SAMFA Member Meetings Nationally
SAMFA organises two meetings a year in each region. The first is a mid-year event and mini-expo where industry vendors display their technologies to metal finishing operators. The second  is a year-end report back and social evening usually held in late November or early December.
GAUTENG
In Kwazulu Natal, instead of the usual meeting type function, the regional committee decided on a show at the Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest on the evening of 3rd December 2009. We had a great turnout of 55 people, with some new faces as well as the old faithfuls that decked out the whole bottom section of the theatre reserved for SAMFA KZN.
In the Cape we've spoiled ourselves with some hilarious entertainment at our year end functions over the past three years. Our event took place on Wednesday, November 18, starting at 3:30 pm at our usual venue,  Fairways situated within the Bellville Golf Club.
The food was lovely, with most of us having the lamb shank main course. Who knows how they managed to turn out so many lamb shanks in one sitting? The show, called "Party Time" was fabulous with high energy singing and dancing by gorgeous entertainers; something for both the men and ladies in the audience!  The zing of the entertainment was contagious and soon enough the crowd was joining in. A great time was had by all, and after the hectic year many businesses had to endure, 2009 definitely ended on a good note!
Thursday, November 26 has come and gone and everybody is talking about the great evening we enjoyed at the Jeppe Quandam Conference Centre when members and visitors were happy to celebrate the end of a very difficult year for most.
We were blown away with a fantastic professional act from illusionist and corporate entertainer Trevor Duffy who really put on a great show for us. A buffet style dinner where spit-braaied meat was served together with generous helpings of the usual accompaniments added to the evenings success.
There was a great turnout on the night. It was especially gratyifying to see a lot of new faces this time around. SAMFA Gauteng is going places! The next meeting in this region will be mid 2010 where we are planning another opportunity for vendors to bring their products to the attention of end users in the industry.
We then had the pleasure of being entertained by Jacques le Sueur,a magician and corporate entertainer who most certainly had the audience puzzled and confused. There were lots of laughs as well, sometimes at the expense of unsuspecting guests. It was most certainly a memorable occasion. You can find out more about Jacques services at the following link:
http://www.actionentertainment.co.za/action_index_files/cat/magicians.html
The next member meeting will be scheduled for mid-July 2010. Details will be posted here a month before the scheduled date.
Trevor Duffy
Jacques le Sueur
Solar Power expert Helmut Hertzog of Atlantic Solar gave us a thought provoking presentation on where solar power may be considered in the metal finishing industry. The technology has moved along and there is every reason to believe that there are areas where it may be worth considering for augmenting Eskom Power.
KZN
Cape
Events got under way at around 6:45 pm with a welcoming message from Gauteng Chairperson, Nico van Heerden. This was followed by a short technical presentation from water treatement specialist Victor Lopes of Chemapan, who encouraged us to consider various membrane technologies for resource conservation in both nickel and hexavalent chromium plating systems. We'll be hearing more from Victor as he has offered to help with the preparation of an article in S A Metal Finisher on this important subject.