ARTSA Bosveld What an Event

It has been a while since I joined an ARTSA, Covid 19, broke the ARTSA trains speed.

With Namibia Area doing our best through our Outgoing Area Chair Byron Westerdale and Incoming Area Chairman Eduard Gous efforts to have an inclusive ARTSA trip, I was not about to let that slip through my fingers. A special thanks also to RTSA President and Vice President at the time for making this possible cause without your assistance I would have had to wait and here how great ARTSA was.

Needless to say, we had one hell of a drive, with me and my wife’s brand spanking new passports getting stamps from 3 different countries to get to ARTSA. With the +1600km behind us we made it to our destination safely and had a few hours of sleep before registering the next day.

Always great to meet old friends for the 1st time, as this is how my short table life has always been, and even better seeing some of my old ASSCO Family.

Opening Night was a blast and BOSVELD “JULLE MAG MAR”, with one of, if not the best opening for an ARTSA behind us fellowship was at the order of the day. The theme for the night was well expressed and I must say some of the more daring expressions made one wonder how some could be sooooo comfortable…but all in good fun some of ya’ll showed of your skills…lol.. The Namibian’s all had a blast but we had to cut the night short as we had a drive back to our lodgings not staying on the ARTSA venue.

Friday forums was great, with strict rules and concise presentations made for a fast but diligent end to forum after forum. Well done to all presenters and Exec for organizing and executing it in the professional manner it was done. Time did catch us a bit as myself and a few others had to rush to the food tables where the 3 table legs were waiting impatiently. With more hands coming arriving we made quick work of the 3 dishes and thanks to our ladies Namibia was well represented. A huge thanks to Joppie who ensured we where all uniformed with our Namibian themed aprons.

This was the 1st ARTSA that myself and Lana where able to actually go around most of the food tables and for that we thank our tablers it was great fun from pausing at my Mauritian brother’s food table, and sharing some memories of my last visit to them to the “Porra” inspired food table to the WP table that gave you a taste of the sea… Well done to all on their tables and Especially Winners of the Food tables Gauteng Area. The night drew to a close with Some Nam Tabler’s calling an early night or should I say morning as AGM was upon us.

AGM started and it went by so quick with everything of importance. MR. PRESIDENT WERNER SWANEPOEL and your Entire EXEC and ASSCO all I can say is Well done on a quick and professional AGM, the fastest I have attended ever. This just shows again there’s nothing you can’t achieve if you put your mind to it and put in the work, with an impressive 12h00 finish to the RTSA 2023 AGM.

We had so much time we went to see the town a bit and messed around with the Music of a local restaurant…

Evening came and the Presidents Ball was one that will be remembered…it was sad to see many of my Peers taking the stage for the last time as tablers, It was an honour to witness this and be their in the last couple of moments you could we could call you a tabler, now your all 41érs I can only hope I will as many people to share with it when it’s my turn. To all the award winners well deserved and to Walvis Bay 36 congrats on wining the Apex Gavel for a 2nd year in a row…

It was an amazing ARTSA, its true that everything in the Bosveld is Bigger…

Till the next one…

By Amize Adams