1. CONFERENCE FACILITY REPORT HIGHVELD PRESBYTERY THUKELA PRESBYTERY LIMPOPO PRESBYTERY

2. ROCKY VALLEY REPORT  The AGM resolved that the three Presbyteries go and investigate the three conference centres’ and report back at the AGM. These were the findings:  The Egoli Presbytery was tasked to look at this Venue, and these were the findings: Rocky Valley is in Krugersdorp, It can accommodate 140 people at R85, 00 per person for a night. Guest pays R 135.00 per person for three meals a day. Day visitors pay R35.00 and the kitchen is hired for R500.00 for self- catering. There is a hall that can accommodate 250 people and is not equipped with all conference facilities. After viewing the place and explaining the intention the owner stated that the property was not for sale.

3. SIMONSBERG CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE CENTRE  Mr Izak Fourie is a full time manager at the Centre and Mrs Estelle Fourie supervises the kitchen staff and other daily programmes. There are four full time kitchen staff and two full time grounds men. Rev. David Grey, a minister at Meadowridge Uniting Presbyterian Church is one of the members of the board. The board meets once in two months and reports to the Church. Number accommodated:  The Centre accommodates 120 people. More people are accommodated according to the needs of a specific people.

4. Who uses the Centre?  Church groups, school groups and other small groups make use of the Centre. Facilitators are contracted as per subject needs of the school. The Centre has no fixed programme. Sleeping venues:  Some rooms have five beds and other rooms have four beds. There are four cottages and two have been renovated. The Cottages sleep 10 people and have bathrooms Break away rooms:  The Centre has one big conference hall and during break away sessions the groups use outside shelters.

5. Rates weekdays / daily visits  Winter rates are different from summer rates  A group of100 is R295 per person in winter and R320 per person in summer. The price includes the meals. Income:  The Centre receives income from the visiting groups. The finance officer was not available for financial report. Main source of expenditure:  Income generated is used for the remuneration of staff and the maintenance of the Centre. Safety and security:  The Centre is safe and there are no securities employed. Comments:  The centre has two swimming pools, dams. and bon fire sites. These facilities mentioned in (10) are 200 metres away from the main hall. There are four tents with eight sponge matrasses each available for groups that require outdoor facilities. The Centre has renovations taking place.

6. Linga long  The General Secretary of the UPCSA contacted the General Secretary of the UPCSA about this Venue in Linga Long since he heard that the UPWF was looking for a conference centre.  Venue : Linga Long is in Bela Bela in the North West 1hrs 30 minutes from the OR Tambo. The Property is 21.72 hectares and the land is secured with electric fence, it is currently registered under section 21.

7.  It can accommodate 60 to 70 people comfortably which is a number of our delegates at a given time during the AGM;  It has a chapel, hall and a kitchen.  Thou the hall is not big enough a marquee could be erected for the AGM to accommodate all the delegates for the conference period and even accommodate all the observers.  It also has a caravan site.

8. CAMP JONATHAN  I write this Drakensberg Presbytery tasked two UPWF Members to go and investigate the possibility of using the above mentioned centre in our AGM’s and Conference gatherings.  It was reported that it is a good place and it is well maintained. There are two Conference Boardroom one can take 400 500 people, that one is the biggest. The other one can take 150 200 people.  Hostel: normal beds with firm mattresses can take 150 200 people 3 or 4 people sharing in a room.  They have also bank beds that can take up to 300 people, if mothers can be able to sleep on bank beds.  They also have big dining hall and the kitchen, you can do self- catering, but they preferred to do catering the themselves for the sake of the equipment that might be broken or get lost.  They do have linen but you can come with yours if you like.  It was reported that its very secured, 8km from National Road N3 It is between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in Richmond.

9. Challenges and Opportunities  For now the challenge could be a place to sleep for the observers and a suggestion was that we could hire tents and people sleep there until we start building dormitories.  And should we take this place we can build chalets or rooms that could accommodate between 300 and 500 people depending on our need.  The place is currently used as a Christian retreat and is hired to all denominations and it sustained but that and there are fruit trees planted around the place that also assists with the income of the place because they are bottled and sold. It has water rights, boreholes and the dam.