IDEAS FOR MEETINGS
The Club's Council has felt for some time that the
General Meetings have not been general enough. There is a
tendency for those with special interests, birds, mammals
and plants, for example, to attend the special meetings of
their groups, but they are not attracted to the general
meetings. This is a great pity, for these general meetings
should be the occasions for a get-together of all disciplines
within the Club, when there can be an exchange of ideas across
the boundaries of the -ologies.
What we should like to see is more catering for wide
interests at these times. The problem is two-fold. Firstly,
the location for such meetings must be chosen carefully, and
secondly, the organisation and preparation must be more
thorough. It may be difficult to reconcile the requirements
of the bird-watchers with those of the botanists but, with a
little give-and-take on both sides it should not be impossible
for both groups to see something of mutual interest. And if
the route can include a place of historic or archaeological
interest, so much the better. A place for tea, with room or
facilities for display of finds and discussion of the day's
observations, is very important but not always easy to find.
So to the purpose of this note: are there any ideas
for these meetings, and are there any volunteer leaders?
As one who has led meetings and tried to provide a
little variety, I know the difficulties, but they can be
surmounted, and the pleasure given to members makes it worth
while. Will you, therefore, please think about this matter
and make some suggestions to our Meetings Secretary, Ron
Coates? And if you can, please be a leader: the Clubs'
officers will always be willing to help with making
arrangements.
W.R.M.
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