President's year-end message
The last few months of this year have been very positive for ILASA. Several changes to the constitution were voted in at our AGM in September 2009. Perhaps the most important change allows for corporate sponsors of the institute, and this has improved the financial outlook of ILASA considerably. Member numbers have grown and revenue is already more than double what it was in the previous year even though we are less than halfway through the financial year. Our low member numbers in previous years meant that we were not able to fund more than the administration of the institute, but its growth will mean that ILASA can start achieving its real aims.
One of these primary goals is to increase the profile of landscape architecture in our country, and the Awards of Excellence certainly achieved that this year. They culminated in a fabulous event at the Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton and the Minister of Public Works was among the guests.
Next year, ILASA promises to stage even more events than it did in 2009. The first is the ILASA Conference scheduled for May 2010. In future, ILASA plans to host a conference every second year, alternating with the Awards of Excellence. This means we will host a major event every year. Next year’s conference will serve as a run-up to the 2012 IFLA Congress to be held in Cape Town, and I hope it will have your support.
On behalf of your National Executive Committee and everyone at Van der Walt & Company, our association managers, I wish you a restful festive season and a spectacular 2010.
Stuart Glen
President
2010 Conference: bookings open shortly
ILASA will finalise a detailed programme for the May 2010 conference in January. Delegate bookings will also open in January and with limited seats available, ILASA members should book earlier than later to avoid disappointment. The conference will take place in Sandton, Johannesburg on May 6 and 7.
Themed “Landscape architecture... adding value”, the conference will focus on various sub-themes to illustrate the value that landscape architecture can add to the development of South Africa’s built environment. These will comprise:
DAY ONE, MORNING: Green buildings within the context of green cities.
DAY ONE, AFTERNOON: Regenerative landscapes (“brownfields” developments as well as projects that involve reclamation and rehabilitation).
DAY TWO, MORNING: The role of public precincts, squares and parks to facilitate densification and social cohesion within cities.
DAY TWO, AFTERNOON: Urban greening and ecological systems within cities.
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