By Rabbi Adam Saffer, 2009 Chairman of the SSSFF
Presented at the Fund AGM 28 April 2010

It is with pleasure that I present this 72nd Chairman's Report of the Selig and Sarah Saffer Family Fund.

Our objective this year was to strengthen our familial bonds through social and recreational events.

My good wife Daniella, Bev and the Executive Committee helped arrange very successful meetings during the past year. Many members who had not previously attended showed their faces and enjoyed everyone's company. A new feeling of family fun has begun emerging and some record turnouts at meetings.

We began the meetings after last year's AGM with a classic Saturday night movie meeting at the home of Anthony and Minnie. We then had an amazing winter picnic at Waverley Action Soccer with the biggest turnout I have ever seen, and the biggest braai.

In August a Sunday evening hot-dog and marshmallow by fire meeting was held at my sister Shana's home. A great success - more than sixty people came! Sadly, only 27 had replied - we ran out of food but not too badly.

The September meeting was again on Saturday night at Sandra's house and co-hosted by Joy - there were great cakes and desserts, and a full house of attendees.

The Succoth meeting was held at the home of Dani and Orit with a catered braai for some 120 family members. Roy Miller's 50th birthday was celebrated at the same time.

A smaller November meeting was held at the Kollenbergs, followed by the December break.

The summer picnic in February was great fun in the sun at Kareekloof Resort; while last month we had another movie at the home of Leon and Rosalie.

We thank all the hosts and co-hosts and organizers, who really serve to keep the family alive and in touch. Thank you all.

I would like to thank my vice-chairman Todd for all his help, especially on the IT front, and the Executive Committee that uncomplainingly takes time and puts effort into keeping the Fund alive: the senior members - my father, Stan, Eli and Sandra alongside Graeme, treasurer Howard, Bev, Andy and my wife.

Bev has done a great job of managing communications outside her great job of managing communications at the Zionist Federation. Zelma as always makes everyone feel special with her lovely birthday cards. Perele deserves great thanks for missioning with the bechers for the past couple of years. It's not so easy to get the exact spelling of names and the dates, and make sure the engraving is correct. These presentations are an integral part of every family simcha and are greatly appreciated by all recipients. Thank G-d the family has grown, is growing and is spreading around the world. With the help of Stan, Graeme and Todd the Fund has created an internet site where all information - births and birthdays, anniversaries and the like - is presented and available.

From now on, if any member of the Fund wants the Fund to know about any event, simcha or otherwise, it is his / her duty to inform Aliza, the new Communications Secretary, at wolpel@iburst.co.za
or warren@interspares.co.za ,
or the Fund at info@sssff.co.za

If we don't receive the info we cannot respond. No grievance can be held by any family member against the Fund for not receiving a becher, a birthday card or a get-well gift if the Fund has not been duly informed.

This leads me to another point. Family members who are not interested in the Fund, and who consequently will probably not inform the Fund of their hatches, matches and dispatches, will not receive gifts or bechers from the Fund. No longer will we stress to prepare a becher for cousins in Australia, Canada, or here for that matter, who are not interested in the Fund.

The family members who are actively involved are just that: actively involved, and the Fund is healthy and vibrant. Our energies are going to go to those who want to be, and who feel, part of our proud and great family. By strengthening the core of the Fund, our growth will be ensured for many good years to come.

Thank you

Adam Saffer, SSSFF Chairman, 2009 / 2010