REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1967 197
Meetings
During the year a total of 46 meetings were held. These can
be broken down into the following categories: —
General Meetings ............ At the Museum 5
General Meetings ............ Field Meetings 6
Group Dinners .................................... 2
Other Meetings .................................... 33
An analysis of these other meetings shows that they were
devoted to the following disciplines : —Botany—8 ; Geology—6;
Mammal Studies—10; Ornithology—6; Entomology—1.
It is to be noted with pleasure that such a wide coverage of
the various field studies is being offered by the club and those
responsible must be congratulated for their efforts.
The Council have noted that there has been a tendency in re-
cent years to restrict the venue of the indoor General Meetings to
the Museum at Stratford. In order that the Club may cater for
those living in the North and North-east of the County, it is pro-
posed to hold at least one General Meeting in Chelmsford. The
support of these mid-county meetings is earnestly requested, in
order that the policy may be extended to other localities.
Groups
During the year the groups have continued to thrive, good
attendances at many meetings having been reported. The
Mammal Group has continued its recording activities of the mam-
mals in the County and has paid special attention to its Badger
observations. Conservation meetings were held at the Fingringhoe
Wick Reserve.
The meetings of the Geology Group have continued to be well
supported, and at least five new members have been added to the
ranks during the year. The week-end meeting during the Spring
Holiday was held in the area around Church Stratton and Wen-
lock Edge, some twenty-five members and friends attending.
The Botany Group has also played its full part in the pro-
gramme of the Club, the recording and observations being
continued in the tradition of previous years. A full and varied
series of meetings is planned for 1968.
The Council feel that the Group system has created a series of
bonds between members having specialised interests which has
resulted in systematic and sustained studies being carried out. It
was, therefore with great pleasure that the Council gave its consent
to the formation of a Herpetological Group. This group should
be fully operative by the middle of 1968. It is to be hoped that
further groups covering other interests will be formed.
The general view is that 1967 proved a satisfactory year from
the Club's point of view and the Council thank the many members
and friends who helped to make it so.