Dear Colleagues,

Here we are, almost midway through February already with the countdown to Soccer World Cup 2010 seeming to be accelerating each day. Our local programme for the year begins on March 4th with the Branch Annual General meeting which will be followed by a special presentation by Mr Bryan Perrie from the Cement and Concrete Institute.

Sustainability and 'green' construction is very topical at the moment and Bryan will be bringing us an insight into just how green concrete is (concrete is not cement). So if you want hear some factual details about this unique building material of ours without all the commercial hype and promotion, then do not miss this opportunity.

Later in the year the Concrete Society is organising a two-day symposium on concrete where the overriding theme will be sustainability. The venue is Emporer's Palace in Kempton Park which offers world-class conference facilites as well as adjacent accommodation and entertainment.

A call for papers in being sent out very shortly and potential speakers at this event are asked to submit their abstracts by the end of March 2010. This promises to be a premiere event in the concete industry calendar this year, with not only 20 papers being presented, but also featuring a comprehensive exhibition alongside where members and visitors can network and conduct business.    

I look forward to seeing you all at the AGM on the 4th March and in the meantime - thank you for your continued and valued support.