What is a Friend ?

A Friend,  what is it?

A Friend is anyone from anywhere,  who would like to see the Herbarium and Garden become a really first class resource for; creating environmental awareness; for environmental education; and as recreational facility for the people of George, the Southern Cape, the rest of south Africa, as well as the rest of the world.

Over the years, more than 500 people have joined up as Friends and at present we have about 200 paid up friends. They pay R40 per year in subs, (R60 per couple)  which are due by Feb each year.  Whenever there is an interesting peice of news or notification of up-coming courses etc. They get email newsletters - unfortunately if they do not have email we can only promise at least one full newsletter each year (postage is now so exhorbitant and we ask people to let us have stamped and addressed envelopes so we can send them news more often!).

Friends are notified first about courses,  and get invitations to special occasions such as the opening of the Wildflower show etc.   The funds collected in this way are a vital contribution to general running expenses,  new books for the Library,  stationery etc.  We rely heavily on funds generated in various ways mostly be the volunteers.

I want to become a Friend and/or volunteer ,  How ?

Ask at the Moriarty Centre office for a membership form.  When you fill it in please mention if you also want to be a Volunteer.  It is R40 single or R60 double for the financial year. End Feb 2006 this year to Beginning March 2007 - please remember to pay your subs when visiting the Herbarium or Garden - reminders will be sent out soon.

Many of the present Friends of the Herbarium are also Volunteers.  Some work at the Herbarium every Tuesday doing all sorts of essential things such as mounting specimens,  indexing magazines &  photos,  filing specimens into the Quick Guides,  renewing & labelling the fresh plant specimens every week,  fixing things that need it,  and many other jobs too numerous to mention.

The garden volunteers put in long hours working in the garden and propagating plants which are for sale on Monday mornings from 9 - 12 

Many other Volunteers help with the annual Wildflower Show in October and the Plant Sale in April. All those serving on a Herbarium or Garden Committee are also Volunteers and are recognised for the hours of work and thought that they put into this.