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NEWSLETTER No. 13 -  Summer 1985

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

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Our thanks to those members who took the trouble to fill in the questionnaire circulated with the last newsletter. Overall the response rate was disappointing (it's still not too late to reply), but some excellent suggestions were made, and there were many individual offers of assistance for which we are grateful. A number of ideas concerned the newsletter and we have tried to incorporate these where possible. In particular, we are starting a new series about butterflies found within the region, and we are reintroducing a members' Letter Page, so please make sure we receive plenty of contributions in order to fill it:

Plans for our second Cotswold. Butterfly Festival on 14th July at Postlip Hall Winchcombe, near Cheltenham are now well advanced. We shall be following the format of last year's successful event and those members who attended will vouch that  the day proved very enjoyable. We hope to see even more members this year and if you are able to come along please make yourself known to one of the Committee. It rather goes without saying that we will need lots of help on the day itself and also the Saturday, when we have to do all the setting up. If you can commit yourself to helping on either day in advance please contact the Sales Officer. It is hoped that the Festival will be officially opened this year by actor Emrys James, who recently starred in the BBC series "Anna of the Five Towns".

A new branch committee was established at our A.G.M. and most of the counties covered by the branch are now represented. We hope that this will help in recruiting membership and enable the branch to adopt a generally higher profile. Please don't hesitate to contact your nearest committee member if you require information about branch activities or wish to put forward an idea. We now have a splendid new set of display boards which we are planning to make full use of, although we still need someone prepared to co-ordinate our display programme.

Also new is a set of branch rules! This is not a result of any desire to turn ourselves into a bureaucratic machine but rather a reflection of the increasing scale of our activities. Copies of the rules will be sent automatically to new members, but if existing members would like a copy please send a S.A.E. to the Membership Secretary.

Mention was made in a previous Editorial of the branch's involvement in the production of a Development Plan for the main Society. This work has now been completed and the main recommendations accepted by the National Executive. The Plan envisages the Society operating through five major sub-committees: Finance, Fundraising, Conservation & Advisory, Information & Education and Branch Liaison. If any members of the branch feel they may have a contribution to make to this new structure contact the Branch Chairman for further details. This should not involve attendance at lots of meetings, as the emphasis is on getting things done in an informal but effective way. Much work is required if we are to succeed in conserving butterflies and it is vital that the recommendations are implemented as soon as possible. A summary of the National Development Committee's report appears in the Spring issue of "BBCS News"; copies of the full report are obtainable from the branch.