August Gathering 2022

Hope  you can join us at the CSSA August Gathering! For those unable to  attend the hall we will still be Live Streaming to the CSSA Members-Only  Group and Zooming (details on how to join can be found below).

Our  Guest Speaker this month is Assistant Professor Jared Margulies - Why  do collectors break the law to obtain cactus and succulent plant  material?

Cacti  and succulent plants represent some of the most threatened plants in  the international horticultural trade. I will share findings from a  recently completed international study involving a survey of 441 members  of the cacti and succulent hobbyist collector community. The aim of the  study was to understand collector perspectives on CITES and on the  threats illegal wildlife trade poses to cactus and succulent  conservation. I will discuss these findings, which includes evidence  about the prevalence of illegal behaviors within collecting communities.  Importantly, I will discuss motivations for such behavior, and how this  study can help develop more productive dialogue between passionate  collector communities and CITES for the betterment of cactus and  succulent conservation.

Jared  Margulies works as an assistant professor in the Department of  Geography at the University of Alabama. His forthcoming book, The  Succulent Subject (University of Minnesota Press) , is about cactus and  succulent plants, desire, and illicit trade. Dr. Margulies was  previously a recipient of a Fulbright-Nehru grant, which supported his  PhD research on human-wildlife conflicts in South India. Before moving  to Alabama, Dr. Margulies was a postdoctoral research fellow the  Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield, UK. He received  his PhD from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2017.

POTM: Astrophytum

HALL RULES* TO ENSURE WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT RESTRICTIONS AND COVID SAFE PRACTICES TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE:

•  Please note that failure to comply with these rules may mean that you  will be denied access to the CSSA Gathering or be asked to leave the  venue. • Members/Visitors/Guests need to sign in with the CSSA, this is for Society Insurance Purposes and must be completed. •  Please DO NOT attend if you are unwell or have any symptoms of Covid-19  (temperature over 37.5°C, runny nose, cough, aches/pains, nausea,  vomiting or diarrhoea, sore throat, loss of sense of smell or taste,  fever/chills/night sweats, headache, shortness of breath, fatigue), have  tested positive to Covid, have had close contact with anyone confirmed  or suspected of having Covid-19, or have been required to self-isolate  (please refer to https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist). • Hand sanitiser will be provided, and you are encouraged to use it on entering and before signing in. •  Face masks are no longer required (but as per the Vic Government Rules  it is strongly recommended to wear a mask if you cannot physically  distance). • Social distancing of 1.5 metres is required inside the venue. • Number of attendees is restricted to 125, we reserve the right to refuse entry should the permitted capacity be reached. •  Due to the size of the kitchen facilities and requirements for safe  distancing, Supper will not be provided. Members, Guests and Visitors  wishing to have a hot drink and something to eat at the Supper Break are  asked to provide their own tea/coffee (e.g. thermos) and snack. •  Due to venue size and social distancing requirements, table space for  Sellers may be limited, if you are planning to sell, please ensure you  advise the CSSA Secretary (secretary@cssaustralia.org.au) as soon as  possible. • *Please note that these rules are subject to change dependent upon Victorian state restrictions at the time of the meeting. • The order of proceedings will be as follows (approximate times): 6.00pm Hall will open to setup the venue (if you can assist with set-up this would be appreciated) 6.45pm Sellers may enter the Hall to set up their sales 7.00pm Members/Guests/Visitors may enter the Hall 7.30pm Zoom room opens 7.45pm Live stream to CSSAustralia Members-only Group starts 8.00pm Official meeting start 9.00pm Speaker’s presentation commences 10.00pm Gathering closes (if you can assist with pack-up this would be appreciated)

FOR THOSE WISHING TO JOIN THE MEETING VIRTUALLY:

>> CSS Australia Members are provided the Zoom details via email and the Members-Only FB Group

>>  If you would like to join the Monthly Gathering Zoom room as a  Guest/Visitor, please send us a PM no later than 24 hours prior to  commencement of the Monthly Gathering.

Guests/Visitors  are welcome to join our Monthly Gatherings either at the hall or via  Zoom for up to three occasions, after this time we ask you to become a  Member. More information about our Membership is available on our  Website (https://cssaustralia.org.au/membership). Membership costs as little as AU$20 ($15 concession holders) a year – so there is no better time to join than now!