24 February 2014
Minutes of Management Committee Meeting held on 24 February 2014 at 17h00 at
Real Adventures Offices in Parys.
1. Opening and Welcome:
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming all the members present.
2. Attendance & Apologies:
The following committee members were present: – Christo Meyer
– Jan Fourie
– Esther Ndweni
– Graeme Addison
The following members were absent with apology: – Hugh Du Preez
– Bennie Pretorius
– Mpho Thukoane
3. Minutes of the last Meeting: The minutes as distributed were regarded as being read and accepted by the members present as a true reflection of the discussions and decisions taken at the last meeting.
4. Matters from the Minutes:
4.1. Training of Guides: – The Chairman reported as follows:
Meeting of 22 January 2014: Members of the VDTGA attended a
Tourism Marketing Planning meeting at Parys Town Hall on invi-
tation of the FDDM Director of Tourism, Me Victoria Moloi. A
marketing plan for the Vredefort Dome area was discussed. The
Tourism Director was informed by various speakers about the
complexity of the matter. After long deliberations it was decided
that an ad-hoc committee be formed to work out the details of such
a marketing plan with the Tourism Authorities at Fezile Dabi D. M.
The Chairman will represent the VDTGA on the committee. The
promises by FDDM, of financial assistance with the training of guides
did not yield any positive results on the part of the mentioned
Authority.
Meeting of 23 January 2014: This meeting was held at Kopjeskraal
Country Lodge on request of the National Registrar for tourist guides
and was also attended by the Director Tourist Guiding, Dept of
Tourism as well as the Registrar for tourist guides of Freestate Prov.
and Tourism Officials of FDDM. A delegation of Officials from the
Dept. of Trade and Industry also attended. Local tourist guides and
operators represented the VDTGA.
Tourism Guiding in the Vredefort Dome was the main topic of dis-
cussion. Of course the matter of illegal guiding and the urgent need
to resolve the problem was thoroughly discussed. Flowing from that
the need for assistance, also financially, in facilitating training and
assessment, were discussed in length in order to find a solution for the
problem of the current illegal guiding in the area.
A commitment to assist in addressing the problems identified was
agreed upon by all present. The different parties committed
themselves to a follow-up meeting to discuss the way forward
and work out an action plan to jointly resolve all the current issues.
The Dept. of Trade and Industries outlined the requirements to
form/establish a Co-operative by the members of the VDTGA
in order to access the incentives, benefits or grants available from
government. This matter was referred to the VDTGA Management
Committee for discussion and a decision.
– Graeme explained the training requirements for adventure guides
to the meeting and that as far as legislation is concerned, no
short cuts exist. As Accredited Assessor he is going ahead to give
assistance and support to guides busy with RPL training, both local
and elsewhere.
4.2. Website: The website is up and running. Members are requested to send anything they
would like to be published on the website, to Graeme for posting. He would like to put a
profile of each member of the Management Committee containing a photograph and personal
details, on the website and asked members to provide him with those. He also suggested that
a newsletter about the activities of the Association be posted on the website on a regular
basis.
4.3. Statement of Goals for VDTGA: The Chairman will submit the draft to the next meeting for
finalization
5. Number of Members: Plan of action for subscriptions:
The meeting decided that a drastic campaign be launched now to get Operators an Guides
to subscribe as members of the Association. A number of Operators are allocated to each
Committee member to approached for subscription as members, the Operator as well as
all the guides employed by him/her. Committee members must report on the progress
they have made at the next meeting on Monday 03 March 2014.
6. Co-operative for VDTGA: The Chairman explained that the purpose of the formation of a
Co-operative by the VDTGA would be to gain access to incentives, benefits or grants
available from Government and all members of the Association may benefit from it.
After a lengthy debate on the merits of this proposal the Committee members present, voted in
favor of a co-operative for the Association and adopted it as a resolution. The matter will now
be taken up and finalized with the Department of Trade and Industry.
A full list of operators and guides active in the Vredefort Dome area must be compiled
to be ready for submission at a meeting with the National Registrar for Tourist Guides
at Parys on 07 March 2014. All Committee members are asked to assist in this effort.
7. International Tourist Guides Day Celebrations – KZN: – Report by Chairman:
Three of VDTGA Management Committee members had the opportunity to represent the
Association and the Free State Province, at these celebrations. 250 Guides and officials from
all over South Africa attended the occasion. The members benefitted greatly from the
discussions and interaction/networking with fellow guides and tourism officials.
8. Next meeting: The next meeting will be held on Monday 03 March 2014 at 17h00 at
Otters Haunt.
9. Closure: The chairman expressed a word of thanks and the meeting closed at 19h36