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THE ESSEX NATURALIST
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The meetings that have been held at Chelmsford were well
attended, whereas the meetings held at Stratford, especially the
"Members Notes and Exhibits" meetings have at times been
very poorly supported. It is the Council's intention to try and
arrange more meetings away from Stratford to ascertain whether
those meetings would draw a larger attendance on a regular
basis. It should be borne in mind that our programme secretary
must be certain of a reasonable response if he is to invite
speakers of note to lecture at general meetings and we look to
the members in this respect.
Planning for the '70s
This report has been completed and following consideration
by Council, its recommendations will be carried out during the
ensuing 12 months. The aim will be to increase membership,
make joining the Club a simpler affair and finally to offer a
programme which will appeal to all members of the Club. It is
also proposed to re-instate the publication of a bulletin which
will complement the Essex Naturalist. The success of this
venture is reliant upon the support of all members. It is intended
that the bulletin will contain news, views, reports of meetings,
forthcoming events, book reviews and, in fact, anything which
might be of interest to members. Further information regarding
this project will be published during the Spring of 1970 and
we exhort all members to give their wholehearted support.
European Conservation Year
Essex is making its contribution to the Year's activities by
holding meetings and exhibitions. All members will receive a
programme card and it is hoped that members will not only
attend those activities organised by the Club, but also those
arranged by other bodies.
Finally, the Council wishes to thank all those members and
friends who helped to make 1969 a success and asks for their
continued support in 1970.
Annual Report of the Mammal
Group, 1969
1969 was an uneventful year for the group, most meetings
being concerned with obtaining records in one way or another.
However, two talks were arranged, one in January on squirrels,
which was given by Jan Taylor from the Infestation Control
Laboratory, and the other in December was an extremely in-
teresting guide to Mammal Ectoparasites by G. B. Thompson