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No. 54 NEWSLETTER Spring 2003

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Introduction from the Regional Development Officers

We have only been working in our new posts for three weeks but have already started to accumulate a mass of information on regional projects that we would like to become involved in. We have also already attended committee meetings of both the Warwickshire Branch and the West Midlands Branch and would like to thank everybody for their enthusiastic welcome - a good response goes a long way towards making the job much easier to do! The main reason we hope that we will work well together is that we have a diversity of complementary skills. Jenny has already worked for a number of years on a voluntary and consultancy basis for BC and therefore has a strong knowledge of survey and monitoring methodologies and management requirements of local species. She has also worked on a number of local research and monitoring projects involving volunteers and partnership organisations. Jenny will therefore lead the way in determining and developing research, survey and management priorities and opportunities. Jane has less knowledge of Lepidoptera, but is experienced in environmental project management and development, biodiversity action planning and implementation, publicity and awareness raising, fundraising and in working with communities and volunteers. She will therefore be working in more of a co-ordinating and enabling role by seeking funds for projects identified by Jenny and for the continuation of the Regional Officer Posts, raising awareness of Butterfly Conservation regionally through the media and by liaison with local organisations. Jane will also identify and develop volunteer capacity and encourage new volunteers, to fill gaps in survey and monitoring needs as identified in collaboration with Jenny.

The job share will work by both of us doing half time. Jenny has three young children so will primarily work within school hours (9am-3pm) five days a week during term time and will do the minimum amount of work in school holidays. Jane will be working two full days (Wednesday and Thursday) and one half day (Tuesday) and will be initially working through some of the school holidays (although Jane does have a two year old so her hours may change as her child gets older!).

We can still at present be contacted on our home phone numbers (Jane on 01788 546415 and Jenny on 01952 245684) but both plan to have an extra phone line put in at home for business calls as soon as possible. We will also soon both have an e-mail address through BC. So if you want to contact us please so do on the above numbers for now and we will publicise our new contact details as soon as we have them.

Jane Ellis and Jenny Joy