve replacement and a single artery bypass
- Zelma Brameld had been hospitalised with a severe asthma attack
- Condolences were offered to Zelma Brameld on the death of her beloved husband Arthur
- Condolences were offered to Hellen Tanchel, Andy Trope and Steven Tanchel on the very untimely death of their beloved son and brother Leigh Tanchel
- Belated condolences are offered to Aaron Davis on the death of his beloved wife Libby(Lilian)
Office bearers for the period 28 April 2010-28 April 2011
| Chairman | Adam Saffer |
| Vice-chairmen | Todd Kaplan & Shana Furman |
| Treasurer | Howard Freeman |
| Minutes Secretary | Sandra Abrahams |
| Communications Secretary | Aliza Freeman(with assistance from Bev Goldman) |
| Bechers and religious gifts | Dov Ber Saffer |
| Birthday cards and gifts | Zelma Brameld and Tania Victor |
| Meetings co-ordinators | Daniella Saffer and Andy Kollenberg |
| Executive Committee members | Sandra Danziger, Graeme Victor, Andy
Kollenberg |
General
- A poem by Marilyn Merkel was read out. In it she regretted the fact that there was less warmth and friendliness than there had been in years past; that there were definite cliques at meetings which, if one didn't find a place, forced people to sit alone; that it was not always easy for her to get to the meetings because of transport problems; that she seldom got replies from people who she had asked for advice; and she wished the incoming office bearers a successful year.
- Russell Wolpe brought up the sensitive issue of family members marrying out of the faith and thus having no place in the family, which was not the objective of the SSSFF when it was originally convened. He proposed that a special meeting should be called with the correct pre-notification to all the members to discuss this specific topic.
- Adam Saffer explained the difference between the Saffer family, which accepted everyone in irrespective of colour or creed, and the SSSF Fund which had a designated Constitution which prescribed the issues raised.
- Russell questioned whether the Saffers were a collective unit or not.
- Rosalie Wolpe reiterated that we were a Jewish family according to the strictures of the Constitution.
- Bernice Crouse stressed that the history of the family had to be faithfully recorded for posterity, and regularly updated.
- Members not able to access e-mail complained that they did not receive either notices of meetings or minutes. Bev Goldman apologized, saying it was her fault: she tended to forget to send them print mail, and was solely responsible for that gaffe. Hopefully the new Communications Secretary would be more effective in that area.
- Mention was made of the new family tree which included the details of everyone of the family members.
- For those members who were not able to access info electronically, it was decided that Todd would be asked to print out the family information for their perusal.
- Stan Victor handed out the 70th Anniversary Dinner DVDs to those members who had placed orders for them.
There being no further discussion, the meeting ended with a vote of thanks to host and hostess Adam and Daniella Saffer for an excellent evening.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - APRIL 2010
Click here for the Chairman's Report
