If any of you are traveling to Malta, this October, I suggest you visit The CSS of Malta annual show and sale of cacti which will be hosted on the 25th and 26th of October 2008 at the Victoria Hall, Oratory street, Naxxar. First turn on your right behind the Naxxar church if you are coming from the church direction. Free entrance.

The CSS of Malta was established in 1951. For many years it has been hosting a meeting every first Sunday of the month at the offices of "Din l-Art Helwa" (The National Trust of Malta) in 133 Melita Street, Valletta. The meetings start at 9.45 am and lasts one or two hours. Anyone can attend these meetings but you have to be a member to buy cacti during monthly meetings.

Every year, with few exceptions, the society brings an oversees speaker to give a lecture on cactus cultivation and their travelogues.

The society has a free lending book library, produces one magazine per year and one monthly news letter. It also, produces an annual seed list.

Is there any specific group or workgroup for mammillarias, Amante? And is it like here that more olderly people are member. Or do you recrute also younger people?
And to finish my questions: are the meetings well visited by the members?

There are about 120 members, the numbers fluctuating each year. That is, some do not pay the membership while new ones take their place. Active members that attend the meetings each month number about 60.This is because some members are unable to attend meetings on Sunday.

We have had suggestions to change the meetings to week days but they have always been overruled by the majority. Still, others are happy just to pay the membership and do not attend meetings.

I have heard of the problem in the Uk that no young members are enlisting. We have not had that problem yet. But yes, most members tend to be from their over-forties.

The Islands being quite small, a few active members visit each other's collections and exchange ideas about cultivation and perhaps some cuttings.

Committee meetings are held in homes so that the committee members familiarise more with each other.

There are no specific groups that specialise in one Genus or a group of plants, although I know of individuals who do.