- to understand Earth as a life supporting system,
- to inspire respect for the diversity of her life forms, and
- to maintain her as a fun planet for all humans to live on.
The "Club des Amis du Château de Blagnac" (CAB) was founded on September 19, 1998 at the initiative of the scientists Prof. dr Peter Westbroek (GEM coordinator) and Dr Jeremy Young (CODENET coordinator). The founders used the occasion of the 10th and the 11th BESD ("Blagnac Earth System Definition") workshops held in succession from September 14-17 and Sept. 17-23, 1998. During a brief, but emotional ceremony the Château was presented with a recipiant, in the form of a treasure chest, as a depository for donations to be used for the improvement of conference accomodations (with special mention of the sanitary facilities).
On September 25, 1998 the chest was opened and proved to contain 1340 French Francs (translated from various currencies). Rather than letting the funds sleep in the chest, a CAB savings account was opened at the 'Bureau de Poste de Branne'. To that purpose the château owner had to act as CAB président.
At a future occasion a treasurer will have to be appointed to witness the yearly opening of the chest and to check the mutations of the CAB savings account.
CAB membership is open to representatives of the sciences and the arts, that is to individuals and organisations who use Château de Blagnac as a vehicle
Jan van Hinte, October 1998
Peter presents Jan with the treasure chest during the brief but emotional ceremony (click image to open a larger version)